Veterans and Care at Home: Where to Get Authoritative Answers

The honest starting point

Benefits that can help a veteran or a surviving spouse with care at home exist, and eligibility for every one of them is decided by the Department of Veterans Affairs — not by a home care agency, not by a placement service, and not by anyone charging a fee to "qualify" you. Be cautious with any company that promises approval.

Who to contact

• **VA directly.** Ask about benefits related to care at home for the veteran's specific service history and current needs.
• **An accredited Veterans Service Officer.** Georgia has accredited representatives who help veterans and families file claims at no charge. Accreditation matters; ask for it.
• **The veteran's VA care team**, if they already receive VA health care. They know what is available through that facility.

What to have ready

• Discharge documentation (commonly a DD214) and service dates.
• Current VA enrolment status and facility, if any.
• A plain description of what daily help is needed and who provides it now.
• Marital status and, for a surviving spouse, the marriage and death records.
• Treating physician information.

Questions to ask

• Which benefits should we apply for given this service record and this level of need?
• What evidence does the claim need, and who supplies it?
• How long do determinations usually take right now?
• If approved, who delivers the care, and can we keep our current caregivers?
• Is there anything that would delay or jeopardise the claim?

How private care usually fits

Many veteran families arrange private non-medical care immediately for bathing, meals and supervision, while a claim is in process. Care notes and visit records can often support a claim by documenting the actual level of assistance needed. If a benefit is later approved, the private schedule can be adjusted.

What we provide

Non-medical care at home across our seven-county service area, with the same standards for every client. We will supply documentation of the care we deliver when a claim asks for it, and we will tell you plainly that eligibility decisions are not ours to make.