VA Benefits Chart and VA Information-Appendix 4

Revised May 13, 2013

Links to information on Veteran's Benefits

United States Department of Veteran's Affairs.

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

HCS Financial Training on VA improved Pension and how to use the VA calculator

December 2011 Veterans Benefit Chart

December 2012 Veterans Benefit Chart

Veteran's Administration Contacts in Washington State

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 "in country" 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 182-512-0840.  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.  (WAC references re Medicaid is payor of last resort and third party liability:    WAC 182-503-0540, WAC 182-501-0100 , WAC 182-501-0200, WAC 182-502-0100 ).   Contact Lori Rolley or Peggy Rezac for the Department brief if there is a hearing request on this issue. 

For Veterans in medical institutions see WAC 182-513-1380 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 182-515-1505. 

WAC 182-513-1340  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 182-512-0840  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 plus their regular PNA when residing in a medical institution or residential setting.   These must be coded as VZ in ACES.  Add text to the letter indicating the individual is allowed to keep the $90 VA plus their regular 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. 

Protecting PNA with VA TPR Example

Protecting PNA with VA TPR Example.pdf

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 2^nd 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 Necessary 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

Department of VA Affairs tables

Special Monthly Compensation