VA Benefits(1)

BethMimi

Hi everyone!  I hope everyone is doing well.  We just had high seventies temperature here.  At least for today then back to winter.  

Mom is a Korean war widow and I'm trying to get through approval for benefits.  I have this benefits counselor agency that says they will take care of everything as it is complicated (government, shocker) and knows how to get around provisions.  The thing is they want $1500.00 for this.  It seems worth it and they seem legit but I'd like to know if anyone else has run into this.  They're called Senior Veterans Council.  

abc123

Hi Beth, I don't have any background with this but I'd really like to know more about the subject. Hopefully someone will come along with some good advice. Crushed would probably know something about this. Good luck! I'll be following.

ButterflyWings

Hi BethMimi -

Did you speak with the VA Benefits line directly yet? I am no expert and not a lawyer, but I would start there if I were you. That way, you may get assistance directly from the source and not pay a substantial fee for something that can also be accomplished for free.

Here is information on the details to apply for a survivors pension and she may then also be available for Aid and Attendance too: https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension/

This resource also has several links to legitimate experts to help if you choose to go that route, how to apply yourself, and/or fraud cautions.***You can do this yourself if time allows. It is free to apply and the application is online. Call the VA Benefits line for help.The first important step is submitting an intent to file form which then gives you 1 year to complete the application and if approved, her benefits will be retroactive to that "intent to file" effective date. Even if you decide to go with an agency to help apply, this is an important first step.Good luck!

harshedbuzz

Bethmimi-

For that kind of money, I'd be more inclined to engage a CELA for help>

You could probably go it alone. My aunt was able to finesse this for her one siter to procure A&A benefits without much trouble. Sometimes if you hit a wall around such things, the office of your local U.S. representative can advocate for you.

HB

wyoming daughter

Hi BethMimi - I just finished applying  for Aid and Attendance Benefits for surviving spouse for my mom.  I went through our local VA office, and it didn't cost anything.  She informed me of the necessary documents needed, provided the VA forms needed, then sent them all to the State office where they reviewed for errors and omissions.  Our local office then submitted the claim.  I am now waiting to hear back on the claim.  It's a lot of paperwork, but I don't believe you need to pay someone, you will still be the one gathering all the documents.

Butterfly wings is right on....

Marp

I would follow the advice of some others here and call someone from the VA first.  

It's been years since we applied for my dad, but we were told by a couple of lawyers who assist with these claims that they were only allowed to charge $20 to file the forms.  They could sell the veteran other services and charge for those, but they could only charge $20 for filing these claims.  Some of these attorneys offered to file the VA claims for free to get people in the door; once in the door, the attorneys would evaluate the client to determine if other services would also be beneficial & try to sell those along with the free application.  If a client didn't need other services, the attorney would still file the application for free.

I don't know if the service you are talking to might try to do something like that.  

My county has a Veterans Service Office funded by the county that assists with filing these things for free.  They don't provide estate planning or anything like that so, if you want that, the county wouldn't be the place to go.

Jo C.

Hello Beth; I suggest you place a Thread on the Spousal/Partner Forum; there are multiple folks there who have VA Benefits and are quite experienced with the process.  We are openly permitted to Post on any of the Forums we wish.

Also, there are formal groups regarding Veterans who can assist with this and supposedly, no charge. They can assist getting through the system and point you in the right direction with insider's knowledge.  However, they do not process the application for you.

Wishes for best of luck being sent your way,

J.

Cosmic

Dementia Care (including Alzheimer’s Disease) - Geriatrics and Extended Care (va.gov)Dementia Care (including Alzheimer’s Disease) - Geriatrics and Extended Care (va.gov)

There might be some useful information here. Worth looking into. 

jmlarue

My DH is a Viet Nam vet. I waded into the mire of VA regulations early on to get him signed up for health care and begin the process of evaluation for disability benefits. There were so many requirements and overlapping entities to file forms with and dig deep for information that I finally went looking for an advisor. There are tons of pay for service advisors out there, but you don't need them. Reach out to your local Veteran's of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization or look for your nearest Disabled American Vets (DAV) chapter. They both have very knowledgeable volunteer counselors who will hold your hand through the whole process free of charge. You will be responsible for filing paperwork, gathering medical records and such for evidence supporting a claim, but having that volunteer guide to interpret rules, help fill out forms, and advocate for you is a god-send. Best advice I can offer is: don't expect anything to happen quickly with the VA and adopt the "dog with a bone" attitude. Never give up. Never give in until your mom is receiving all the financial and medical benefits that she deserves. If you have not already done so, ask your mom to give you a Durable Power of Attorney for health care and finances. Be sure to get a copy of that document filed with the VA. Absolutely no one will speak with you or give you information without that document or your mother providing her verbal consent with each and every phone call.

Rick4407

Beth, I am a veteran and Jmlarue has it down pat!  Follow her advice the best assistance is available for free from Veteran Service Officers she mentioned.  Rick

Funkykr

I initially tried to get VA benefits for my mom as my deceased dad was a veteran-no luck. Then someone suggested I try using her 1st husband, who was killed in WWII, married less than a year & BINGO! I eventually got her $1600/month in Aid & Attendance! The local VA dept was a godsend-I could walk-in and get help right away and was able to navigate the system without paying an outsider $$. The best advice came from the VA itself-if you ask them a written question, they have to respond within a few weeks vs months-True!