Need Help Applying For Aid & Attendance

[JAB]

My mother is living alone in her 80s, and her health is failing to the point that she needs assistance to remain at home. She appears to be elgible for spousal A&A, because of my dad's service in WWII. I've been reading over the 21-534 application and I have questions.

She's become unable to drive and needs assistance to leave home, needs someone to prepare meals, buy groceries, and monitor her diet. If left alone, she only eats junk food since it doesn't require preperation. She can still bathe herself, but wants and needs someone to help her into the bathroom and stand by the door, in case she gets dizzy or were to fall. She has too many medical issues to list here but mainly it's PMR (been on steroids for years), recurring infections that have occasionally required hospitalization, osteoperosis, digestive disorders, and malnutrition (IMO).

First question: I don't know which of her doctors she should ask to fill out the doctor's form. I'm thinking her GP at her local clinic would do this, but he doesn't have access to the various records that the other doctors have. We also don't know what the doctor's report should state specifically, and what the VA case workers are looking for to qualify her..............we're wondering if it might be better to ask the VA to have their own doctor examine mother, since they would know what to look for.

Secondly, her yearly income which consists of SS check, a small pension, and a small IRA withdrawal, amounts to a little over $10,000 a year. She can deduct her medical expenses, etc, and reduce that to $4-$5K or less. She recently began hiring "in home care" from the Visiting Angels, but she's only able to afford them for 3 hours, once weekly, which costs $50. She really needs them to come in 5 days a week 3 hours a day, which would be exactly $1,000 a month. Finally, my 2nd question: Can she state on the application that she needs to spend $1,000 a month for in-home care, and deduct that from her remaining income, or would the service need to be started first, before it could be deducted from her income?

Thanks in advance & sorry for being long-winded,

Glad2Bhere

[retiredat44]

Keep an eye on home health care type people.. I mean the sicial works.. my mother had one and the person actually went using he rPOA and changed paperwork on her apartement lease to show that my moths didn't have any survirvors, and stole everything when my mother died.. I tried taking everyone to court and got screwed,, no lawyer would help because of no money involved.. my father died 20 years ago, and so when my mother died she only had Social security left..

she had a social worker help her with daily needs and the social worker was a theif..

I( was very ver y sick and was unable to take care fo my mother andf my brothyer did al he could..

the courts and police refuse to help when I filed theft chargers against the Los Angeles county social worker..

I contacted the new organizations, tv and radio to telling them of the theives they didn't care.. I sued the apartment owner in smal claims, and the court would not listen..

the apartment manager gave away al the furniture within 2 weeks of her death without notifiing our family of her death..

I sued in court, and got no where the court said the apartmnet manager had no record of me..

my mother lived there for 20 years!

The home health care workers that work for the state and county are theives who steal a families belonging to the elderly!

They have the impression that a limited POA entitles them to the family accounts and belongins, whenin fact it is to help the person with such things and paying bills, shopping etc...

Crooks everythwhere!

I was in the hsopital for 6 months while these crooks worked on stealing everything!

The social worker (home care giver) told me she and her husband took al all my mother papers and documents and shredded them,!

the laywers I contacted would not talk to me unless there was a huge amount of money for them!

I wil never ever get over this and stil want those involved prosecuted! I have their names!

All of the dependent parent regulations are found within this BVA decision:

http://www4.va.gov/v...es1/0902611.txt

"Also, I've already sent a 21-4138 (claim notification for A&A) to my VRO. Can I call them and have them to add DIC to it, or should I send them another 21-4138 for DIC and A&A?"

unless anyone else here has a better idea I strongly suggest you contact a vet org to find representation.

It is the 21-534 form that triggers the VA to determination either DIC or pension eligibility.

If there is a part that asks information about A & A potential that should be filled out-otherwise you can attach request that A & A be determined. The vet rep would have any forms needed.If he/she doesn't the VA will send them to your mother.

The 4138 should be used when submitting new evidence for an established claim or for re-opening a claim.

It doesnt take the place of the formal 21-534 claim form.

[JAB]

There is no chance for a direct SC death?

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.