View Cart []
— Veteran Benefits
Veterans or their spouse who are aged 65 and older or permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for monetary support to meet their home care, assisted living and/or nursing home expenses. Focusing on many counties but primarily on Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga Counties in Ohio, Richard A. Myers, Jr. & Associates, LLC does two types of Veteran Benefits: Service Connected Disability and Enhanced Pension, also known as Aid and Attendance.
The most important thing to us is quality of life. What’s that? Simply put, quality of life is to assure that we have established a fund that will be available to pay for someone’s care. Veteran benefits may be for the serviceman or woman themselves as well as for their spouse.
— Enhanced Pension Veteran Benefits
Also known as the Aid and Attendance Program, there are two things we must consider for the Veteran’s Enhanced Pension. Is the individual a War Time Veteran? Can we establish a care need for the individual?
The average nursing home can cost $6-11,000 a month. Assisted living communities cost $4-6,500 a month and other assistance and care alternatives are still costly. The enhanced pension program allows the individual to get the care they need, covered by veteran benefits. This also frees up other income for the veteran’s (or spouse’s) incidental needs, while the program helps cover medical costs.
Often, children of the veteran do most of the care and take on a lot of these costs as a loss to help their parents. It doesn’t have to be this way, Richard A. Myers, Jr. & Associates, LLC has the experience and knowledge to help plan for the veteran to have the quality of life they deserve while receiving care.
— Qualifying a War Time Veteran for Enhanced Pension or Aid and Attendance
These benefits can be received in conjunction with other government benefits. To apply for the VA Pension Aid and Attendance Program, one must meet the following criteria:
- Veteran served at least 90 days of active military duty with at least one day during a war time period.
- WWII: December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946
- Korean War: June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955
- Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961 if “in country”) through May 7, 1975
- Gulf War: August 2, 1990 through the present
- Veteran discharged from duty or service under "other than dishonorable" discharges. Only dishonorable discharges are disqualified for these benefits)
- Established need for care (disability does not need to be service related). Applicant requires assistance in personal functions of daily living, bedridden or in a nursing home.
- Applicant must have actual expenses relating to care assistance. These expenses are used to calculate the benefit.
- Applicant must have limited countable assets of $123,600 as of October 18, 2018 and income. Each case is based upon the care needs of the applicant.
A note for Veterans who did not serve during a war time period: You may still qualify. While the Japanese surrendered in August of 1945 during WWII, the war did not officially end until December 31st, 1946. Be sure to double check, you may have served during a war time period without knowing.
The Veterans Administration has established a three year look back.
On October 18, 2018, the Veterans Administration established a three year look back period similar to the audit performed by Medicaid. Much the same as Medicaid, even with this new rule, a large portion of an applicant’s assets can be preserved.
— We Walk You Through the Process
Richard A. Myers, Jr. & Associates, LLC first priority is that our client understands eligibility and is able to make informed decision aided by our guidance and counsel. We are here to work with you because these are important decisions that greatly impact day-to-day life for the individual.
At our first meeting, we’ll get a spreadsheet up on a screen and determine the right amount to retain as we review demographics, age, expenses, and care needs. It’s a complicated process to establish eligibility, so we meet with you face to face and visually walk you through the rules with illustrations.
We continue to adhere to the approach that “Our services have no value, until we show their value” with veterans benefits. Knowledge creates comfort and trust, and it’s imperative that we have a comfortable and trusted relationship with our clients to provide them the best value.
Richard A. Myers, Jr. & Associates, LLC is a proactive law firm with attorneys accredited by the Veterans Administration to aid Veterans and their families in applying for VA benefits. We also guide families with their estate planning needs, wealth protection and Medicaid planning.
Let's Get Social
Contact Us
Main Office
815 Crocker Rd., Suite 10
Westlake, Ohio 44145
