I don't understand why I have to write to VA for this, to another state for that form... You would think the VA would have all this info on their veterans, put in a name and SSN and there's all the info. It takes months to get the info, to get it back, and then months to file. She needs home care as she won't go to a home. Neither of them planned for their future. I feel as though the VA makes this benefit so hard to get that you just give up. That's what I did. I gave up.
1. Made a phone call and was told what documents would be needed.
2. Brought the documents to an in-person appointment.
3. At the appointment, we answered questions while counselor completed the application online for us. She even pulled info from his online records when needed.
4. We went for the medical appointment to verify issues.
5. He was approved, received the back-pay from date of application and began getting his monthly benefits.
6. There was never a fee for services and I think it only took 6 months.
Several years ago we applied by ourselves for Aid and Attendance and it took months to complete the forms and then after waiting months longer he was denied. I now know more about what it will take to qualify and I plan to go back to the benefits counselor again for help and expect it will take a lot less time to go through the application process. We now have a trust for our retirement funds, etc. In six more months it will be beyond the 3 yr. look back period and we can reapply with it not counting against us and in 2 1/2 years it won’t count against us for Medicaid if there is a need. Hopefully with Aid and Attendance and what we have saved we can have more choices and delay Medicaid for a long time.
When my husband applied for SS disability, we went to the SS office…. a rep completed his application for us and just like working with the County Veterans Affairs Office, he was approved the first time around, all with no attorney fees.
Never try to work through a government application alone or use a paid service until you have exhausted the free services of the agency involved.
Never deny yourself of benefits you are entitled simply by not applying. Find your local County Veterans Affairs Office and hopefully you will find a good benefits counselor like we did to file the application for you.
900 dollars....as Dad was blind and I was happy and just plain unaware that this existed at all....calling on behalf of brother caretaker of Dad who fell 5 yrs earlier and was low income and taken care of by my brother for many yrs...of yes you need the Discharge papers for this....or you will wait longer to locate this paperwork through the VA....remember WW2 was eighty years ago!