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Thank you very much for your answer.  Here we go!

Helen,

The VA makes no bones about not being in the business of protecting assets.  This pension is designed for those who truly "need" this money in order to afford proper care.

Below is a formula to help you determine what her "countable" income is.  In addition, you may want to contact Patty at ElderBenefitsConsulting.com to see if her services might be helpful.

The VA suggests that its adjudicators use a certain amount of personal judgment on this issue. But the bottom line is: does it realistically appear that the veteran or surviving spouse may outlive their assets? If so, they are likely eligible.

Do NOT count their residence or vehicle when estimating net worth.

Do NOT count a life insurance policy (because the policy holder must be
deceased in order to benefit from it).

DO count CDs, annuities, stocks, bonds, savings, checking, IRAs, Keogh,
etc.

DO count any assets owned by the spouse as well.

As a rule of thumb, assets should not exceed $80,000. That amount drops
depending on the age of claimant.

List below the estimated ANNUAL income of the veteran or surviving spouse:

 Estimate total income (If married include spousal income): ______

All income must be included. This includes social security, pension,
interest income, dividends, income from rental property, etc.

If the veteran is married, then any spousal income must also be included.

List all unreimbursed, recurring health care expenses:

 This includes:

 Assisted Living costs (per month): _________________

 Nursing Home costs (per month):________________

 Home Care service (per month):_______________

 Health Insurance premium (per month):_______________

 Medicare premium (per month):_________________

 Regular (unreimbursed) prescriptions
 (per month & verifiable through a pharmacy print-out): _____________

 TOTAL Expenses per month: __________
 (multiply x 12 to get total annual expenses)

Subtract your total annual health care expenses from your total annual
income and write the amount here: _____________. This is your "countable" income

I have been trying to obtain this benefit for my mother. She is 93 yrs old with numerous medical problems. I had read that the net worth changes with age. Does anybody know how this change is calculated? Does it go up or down?
My mother lives on SS but, does have stocks worth 130,000. She does not want to use any of this since one hospitalization could wipe this out.
How can I help her?

SA,

Hold her hand, make an x, and have two people witness it.  Fill out the form to get the discharge paper at this link: http://www.veteranaid.org/docs/standard-form-180.pdf 

I would not worry about the other issues here and file for her as the veteran as she will be entitled to the higher amount as the veteran and not a surviving spouse.  Make certain to include the 21-0845 appointing you as an authorized 3rd party marking with the "x" and having witnessed.

Would suggest you draw up a basic caregiver contract, again with the "X" and be sure to pay yourself so that you can claim that medical expense.  As far as the rate goes, split the hairs on the service and come up with an average rate.

Wishing you the best.

My mother is a WWII vet.  She has received VA medical care for decades.  She is now 80 years old.  In 2007, she became ill and has never recovered her mental faculties.  She lives with me in my home, and is a total care patient.  She is not going to recover.  She has no assets, and her income is SS and SSI.  Her countable income is thus about $5,000/year.  She is not married.

I sent for my mother's DD214, but as I understand it, that didn't exist during her service time, the 40's...and anyway, the record hall burned down, and they sent a letter explaining that, and offering to hunt around until they found something for her.  Unfortunately, they want her to sign the form authorizing it.  She can't possibly do that.  I thought I would just sign it as her daughter and send it off.

Or, can I go to the VA and get something from them directly, since she is already recognized as a vet?  Or, do I just refer them to their own records?  I read somewhere that a "Statement of Service"  could be used, but I don't know what that would look like.  Have you ever heard of someone writing to the VA and requesting a statement of service based on existing info in a medical record?  I don't even know if I could get that due to HIPAA law.  I'm kind of stuck in the starting chute.

My father, deceased, was a vet, and my stepfather was also a vet, but so is my Mom.  I don't know how she originally qualified, although I think it was on her own.  What do you think I should do?  (I am also handicapped in not knowing exactly her dates of service and exactly at what facilities she served.)

To make it a little more complicated, my mother was well, underaged, when she enlisted...like, 13 or 14 years old.  This has never been a problem.  Do you think it will become one?

My mother cannot sign even an X.  She can't sign any checks to me as a caregiver.  She couldn't sign anyone's care contract.  I have been her surrogate since 2007.  I have become her Representative Payee for social security, and that is how I pay her bills and buy her things she needs.  But my Mom can't sign, and it's pretty obvious.  I don't know what to do about a care contract between she and I.  Any suggestions?  Can I submit a one-sided "this is what I do/will do for her" type of document?

Another question is:  I do some things on one level for her, and then other times I have to do higher level nursing care for her.  What type of rate would apply?  I have read on this forum to pick a local prevailing rate, but for a HHA, LVN, or RN?  I am an RN, but I am not able to work as much as desired, due to caring for my mother, which is a way hard thing to do.  What is your opinion?

Thank you for your time and patience.  I really enjoy reading your forum.  Paying attention, hoping for the best.

Thanks for your help.  SInce my Mom lives with me I do provide daily care since she cant drive and needs help with medications etc. Her medical bills have gone up since I applied so I will get that form and try to get an increase.  Thanks

It is based on her medical on-going expenses versus her monthly income.

In order for you to claim the expense of you providing care, she would actually have to pay you an agreeed upon amount for your care.  You can't claim an expense if you are not really incurring it.

What you need to do is determine her "countable" income. What she has left each month to live on after all allowable expenses have been paid.

Please see the formula below to determine this figure.

To apply for an increase, you would use 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim) to show the increase in expenses to be considered for more of the pension.

My Mom who had a stroke and uses a walker is recieving a very small  amount fromA&A that does not nearly cover the cost  of her care. 
She now lives with me full time and I care for her with the adittion of a women that comes in and helps with daily tasks and drives her on erands for whihc my mom needs help with the walker as well.  Can I apply for an increase if I start documenting that I care for her daily as well. 
She has developed COPD as well can that help me raise her amount? She only gets 83 a month which is not to helpful. 
How would I go about applying for an increase?

Many Thanks

Not with regards to this pension.  If there is some other VA benefit that covers moving expenses, we are not aware of it.