Any experience with qualification for and assistance through the VA Independence Care Program and (b) VIP?

Deb, a rep from one of the service organizations explained it briefly as this. Although I understood yesterday, as I read her notes today I'm less confident that I have a good handle on these services.

This is only sketchy information Aid & Attendance does include home based care services. There's a weekly maximum of hours - it isn't a lot thought. There's a Homemaker Health Aid aspect; I believe it's an element or function within A & A.

Another is the non service connected pension, with 3 elements:

(a) pension (b) housebound and (c) Aid & Attendance. So it would seem that the NSCP program is the larger one, with A & being only one aspect.

There are levels of financial qualifiers or disqualifiers as well, but they applied to aspects that didn't interest me so I didn't take notes on them. And they vary; I would have had to make a chart to follow it all, but we were pressed for time as the service organizations would only have been open for a short while before closing (we went after our other appointments were finished).

She did say that for the Aid & Attendance, we should ask the VA Primary Care physician for information on that. I assumed that this is where the referral starts, so I'll check that out first.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful; I'll probably understand more thoroughly what's involved when I do more of my own research.

The rep generally insisted on giving me at least a basic overview even though she was late for an appointment, so I didn't press to get more information.

Stacey, nothing was mentioned about respite care, but as I wrote this was just a very general overview.

gn - I well remember those days -

Deb, I'm too brain dead now to even remember what I had for supper! I'll write more tomorrow - look for the next installment!

so, GardenArtist, what are you meaning by A & A not just home care and medical care? I had it for my dad

Debs, to which military letter are you referring?

Stacey, I met briefly today with a rep for one of the service organizations since we were already at the VA anyway. I'm still trying to sort out the options and restrictions. Maybe tomorrow I can think clearer. A & A is a lot more complicated than I thought - it isn't just home care and medical care.

Can you please tell me where to sign up for the military letter? My mom is a vet and i am currently taking care of her in my home

Stacey, thanks for responding. I hope I get more responses too!

Just speaking to the vacation issue, I've learned that there are some facilities that give discounts to military families. I'm going to PM a link to you for a military newsletter I get; the latest e-mails have provided information on these vacation discounts.

It's worth getting as there are other military benefit issues as well, and it's written by former and I believe now a reserve AF officer (yeah, go AF!)

Gardenartist, thank you for asking this question, and I will be following the discussion as my FIL was Actively enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War as wel as called back for another year, for what, I'm not sur, but I know he will qualify for some level of benefits, but he has not to date getting his health care from the VA, but through a private group insurance along with Medicare. I'm most interested in some home care and household assistance, as well as respite so that we could perhaps get a long awaited vacation which we haven't done in 8 or so year's. Yes we have our kids, but we would hate to impose, as they all work hard for their vacation time too! It would be so nice to be able to leave him in a professional medical atmosphere and not have to worry for a change. But he has never been enroll with the VA medical, but they did pay for his headstone which we learned about when his wife passed away, so all that we will need to pay for when he passes is the engraving. It is kind of weird to see his name already in place when we visit the cemetery, kinda eerie. Anyways, I hope you you/we get lots of responses to your OP! TaDa!

Correction: the programs should be:

(a) Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC).
(b) Veterans Independent Care

Sorry - got the two mixed up and created some new programs!