I am the proud daughter and granddaughter of United State Veterans. My grandfather served as a medic in the U.S. Army during World War II and my father, pictured to the right, served on a carrier in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. My niece and nephew are also carrying on the proud tradition of serving our county in the Army. I am also very proud to say that I work for a company that assists veterans in qualifying for VA benefits that they so rightly deserve. 

Steve Wright

Many Americans have honorably served our nation through their military service, both in times of war and peace.  Americans honor those who served with many great institutions created by veterans, such as the American Legion, AMVETS, and Veterans of Foreign Wars that support veterans.   Each one of these organizations is actively involved in their respective communities and they help create strong bonds between our nations vets and their communities by providing social opportunities that benefit all involved.  However, the federal government created another organization, in order to care for the needs of America’s veterans. 

This organization is known as the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA.  The VA is tasked with providing government funded programs that will provide veterans with access to home purchases, adaptive automobiles, and medical care.  As part of their mission, the VA is also tasked with providing compensation to veterans who were injured as part of their service whether in war or peace.

All that is required of an injured veteran to receive compensation is to submit an application to the VA.  However, this process can be daunting as the VA can deny your claim if the application is not filed properly. In addition, should you be denied, or have already been denied, than it is important to note that you have a right to appeal the adverse decision. So it is wise to contact someone who can help you in this process.

Contacting an Ohio elder law attorney who practices in the area of VA service-connected claims can greatly improve your chances of receiving compensation or successfully appealing an adverse decision.  However, not many attorneys in the state of Ohio know much about VA law, let alone practice in the area.  At Cooper, Adel & Associates, we have attorneys who do know about VA law and may be able to assist you.  

By Lori McBride

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced the deployment of Mobile Service vehicles to help Veterans in rural areas.  This new addition will enable those veterans better access to the mobile veteran centers in these areas.

The VA contracted the Farber Company to build 230 emergency shuttles in addition to the 20 new mobile Veterans Centers to add to the already 50 active units.  These vehicles are custom made to handle all types of terrain.  The program is a great opportunity to service our Veterans as some, travel

in excess of 150 miles to the closest VA hospitals currently for medical treatment.  The mobile centers provide health care, outreach, and counseling.

To learn more about other Veterans Benefits for which you or a spouse of Veteran may qualify but may not be aware of, please contact one of our Elder Law Attorneys at 1-800-798-5297.

By Steven Wright

With the New Year around the corner, this is the time of year that we start to think about changes we want to make, or goals we wish to reach in the upcoming year.  That is why now is the time to reevaluate your estate situation.  In order to enjoy your life, it is always good to have your affairs in order, so that you can focus on the better things in life.  This is why our office has the slogan “ Get your ducks in a row.”  

It is extremely important to plan how your estate is set-up, along with ensuring that you and your wife are both financially secure and protected should an unexpected medical event occur.  

Meeting with an Ohio elder law attorney can help give you this piece of mind.  An elder law attorney knows Ohio’s law for administering trusts, creating important legal documents such as a durable Power of Attorney, and more importantly a Health Care Power of Attorney should you need decisions made about your medical care should you not be able to make them yourself.

In addition to helping you get your affairs in order, an Ohio elder law attorney can also help you apply and qualify for a benefit through the Department of Veterans Affairs called the Aid & Attendance benefit.  This benefit is available to veterans who meet certain criteria, and provides a monthly payment that can be used for medical expenses.   This is an extremely important benefit for Ohio’s veterans, which can certainly ease the stress of increased health cost associated with aging.

It is important to note that the Aid & Attendance benefit will see a rate increase with the New Year, which makes this an excellent time to consult with an Ohio elder law attorney in order to make sure that your estate is squared away, and take advantage of the increased rate.  Cooper, Adel & Associates can help you analyze and prepare your estate for the future.

The VA’s multitude of programs, requirements and regulations can make it difficult for even the most savvy seniors to take advantage of the services and benefits they need. Cooper, Adel & Associates has helped hundreds of veterans and their families through this process, taking the burden off of those who may already be struggling to handle everyday activities.

