Checks for Vets

Checks for Vets by Joseph Scott McCarthy A guidebook to help wartime service veterans and their surviving spouses receive VA pensions to pay for long-term care.

Contains samples of all the forms you need and tips for successfully filing a claim for an Aid and Attendance or Housebound pension.

Checks for Vets is a guidebook that:

provides sample application forms and letters
helps applicants determine pension eligibility
prevents delays in receiving benefits
assists in locating discharge records
helps veterans obtain no-cost pharmacy benefits

A special reference section is included to help you locate veteran service officers throughout the United States that are available to answer questions and process pension applications.

Read the Introduction (PDF, 49KB)

List of Illustrations... vii
Preface... ix
Acknowledgments... xiii
Introduction... xv
Chapter 1: VA Pensions and Benefits:
Past, Present, and Future... 1
Chapter 2: Aid and Attendance and Housebound Pensions:
Overview of Eligibility... 7
Chapter 3: Aid and Attendance and Housebound Pensions:
The Nuts and Bolts of Eligibility... 11
Chapter 4: Understanding Pension Rates:
How Much Money Can You Expect to Get?... 25
Chapter 5: Starting the Application Process:
Steps to Submit a Claim... 29
Chapter 6: Filing an Informal Claim:
Avoid Delays and Save Thousands of Dollars... 33
Chapter 7: Discharge Record:
How to Identify and Locate This Document... 39
Chapter 8: Aid and Attendance and Housebound Pensions:
Sample Application Forms and
Tips on Completing the Forms... 51
Chapter 9: Pharmacy and Other Health Benefits:
Free Healthcare for Aid and Attendance
and Housebound Pension Recipients... 99
Epilogue... 105
Appendix 1: Veterans Service Organizations and VA Facilities... 107
American Legion... 108
National Association of County Veteran Service Officers... 115
Disabled American Veterans... 116
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States... 125
VA Facilities... 132
Appendix 2: Additional VA Benefits and Services... 187
Aid and Attendance Benefits for the Spouse of a Veteran
Receiving Service-Connected Disability Compensation... 188
Pharmacy Benefits for All Eligible Veterans:
Discounted Prescription Medications... 189
Requesting Replacement Medals, Awards,
and Decorations... 190
Notes... 197
Glossary... 201
Index... 207
About the Author... 217

List of Illustrations

Figures
6.1 Sample Form 21-4138: Statement in Support of Claim
     (informal claim for a veteran)... 35
6.2 Sample Form 21-4138: Statement in Support of Claim
     (informal claim for a surviving spouse)... 36
6.3 Sample Form 21-22: Appointment of Veterans Service
     Organization as Claimant’s Representative... 37
7.1 Sample discharge record... 40
7.2 Sample Standard Form 180 (SF 180):
     Request Pertaining to Military Records...46–47
7.3 Sample Letter to the NPRC
     requesting a discharge record... 48
8.1 Sample Form 21-2680: Examination for Housebound
     Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid
     and Attendance... 56–57
8.2 Sample Form 21-4138: Statement in Support of Claim... 59
8.3 Sample Letter from Provider... 60
8.4 Sample Form 21-526: Veteran’s Application
     for Compensation and/or Pension...65–78
8.5 Sample Form 21-534: Application for Dependency and
     Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued
     Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child...83–90
8.6 Sample Form 21-8416: Medical Expense Report...92–93
8.7 Sample Form 21-22: Appointment of Veterans Service
     Organization as Claimant’s Representative... 96
9.1 Sample Form 10-10EZ: Application
     for Health Benefits... 101–103
A.1 Sample Standard Form 180 (SF 180): Request
     Pertaining to Military Records... 192
Tables
A.1 Disability compensation rates for 2009... 188

Checks for Vets

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations