JAB

My mother resides in an assisted living facility and has Alzheimer's disease. She currently receives the VA death benefit pension plus A&A, for my deceased father's military service. I see that A&A is excluded when trying to qualify for SSA's "extra help" program, but I cannot find out if the death pension portion is counted as income. If so, this amount of income would disqualify her for extra help, when add to her Social Security check. I am 100% SC and I'm paying for the biggest portion of her rent, so I don't want to miss out on any possible help with the cost of her prescription drugs. Thanks in advance, Glad2Bhere

Thanks for the replies. I didn't specify that I wanted to purchase a medigap plan, which only has a 6 month period when applicants are guaranteed acceptance, and that is what I missed. PR, the supplement you purchased must have been Medicare Advantage (part C). I think I could get that during the enrollment period, starting Oct. 15th, but that puts you in a HMO or PPO where you can't choose your doctor. I'm going to need some ortho surgeries and I have a friend who has medigap Plan F. He just had a hip replaced, with complications due to his other health problems. He chose the best Dr he could find, and the total bill, including an extended hospital stay was about $120,000. Medicare part A and B paid about 1/2 of the bill, Plan F paid the balance and my friend paid zero. This is what I tried to get, but was denied. I've spoken with several entities, including state and Fed, with no luck. I hear you loud and clear about appealing thru medicare, and how paperwork is the only thing that counts. I won't forget this good advice.

I'm 100% disabled with full VA benefits and have been SSA disabled for almost 20 years. When I turned 65 last fall, wasn't notified about this 6 month guaranteed acceptance period. I suppose It's possible that I received a notice that I overlooked due to the massive amount of medical junk mail I received before and after turning 65. I want to purchase a medicare supplement plan, but was told that I'd have to qualify through the ins. underwriters, which I did by completing an application. Then I was informed that I would also have to pay a higher rate since I missed the 6 month period by 5 weeks. The added premium for plan F is over $1200 a year which would be a hardship for me. I think they failed to notify me of this time limit because the 6 mo period starts when you turn 65 AND get medicare part B. Since I've had B for so long I might have been overlooked and wasn't notified, but I can't prove it. I should have studied this before hand and understood this gotcha rule, but my medication and mental condition surely played a role in my failure to understand this. I suppose I could appeal this situation to medicare but after talking to them, they basically told me that rules are rules and there's nothing that can be done. This just seems like a very stiff penalty for barely missing Is there any hope that the VA could help me get this penalty waived. I could probably get a VA doctor's letter stating that due to my condition, I am unable to keep my affairs in order and an error like this could be associated with my disability. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Absolutely! Been ner, done nat. Fight or flight kicks in, and neither works.

Berta and Harley, I can't thank you enough for your help and input. I started this thread in a quest for champva info, and I see now that I'm not qualified for that. Then I swerved over to my confusion about receiving letters from the VARO stating that I was 100% SC, since my rating decision was established due to a NSC 1151. In my haste, I called the Veterans help line and it was confirmed that I wasn't SC, and that the letters I received were erroneous. I probably did "open a can of worms" with that call, and looking back, I can't believe I made that bonehead mistake. I just asked a simple question and never dreamed that Peggy would fetch her supervisor to study my case. However, since I'm not really SC, I understand that it needs to be corrected and I'll just have to knuckle down and deal with the consequences, which could possibly include a review with new exams. If this happens, I will let them know about the air gun shots in BT, in an effort to finally establish SC. I would like to hear from anyone with knowledge about the air gun, and especially any claims that have been awarded due to that procedure. Berta, would a new "air gun" thread be called for, or possibly a sticky post? There's gotta be a ton of vets with hepC that haven't even considered that as a source of their infection. thanks again, JAB

No, I'd never connected the blood sharing air gun with hepC, until years after I was awarded the 1151 claim. No proof but the air gun was red with blood splatter AND with blood from touching other arms before mine. I don't remember seeing any attempt to clean the head of the gun. True........ but Berta, I'm hesitant to start a fight with the VARO again, can you understand? Maybe if ASKNOD or another member has air gun info, they could chime in here. If proof about this has been established out there somewhere, maybe I can find it, then I'd be more inclined to give it a try.

Berta, I did a poor job of explaining things and I'm not sure how to clear it all up. The 160% I referred to, was actually 2 conditions rated at 100% each. Their letter stated that my smc was due to having a total of 160%. In fact, it is 200% but like you say, the pay chart only goes up to 100%. "Question....in 2012 did the VA pay you separate additional compensation,as retro, for the SC they deemed as 100%?" No. I received the 2nd rating around 2002 and that only added the smc to the original 100% 1151. Berta the first condition was chronic hepC and the VRO decided it was more than likely that I caught it from non sc surgery at the VA hospital. I have since learned how the virus was transmitted by that jet gun injector they used to immunize us while in BT. Everyone had blood running down their arm and we all became so-called blood brothers. That would mean that I should be sc instead of 1151 but since I was at 100% anyway, I've never mentioned this to the VRO. Below is the letter I mentioned receiving in 2012, and I don't know what "change" they're referring to.

