Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 10, 2019 S by Jim Miller The Long-Term Care Benefit Many Veterans Are Missing Out On Dear Savvy Senior, I have heard that the VA has a benefit that can help veterans and spouses with long-term care costs. We recently had to move my 86-year-old father – who served in the army nearly 60 years ago – into an assisted living facility, and my mom isn’t far behind. Can the VA help? Seeking Aid Dear Seeking, The Veterans Administration does indeed have a littleknown, underutilized benefit that can help wartime veterans and their surviving spouses pay for a variety of longterm care costs. This benefit, called “Aid and Attendance,” is a special pension that’s paid in addition to a basic pension. It pays a maximum of $2,230 a month to married veterans; $1,881 a month to single veterans; or $1,209 a month to a surviving spouse. The money is tax free, and can be used to pay for in-home care, assisted living and nursing home care. Today, only around 230,000 veterans and survivors receiving Aid and Attendance, but millions more are eligible and either don’t know about it, or don’t think they can qualify for it. Eligibility Requirements To qualify, your dad must have served at least 90 days of active military service with at least one day of service during a period of war, and not have been discharged dishonorably. Single surviving spouses of wartime vets are eligible if their marriage ended due to death. In addition, your dad will also have to meet certain thresholds for medical and financial need to be eligible. To qualify medically he must be either disabled, or over the age of 65 and need help with basic everyday living tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing or going to the bathroom. Being blind or in a nursing home or assisted living facility due to mental disability also qualifies him. Single surviving spouses have no age restrictions, but they must require help with basic everyday living tasks to be eligible. To qualify financially, your parents must have limited assets, under $127,061, excluding their home, vehicle and personal belongings. And their annual income (minus medical and long-term care expenses) cannot exceed the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR), which in 2019 is $26,766 for a veteran and their spouse; $22,577 for a single veteran; and $14,509 for a surviving spouse. To calculate your parent’s income qualifications, add up their income over the past year (including Social Security, pensions, interest income from investments, annuities, etc.), minus any out-of-pocket medical expenses, prescription drugs, insurance premiums and long-term care costs over that same period of time. If the final tally is under the MAPR, and he meets the other requirements, he should be eligible for aid. How to Apply To learn more, or to apply for Aid and Attendance, contact your regional VA benefit office (see Benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.asp or call 800–827–1000) where you can apply in person. You can also apply by writing the Pension Management Center for your state (see Benefits.va.gov/pension/ resources-contact.asp). You’ll need to include evidence, like VA Form 21-2680 (VA.gov/vaforms) which your dad’s doctor can fill out that shows his need for Aid and Attendance. If you need some help, you can appoint a Veteran Service Officer (VSO), a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent to represent your dad. See www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/ vso-search to locate someone. If your dad is eligible, it will take between six and 12 months for his application to be processed, so be patient. You should also know that if your dad’s Aid and Attendance application is approved, the VA will send a lump sum retroactive payment covering the time from the day you filed the application until the day it was approved. Then your dad receives monthly payments going forward. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Frank R. Ludwig Sr. H igh Point, NC for - merly of Saugus age, 86, died on May 2nd after suffering a major stroke at home. Loving Husband of the late Priscilla (Mitchell) Ludwig. Born and raised in Saugus, to the late Elgin and Helen (Kennedy) Ludwig. Frank was a Korean War veteran, and a coowner of Ludwig Cleaners which was located on Vine Street in Saugus. Frank retired from the United States postal service. After his retirement he moved to Epping, NH and spent his winters in Florida with his wife Priscilla until her death four years ago. Then he moved to High Point, NC with his daughter’s family, Marcia and Philip Nichols. He leaves his son Frank Ludwig Jr. of Peabody, MA and his former wife Gail Somers of Lynn, MA, his daughter Kathy and her husband John Trainor of Atkinson, NH, and his daughter Marcia and her husband Philip Nichols of High Point, NC. Frank is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He was the Frank J. Galasso O f Saugus, formerly of Chelsea, age 98, May 3. Husband of the late Lillian (Penta) Galasso. Beloved father of Lynne St. Amand & her husband Gerard of Merrimack, NH and Francis Galasso of Saugus. Cherished grandfather of Garrett & Danielle St. Amand and Larissa Hebert. Dear brother of Annette McElaney of Needham & the late Enes Galasso. WWII U.S. Navy Veteran. Donations in his memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org. 1. Why did Captain Cook name the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) that? 2. On May 10, 1775, what Colonel, together with the Green Mountain Boys, captured Fort Ticonderoga without firing a shot? 3. Which U.S. state produces the most cranberries? 4. In 1914 which U.S. president signed the order creating a national Mother’s Day? 5. What artist who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel said, “Trifles make perfection and perfection is no trifle”? 6. On May 12, 1978, the U.S. Commerce Dept. made what change in the naming of hurricanes? 7. In what year was the World Series not held and why? 8. Do insects have lungs? 9. American film producer Albert R. Broccoli made what successful movie series? 10. On May 14, 1804, what expedition departed from St. Louis? 11. In 1821, what country’s flag flew in California? 12. On May 15, 1820, what Englishwoman was born who became a Crimean War nurse? 13. In most languages what does the word for “mother” being with? 14. On May 16, 1866, the U.S. Congress authorized minting what cent coinage? 15. What is horticulturalist William Forsyth best known for? 16. In the TV series “Gunsmoke” who presided over Dodge City’s Long Branch Saloon? 17. In “Alice in Wonderland” what kind of party did the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Dormouse and Alice attend? 18. What TV show did Groucho Marx, Buddy Hackett, Richard Dawson and Bill Cosby all host? 19. Who was captain of the Mayflower? 20. What were early rain boots called? Answers below, please no cheating! FROM PAGE 20 Obituary brother of Barbara Merrithew and Marjorie Taatjes both of Saugus, MA. He is also predeceased by his seven brothers Algin, Charles, Wilbert, John, James, Herbert and Samuel. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the Joslin Diabetes foundation www.joslin.org Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., SAUGUS on Friday 11- Noon followed by a funeral service at Noon in the funeral home. Interment Riverside Cemetery Saugus. 1. Because the 4th Earl of Sandwich was a sponsor of his exploration 2. Ethan Allen 3. Wisconsin 4. Woodrow Wilson 5. Michelangelo 6. They would also have men’s names. 7. 1994, due to a MLB Players Assoc. strike 8. No; they have a network of breathing tubes. 9. James Bond 10. Louis & Clark 11. Mexico’s 12. Florence Nightingale 13. M 14. The nickel 15. The Forsythia plant genus was named in his honor. 16. Miss Kitty 17. A tea party 18. “You Bet Your Life” 19. Miles Standish 20. Wellingtons (or Wellies)
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