Senior Partner Mitch Adel was featured on WTVN AM 610 on Veterans Day to discuss the Aid & Attendance Benefit, which can provide up to $1,900 to support disabled veterans and their spouses. More than 600,000 seniors in Ohio may be eligible if they served during WWII, Korea or Vietnam. Their disability does not have to be service related.

I’d like to sit down with you for a complementary meeting to talk about any questions and decisions you might have regarding veterans benefits or other retirement questions for you or your family. There are many choices to make, but it takes someone who knows all of the tools to make sure your solution is custom fit for you.

Please call us at our office, (800) 789-5297 and we can find the best time to talk for your schedule.

mitch adel-Vets Day-WTVN-11_11_11

As an Elder Law Attorney at Cooper, Adel & Associates, my work focuses on helping seniors get help paying for the costs of nursing homes, assisted living, and in home care services.  This means helping clients identify and apply for a range of government programs that can help pay for medical services.  Many of my clients have been hit hard by the financial crisis, and are struggling to pay for medical and nursing care.  Additionally, they are concerned that government programs may no longer be available due to the budget cuts that have take place throughout local, state, and federal government.  However, there are many programs available including Veterans Benefits, Nursing Home Medicaid, and PASSPORT in home care.  In fact, some programs have even begun to expand in recent years.

Especially in these hard economic times, it is important to plan for the future with an Ohio Elder Law Attorney, such as the attorneys at Cooper, Adel & Associates.  We may be able to help you qualify for these programs while protecting your assets from devastating medical or nursing home bills.

Finally, after two years since the last cost of living increase, the Senate and the House have passed similar legislation that will increase benefit payments to Veterans by 3.6%. This puts the VA in line with the Social Security cost of living increase and makes up for rising inflation. However, this is insignificant in comparison to the rising cost of healthcare services. For many Veterans (or the spouse’s of Veterans) who are receiving help to pay for long-term care, this increase may only amount to $40 to $70 more a month. This does little to fill in the gap between their income and their monthly medical expenses to pay in home care or a nursing home facility.

What does this mean to you as a veteran or widow of a veteran?  Although this cost of living increase is needed, you will need to do much more to prepare for the rising cost of healthcare, specifically, the rising cost of long-term nursing home and in-home care.

As an attorney accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to file claims on behalf of veterans, I was interviewed earlier this week by a central Ohio AM radio station to discuss a benefit that is all but hidden to most veterans.  During the interview we discussed the benefit known informally known as Aid and Attendance.  The more formal name used by the VA is the Non-Service Connected Disability Pension benefit.  I stress that this is a “hidden” benefit because, while there are many veterans who could qualify for it, few actually know about it. This is a reality that I experience first hand twice every week during educational workshops I present for seniors.  When I ask for a show of hand as to how many veterans are in the room, and then another asking for a show of hands of those who knew about the benefit, I find that very few who could qualify know that they do.

For this, Veterans Day, I would like to again thank those who served and share with our readers how to qualify.

Pension-  “I only served 6 months”
To most, the word pension refers to a retirement benefit following years of service. This benefit, however, is available to veterans with a minimum of 90 days of active duty with at least one of those 90 days during a statutory war time period.  In addition, the veteran’s service did not have to be overseas and the veteran did not have to be injured during their service.

PERIODS OF WARTIME:

World War II – December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946
Korean Conflict – June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955
Vietnam Era – August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975

Who is Eligible- “Do I have to be in a Nursing Home?”
The benefit is available to veterans and their widows if they need assistance with the activities of daily living.  Activities such as getting out of bed, dressing, cooking, bathing, eating, taking medication.  In order to determine that the veteran or widow has a need for this benefit, it is not necessary to be evaluated by a VA doctor, rather, the applicant’s family physician can make the determination.  Again, the disability or need for assistance does not have to be associated with their military service.  The benefit can be used to pay for private-pay nursing home, assisted living costs or even home health care costs.

How much am I eligible to receive?
There is a base amount, but if the veteran or widow is evaluated as needing the aid and attendance of another to avoid the hazards of daily living, they can qualify for the maximum amount, set to increase with the 3% cost of living adjustment next year.

