Caregivers of disabled veterans make amazing sacrifices to care for their loved ones. In some cases, the sacrfices are greater than others. This article in the Wall Street Journal tells the story of a wounded hero, Ian Welch, and his amazing girlfrield Katie Brickman. It is an inspirational story of love and sacrifice, tragedy and hope.
If you provide care to a Post-9/11 veteran, be sure to check out the VA's caregiver website and determine your eligibility for caregiver benefits. You may be eligible for a monthly stipend, health care benefits and more.
Showing posts with label compensation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compensation. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
COLA Raises Benefit Payments by 3.6%
Today's VA payment should reflect a 3.6 percent increase in benefit payments due to a cost of living allowance(COLA) increase. In addition to disability compensation, this COLA rate also applies to death pensions, survivors receieving Dependency and Idemnity Compensation, automobile and clothing allowances and other benefits. Although not provided by the VA, Social Security benefits have also been increased by 3.6 percent.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this increase, please contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this increase, please contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Non-VA Emergency Care Rule Change
This month, the VA announced a change in the emergency payment procedures for eligible veterans who recieve treatment in non-VA facilities. Although the VA currently operates 121 emergency departments and 46 urgent care units across the country, not all veterans are able to go directly to a VA emergency facilty.
Until this change, non-VA emergency room visits could be costly to veterans. The rules about VA reimbursement were very unclear. Now, eligible veterans will be able to be reimbursed for care provided at non-VA facilities until the veteran can be safely transferred to a VA facility.
The new rules will benefit more than 100,000 veterans and will cost approximately $44 million per year.
Until this change, non-VA emergency room visits could be costly to veterans. The rules about VA reimbursement were very unclear. Now, eligible veterans will be able to be reimbursed for care provided at non-VA facilities until the veteran can be safely transferred to a VA facility.
The new rules will benefit more than 100,000 veterans and will cost approximately $44 million per year.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
ALS Diagnosis = 100% Disability Rating According to New VA Rules
There's good news for veterans with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease. Beginning tomorrow (January 19, 2012), veterans will be immediately granted a 100% disability rating upon diagnoses with this progressive, fatal disease. (More here.)
Many veterans with ALS have died waiting for their benefits. Last June, Barry Mangan of Tacoma recieved his check for home modifications (in the amount of $63,780). Months and months of delays had forced him to move into a nursing home. His wife was overjoyed to recieve the check and started making arrangements. Just thirty minutes after the check arrived, the nursing home called to inform Mrs. Mangan that her husband had passed away, alone, in a nursing home. He would never be coming home. (For more information, visit the original article here.
This is a story that happens all to often for veterans with ALS. Thankfully, tomorrow's rule changes will help prevent these tragedies in the future.
Many veterans with ALS have died waiting for their benefits. Last June, Barry Mangan of Tacoma recieved his check for home modifications (in the amount of $63,780). Months and months of delays had forced him to move into a nursing home. His wife was overjoyed to recieve the check and started making arrangements. Just thirty minutes after the check arrived, the nursing home called to inform Mrs. Mangan that her husband had passed away, alone, in a nursing home. He would never be coming home. (For more information, visit the original article here.
This is a story that happens all to often for veterans with ALS. Thankfully, tomorrow's rule changes will help prevent these tragedies in the future.
Friday, September 16, 2011
DoD Reconsidering Determinations for Some Veterans
Good morning!
Certain eligible veterans who received medical discharges and were rated by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) or Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) may be able to apply for a re-evaluation. The Department of Defense’s Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) is re-opening some cases for certain veterans who were medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 to verify that a correct decision was made.
To be eligible, veterans must have received a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less and have been found ineligible for retirement. Former reserve members with more than 20 years of total federal military service but fewer than 20 years of active duty can also apply if they meet the other eligibility requirements.
Any questions/comments/concerns? Let us know below! Thanks!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Caregiver Programs: Helping Those Who Help Veterans
Good morning!
Discovering the VA’s Caregiver Program was an immeasurable blessing to my family. My husband’s disabilities render him incapable of working, leaving me to take care of him… and our four young children… and keep the house clean… and the yard manicured… and the bills paid (which required me to work full-time hours). In addition to this, I was supposed to somehow also take care of myself. Yeah, right! It didn't work.
Thankfully, the VA recognizes that taking care of disabled veterans is hard work!
