Caregiver resources from the VA

A belated Veterans Day issue

Friends, no. But how about to get a fancy walker?

In the United States, 8.5 million people aged 65 and over are veterans of military service. Because the US had a draft until 1973, many people who were called up never got anywhere near an atomic bomb, Agent Orange, or a burn pit. They don’t necessarily identify with their military service, even though they did it.

At the Fincon Expo last month, I attended a session offered by Kate Horrell, who works with veterans and families, on things that the financial media should know about dealing with veterans. Her key point is that many veterans don’t know what is available to them, and if they don’t know, their extended family doesn’t know.

And what’s available? Eyeglasses. Prescriptions. Walkers and other mobility assistance. Home health care. Respite care for caregivers. Any of these things can make someone’s life better, allow them to live at home longer, and help their Medicare go further.

Because the Department of Veterans Affairs offers some great eldercare services, your eligible relatives should apply. The first step to determining eligibility is to have the veteran get a copy of their discharge papers. The VA has instructions for doing so through the mail, if necessary. The form is known as a DD214, and it outlines the veteran’s service and the terms of the discharge. This form is also useful for getting discounts offered by different merchants, including automakers; you can find those details at Military.com.

Sometimes your older relatives don’t talk about their military service because it was so hard; others don’t talk because it was easy (e.g., they served at a desk in the US while other people were shot at in Vietnam, and they find it disrespectful to call attention to that fact). But some don’t talk about it because they were not honorably discharged.

This is important: people who were not honorably discharged are not eligible for benefits from the VA. If the veteran in your life refuses to cooperate with getting a DD214, chances are good that they did not receive an honorable discharge. They may be able to apply for a review of their status, but they will need to cooperate with you for that.

The VA has a list of complete eligibility rules. The basic requirement is two years of service and an honorable discharge, but some people qualify with lesser service. Others have “enhanced eligibility”. This means that they have greater priority on waiting lists and access to more benefits because of what they did in the military, their level of disability, and their income. A low-income Medal of Honor winner who lost a leg while serving in the Republic of Vietnam in 1968 will have much higher priority than the person who lucked out, sat behind a desk stateside, and never suffered anything worse than a paper cut. Both are eligible for services, though. Navigating the system is easier if you understand both eligibility and priority.

After your loved one applies for VA benefits, they will receive a letter in the mail and a benefits handbook that covers the specific benefits and copays associated with their priority group. Take a look and see what it offers that might benefit your situation.

In many cases, you’ll have to go to the nearest VA hospital for services. And, you may have to be polite but persistent. Horrell told the Fincon audience that veterans (and their families) may want to connect with different veterans’ organizations or with state veterans’ affairs offices for assistance in getting services. If you’re really having trouble and your relative is suffering, consider calling their congressional representative’s office.

Families should also know that the VA has a burial benefit. It’s small, but it’s there. The VA also has a pension for certain veterans and their spouses. It’s only for veterans with a low income, but it is a lifeline for many families.

Finally, Horrell warned her audience that veterans are a rich target for scams. Check everything carefully, because the bad guys are out there.

Do you have any thoughts or tips? Please share in the comments.