I called the regional office to ask questions, and I left my call-back number. They returned my call on time from 800-827-1000, so I figure it was from a national call center. The lady was very polite, but she wasn't able to answer my questions, so she put me on hold while she and her supervisor researched my case. When she finally returned, she said that since my original claim (many years ago), was a 1151 claim and non-SC, that my second claim was a direct result of the first claim, and that I shouldn't even be rated service-connected. I immediately wished that I hadn't even made this call and I didn't agree with what she was saying. Actually, my first claim should have been SC and not a 1151, but I didn't appeal it, and won't go into that can of worms here. Anyway, I politely thanked her and told her that I had to go, and that I didn't need anything else. Now, I am concerned that they will send info about this "so-called mistake" to my regional office, which could cause a review, possibly including a new exam, along with all the unpleasant medical tests, etc...... For lack of better words, that would suck! I don't think there's any way they could lower my percentage, since I'm not getting better, but the idea of reopening my case is very unsettling, at this stage. I wonder if the fine folks on the help lines are trained to look for mistakes, report to supervisors, make changes to my status, or forward the info to regional office. I know now that I don't qualify for CHAMPVA, and that's the info I originally posted about,.........BUT, My new question to the forum is........Do I have a reason to be concerned about that phone call, or am I being paranoid?

Thanks for the replies. jbgasser, I registered at ebenefits and didn't see commisary privileges. It just shows that I'm 100% SC. The site is helpful though, and I appreciate the heads up. Berta, your stories are interesting and encouraging. I'm amazed at your understanding of the VAs inner workings. It's great to have you on here helping out. It sorta helps to level the playing field a bit. ;) I will be contacting my VRO, actually tried today without success, but will leave a call back number tomorrow. On a side note, eBenefits "historic claims" show that there have been 2 rating reviews in the past year and they appear to be completed, and it says that letters were sent to me, but I didn't receive them. On the same page it states "We apologize that your claim is past due". I haven't got a clue what that's all about. thanks

I understand that I'm required to be permanent & totally disabled for my wife to be eligible for CHAMPVA, and after several phone calls, I'm still confused about this. I was originally granted 100% compensation in the 1990s under 38 USC 1151 which was non-service connected. Several years later, as my health declined, I received a new rating which continued the original rating and added an additional illness which was also evaluated at 100%. At that time, I started receiving a special monthly compensation for being above 160%. I don't see P&T on any of my papers, but I did receive a letter from the VARO in 2007 stating that I'm not scheduled for a future exam since improvement of my disabilities is not expected. Then in 2012 I received a VARO letter saying that information used to establish my benefits had recently changed, and that I was enrolled in priority group 1 and that I was now rated 100% "Service connected". Should I send champva an application and let them figure all this out, or should I ask my VARO to readdress my case. My wife and I are a little apprehensive about stirring up any trouble with the VARO, and we wonder if we should just let sleeping dogs lie. :) Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The IRA was reported as an asset. I know the interest is income, but I wondered how an asset can become income. I suppose I can report the withdrawal and let the VA decide how to handle it. Glad2Bhere

My mother receives A&A and it's time to complete the EVR (Eligibility Verification Report). Last year she had to withdraw money from her small non-Roth IRA to pay for home repairs. Of course, it will be reported and taxed on her 1040 return, but should it be counted as income when filling out her EVR? thank you

My elderly mother was recently awarded A&A and I need to find info about the EVR (eligibility verification report). I understand that we will need to complete this form every year to qualify for continuing the pension. Where can I find specific answere to my questions below? thanks 1. Since family member(s) will provide most of the A&A, what kind of proof will the VA require to verify the payments made to the care givers? 2. If we have to sell her house, she will be over the income limit . Does this disqualify her for 1 year only since the income will only be reported on one tax return? 3. Selling her house will also put her over the asset limit (capital gain). Will she be disqualified until she eventually spends down the proceeds of her home sale?

No I'm afraid not Berta. Dad died over 20 years ago from non-service connected liver failure and was only 30% SC for asthma and lung issues. Retiredat44, I've heard about these dangers and thanks for the warning. I do live close enough to mom to keep an eye peeled for this sort of thing, and I will do just that. I'm sorry that you've had to go through such an awful experience. I'm sure there are some fine folks out there for in-home nursing care, but your story illustrates that there are also some dirty rotten scoundrels preying on the sick and elderly.