Ensuring that those who served receive adequate services
At Stubbins, Watson, Bryan & Witucky Co., L.P.A., we’re proud to represent the veterans who’ve served our great nation. We believe our veterans deserve assistance in return for the important sacrifices they’ve made. As veterans age, it becomes even more important that they receive the financial assistance and medical care they have a right to expect. In our elder law and estate planning practices, attorney Michael T. Bryan assists veterans with assessing what benefits may be available, filing for benefits and appealing denials.
Why should I talk to an attorney before I file for Veterans Benefits?
- Do you know that even though your home is exempt as an asset, there planning methods you should implement before you file for benefits?
- Do you know what do with excess assets before you file? Do you know how this affects a possible Medicaid application in the future?
- Do you know what happens if you sell your home after you file for benefits?
- Do you know how to explain the VA forms to your doctor?
- Do you know how to explain the VA forms to the care provider, such as home health care aides, assisted living facilities and nursing homes?
- Do you know how VA benefits can be used in conjunction with Medicaid?
- Do you know how your estate planning should be prepared to allow for the most flexibility for VA planning?
Knowledgeable legal assistance in assessing and applying for benefits
Veterans who are curious about estate planning need to know the scope of benefits they could qualify for through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Our elder law attorneys have in-depth knowledge of the benefits for disabled, elderly and low-income veterans, including:
- Disability compensation — Tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with disabilities as the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation — Tax-free monetary benefit generally payable to a surviving spouse, child or parent of a service member who died during active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training, or survivors of veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities
- Veterans Pension — Tax-free monetary benefit payable to low-income wartime veterans
- Survivors Pension — Tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, surviving spouse who has not remarried and/or unmarried children of a deceased, wartime service veteran
- Improved Pension — Tax-free income for disabled veterans and their widows to help cover the costs of home healthcare, assisted living care and nursing home care
- Special Monthly Compensation — Tax-free benefit that can be paid to veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents. For veterans, SMC is higher compensation due to special circumstances, such as the need for personal assistance or a specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg
- Adapted Housing grants — Financial assistance for veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities to help purchase or construct an adapted home or modify an existing home to accommodate a disability
Skilled attorney services help you qualify for VA benefits
Veterans must meet basic eligibility requirements for these different VA benefits. For example, to qualify for Improved Pension benefits, the veteran must have:
- Served at least 90 days of active service with at least one day of service during a wartime period
- Received a discharge other than dishonorable
- Limited income and assets available
- Permanent and total disability not caused by willful misconduct of the claimant
One of the most important benefits available to Veterans or widowed spouses of Veterans is the VA Improved Pension Program, with Aid and Attendance. This program can pay up to $2085 each month to help offset the costs of home health care, assisted living care or nursing home care.
Under federal law, attorneys may charge a pre-filing consultation fee to assess whether there are any benefits you may be eligible for through the VA. However, no one can charge you to assist with the preparation, presentation and prosecution of your claim. Our firm is proud to help and support those who have served our country and rises to meet the unique challenges of their cases.
Contact our knowledgeable lawyers for answers regarding VA benefits in Zanesville, OH
Attorneys at Stubbins, Watson, Bryan & Witucky Co., L.P.A. have extensive experience helping veterans apply for VA benefits and fight claim denials. For reliable advice on the range of benefits to which you and your family may be entitled, come to our office in downtown Zanesville. To schedule a consultation, call us at (740) 452-8484 or contact our firm online.