What Are Veteran Senior Living Benefits What Every Veteran Should Know?

United States veterans get to enjoy a some perks and benefits when they finish with their service.  These benefits are a way to say thank you to veterans for their service.  These perks and benefits do not compare to the service that they provided our country; however, they do include some fairly good perks.

It’s important to note that in order to qualify for these types of VA benefits, seniors must fulfill a number of requirements, including:

• They have to be considered totally disabled by a doctor.
• Veterans cannot have an annual income of over $23,000 and they can not have available assets of over $80,000
• Veterans must apply to be eligible through their Regional VA office

While many seniors know some of the monetary perks of being a veteran, there are still many veteran seniors who do not know about the fantastic veteran benefits.

Veteran Home Benefits

When seniors need to live in a nursing home, they can turn to Veteran Homes to find the housing they want.  The VA has a lot of different nursing homes across the nation that offer outstanding long-term care for veterans. Facilities like the Veterans Home at Montrose in New York specialize in providing veterans needs.  They provide  social activities, in-room comfort, health and wellness programs and on-site medical care.

Occasionally there are lengthy waiting lists for these assisted living facilities, but a lot of veterans have the ability to fine temporary homes until a spot opens up.  Vets that are interested in locating a facility near them are able to stop by the National Association of State Veterans Homes to get a list of qualifying nursing homes.

Long Term Care

The Department of Veteran Affairs has a benefit called the Aid and Attendance benefit, which will help pay for assisted living and other long-term care options.  This means even when veterans can not get into one of the special VA nursing homes, they still have options available that will cover some of their costs to get the care they need.  There’s also assistance available for spouses of veterans, if they want long-term care.

To be eligible for the Aid and Attendance advantage, veterans will need to have served during wartime and qualify for various asset and income limitations.  Couples who require care together are typically able to get up to $25,000 each year in assistance.  Normally, veterans can expect a monthly nursing home allowance of $2,019. Widows can expect anticipate around $1,094.

Care Giver Support Benefits

The VA has its own support plan that’s designed especially with caregivers in mind.  This support program includes a free service line and access to the VA’s caregiver support coordinator.  These resources are intended to help educate families on various military benefits that could help them and resources which can help the stress of care giving.  The program also offers a free online workshop and reimbursement for caregivers that provide care for veterans.

To qualify caregivers must care for a veteran who:

• Has served since September 11, 2001
• Severely physically of emotionally injured
• Enrolled in VA health services

Caregivers must complete a fast online training course to qualify as a VA caregiver and from that point they will be given a monthly stipend, coverage for travel expenses associated with the veteran’s care, access to ChampVA care, mental health services, respite care, counseling and much more.

These stipends are made to go towards the daily care of veterans who require help living safely and comfortably in their own home.  The stipends are designed for familial and friend caregivers.

Burial/ Memorial Benefits 

In  the tragic event that a seniors passes away, there are veteran benefits that could pay for the burial or cremation costs for qualifying veterans.  These veterans may also be buried in a national cemetery if they prefer and get a special memorial headstone.

Medicaid And Medicare

Just because you are a veteran it does not mean you can not use Medicaid to pay for long-term care.  Before applying for any kind of senior assisted living, veterans should check to find out what Medicaid will offer by speaking with a Medicaid planning specialist.  VA offices may also have specialists on hand to walk seniors through the process.

Veterans should check with Medicaid and Medicare to find out what items can get paid for, even if they don’t always qualify for the VA benefits they want.

While all the benefits offered to veterans can’t compensate for the sacrifice these brave women and men have made for their country, they could help veterans with a few of their expenses.  Among the most startling statistics is that around 69% of veterans are completely unaware of the benefits that are available to them.  Those that have a senior veteran in their lives should make sure they are taking the opportunity to educate them regarding their benefits.

Whether they are getting additional help to pay for an assisted living facility, or registering for one of the VA’s nursing homes, there are many ways that these benefits can help veterans.