Listen up! Recently, Darron Story invited Veterans Home Care to his weekly Kansas City radio show, Sunday Inspirations, on Cumulus Radio. This aired November 21, 2021 on several Cumulus network stations during the Caring for KC segment. We shared our best tips for aging veterans and those in the sandwich generation, who care for their children and elderly parents. Many don’t realize this VA benefit exists. Many don’t realize this benefit, called Aid and Attendance, is available to the widows and widowers of veterans. The benefit can be used for in-home care such as: bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation and more.  

Transcript of VetAssist on KC 107.3 Sunday Inspirations with Darron Story

It’s 107.3 this is Caring for KC with Darron Story.

Darron:

Welcome back to Caring for KC. My name is Darron Story. You’re listening to us on all of our Cumulus stations across the metropolitan area.

It is my pleasure to have Janet Jennewein. She is the senior director of communications at the Veterans Home Care family of companies. Her company’s VetAssist Program helps low-income disabled veterans and their surviving spouses access a little-known VA benefit to offset the cost of their in-home care. Janet holds a degree in journalism and has past marketing leadership roles at Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Prudential Health and BJC Healthcare.

Good morning, Janet. How are you?

Janet:

Hi. I’m fine, thank you.

Darron:

Wow. You’ve done a lot. Alright, so let’s talk about this little-known benefit. What is aid and assistance?

Janet:

Well, it’s actually called, “Aid and Attendance.”

Darron:

Oh, I’m sorry. Aid and Attendance. My bad.

Janet:

It’s a little-known VA benefit for certain veterans or their survivors who need the aid and attendance of another to live safely at home. It’s an additional amount that can be added to a VA needs-based pension. But, here’s the important thing to know. You don’t need a service-connected disability for this benefit. You don’t need combat service or overseas service. You could have served stateside and get this benefit.

Darron:

And why do you think people don’t know about this benefit? They don’t know to ask? Or it’s just not one of those things that’s kind of not a big deal to the VA? I mean, I’m just curious about why people don’t know.

Janet:

Well, you know I myself took care of my elderly World War II era parents and I didn’t know about the benefit either until I stumbled on somebody that told me about it. I think the reason people don’t know about it is it’s just not promoted. Veterans can actually qualify as soon as they turn 65, but this isn’t like Social Security or Medicare where you get a notice in the mail or you get any notifications. You know, I think the other thing that we have to remember is the VA is an excellent organization. Many families depend on it. And it’s “ginormous,” right? So, a lot of people have their main contact with the VA with the VA Health Care System. When you go to the VA Health Care System, people there may not know about it. This is a benefit that’s offered through the VBA, the Veterans Benefits Administration. So that’s another reason. People think, well if there’s something out there that can cover home care that can help my elderly dad with personal care like bathing and dressing and using the bathroom, I’d hear about it because we take dad to the VA Health Clinic all the time. And that’s not necessarily so.

Darron:

Interesting. We’re on with Janet Jennewein. She’s the senior director of communications at the Veterans Home Care family of companies. So now tell us what does the benefit pay for?

Janet:

Well the benefit can pay for in-home care so an in-home care aid and also pay for certain costs with assisted living. It can pay for a medical alert device. It can pay for adult day care. It can pay for a variety of things.

Darron:

That’s amazing. That’s amazing. And to go along with that, my next question is as I was reading your intro, it talked about the VetAssist Program. Can you tell me what that is?

Janet:

Sure. So I’m employed by Veterans Home Care and we offer the VetAssist Program. The VetAssist Program is basically in-home care with no out-of-pocket costs. So our company has bundled a package of senior care services that can’t be found any other place.

Darron:

That’s amazing. Is it easy to engage this once someone finds out about it, Janet? I used to work with seniors and a lot of those seniors were veterans. Okay, so one of the things that lots of seniors get really frustrated with is the process. Is the process relatively easy to engage in these programs?

Janet:

Well, Unfortunately, no. I’ve actually applied for it with the help of my colleagues for my mother-in-law and it can be quite a daunting process. Right? There’s lots of forms to fill out. And as of 2018, the VA instituted a three-year look back period for your financial records so there’s a lot of paperwork that can be gathered. You need military records. You need medical forms. You need documentation. So that’s really why we exist. Our founder, Bonnie Laiderman, she found a need in the community and she decided to fill it. And that’s the VetAssist Program from Veterans Home Care.