This amazing program, which launched in May 2011, provides health care, a monthly stipend (payment), mental health services, counseling, and caregiver training for eligible family caregivers of eligible veterans. The caregiver is also given access to respite care services, which allow the caregiver to place the veteran in the VA's care where round-the-clock caregiving services will be provided for free. Respite care is granted for a certain number of days per year, which cannot be exceeded but does not have to be used, either.
To qualify, veterans must have sustained a serious injury (including brain injury, psychological trauma or mental disorders) that were incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. These veterans must also require personal care services because their injury renders them inable to perform one or more activities of daily living or causes symptoms/impairments that require the veteran to have supervision and protection. Veterans must also be enrolled in VA health services.
Determine your eligibility using the VA's online questionnaire tool at
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/. You may also call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Eligible veterans can designate one primary Family Caregiver and two secondary Family Caregivers, but only one stipend amount will be issued. The amount can be divided among the Caregivers. The stipend amount varies depending on your location and the amount of assistance that the veteran requires.
If you believe you may be eligible for these benefits, I strongly urge you to apply. They can change your life. For Caregivers who sometimes have to do everything themselves, the Caregiver Program is a sanity saver.
For more information, please visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/caregiver/. The application can then be downloaded, printed, filled out and mailed. Once the application is filed and processed, a Caregiver Support Coordinator will call. The veteran will participate in a phone interview or in-person examination where the veteran's needs will be assessed. If the veteran appears to be eligible, the Caregiver will need to complete a training program organized by the Easter Seals. This training program can be completed online, in a class, or with a DVD and workbook. When the course is completed, a test will be administered. When the test is passed, an in-home visit with a nurse will be required. The nurse comes to the house to evaluate the veteran and the safety of the home. The nurse will make recommendations to the VA's Occupational Therapy department about modifications that can be made to assist the veteran. When the nurse's report is complete, the application will be processed and approved, if appropriate. Shortly after the approval, a check for the stipend will be issued that back pays to the date of your original application. Health care and other benefit information will also be provided.
Discovering the VA’s Caregiver Program was an immeasurable blessing to my family. My husband’s disabilities render him incapable of working, leaving me to take care of him… and our four young children… and keep the house clean… and the yard manicured… and the bills paid (which required me to work full-time hours). In addition to this, I was supposed to somehow also take care of myself. Yeah, right! It didn't work.
Thankfully, the VA recognizes that taking care of disabled veterans is hard work!
This amazing program, which launched in May 2011, provides health care, a monthly stipend (payment), mental health services, counseling, and caregiver training for eligible family caregivers of eligible veterans. The caregiver is also given access to respite care services, which allow the caregiver to place the veteran in the VA's care where round-the-clock caregiving services will be provided for free. Respite care is granted for a certain number of days per year, which cannot be exceeded but does not have to be used, either.
To qualify, veterans must have sustained a serious injury (including brain injury, psychological trauma or mental disorders) that were incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. These veterans must also require personal care services because their injury renders them inable to perform one or more activities of daily living or causes symptoms/impairments that require the veteran to have supervision and protection. Veterans must also be enrolled in VA health services.
Determine your eligibility using the VA's online questionnaire tool at
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/. You may also call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Eligible veterans can designate one primary Family Caregiver and two secondary Family Caregivers, but only one stipend amount will be issued. The amount can be divided among the Caregivers. The stipend amount varies depending on your location and the amount of assistance that the veteran requires.
If you believe you may be eligible for these benefits, I strongly urge you to apply. They can change your life. For Caregivers who sometimes have to do everything themselves, the Caregiver Program is a sanity saver.
For more information, please visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/caregiver/. The application can then be downloaded, printed, filled out and mailed. Once the application is filed and processed, a Caregiver Support Coordinator will call. The veteran will participate in a phone interview or in-person examination where the veteran's needs will be assessed. If the veteran appears to be eligible, the Caregiver will need to complete a training program organized by the Easter Seals. This training program can be completed online, in a class, or with a DVD and workbook. When the course is completed, a test will be administered. When the test is passed, an in-home visit with a nurse will be required. The nurse comes to the house to evaluate the veteran and the safety of the home. The nurse will make recommendations to the VA's Occupational Therapy department about modifications that can be made to assist the veteran. When the nurse's report is complete, the application will be processed and approved, if appropriate. Shortly after the approval, a check for the stipend will be issued that back pays to the date of your original application. Health care and other benefit information will also be provided.
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