Appendix 4 - VA Benefits Chart and VA Information
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Appendix 4 - VA Benefits Chart and VA Information

Revised January 6, 2009

Purpose: This section provides information on Veteran's benefits. VA Benefit chart, VA contact information and information regarding VA benefits.

Links to information on Veteran's Benefits

United States Department of Veteran's Affairs.

HCS Financial Training Packet on VA Benefits (Detailed instructions regarding VA benefits)

HCS VA Improved Pension and UME calculator Under the VA income and TPL training section.

 

VA Improved Pensions January 2009. (Page 1 of VA chart)

VETERAN STATUS SPANISH AMERICAN WAR PENSION OLD LAW PENSION PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1960 SECTION 306 JAN 1, 1960 TO DEC 31 1978  
COLA 5.8% 12-08       Dec-05 Dec-06 Dec-07 Dec-08 Diff Allow.
Veteran Alone   $78.75 $197 $881 $910 $931 $985    
With 1 Dependent     $212 $1,154 $1,192 $1,220 $1,291 $306 Dep
With A&A Alone   $135.45 $362 $1,470 $1,519 $1,554 $1,644 $659 A&A
With 1 Dependent     $377 $1,743 $1,801 $1,842 $1,949 $964 Dep/AA
With HB Alone   $100.00 $258 $1,077 $1,113 $1,138 $1,204 $219 HB
With 1 Dependent each add/l child add $159   $273 $1,350 $1,395 $1,427 $1,510 $525 Dep/HB
VETERANS OF MEXICAN BORDER PERIOD OR WW1  
Veteran Alone   $78.75   $1,073 $1,117 $1,143 $1,209    
With 1 Dependent       $1,346 $1,399 $1,431 $1,515 $306 Dep
With A&A Alone   $135.45   $1,662 $1,726 $1,766 $1,867 $658 A&A
With 1 Dependent       $1,935 $2,007 $2,054 $2,173 $964 Dep/AA
With HB Alone   $100.00   $1,268 $1,319 $1,350 $1,428 $219 HB
With 1 Dependent       $1,541 $1,601 $1,638 $1,733 $524 Dep/HB
SURVIVING SPOUSE OF VETERAN  
Surviving Spouse Alone        $70    $75 $50.40 $133 $591 $610 $624 $661    
With 1 Dependent  $78.13      $83.13 $63.00 $159 $773 $799 $817 $865 $204 Dep
With A&A Alone $149.00   $154.00 $100.40 $212 $945 $976 $998 $1,056 $395 A&A
With 1 Dependent $157.13   $162.13 $113.40 $238 $1,126 $1,164 $1,191 $1,260 $599 Dep/AA
SAW Surviving Spouse With A&A Alone       $1,005 $1,039 $1,063 $1,099 $438 A&A
SAW Surviving Spouse With A&A  & 1 Dependent       $1,187 $1,227 $1,255 $1,303 $642 Dep/AA
With HB Alone       $722 $746 $763 $808 $147 HB
With 1 Dependent       $904 $934 $956 $1,012 $351 Dep/HB
CHILD OF VETERAN  
1 Child $73.13 $27.30 $61.00 $150 $155 $159      
2 Children (each) $40.63 $20.48 $43.50 $150 $155 $159      
PARENTS DEPENDENCY & INDEMNITY COMPENSATION  
  Death Comp Effective Prior to Jan 1, 1957 Effective JAN 1978   Dec-05 Dec-06 Dec-07 Dec-08 Diff Allow.
Sole Surviving Parent $75 $152   $487 $524 $537 $569    
With A&A $154 $231   $750 $808 $828 $877 $308 A&A
Not Living Together-Each $40 $107   $352 $380 $389 $412    
Each With A&A $110 $186   $615 $664 $680 $877 $308 A&A
Living Together or Remarried Living With Spouse-Each $40 $102   $330 $356 $365 $387    
Each With A&A $110 $181   $593 $680 $656 $695 $308 A&A
NOTE: Veterans and widows with no dependents, on Medicaid in nursing homes other than state veterans homes, receiving Improved Pension, will have their pensions limited to $90 per month.  Federal law prohibits any part of this $90 monthly pensions to be used toward cost of care.  It is to be used only for personal needs.

VA Benefit Chart-Service Connected Compensation.DIC 2009 (Page 2 of VA chart)

