This first-of-its kind publication reveals the little-known process of applying for a veterans benefit to help with the costs of long term care. This special benefit is officially called "pension" but is more popularly known as the "veterans aid and attendance pension benefit."

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Pension can provide an additional monthly income of up to $1,843 a month for a couple, $1,555 a month for a single veteran or $999 a month for a single surviving spouse of a veteran. The majority of veteran households typically only qualify for pension when these households are incurring the high costs of home care, assisted living or nursing home care. Under certain conditions, VA considers these costs to be medical expenses.

This book contains information that VA does not volunteer to the public about how to receive a successful pension award. VA typically tells callers to go ahead and fill out the application but provides no information on the annualization of recurring medical costs. The claims form also contains no information on this important issue. One simply has to know how to do it. This crucial step can make the difference between a successful award and being declined. All necessary forms for filing a claim are in the book.

The handbook contains information on all Veterans Benefits and an appendix with the following:

• List of VA regional offices and veterans service organizations
• List of state veterans homes with contact information
• List of VA medical centers and associated clinics

The secret to shortening the time from submission to a decision is to anticipate all of the documentation requirements that are necessary and submit them with the original application.

If the claimant is accurate in filling out the form, in providing proper discharge papers and proof of relationship, in anticipating the need for a fiduciary, and in providing the proper VA power of attorney or guardianship proof, the initial claim is well on its way to being approved more quickly.

Another important issue in submitting a well-documented claim is knowing, in advance, what evidence and documents are required for a rating decision. By providing those documents upfront and not waiting for VA to come back with a request, the claim can be passed by the triage team immediately to the rating activity for a final decision. This might cut the time for a decision from 8 to 12 months to fewer than two or three months.