VETERAN BENEFITS
If you have served the United States in some branch of the military (Thank You!), you or your surviving spouse or family may be entitled to Service Related Disability Benefits, and/or Veterans' Pension Benefits. Too often, we meet veterans who are struggling to make ends meet and are completely unaware of the help that may be available to them.
Veterans Benefits are becoming more important as an available resource to veterans who have either honorably served their country during a war time period or who have become disabled due to their service. Traditionally, Social Security Disability attorneys and attorneys who worked specifically with service-connected disabled veterans were the only lawyers familiar with veteran laws.
However, with the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Medicaid benefits are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain and traditional planning opportunities employed by Elder Law Attorneys are diminishing. Thus, a surge of attorneys, assisted living facilities, private individuals, and non-profit organizations have begun advising non-service connected disabled veterans who have served in the military during a war time period about Pension with aid and attendance.
In response to those actions, as well as others, the VA has recently changed the laws regarding who can assist VA claimants and when an agent can charge for such service. Currently, ONLY ACCREDITED agents, including attorneys, can assist a claimant with the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of a claim before the VA. Accredited agents must complete required continuing education requirements. And, lastly, fees cannot be charged until AFTER a Notice of Disagreement has been filed.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
The VBA provides an integrated program of veterans benefits. The major benefits include:
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The VHA operates and maintains the nationwide network of VA: