As some
of you may know, the Veterans Administration has certain benefits that
may be made payable to a veteran and/or that person’s spouse.
Some benefits may be made payable, to such
an individual, if they have become disabled as a result of military
service.
There are other benefits, however, that
are payable if the person has suffered a non-service -related
disability.
Although these
benefits may help those individuals who need care at home, or in a
bona fide nursing home, there is a problem when it comes to Assisted
Living in NJ.
The
payment of such benefits may place the individual over the “income
cap”..
Unlike nursing home Medicaid, there are no
Medicaid benefits available for one whose income exceeds the monthly
income cap.
As a result, the payment of any benefits,
to a Assisted Living applicant, may disqualify that person for
Medicaid assistance.
Medicaid
statutory and case law resembles that for Social Security Income (SSI)
cases.
Even though it is established, in the SSI
venue, that VA benefits are NOT to be counted toward an income cap, NJ
will NOT adhere to such practice.
End result: be
careful when applying for VA benefits if your loved one is applying
for Medicaid subsidies for Assisted Living.
