By Larry Dandridge
This is the first of four articles on 23 VA benefits for elderly veterans.
What you do not know about VA benefits and services will hurt you — and your family. As a veteran advocate, past Veterans Service Officer, wounded warrior, 100% service-connected veteran, and elderly veteran, I know how valuable veterans’ benefits are.
Therefore, I am writing again to remind veterans, veterans’ family members, veterans’ spouses, veterans’ survivors, and veterans’ caregivers to please make an appointment with a local VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO). I am writing again to remind veterans to have their VSO review their veterans benefits and how to claim those benefits before it is too late. I am reminding veterans to enroll in VA healthcare.
Do not let being a retired military service member prevent you from filing for VA benefits. Do not let being wealthy or comfortable prevent you from filing for VA benefits. Do not forget that filing for your VA benefits helps other veterans get their benefits and helps create justification for complete funding of your veterans’ benefits.
Elderly veterans
According to the VA webpage titled “Veterans” found at https://bit.ly/4im1ilw and the 2015-2019 American Community Survey, the veteran population aged 65 or older numbered more than 18.2 million. These Veterans served in conflicts around the world, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even the Persian Gulf War. As veterans age, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will provide benefits and services that address various issues, including the changing health risks elderly veterans face and financial challenges through VA benefits and health services.
VA Benefits in general
Elderly Veterans may be eligible for a wide variety of benefits available to all U.S. military veterans (young and elderly). VA benefits include:
- Pension, disability compensation, education and training, health care, Home loans, insurance, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and burial.
Elderly veterans must know their VA social worker
VA social workers are not just passive caregivers; they are innovative in finding ways to help their patients and their patient’s family members. After a veteran signs up for VA health care and chooses their main VA medical facility (see https://www.va.gov/find-locations/), the VA will assign the veteran to a healthcare multi-functional care team called a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), which will include a Social Worker. The VHA Social Work webpage at https://bit.ly/49mZFzz shows Raven Neal to be the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Social Work Leader at 843-577-5011 and email Raven.Neal@va.gov. Learn more at:
- The Island News article “Veterans Must Know Their VA Social Worker,” dated Oct. 23, 2024, https://bit.ly/3VllutR.
- “How to Apply for VA Health Care” is at https://bit.ly/3B7x5Dz.
- “VA Social Work” homepage at https://www.socialwork.va.gov.
- “Your VA Primary Care Provider and PACT Team,” found at https://bit.ly/3VmK9Om.
VA Benefits for elderly veterans
Two VA programs, the “Aid and Attendance Program” and the “Housebound Program,” provide specific elderly veterans with an additional monetary amount if they are eligible for or receiving a “VA Pension” benefit.
VA pension
The VA’s pension program (Regular Pension and enhanced benefits of Aid & Attendance and Housebound) provides monthly benefit payments to certain wartime veterans and their survivors who have financial needs. Learn more by watching the VA YouTube video titled “Enhanced Pension Benefits (Aid & Attendance and Housebound Benefits)” at https://bit.ly/4fXRlJ8 and by reading the information at https://benefits.va.gov/pension/ and https://benefits.va.gov/pension/index.asp. Contact the VA at 1-877-294-6380 and ask your VSO to explain your benefits.
Aid and Attendance (A&A) is an increased monthly pension amount paid if the veteran meets one of the conditions below:
- The veteran requires help performing daily functions, including bathing, eating, or dress ing.
- The veteran is bedridden.
- The veteran is a patient in a nursing home.
- The veteran’s eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
Housebound is an increased monthly pension amount paid if the veteran is substantially confined to your immediate premises because of a permanent disability.
Learn more about these benefits on the VA Aid & Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance webpage at https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/.
VA Health care for elderly veterans
According to the VA webpage “Veterans (Elderly Veterans)” found at https://bit.ly/4im1ilw, Geriatrics is health care for elderly veterans with complex needs. Extended care, also known as long-term care, is a program for veterans of all ages who need another individual’s daily support and assistance. Elderly veterans can receive geriatric and long-term care programs at home, at VA medical centers, or in the community.
VA programs for elderly veterans include but are not limited to the following:
1. Geriatrics and Extended Care Program: The VA provides eligible veterans with Home and Community-Based Services, Residential Settings and Nursing Home Care, Advanced Care Planning, Mental Health Care, Memory Loss Care, Brain Health Care, Health-Fitness-Rehabilitation Care, Caregiver training and Support, access to Community Resources, and more. Learn more at https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/ and ask your VSO and VA Social Worker for help.
2. Long-Term Care: Long-term care includes a wide range of services, such as help with everyday tasks and support for managing an illness. It is provided for an extended period when someone cannot do everyday tasks themselves. It can be provided in many settings, such as a person’s home, community sites, residential settings, and nursing homes. Long-term care may include support for family members or other caregivers who help people who are ill or disabled. For detailed descriptions of long-term care services and settings within the VA, veterans should review the VA webpages below:
- “Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Home Health Care” at https://bit.ly/49hQ6Cd.
- “Services at Home and in the Community” at https://bit.ly/3ZldWIr and
- “Residential Settings and Nursing Homes” at https://bit.ly/41h4Vmj. Veterans may be able to pay for long-term care services through VA, Federal (Medicare), and State (Medicaid) programs, insurance, or private funds.
Veterans’ eligibility for long-term care services provided in any long-term care setting will be determined based on their need for ongoing treatment, personal care, assistance, and the availability of the service in their location. Other factors, such as financial eligibility, the veteran’s service-connected (VA disability) status, insurance coverage, and/or ability to pay, may also apply. If you still have questions after reviewing the above websites, call toll-free, 1-877-222-VETS (8387), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CST), or contact your VA social worker.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is also the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