Darron:

So you guys can assist with the daunting tasks of the paperwork and all of that correct? That’s part of your function your mission?

Janet:

That is exactly what we do. So the first thing we do is, if you call us or contact us, there’s a free consultation. We can help you decide if you should apply. Now only the VA knows if you’ll qualify but since 2003 when our company started, we’ve helped 19,000 people qualify for this benefit…veterans or their surviving spouses. And we have the expertise. We just have unparalleled expertise.

Darron:

That’s amazing. We’re on with Janet Jennewein of Veterans Home Care and I guess one of the questions that has to come to mind if you don’t charge for your help, because you don’t, how do you guys make money?

Janet:

Well, that’s a really good question. I’m glad you mentioned that. So, we don’t charge for the help filing the claim. Where we make our money is by charging the local market rate for home care. So you know we serve 48 states across the country. So, we contract with home care providers and they deliver care to our clients. And then they charge us a discounted rate. And the difference between the market rate and the discounted rate is where we make our money. And it’s a win-win for everyone.

Darron:

Yeah, it sounds like it. That’s a good model. So, can someone apply for this pension on their own?

Janet:

Yes, actually you can go to the VA website and you can download forms but I will tell you this, we don’t recommend it at all. We offer free help for those who want to file a claim and use the benefit primarily for in-home care or adult day care. But there’s other places where you can get free help with filing this claim. Veteran Service Organizations are a good place to go. If you come to us and you’re not a good fit for our program, or you don’t wish to use us, we’re going to recommend somewhere else where you can go to get free help filing this claim.

Darron:

Again, that’s a great service. Honestly, being honest with people about this… it’s probably like you said… a very daunting task. Why don’t more people… Are there other reasons why people don’t apply?

Janet:

You know having taken care of older adults, I can tell you what it’s like to be in the sandwich generation. You’re taking care of your own children and then you’re involved taking care of your older adult parents. A lot of times sandwich generation parents are paying out of pocket. And they don’t even realize that there’s a benefit that could be covering the cost of care for their elderly parents. And especially women… It is so important that we get the word out because you know women as they age are more likely to be impoverished than men. And let’s face it. When you’re thinking about grandma or your mom, you don’t think about VA benefits. She never served. This is something that’s just highly overlooked. Grandma could be eligible if she was:

• married to a wartime veteran who would have qualified
• married to the veteran at least one year
• married at the time of the veteran’s death
• and in most circumstances, did not remarry.

We really don’t want to overlook women when it comes to this benefit

Darron:

Absolutely and that’s a great segue to my next question. Just overall, how do how does one qualify for Aid and Attendance through the Program?

Janet:

Oh perfect. So we try to simplify everything because this is complicated. So think of the three M’s. The first “M” is military.

• did the veterans serve 90 days active duty
• at least with one day at least in a war time
• and did the veteran receive an honorable or general discharge

Number two is medical.

• will a doctor certify that the veteran or surviving spouse needs assistance with activities of daily living

The third is “M” is money. Basically, you take a look at the person’s income and assets.

• if net worth is about $130,000 or less they will qualify

but here’s the kicker:

• your home and a primary vehicle don’t count as part of your net worth
• and there’s certain deductions you can deduct ongoing medical or custodial care costs and that can really help a person qualify

These are the little things that people don’t realize. And this is why you really need that expertise to help you file that claim.

Darron:

You certainly do. Janet Jennewein is the senior director of communications at Veterans Home Care here on Caring for KC this morning. If I’m in Kansas City. You’re in St. Louis. But it doesn’t matter where people are. You said you’re in 48 states. How do people get in touch with you guys?

Janet:

It’s very easy. You can call us toll-free 1-888-314-6075 You can go to our website: veteranshomecare.com. You can Email Us. So, please get in touch with us. And like I said, we never just turn people away. If we can’t help you, we’re gonna find a resource in the community… a veterans service organization. We’re going to try to direct you to other help.

Darron:

Fantastic. Janet, thank you so much for coming on the program this morning.

Janet:

Thank you. That was fun.

Darron:

I try to be fun.

Janet:

I really hope we helped somebody out there too.

Darron:

Absolutely. Well, that’s all the time we got for today folks remember to be kind to one another love one another. Until we meet again, God bless you. [Music]