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Veterans' Respite Care: Eligibility and Benefits
| Definition |
Qualifications |
Costs |
| Pros & Cons |
Benefit Types & Limits |
How to Apply |
| Overview of Veterans' Respite Care | ||
Respite Care from the Veteran's Administration is a program that provides trained caregivers that attend to the individual in need of care to give the primary caregiver time to relax and attend to his or her own needs. Depending on geographic location, care is either provided in the home or in a VA medical or community living center.
Alone,
respite care is not a solution to paying for senior care, but when combined
with other resources and cost reductions such as tax credits, respite care
might make the difference that enables a family to choose between residential
and home care.
Respite care is a covered benefit for all veterans who are
enrolled in the VA health care system. In rare cases, certain veterans are
eligible for VA health care without having to enroll in the program. If you
are uncertain whether your loved one is one of these exceptions, you should
contact your local VA office.
VA respite care is provided up to 30 days a year. The VA may offer an extension to this rule in the case where the primary caregiver to the veteran passes away.
Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living
Since
respite care's goal is to relieve the primary caregiver, those veterans
residing in assisted living or nursing care residences are not eligible. However, there is a program for veterans called the Aid and Attendance Program which provide financial assistance for assisted living.
Be Aware That:
- Not every VA facility is able to provide respite care.
- There can be waiting lists to receive the respite care.
Also Known As:
- VA Respite Care
- Veterans' Respite Care
- Veterans' Administration Respite Care
- VA Health Care Respite Care
Age Requirements
There are no age requirements to be eligible for VA Health Care. However, one's age impacts other eligibility criteria. Individuals 75 or older have less restrictive disability qualifications.
Disabilities / Health Requirements
Veterans must have chronic illness or condition that results in a need for the level of care typically provided in a nursing home. However, it is not a requirement that the condition be related to their military service. Older or clinically depressed individuals have less restrictive disability requirements.
Family Status
A veteran's family or marital status does not play in a role in determining
their eligibility for VA Health Care / Respite Care
Financial Status Requirements
A veteran's financial resources are only considered if they have been assigned to a higher number (but lower priority) Priority Group. Higher Priority Group assignment generally means they do not have disabilities resulting from their military service.
Resources are defined as the sum of the veteran and their spouse liquid and fixed assets and their income minus their allowances, such as medical bills. Veterans having resources in excess of the maximums are evaluated case by case to determine their need.
A very general rule of thumb is veterans can have up to $80,000 in resources or up to $30,000 in annual income. Married veterans can deduct $100,000 from their total resources as “spousal resource protection”. However, there are many exceptions and these amounts change based on the veteran's county of residence. Veterans with resources beyond the maximum allowable amounts here should consult directly with the VA or veterans' benefits consultant to determine if they are eligible.
Resources are defined as the sum of the veteran and their spouse liquid and fixed assets and their income minus their allowances, such as medical bills. Veterans having resources in excess of the maximums are evaluated case by case to determine their need.
A very general rule of thumb is veterans can have up to $80,000 in resources or up to $30,000 in annual income. Married veterans can deduct $100,000 from their total resources as “spousal resource protection”. However, there are many exceptions and these amounts change based on the veteran's county of residence. Veterans with resources beyond the maximum allowable amounts here should consult directly with the VA or veterans' benefits consultant to determine if they are eligible.
Veteran Status Requirements
Veterans are required to have 24 months of continuous active duty military service and a discharge status other than Bad Conduct or Dishonorable to be eligible for VA Health Care. There are exceptions to the 24 month rule for:
- Reservists or National Guard members that were called to Active Duty and completed their terms.
- Persons requiring treatment for a service-connected condition or disability.
- Persons discharged or released from active duty for a hardship or an "early out".
Geographic Requirements
The veteran's geographic location does not affect eligibility directly but the maximum allowable amount of resources changes depending on in which county the veteran resides.
Veterans must be living at home and have a primary caregiver in that environment. Those who reside in a VA medical center or community living center are already receiving care and therefore are not eligible for respite care.
Veterans must be living at home and have a primary caregiver in that environment. Those who reside in a VA medical center or community living center are already receiving care and therefore are not eligible for respite care.
Types of Benefit Payout
Veterans and their caregivers benefit from a trained caregiver relieving the
primary caregiver for a period of time, typically 4-8 hours or occasionally
overnight.
Restrictions on How Payout Can be Used
Families do not receive a cash payout for respite care. They will either
receive a caregiver directly or a voucher to receive respite care.
Benefits Amounts & Limits
VA respite care is provided up to 30 days / year. The VA may offer an exception if the veteran's primary caregiver passes away. Depending on the environment in which the respite care is provided, a "day" can equal 4-8 hours of care.
Time to Receive Benefits
Provided there are not waiting lists to receive VA respite care, appointments
can typically be scheduled a few weeks in advance.
The cost of respite care is covered by the basic veteran's Medical Benefits
Package.
To
apply for VA respite care, one should contact their local VA administrator or one can learn more about the program here. Alternatively, one can call the Health Benefits Service Center at 877-222-8387.
The VA is expected to revise the rules regarding respite care in late 2013. This page will be updated again at that point in time.
The VA is expected to revise the rules regarding respite care in late 2013. This page will be updated again at that point in time.