MAXIMUM MONTHLY AMOUNTS:

$1,949 – Married Veteran
$1,644 – Single Veteran
$1,056 – Widow of Veteran

Life Expectancy Test-  “Does it matter how much money I have?”
In the past, the VA had a cap on assets of $80,000 in order to qualify for this benefit.  Today, that cap been eliminated.  The VA is now reviews each claim and makes a decision on a case-by-case basis.  The VA is reviewing the amount of assets owned by the veteran or widow (not including their house), their age and how much they are spending out of pocket on their care.

EXAMPLE:

Veteran has $40,000 in assets (not including residence)
Income of $1,000 a month
Assisted Living Cost of $3,000 a month
Drain on Assets $2,000 a month

Veteran will be out of money in 20 months

If veteran’s life expectancy is greater than 20 months, the veteran will qualify for the Aid and Attendance Pension benefit

Application Process
There are many forms to be completed in order to apply. If the forms are not completed properly they will be rejected, which will result in a delay.  The Department of Veterans Affairs regularly takes 8-12 months to make a decision on a case.  I cannot stress enough that veterans and widows need to be sure that they are qualified when they apply.  If the applicant did not qualify on the date of application, they could wait 12 months for a denial and then be forced to start all over while lose the opportunity for the retroactive payment.  On the other hand, if the VA determines that the veteran or widow did qualify 12 months ago on the date of the application, the VA will send a retroactive payment for all the months from the date of application through the date of the decision.  It is not uncommon to receive a retroactive payment for thousands of dollars; personally I have seen checks awarded to veterans in the tens of thousands of dollars.

This process can be very intricate, the slightest mistake or over looked detail can result in delay or denial, please make sure that if you are applying, you seek the assistance of the Department of Veterans Affairs, your local Veterans Service Office or one of our accredited attorneys.

Once again, thank you to all those who served and are currently serving.

Interested in applying for a VA Pension to help with medical expenses? Have you properly planned your estate already? Many veterans who seek veterans benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs assume that they should fill out the application and apply. However, many important things need to be in order when you get to the point in your life when you need assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many people refer to this as estate planning, and an Ohio Elder Law Attorney can help you in this area, and ensure that you are properly prepared.

Consulting with an Ohio Elder Law Attorney who is accredited with the court of Veterans Appeals, and who has extensive insight and knowledge about the process and reporting requirements of the VA can prove beneficial. In addition, an Ohio elder law attorney can help you compile all of the appropriate information needed to apply as well as help you plan your estate before you apply.

By consulting with an Ohio elder law attorney, you can learn how to protect your property and other assets should you or your spouse pass away. This is crucial to ensure the surviving spouse can maintain their way of life well after your passing. Some of the things that an attorney can help you with are, understanding and creating trusts to place your property in, and creating legal documents that allow someone of your choosing to assist you in your long-term medical care, as well as managing your financial affairs. After all if you are to the point where you need medical expenses paid for by the VA, then it is time to consider having all of your affairs in order.

At Cooper, Adel & Associates, we have attorneys who are experts on elder law planning as well as certified to practice and educate on the behalf of veterans. By calling our office, you can schedule a consultation with a senior attorney who can explain why planning before applying for benefits is crucial, as well as assist you in the process should you decide to retain an attorney to help you plan.

As the population ages, more and more World War II, Korea, and Vietnam War veterans and their spouses are beginning to experience health problems.  I have begun to notice that my grandmother, who was married to a World War II veteran, is beginning to need more help in routine activities.

Fortunately, there are many government services that are available to help out veterans in need of assistance.  Most prominently, veterans may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, which can help provide income to veterans to help pay for medical expenses.  Additionally, programs for the general public such as Medicaid and PASSPORT may also be available.

Many of you reading this may be thinking that while these programs would be perfect for a loved one, these are only for those who are impoverished. You may think that you must spend down your assets on medical care before it is even worth considering these programs.   An Ohio Elder Law Attorney, like the ones at Cooper, Adel, and Associates, can help you qualify and apply for these programs.  You may find that there are steps you can take to qualify for these programs while preserving family assets for future generations.

Additionally, if you or a loved one is a veteran or a widow of a veteran that is not currently in need of veterans benefits, an Ohio Elder Law Attorney may be able to help create a plan that preserves assets and ensures that benefits are there when they are needed.