2009 Means Test....information

[Stretch]

VA Health Care.....Fact Sheet 164-10.....June 2009

VA National Income Thresholds

Means test for 2008 and 2009.

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Librar...eThresholds.pdf

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If your projected year income is below the Means Test Thresholds or Geographic Means Test Thresholds, you may qualify for cost-free VA medical care.

Hardship Veterans Outreach

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/costs/Hardship.asp

[Pete53]

Thanks Stretch

I noticed that maximum allowable is 10 bucks a year more than Pension.

[broncovet]

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Librar...eThresholds.pdf

I read the link...gee, if I read this right, if Vets have more than 80K in assets they dont make the "means test". I guess Veterans are not supposed to own a home, and their not supposed to have a 401k at work. $80k in Assets in America CERTAINLY is not rich. Frankly, a home worth less than 80 k is usually in a pretty bad neighborhood. I think the "average" priced home in america is just about double 80, or 160k. I guess the Va does not want Veterans to be homeowners, they want us to be poor and they plan on keeping us this way.

And 80k in your 401k will get you a stick with a nail in it to collect cans to pay your heat bill, and that is about it. If you were to try to retire with 80k, and you got 5% interest on your money, it would generate you a whopping $330 per month retirement to live on. You really need at least 10 times that amount, and, even then, a retirement of $3300 per month for a couple probably is not going to be enough if you live very long.

[Stretch]

Your House and primary Vehicle and not included in net worth. Net worth is calculated the same as VA pension.

VA_Net_Worth.doc

http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/va_search.jsp?SQ=&TT=1&QT=Pension+net+worth

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67. General Information on Net Worth, Continued

b. Net worth criteria

The term net worth for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) purposes includes all personal property owned by the claimant, except for personal effects suitable to the claimant's reasonable mode of life.

For veterans' Improved Pension, a veteran's net worth includes the net worth of his/her spouse.

This means that normal household objects and possessions are not included in a net worth determination. Likewise, motor vehicles used for family transportation are not included in determining net worth, nor is the claimant's home.

However, personal property that is owned primarily as an investment, for example, an antique automobile or a coin collection, is included in determining net worth.

Note: The term personal property includes all tangible property that is not land (real property) or fixtures on land.

[Pete53]

The VA is not supposed to count your home.