My stepfather is a Korean War veteran (now deceased). My mother is in an AL facility for dementia. How long is the application process?

UPDATE: I was notified by the VA caseworker last week that my mothers application was approved and benefits are to begin March 1, 2023. Assuming this is correct, it will have been a total of 9 months from the date of application. Retro monies are to be paid since the date of application once the fiduciary paperwork is completed. I am cautiously optimistic on this.

For anyone that has done the fiduciary process, am I able to reimburse myself once that money comes? My mother no longer has the funds to cover her expenses and my husband and I will have to make up the difference until these monies are available.

To waiting for mom dementia facility application to processing
The first step towards choosing a care home is to get a new needs assessment from social services.
If the assessment suggests a care home would be the best option, the next step is a financial assessment (means test).
The financial assessment will show if the council will pay towards the cost of a care home.
In most cases, the person with dementia will be expected to pay towards the cost.
Social services can also provide a list of care homes that should meet the needs identified during the assessment.
Who pays for care will depend on individual circumstances.
If you're entitled to local council funding, the council will set a personal budget. This will set out the overall cost of a care home, what the council's contribution will be, and what you'll have to pay.
The council must show there's at least 1 suitable care home available at your personal budget level.
If you choose a care home that's more expensive than the council considers necessary, top-up fees may have to be paid.
If the person with dementia isn't eligible for council funding, they'll have to pay the full cost of the care home (known as self-funding).
Matilda

I just went thru this. It took abut a year to finally get the Aid and Attendance due to my mom. I was CONSTANTLY in my VA reps face about where my mom was in the process. They could check online for me. She was almost out of funds when they did kick in thankfully. I had to go thru the fiduciary process as well. That was delayed due to technicalities. They questioned everything and if the I's and T's weren't done correctly we had to go back to square one and resubmit. I thought I would lose my mind. The great thing is they paid back all monies spent on the assisted living that came out of pocket from the filing date. It's a long road, but hang in there. It was a very scary road waiting and worrying about money running out! Lot's of praying and believing God would take care of my mom got me thru it.

Ocelpsmom1: Assuming you mean that you were/are applying for veterans' benefits, here is a link that you may find useful - https://www.agingcare.com/articles/applying-for-veterans-benefits-181517.htm

Hi Oclepsmom1 - I’m a vet and clinical. I’ve done now almost 4,000 Aid & Attendance applications for my patients, along with being a member of the American Legion. There are layers on layers of caviats. If a “fully developed claim” is filed, the average timeframes right now are around 2-3 months, as the VA has been a bit behind. Here’s the problem - if whomever filed the claim originally screwed something up, your claim gets taken out of the “fully developed” claim status and put in the regular claim cycle, which could take several months longer. I’ve had to go fix many messes, including those that were actually done by VSOs. I’m happy to answer any questions you have and give some real guidance. I feel bad when I see these situations happen needlessly. Feel free if you’d like - happy to assist any way I can.

https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefits/

https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/about.asp

Start your letter campaign:
https://www.louisvilleohio.com/index.asp?SEC=AF4EBB7C-2E00-4433-800C-A8D72D23BF60

Contact your congressman/woman. They move fast when they are involved.

I am currently going thru the same application process for my mother (dad was also a Korean War vet). I heard from multiple folks if you don't have a specialized attorney do it, the process can take a year or so because you won't know all the little nuances they need to get the application through. We paid $1100 to Patriot Angels and they are handing it all and giving us clear instruction on what to do so it may be worth it if u think the care u might pay out over a year is going to be more than $1100. I'm still in progress because there's some forms her doc needs to sign but we are told once it's in we should expect 60 day turnaround and retroactive pay from the date her application was submitted. Might be worth it to contact them.

My congressman routinely assists constituents who are having troubles such as the one you describe. He writes about them in his update emails -- it's good PR for him!

Contact your US representative (or your mom's, if she lives in a different district).

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

(I don't know how to make this a live link - you'll have to copy/paste if you want to use it.)

Your best bet is to contact a Veteran Affairs Office to see what is going on with the claim. Also writing to the VA would help too.

Contact here: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-veterans-affairs. I had to do this before too to get what I needed for my service connected disability. Not the same but it got me answers faster.

Prayers

I've been in the VA Aid & Attendance insanity for over a year.

My father fought in two wars for us. He was in the Pacific Naval battles at Pelileu, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He was also in the Korean War on the USS Hanson. He spent 8 years in the Navy. His military records are not disputed.

He married my mother and now she is almost 96 years old, housebound and blind with dementia. I have sent their marriage license, a letter certifiying that she is indeed BLIND. I have sent the POA.

That should have been enough. But no. The VA has sent more paperwork 4 additional times which I have dutifully had completed and returned to them.

I have filled out more paperwork that I can believe - have had physical therapist and PA complete forms - have had to get my blind mother to sign paperwork that she can't see because the VA does NOT recognize POA.

I have contacted two of the VA approved "claims agents" in my area have never heard back - only get voicemail. It's beyond ridiculous.

The last package of paperwork that I was sent was right before Christmas and I was told I had 30 DAYS to return it. Well, it was Christmas and I'm just done with the VA and their games.

So I didn't return it and my mother's application has been denied.

It's a shame and disgrace that the VA treats people this way, but they do have a pretty shabby reputation.

I am not clear what you are applying for? If you are applying for veteran spouse benefits, the VA system can best inform you. I encourage you to go in person to a local VA office or facility to pursue the issue. If you cannot go in person, call and call again .

What a nightmare with this VA business! That's government who will find so many excuses to not pay! No one should toss your mother out of her care shelter. I get mad when government treats people like third world citizens. Do not use your funds to pay for your mother's care. Should have applied much earlier for Medicaid financial help, but do apply for it while "waiting for that VA". And, go to the VA's referred website shared by one of our readers and good luck!

The local vet svcs guy says 6mo. I started last March. VA sent back as some boxes weren't checked. I should have thought the local guy would have checked all paperwork as he assured me he was there to help. Then got denied bcuz her resources too high which local guy says VA didn't subtract expenses. Reapplied. Was in decision phase with no info needed from June to Dec. Then they wanted updated expenses since so much time had elapsed. Next they wanted updated income/resources form. Mom is 90 on hospice. Her info doesn't change except resources dwindling and it's a miracle she is still here. They are supposed to automatically expedite anyone over 87 or hospice. When she runs out of money and goes on Medicaid, the VA benefit will go to $400. Before that should be like $1200. I figure they are just hoping she'll die or go on Medicaid so they don't have to pay. I feel sorry for our vets having to deal with this agency.

I had tons of delays… my VA intake person didn’t think my mom would qualify , let the application sit on her desk… I gave her more than enough chances.. when she was not able to drop something in the mail to me, that she was supposed to do.. I went over her head..

good news benefits are retroactive

Just wondering if you have heard anything?
If you need to look on the bright side any benefits that are due will be retroactive from the date the paperwork was filed.

Have you followed this guide?
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/applying-for-veterans-benefits-181517.htm

If rejected might she be eligible for medicaid?