By Larry Dandridge
This is the fifth and final article in a series of five on elderly veterans’ VA benefits. The first four articles and all past articles by Larry Dandridge on veterans and military benefits can be found in the Island News archives at https://www.yourislandnews.com; click on Military.
Enroll in VA Healthcare
Young and elderly veterans are encouraged to enroll in VA Healthcare and write down who their VA Patient Aligned (Primary Care) Care Team (PACT) members are. A VA PACT Team uses a team-based approach to providing healthcare.
VA PACT Teams include a VA Primary Care Provider (Doctor, PA, or NP), Nurse Manager (RN), Clinical Associate, Administrative Clerk, and the veteran’s family members and caregivers. Veterans should enroll even if they currently use other healthcare services (Medicare, Tricare for Life, Civilian Healthcare, etc.).
Learn how to enroll (by phone, by mail, in person at a VA Medical Center or CBOC, or with the help of a Veterans Service Officer)in VA healthcare by following the instructions at https://bit.ly/3B7x5Dz.
Know your social worker
Veterans are also encouraged to know who their VA Social Worker is and to visit their VA Primary Care Provider at least once every year. Elderly veterans and their families and caregivers need to know who the veteran’s VA Social Worker is because their VA Social Worker is the expert on helping veterans understand their VA benefits and how to apply for them.
Learn more by reading The Island News article dated Oct. 23, 2024, titled “Veterans Must Know Their VA Social Worker” at https://bit.ly/3VllutR.
Benefit 20 of 23 — Palliative Care
This care uses comfort care, focusing on relieving suffering and controlling symptoms so that the veteran can carry out day-to-day activities and continue to do what is most important to him or her. Palliative care aims to improve the veteran’s quality of life — mind, body, and spirit.
Palliative Care can be combined with treatment to cure or control a veteran’s illness. It can be started at the time of the veteran’s diagnosis and may be provided throughout the illness.
Learn more at https://bit.ly/3ZXFjIV and by talking with your VA Social Worker.
Benefit 21 of 23 — Hospice Care
Hospice Care is comfort care provided to veterans and their families if the veteran has a terminal condition, with less than six months to live (if the disease takes its normal course), and is no longer seeking treatment other than palliative care. Hospice Care can be provided at home, in an outpatient clinic, or in an inpatient setting.
Veterans can receive curative treatment while in hospice for any condition that is curable. Veterans can and will receive treatment to prevent and control pain and discomfort. For veterans interested in receiving inpatient hospice services at a Community Living Center (VA Nursing Home), check out the “Survey Scores for Hospice Care” at https://bit.ly/3ZUpjYs, which may help you or your family when faced with the task of choosing a nursing home setting for hospice care.
Learn more at https://bit.ly/3ZXMxwv, and the four The Island News articles on the VA and Ralph H. Johnson VA Hospice program published in June 2021. Go to https://www.yourislandnews.com and click on Military. Learn more about VA hospice by talking with your VA Social Worker.
Benefit 22 of 23 — Disability Compensation
Disability Compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans (young and old) with disabilities who have suffered a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Compensation may also be paid for post-service disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service.
Generally, the degrees of disability specified are also designed to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses. Learn more about Disability Compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at https://bit.ly/3DNaEqg. Contact the VA at 1-877-294-6380 or ask your Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to explain your benefits.
Benefit 23 of 23 – 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://bit.ly/4fU1hmp. Contact the VA at 1-877-294-6380 or ask your VSO to explain your benefits.
How to Apply for VA Benefits
The specific VA benefit or program web page will provide tailored information about how to apply for a particular benefit or program. Generally, servicemembers, veterans, and families can apply for VA benefits using one of the methods below.
- Ask your local Veterans Service officer (VSO) to help you file your claim and represent you to the VA.
- Apply online using https://www.va.gov OR
- Work with an accredited representative or agent (see https://bit.ly/3TcLOoK), OR
- Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee assist you. You can find your regional office on our Facility Locator page (see https://www.va.gov/landing2_locations.htm).
- File your claim using an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ). Print the form, fill it out, and send it to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, Wis. 53547-4444
The bottom line
Use a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help you understand your state and federal (VA) benefits. No one, two, or five articles can explain all a veteran and his or her family needs to know about federal and state veterans’ benefits. Use a VA-accredited VSO to help enroll in VA healthcare. Use a VSO to help you apply for all the VA and state benefits you are eligible for. Read all the available information at https://www.va.gov; state veterans websites (for example, for S.C., Ga., and N.C., go to https://scdva.sc.gov, https://veterans.georgia.gov, and https://www.milvets.nc.gov), and The Island News’ past articles on veterans benefits.
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.
