Housebound Pension Benefit Helps Disabled Veterans Remain in Their Homes.
Disabled veterans who qualify for a standard military pension can receive an additional benefit which may allow them to remain living in their own homes. The Housebound Pension administered by the Veteran's Administration (VA) does not require that the disability result from military service. If qualified, it can help pay for home modifications or home/medical care in the home. The disability can be the result of aging, an illness or injury. The benefit is also available for veteran's spouses and widows.
The Housebound Pension is distinct from the Aid and Attendance benefit that also provides financial assistance for veterans requiring assistance with routine chores of daily life but does not require the veteran to be disabled. A veteran may receive one or the other benefit but not both.
Application criteria for Homebound Pension
To qualify for the housebound pension a veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty during wartime as defined in law and cannot have received a dishonorable discharge. Service in actual combat is not required.
The VA's definition of housebound differs somewhat from the criteria employed by Medicare. The VA requires that the disability be permanent and rated at 100%. This determination is typically made by a private doctor. As a result of the disability the veteran must be unable or mostly unable to leave his or her home. The disability may result from advanced age, a mental condition such as depression or PTSD or from physical ailments including cancer, diabetes or a heart condition as examples. The ability to leave home for medical purposes cannot, by itself, serve as the basis to deny housebound status.
The application process requires a detailed statement from a doctor or qualified medical professional explaining the disabilities which qualify for housebound benefits. Information on daily activities and how the applicant gets around should be included. Sufficient information must be provided to allow a determination as to whether the applicant is substantially confined to the home.
The applicant for the Veteran Homebound Pension will also be required to provide employment history, proof of military service and discharge, financial documentation and a personal statement outlining daily activities, the need for assistance and how disabilities impact daily life. An estimate as to the cost involved for the care is always handy when it comes to applying for the pension benefit. Documentation is the key when applying for this financial aid program known as the Homebound Pension.
An applicant's net worth must be less than $123,600 under a new rule enacted in 2018. The value of the veteran's home, vehicles, household goods and personal effects are not considered assets the calculation. Assets which are counted include wages, stocks, bonds and bank accounts.
Another new VA rule requires a review of any property transferred during the three years prior to the application. The VA will look for property either given away or transferred for less than fair market value. Transfers made prior to October 18, 2018, the date on which the new rule took effect, do not count as part of the application process for the Veteran Homebound Pension. If the veteran never had assets totaling $123,600 to begin with, any transferred assets do not violate the new rule.
There is no charge to submit the application for processing, so it is free for veterans to seek help. Free applications forms are available online or from a VA office. Once an application has been submitted it can easily take up to six months and often longer to be approved. The VA may request additional information during its review. However, once approved, benefits are paid retroactively to the date the application was received. An applicant can expect to receive a lump sum payment followed by monthly deposits to a bank account. Or if not qualified, then try the Medicaid home care for disabled program, which is available to anyone with a low income
Assistance for veterans from the Housebound Pension Benefit
The financial aid from housebound pension is paid in addition to any regular VA pension paid to a veteran or any other grants given out. As long as the benefit is used for in-home care or to pay for home modifications needed as a result of a disability, there are no restrictions on how pension funds are used. It can often be combined with veteran programs that help with rent. Grants can also pay to modify the home or apartment to keep it safe and accessible to veterans.
Family members, other than a spouse, can be paid as a caregiver. Veterans designated in housebound status may also receive skilled home health care services via another VA program. This short-term care program allows a caregiver to visit and provide assistance with daily activities such as dressing, meal preparation and administering medications.
Unreimbursed medical expenses can be deducted from actual income, which can increase the amount of financial assistance paid out. This includes costs of in-home care, Medicare and other insurance premiums, prescriptions and health aids. As a result, countable income is usually significantly less than actual income. Where health care and in-home assistance costs are significant, countable income may actually be zero.
The maximum housebound pension amount and the annual countable income limit for a veteran with no dependents are the same, and it will be greater than $16,000 per year increased annually. If an applicant's countable income totals $5,000 annually, he would be eligible to receive an additional $11,540 via the housebound pension.
Calculating the income figure to apply can become complicated. Receiving a VA pension may also disqualify a veteran from receiving Medicaid or other government financial assistance. Applicants should consider meeting with a certified veteran's benefit planner for advice on these issues and assistance to prepare the application. Planners cannot charge for most of their services.
Additional financial help for bills or living expenses can be paid out too. A veteran who qualifies for the housebound pension will likely also qualify for an Aid and Attendant pension and should consider it as an alternative. The potential annual pension for a single veteran is about $6,000 more. Countable income for Aid and Attendance must total less than $22,577. Find how to apply for Aid and Attendant pension for veterans and spouses.
Spouses can get help as well
The widowed spouse of a veteran may also qualify for housebound benefits. In addition to meeting other requirements, the spouse must have been married to the veteran at the time of the veteran's death. It is not required they actually be living together at the time. The spouse must be single at the time of application.
The VA recently established income and asset limits to qualify for the housebound pension, and this applies to the spouse as well as applying veteran. An applicant's (or spouse’s) countable income must be less than the pension amount for which he qualifies. Countable income includes wages, alimony, social security and some VA compensation. The income that will be factored into the application does not include SSI, welfare benefits or loans from reverse mortgages.
Options for disabled or senior veterans
Veterans have far more options for senior care than what was available just a generation ago. From in-home care and assisted living facilities to adult group homes and traditional nursing homes with 24-hour medical care, seniors or veterans (even with a disability) today can often select the appropriate level of care as needs increase. The Housebound Pension and other VA programs strive to ensure that qualified veterans receive deserved financial assistance to help maintain their health, comfort and dignity. There is even free home care from PACE which veterans can apply for.
To apply for home care, homebound pension benefit, or other help, try a VA office. Find one near you here https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.asp.
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