Boston Medicaid Planning Lawyer and Elder Law Attorney Assists Massachusetts Veterans with Long-term care Financing
Many eligible Massachusetts veterans and their spouses are unaware of the benefits available to them to assist with long-term care expenses at home, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. Pension benefits are payable to eligible veterans to ensure that their income does not fall below certain minimums. When a veteran has medical expenses not covered by other insurance, the expenses can be used to reduce a veteran’s countable income. The following examples are of expenses that can be used to reduce countable income:
Insurance premiums
Home health aid expenses
Adult day care
Assisted living costs
Nursing home facility costs
Which Veterans are Eligible for Pension Benefits?
Veterans and their spouses who are permanently and totally disabled, or who are also 65 or older, may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of the following wars:
World War I
April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918
*For those veterans who served in the Soviet Union during this time, the service date is extended to April 1, 1920
World War II
December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946
Korean War
“June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955
Vietnam War
Aug 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975
*For those veterans who served “in country” before Aug 5, 1964, the service date is February 28, 1961
Gulf War
August 2, 1990 [Through-date: To be determined]
Those disabled Veterans eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit include veterans with the inability to feed oneself, to dress and undress without assistance, or to take care of one’s own bodily needs. People who are bedridden or need help adjusting to special prosthetic or orthopedic devices may also be eligible, as well as those who have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily environment.
I’m a veteran, my spouse is a veteran or I’m a surviving spouse. In terms of numbers, how do my Veteran Pension Benefits add up?
A veteran is eligible for up to $1,788 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,149 per month and married couple is eligible for up to $2,120 per month. Congress adjusts these figures annually, and they are therefore subject to change. Here’s how Veteran Pension Benefits break down on an annual and monthly basis:
ANNUAL PENSION BENEFIT
MONTHLY PENSION BENEFIT
Single Veteran without Dependent Children
$21,456
$1,788
Married Veteran
$25,440
$2,120
Widow or Widower of Veteran
$13,788
$1,149
VA AID & ATTENDANCE BENEFIT
****Rates effective 01/01/2015 and are subject to change. Please see the Department of Veterans Affairs website for specifics.
Contact an experienced Massachusetts Elder Law and Medicaid Attorney for Your Long-term Elder Care Needs
If you need assistance of a Massachusetts elder law lawyer to plan an estate or determine VA pension benefit eligibility or other estate planning services, contact us for a complimentary consultation or call: 781.996.5656 or 800.701.0352.