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H
hottotrot Asked February 2020

Can you receive VA benefits and Medicaid at the same time?

Alicew234 Mar 2020
We were told you could, but it was rare. In our case, the VA benefit was reduced to less than $50 when chronic Medicaid was approved. (Or maybe it was the Medicaid benefit was reduced? I forget)

In any case, the person technically qualified for both but the amount paid was reduced significantly.

igloo572 Feb 2020
In theory, VA A&A is self-directed, so you get the $ and you determine what it us used for within VA guidelines, is my understanding.
VA A&A for individual about $1900 & if married $2300.

So IF at home, you can pay for a caregiver.
IF in AL, you can use it towards rent.
IF in NH, you can use it towards rent also.....BUT the rub is that $1900 will not ever be enough to pay for monthly NH costs. Even if you somehow have a nice monthly SS$ of $2k, those even combined will not be enough for LTC in a NH as NH are $7-15k mo.
So you are better off becoming eligible for LTC NH Medicaid. As Medicaid will cover all the NH room and board costs.
So You stop or suspend VA A&A. You cannot get both LTC Medicaid & VA A&A.
BUT, If VA A&A stopped & they instead go onto Medicaid, VA then does a monthly personal needs stipend of $90 a month. They get to totally keep the VA $90, plus get to keep from their monthly “income” whatever Medicaid in your state has as the PNA (personal needs allowance). So like in TX PNA is $60 + VA $90, so they have $140 a mo free to spend $. The VA $90 as Cali posted isn’t countable as “income”.

VA A&A imo can be ideal to have if they have assets to spend down & kinda need time to unthread them (like an annuity draw down, or they need time to sell property, or moving stuff to best serve a community spouse situation); the VA A&A$ helps them extend their own $ longer...... before they hit finally being impoverished for Medicaid limits.

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eldercarelcsw Feb 2020
I believe it depends on whether the benefit (such as Aid & Attendance) puts the person over the income limit for Medicaid.
worriedinCali Feb 2020
A&A isn’t countable income when it comes to medicaid.
JoAnn29 Feb 2020
I don't think you can if in LTC. You can't have both. But there was a poster who said her LO was getting both in LTC. A question for Medicaid and/or the VA.

worriedinCali Feb 2020
In some circumstances, yes. You can receive Medicaid and VA & aid & attendance if you are in an assisted living. You can also receive VA homebound benefits and Medicaid if you still live home. But other than that, you cannot receive both.

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