One thing that most children would do when their elderly parent needed care is to make sure that they either had the right level of care, or they would become their caregiver for them. For aging veterans, finding the right home care options can be challenging, so it may stand to reason that their children, or child, will step up to make sure that they have what they need and they’re cared for.
So would caring for your elderly loved one who served in the Armed Forces potentially impact financial assistance when they realize that they may be eligible for veterans home care? The answer, when it comes to the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit is no. It’s not going to impact the approval of this pension if you’re providing care for your loved one.
However, there was a case in Oregon recently that highlighted a tax concern when it came to a disabled veteran, and it’s something to pay attention to because the ruling of the court could have some impacts on future benefits, or tax assessments, when it comes to veterans who require home care.
The case didn’t involve anything to do with the Aid and Attendance pension, but it involved a disabled veteran who was being cared for by his daughter, in her home. His home was not occupied for many years while she was caring for him. The court case involved the care that this veteran received and the fact that it wasn’t done in his own home. This could have allowed him to gain a tax exemption or assessment deferral, had he been living in his home continuously, and had he not been gone for several years while his daughter was caring for him.
Why is this important when it comes to the Aid and Attendance pension? There are certain tax exemptions and benefits that could be available to veterans, but in some states, they would need to be living at home, even if they require care, in order to take advantage of those benefits.
If you’re planning on helping your elderly loved one at your home while he is receiving pension benefits, it’s possible, but this could change any tax exemption status that he may be receiving on his own property as a result. It’s a complicated issue and while some tax assessors, like Leslie D. Box of the Assessor’s Office in Oregon said in the AARP article, “Property Tax Assessor v. Disabled Vet: The Verdict,”
“I personally think a child’s home should be allowed for a parent’s care. I would like to see some equivalency with nursing homes, but with certification so that the state can be sure that elderly parents are being cared for in the right way.”
When it comes to veterans home care, know the benefits, risks, and potential penalties of caring for your loved one at your home, as opposed to his.
For more information and to learn about the VA Home Care Program, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
