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VA Benefits

Published on Nov 22, 2015

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

VA Benefits

Homeless Veterans Resource Fair, August 29, 2014
Photo by familymwr

Veterans Pension

  • At least 90 days active duty 
  • At least 1 active duty day during wartime
  • 65 years or older, OR
  • Total and Permanent Disability, OR
  • Living in nursing home, receiving nursing care
Those who entered service after September 7, 1980, must have served at least 24 months or their full service period (generally) with at least one day of service during wartime

Veterans Pension, cont'd

  • Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, OR
  • Receiving Supplemental Security Income, and
  • Meet income requirements
  • Currently $12,652 for veterans with no dependents
  • Income requirements change yearly
Information for Calculating Pension Rates: http://www.benefits.va.gov/PENSION/rates.asp
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Additional Payments

  • Aid and Attendance
  • Housebound
Only veterans who qualify for Veterans Pension are eligible for Aid and Attendance or Housebound payments. Aid and Attendance or Housebound payments may not be combined. A veteran may only receive one or the other in addition to Veterans Pension.

Aid and Attendance

  • Veterans eligible for Veterans Pension
  • Requires help performing everyday tasks, like bathing, OR
  • Is bedridden, OR
  • Lives in a nursing home as the result of mental or physical inability, OR
  • Limited Eyesight

Housebound

  • Permanent disability resulting in confinement
  • Already receiving Veterans Pension
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Clothing Allowance

  • Veterans using a prosthetic device
  • Veterans using an orthopedic device 
  • Clothing damaged by prescription to treat skin condition
  • Currently, the clothing allowance rate is $764.30.
  • Rate changes yearly.
Types of clothing covered by the allowance include:

Shirts
Blouses
Pants
Skirts
Shorts

Clothing not covered by the allowance includes:

Shoes
Hats
Scarves
Underwear
Socks

The VA makes payments for the clothing allowance only once per year, between September 1st and October 31st. Veterans must submit their applications for the clothing allowance prior to August 1st of the year(s) they desire to receive the allowance.
Photo by ]babi]

Service-Connected Disability Compensation

  • Condition linked to military service
  • Determined by percentage injury
  • More serious injuries receive more compensation
  • Tax free

Filing a Claim

  • Be thorough
  • Be persuasive
  • Make it easy for the reader
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Filing the Initial Claim

  • Use VA Form 21-526, or 
  • Use eBenefits, or
  • Visit your Regional VA
Here is the link to VA Form 21-526:
http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-526-ARE.pdf
Photo by Ravages

Character of Service Determination (CSD)

  • Veterans with less than fully honorable discharge 
  • CSD triggered by applying for VA pension
  • or compensation
  • Some veterans are not eligible for a CSD
If a veteran was discharged under any of the following circumstances, he or she will not be eligible for a CSD:

Receiving a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge after a General Court-Martial conviction,
Accepting an undesirable discharge instead of being court-martialed,
Receiving a discharge for committing an offense involving “moral turpitude”,
Receiving a discharge for “willful and persistent misconduct”,
Spying for the enemy,
Refusing to perform duties or follow orders.

The list above is not exhaustive, and there may be other reasons a veteran is not eligible for a CSD.

Using VA Form 21-526

  • Gather records you have that support your claim
  • Include a copy of your DD214
  • Provide account information for your financial institution
  • Prepare VA Form 21-4142 if you received medical treatment outside VA
  • May want a witness to also sign VA Form 21-4142
Photo by Connor Tarter

After Filing a Claim

  • Pay attention to correspondence
  • Pay attention to deadlines
  • Seek help if you need it
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