In this Elder Law Minute, Kaye Dent explains how DCEL can help families prepare and become eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit.
Video Transcript:
Hi, I’m Kaye DeSelms Dent with Dent Coulson Elder Law. Here with an elder law minute for you. These videos are intended to educate you about the Elder Care Journey, which begins earlier in life than you might think. We hope that you find them useful, and if you have further questions, please call us at Dent Coulson Elder Law.
As you may know, the Veterans Administration provides different forms of compensation and assistance to Veterans and their families. At Dent Coulson Elder Law, we can help families prepare for and become eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit. This benefit is actually specifically an improved pension, not disability compensation, although it is specifically for veterans and their widows who qualify financially and based on their need for assistance at home or in a facility.
A few years ago, several years ago now, the VA did change some of its rules and instituted a three-year look-back period. If you’ve watched some of our videos about Medicaid planning, you’ll know that there’s a five-year look-back for Medicaid. In the VA program, there’s now a three-year look-back. So, if you are thinking that you might need care in the near future or even in the distant future, you want to plan at least three years ahead if it involves VA assistance through the Aid and Attendance benefit.
They also changed how they calculate assets and better defined how they calculate these assets. It’s not just your assets that matter, it’s also your income. And again, here at Dent Coulson Elder Law, we can help you plan to structure your assets and income, possibly using trusts or other techniques, so that you or your surviving spouse could be eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit should you need it.
Please give us a call at Dent Coulson Elder Law for more information.
Also looking for information about Medicaid and Asset Preservation? Visit these articles:
“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 (IL) or (314) 567-9292 (MO), or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
