Veteran’s Benefits

Serving in the United States military is a selfless act and one that can carry serious risks. For many, their time spent in military service is eased by the knowledge that they and their loved ones will ultimately receive veterans benefits that can make life easier.

Unfortunately, navigating government affairs and veteran benefits can be complicated and confusing. Frequently, Read more . . .

Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their families face a variety of challenges. One of those challenges is how to pay for the care a person needs as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease progresses. Veterans and their spouses may be entitled to VA benefits to help pay for care related to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our Read more . . .

2019 will usher in multiple changes in benefits for veterans in California and across the nation. As a veteran, you have served your country, and you deserve these programs, but if you do not know about them, you will miss out of their valuable services.

As if it wasn’t already difficult to obtain needed benefits, veterans must face a new hurdle put into place by the Department of Veteran Affairs. In a new rule finalized this month, the VA has added a number of new limits and requirements to a number of veteran’s benefits programs, including aid and attendance.

What are Aid and Attendance Benefits?

Aid and attendance benefits are additional funds paid to eligible veterans and their spouses in addition to pension payments. These benefits are available so long as you meet certain conditions, which include:

• requiring assistance from another for activities of everyday living, like feeding, dressing, protection, bathing, and using the toilet
• being bedridden for convalescence or treatment
• being incapacitated and living in a nursing home
• having eyesight limited to 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes (corrected), or a 5% reduced visual field.

What is the net worth limit for receipt of a VA pension?

Pension benefits can greatly assist U.S. veterans who demonstrate financial need.  Recently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced new regulations governing the net worth requirements for veterans, as well as income exclusions and asset transfers.  It is expected that the changed law will allow more veterans to qualify for benefits.  Our San Ramon, California veteran’s benefits attorneys explore the new laws and what they might mean for veterans seeking pension benefits.

Veterans may be entitled to a variety of benefits. However, dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be extremely frustrating. Navigating the system, including the numerous forms and requirements, can be overwhelming. In addition, VA regulations and laws are complex and can be difficult to understand.

The Veterans Administration (VA) offers several benefits for disabled veterans. One of these programs is Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI). Unlike standard life insurance, which prefers to cover people who are in perfect health, the S-DVI program is only for people with disabilities. Veterans who might have a hard time obtaining conventional life insurance can get a small amount of coverage through this program.

Eight percent of the total veteran population of the United States lives in California. 1.8 million American veterans make California their home. When you add in their families, this is a massive number of people who have served their country. If you or a family member is a veteran living in California, you need to know

It looks like budgets are going to be shrinking in 2017, as both Social Security and Veterans benefits are slated to become scarce. Due to a 1983 agreement between President Ronald Reagan and a Democratic-led Congress, Social Security Benefits will be cut, just as the age of retirement is raised to 67.  The cash deficit for Social Security is expected to rise from $74 billion to $361 billion by 2025.

Meanwhile, more seniors may be looking at reduced incomes as Veterans’ benefits become harder to qualify for in 2017. According to the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension program, in order to qualify under these new standards, veterans and their spouses must have:

• $80,000 or less in assets
• been honorably discharged
• served 90 consecutive days, at least one of which must have been during an approved period of war.