1. Pre-qualify: Pre-qualifying is a way to see if the applicant "could" get the benefit. The VA has criteria that you must meet ( see "how it works " on our site) But what they do not tell you is it can change with different scenarios such as:
* High age
* Too many savings ( should be in the "safe zone")

(This is just an example of what we have seen over time but possibly not always the case.) A 76 year old senior with 40K in savings (IRA's, CD's, Savings, and Annuity) may be a good candidate, but a 92 year old man may be considered to have enough money to last him (due to the fact he is over life expectancy in the eyes of the VA.) Same goes for the married couples. 80K may be fine for 76 and 74 year old married couple, but in their upper 80's-90, you may want to consider the possibility of denial due to high savings.

The VA makes the final decision and all we can do is give you some advice on what we believe and have seen to be the best case scenario. We are not recommending that you fix the financial status ( if savings, CD's, IRA's are too high) to qualify, but we have seen many do this in order to qualify since the VA does not look back usually on what you had before you applied. If you do this, make sure you know what you are doing. Please be careful not to fall into the traps of bad annuity financial salesmen that may talk you into "hiding" your money while profiting off your senior putting them in a bad annuity that they were unaware of the penalties for. Be careful.

If you decide to apply, we will provide all of the forms you need. YOU though, must locate the documents needed:
Discharge papers
Marriage license (for marriage of surviving spouses)
Death certificates (for surviving spouses)
*** Cannot stress enough how important it is to obtain the claimants medical records from their doctors office. This will make it much easier for the VA adjudicator to make a decision when they receive the application or else they will send away for these records and that takes TIME! Include proof of income (bank statement or social security statements?)

The forms may seem overwhelming, but with a little guidance you will do just fine. You will be a "pro" when you are done and now can help others! There is no need to hire a person to do this for you. This process is free.

Only the claimant/senior signs the paperwork (VA does not recognize a power of attorney to sign for the claimant) if that is not possible, have them sign an "X" and follow the witness instructions.

****Make notes of what you cannot answer or don't know how to answer and call us with those questions and we can try to assist you or find you a local VA officer who can . We cannot legally fill out any portion of your application, advise you on what your answers should be or charge you or the eldercare provider for the help we offer you. We are advocates, here to help you get everything you need to file, but you are the one who will be responsible for all of the filing and corresponding with the VA with the claimant. We are more then happy to guide you or put you in touch with a local VA officer if you need one. You cannot pay a person or company to help you. Doing so is illegal. Usually families and their seniors can get things all together in a week or less. It's easier then you think. YOU CAN DO IT!

Make sure everything is correct when you mail it off to the REGIONAL OFFICE in your state.

1. You answered all basic questions on the application correctly
2. The income reported is close to or exhausted by ALL medical expenses reported.
Very Basic Example:
Income $2000
Medical expenses (includes PVT health care, and other medical costs paid out of pocket, RX, DR co pays, insurances, nursing home costs, eye glasses, dentist, ,,,,,,so on) $2000 total medical expenses Income here is zero, full benefit should be awarded.
Always list all of your medical expenses creating as much a deficit as possible to show the VA you are in financial hardship due to your medical expense vs. your income. Better to play it safe! The VA does make the final decision.
Savings reported are what was recommended and at or under the amount in the "safe zone"
3. Claimant signed ( or made an "X" and had witnesses)
4. All copies of discharge papers, marriage, death cert., and medical history provided by DR office, Proof of income (bank statements, block out account numbers) is all there.
5. Big envelope and an address to the REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE STATE WHERE THE CLAIMANT LIVES only. Do not send these documents to any other location. Send delivery certified so you can track the package. Remember, if the VA loses it, you will have to submit a new application but now you can prove you sent one and they will have to Retro-date it back.
6. Make a copy of the file to keep for that purpose.

You should receive a courtesy letter in about 4-6 weeks form the VA stating they have received your application and are working on it. If you do not get this, let us know or call 800-827-1000. We may suggest you call to see why and if they do not have it on file, if not you may need to resubmit and use the proof of delivery to prove you did do this once before. It happens, not often, but it happens. Also, if you are calling for the claimant, make sure you did a 21-22a, have the veterans social security number available ( so you can represent the claimant legally in these matters if you did a 21-22a) The VA still may not speak with you but be persistent or have the claimant present. Just make sure it's filed!

We expect you will receive a few correspondences from the VA; some will make no sense, but still need to be addressed. Just give us a call and we will help the best we can. These letters can be erroneous and sometimes ask you for things you already submitted, but all in all, you still need to address it because it’s worth it! Be persistent and vigilant for your senior.

If all goes well, you will receive a letter saying "Benefits have been awarded" in the average time of 6 months with a date when they will begin! Success! However, if they have found the claimant to be " Incompetent" due to extreme dementia or Alzheimer's, they may withhold the benefit until a fiduciary is set in place, this will more then likely be the Power of attorney requesting by mail to be this person for them. They may decide to interview you, call you or perhaps award this status by your mailed request. Either way, stay on top of this and keep bugging and calling until they let you have it. Remember, benefits are still accumulating each month while you wait for this. Don't give up, it's so worth it! Be your seniors advocate and never give up!

In closing: Every case has its own challenges, or maybe they don’t and the VA just got it wrong. Oh yes, they can be wrong on many cases. You have to be willing to fight and hang in there. Prove them wrong, fight. If it seems wrong, tell them. Always try to write them instead of calling the famous toll free number. The persons answering the phones there are not the adjudicators; they don't understand the process most of the time and often give out wrong information, only upsetting the family worse. Their job is to offer basic info, mail out applications and move to the next call. It’s a shame but unfortunately the way it is. Don't put their word in stone.