If you are a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran, you will want to understand the benefits that may be available to you to help cover the cost for home care services. In our last blog post, we explained two different types of benefits to explore. If you think you may qualify for veterans’ benefits, what happens next?
Applying for Veterans’ Benefits
You’ll be glad to know that Aid & Attendance and Housebound benefits are extremely helpful in ensuring that care at home is available to veterans and their spouses. However, applying for and receiving these benefits isn’t always easy and can be quite time-consuming.
At Dakota Home Care, we’re here to help you every step of the way in obtaining the benefits to which you’re entitled.
To begin, you’ll need to contact the VA regional office that has jurisdiction of your claim. This will be the office where you filed your claim for pension benefits. If you’re not sure which office is the appropriate one, any VA regional office can point you in the right direction, or check here for more information.
When applying for veterans’ benefits, you will have to provide a report that includes:
- Confirmation from a doctor that verifies the need for either Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits
- Sufficient detail to verify a disease or an injury that has resulted in loss of coordination, mental or physical impairment, or any condition that affects the ability to self-dress and undress, eat, take care of bathroom needs, and maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness
- Clarification on whether you are attempting to receive Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits with verification on what you can do in a typical day, how well you get around, and where you go
Although the process is lengthy and may take up to six months to process and approve or deny benefits, if approved, these benefits will be retro-dated to your date of application.
Additional Helpful Links
- Veteran’s Pension: Find information on the veteran’s pension, find out if you are eligible, download the application or apply online
- Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits Q&A: Discover answers to common questions about veterans’ benefits, links to forms you may need, and other resources
- Military Records Request: Utilize this tool to request copies of military records such as orders and endorsements, awards and decorations, performance reports, security clearance, qualifications, certificates, licenses, and more
While it’s not an easy process to apply for veterans’ benefits, it’s well worth your time and effort, and our care experts are here to provide you with the help and support you need. Contact us at (877) 691-0015 with any questions about obtaining benefits and to find out more about how we can help.