BREAKING NEWS! VA TO IMPOSE THREE YEAR LOOKBACK PERIOD
IMMINENTLY!
Under current law, Veterans and
their spouses are entitled to a much needed stipend, Aid and Attendance, to
offset the rising costs of their healthcare needs and avoid nursing home
placement. The current monthly needs
amount of $2,120.00 for married veterans and $1149 for surviving spouses are in
jeopardy.
The Veterans
Administration recently released new regulations that are currently subject to
a period for public comment. One of the
proposed regulations will impose a three year “look-back period”, similar to
that imposed for Medicaid benefits, upon Veterans. What this means is that those veterans who
are able to get benefits, have sacrificed by serving during wartime and have
counted on the VA to fulfill their promise to take care of the Vets and their
families, will find it difficult, if not impossible, to qualify for the
benefits without substantially eroding their personal savings. Monies transferred would result in a period
of ineligibility for benefits, up to a TEN year period.
It is
important to note that Congress has made several attempts to have this type of
rule put into place in the last several years but political pressure has
stranded the unpopular measure. The
agency is under no such pressure.
I encourage
EVERYONE to immediately review their plans with an elder law attorney in order
to avoid being disqualified for much needed benefits. You should also call or email your
Congressman immediately to let them know that this regulation, which will impoverish
those that have sacrificed, should not go into effect. You can find your congressman here: http://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup.
Suggested text should be:
RE: Loan Guaranty: Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Notification Requirements and
Look-Back Period, 80 Fed. Reg. 4812
(January 25, 2015)
Dear Congressman (or Senator):
I am aware that the Veterans
Administration has issued regulations that are now undergoing a period of
public comment. I am outraged that the
VA will impose regulations that are designed to impoverish our Veterans after
their years of service. The regulations
are not carefully constructed to ensure the Veteran and his spouse are not left
impoverished, quite the contrary. In
addition, there are no hardship provisions, no provisions to leave property for
the Veteran’s disabled children, and goes further to impose a draconian 10 year
penalty.
This is not the way to treat our
Veterans. All this is being done without
the input of our elected representatives and I am outraged. I am requesting that these regulations be
withdrawn and that the Veterans Administration keep their commitment to
honoring and serving those who have already sacrificed so much for our freedom.
Signed, Your name
Please call Aging in Alabama with
any questions, always a free telephone consultation: (251) 281-8120 or (855) ELD-RLAW.