SERVICE-CONNECTED COMPENSATION
COLA 5.8% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
VETERAN  $123 $243 $376 $541 $770 $974 $1,228 $1,427 $1,604 $2,673
VET WITH SPOUSE     $421 $601 $845 $1,064 $1,333 $1,547 $1,739 $2,823
VET W/S & 1C     $453 $644 $899 $1,129 $1,409 $1,634 $1,837 $2,932
Add for each  Additional child  under age 18 $22 $30 $37 $45 $52 $60 $67 $75
Each additional school child over age 18   $72 $96 $120 $144 $168 $192 $216 $240
Additional for A/A spouse   $40 $54 $68 $81 $95 $108 $122 $136
DEPENDENCY & INDEMNITY COMPENSATION
SURVIVING SPOUSE - VETERAN DIED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 1993 SURVIVING SPOUSE - VETERAN DIED ON OR AFTER JAN 1, 1993 -                 BASIC MONTHLY RATE IS $1091
PAY GRADE DIC W/ A&A W/ HB Child age -18
E-1 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289 add $286 each Total Add-On
E-2 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289   Spouse Basic Rate $1,154  
E-3 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289   Plus A&A $1,440 286
E-4 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289   Plus Housebound $1,289 135
E-5 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289   Plus 1 child/ No A&A/ No HB $1,440 286
E-6 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289   Plus 1 child w/ A&A $1,726 286
E-7 $1,154 $1,440 $1,289   Plus 1 child w/ HB $1,575 135
E-8 $1,260 $1,546 $1,395   Rates below paid when veteran was 100% disabled 8 continuous   
E-9 $1,314 $1,600 $1,449   years and spouse was married to the veteran during those 8 years 
E9b $1,419 $1,705 $1,554   Spouse Basic Rate plus add-on $1,400 246
      Plus A&A $1,686 286
W-1 $1,219 $1,505 $1,354   Plus Housebound $1,535 135
W-2 $1,267 $1,553 $1,402   Plus 1 child/ No A&A/ No HB $1,686 286
W-3 $1,305 $1,591 $1,440   Plus 1 child w/ A&A $1,972 286
W-4 $1,380 $1,666 $1,515     Plus 1 child w/ HB $1,821 135
      CHILDREN - WHEN NO SURVIVING SPOUSE OF VETERAN
0-1 $1,219 $1,505 $1,354             Unmmaried Under Age 18 or if Student to Age 21
0-2 $1,260 $1,546 $1,395   # of children Total Payable Ea. Child Share*  
0-3 $1,347 $1,633 $1,482   1 $488 $488.00  
0-4 $1,427 $1,713 $1,562   2 $701 $350.50  
0-5 $1,571 $1,857 $1,706   3 $915 $305.00  
0-6 $1,771 $2,057 $1,906   4 $1,089 $272.25  
0-7 $1,912 $2,198 $2,047   5 $1,263 $252.60  
0-8 $2,100 $2,386 $2,235   6 $1,437 $239.50  
0-9 $2,246 $2,532 $2,381   7 $1,611 $230.14  
0-10 $2,463 $2,749 $2,598   8 $1,785 $223.12  
0-10c $2,643 $2,929 $2,778     9 $1,959 $217.66    
                     
CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS (Sec. 401 of PL 106-419)                                  SPINA BIFIDA BENEFITS (38 USC Chapter 18)
   
    Dec-08   Dec-07 Dec-08  
  LEVEL I $131 LEVEL I $270 $286  
  LEVEL II $286 LEVEL II $930 $984  
  LEVEL III $984 LEVEL III $1,585 $1,678  
  LEVEL IV $1,678  
   
                     

Veteran's Administration Contacts in Washington State

 

Service Office

County

CSO #

HCS #

REGION 1

American Legion
4815 North Assembly, Bldg 6A
Spokane, WA 99205-6197

509-434-7750

Stevens

33

78
Pend Oreille 26

78
Lincoln 22

57
Spokane 32, 58, 59, 60

57
Adams 01

81
Whitman 38

57

REGION 3

Veterans of Foreign Wars
Medical/Dental Building #415
2722 Colby Avenue
Everett, WA 98201

425-339-1973

Skagit

29

63
Island 15 63
Snohomish 52, 68, 65, 31 89, 90, 91, 92

REGION 4

Veterans of Foreign Wars
Federal Bldg, VARO Room 1040
915 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 98174

206-220-6191

King

80, 40, 42, 74, 43, 55, 44, 46, 47, 45, 41

56

REGION 5

Department of Veterans Affairs
262 Burwell Street
Bremerton, WA 98337

360-478-4565

Kitsap

 

 18 88

American Legion
VA Medical Center Bldg 16, Room 111
American Lake
Tacoma, WA 98493

253-583-1300

 Pierce 49, 48, 67, 51

17, 66

 

REGION 6

Department of Veterans Affairs
262 Burwell Street
Bremerton, WA 98337

360-478-4565

 Clallam 05, 64 93
Jefferson 16 93

Department of Veterans Affairs
1011 Plum St, Bldg 5, 2nd Floor
PO Box 41150
Olympia WA 98504-1150

1-800-562-2308
360-753-5586

 Grays Harbor 14, 61

94
Mason

23

 96
Lewis 21 95
Thurston 34 96

American Legion
1603 E. 4th Plain Blvd, Room 123
Vancouver WA 98661

360-690-0274

 Pacific 25, 71 97
Wahkiakum 35 97
Cowlitz 08 97
Skamania 30 98
Clark

53, 06

98
All regions, counties and offices not listed:
Send Veterans Referral forms (DSHS 14-162(X) and 14-162A(X) to:

WDVA - Alternate Care
MS 41150
PO Box 41150
Olympia, WA  98504-1150

1-800-562-2308
 

Dates for Wartime Service

Mexican Border Period - May 9, 1916 through April 5, 1917 for veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders or in adjacent waters.

World War I - April 6, 1917 through November 11, 1918; for veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917 through April 1, 1920; extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918.

World War II - December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946.

Korean Conflict - June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955.

Vietnam Era - August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for veterans who served "incountry" before August 5, 1964) through May 7, 1975.

Gulf War - August 2, 1990 through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Service Offices with DSHS CSO / HCS Numbers and counties for each Office's service delivery area. 

Clarifying Information

Veteran's Aid and Attendance ( A & A) and some Unusual Medical Expenses (UME) payments are considered excluded income for the purposes of SSI related Medical eligibility and Institutional Medical eligibility.   This is described in WAC 388-475-0840.

These payments act as reimbursement for services (usually long term care) received by eligible Veterans, and as such are a Third Party resource.  VA A & A is counted in determining the total cost of care a client owes in post eligibility calculations for long term care services. 

For Veterans in medical institutions see WAC 388-513-1380 Determining a client's participation in the cost of care for long-term care services.

For Veterans on an HCS CN-P Waiver program see WAC 388-515-1505. 

WAC 388-513-1340  Determining excluded income for long-term care services describes benefits designated for the veteran's dependent, unusual medical expenses, aid and attendance allowance and household allowance.   There is an exception when a client is residing in a state veterans nursing home with no dependents.  VA benefits listed in WAC 388-513-1340 are excluded when determining initial eligibility, but counted when determining the participation in the cost of care. 

WAC 388-475-0840 SSI related medical-Work-and agency-related income exclusions describe that VA A & A, Housebound allowance, and UME are excluded income for SSI related medical.  If a client goes off long-term care services and continues to receive these VA benefits, they would be excluded when doing a redetermination under non institutional SSI related medical. 

Veteran's residing in a State Veterans nursing home are allowed a higher personal needs allowance.  ( LTC standards).    

Veterans that receive the $90 VA improved pension amount are allowed to keep the $90 as a PNA when residing in a medical institution.  These must be coded as improved pension in ACES.   Verify the client is receiving only $90 improved pension in order for the veteran to receive this amount as the PNA. 

For detailed information on the VA benefits chart, the types of VA benefits and how to correctly code VA income in ACES, see the link at the top of this page titled HCS Financial Training Packet on VA benefits. 

Worker Responsibilities-VA referral project (HCS applicants)

For long-term care applicants with HCS, an automated referral process is sent directly to the DSHS Veterans project team from ADSA. 

The VA referral project benefits:  

  • Improved client service and access to VA benefit

  • Increased available income for ADSA clients

  • Standardized and streamlined Veterans Benefit Referral process

  • Centralized documentation of Veterans Benefit Referrals and results

VA project process:

 

  • ADSA Project team compiles new recipients through Bar Code and transmits to Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) weekly

  • WDVA runs data through SHARE to determine clients potentially eligible for VA benefits

  • WDVA requests referrals for potentially eligible clients from ADSA Project team

  • ADSA Project team sends Veterans Benefit Referrals for requested clients to WDVA

  • WDVA considers additional information and calls client or representative to make full assessment regarding eligibility for VA benefits.  Some are ruled out.

  • If WDVA is unable to contact after 3 attempts in 3 weeks, returns 14-162a to Project Team as “unable to contact”

  • Contracted agency or WDVA visits client or representative to complete VA paperwork

  • Contracting agency or WDVA submits claim to VARO

  • WDVA sends 14-162a to Project Team to notify that VA claim has been filed

  • Project Team tracks claim application

  • Contracting agency notifies WDVA if client or representative is not cooperating

  • WDVA advises financial worker of non-cooperation via DSHS 14-162a

  • Financial worker sends the client a letter with requirement to pursue possible VA benefits

  • Financial worker contacts ADSA Project team for 2nd Veterans Benefit Referral after client or the client’s representative contacts and indicates intent to pursue benefits

  • Financial worker notifies ADSA Project team if client is unable to pursue benefits and has no one to assist them

  • Financial worker receives VA claim determination results from either WDVA or PARIS

  • HCS financial worker will, in cases of non-cooperation, advise clients of the requirements to do everything necessary to obtain income to which they are entitled. 

  • Financial worker will notify ADSA Project team if client is unable to pursue benefits and has no one to assist them

  • Veterans Affairs (VA) will adjudicate claims submitted in a customary timeframe

  • Follow instructions for those needing Nessessary Supplemental Accommodation  (NSA) and chapter 3 of the long-term care manual detailing NSA procedures for those receiving HCS services. 

VA Project Contacts:

Bill Allman  AllmaWA@dshs.wa.gov

Tim Dahlin dahlita@dshs.wa.gov

 

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Modification Date: January 6, 2009
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