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Archive for the ‘Veterans Issues’ Category

Westchester County Veterans Have Access To Discounted Dental and Vision Services

Friday, November 11th, 2011

When service members retire from the military, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not offer vision or dental health services. For New York State’s 988,000-plus veterans, access to these services is needed. A new program that launched in Westchester County earlier in the fall brings these services to America’s veterans. The Smiling On America’s Heroes program gives any retired veteran and their immediate family access to discounted dental and vision services through the Careington International Corporation. A surviving family member can also enroll in the plan.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, it is important that we celebrate our veterans that work hard to keep our country safe and secure. Highlighting opportunities for them to save money and access health benefits is one way to show our appreciation. Costs for dental and vision procedures are often 15 to 60 percent discounted through the plan. Beyond vision and dental services, the Smiling On America’s Heroes program also connects veterans with work and family benefits such as care for a person with a disability, elder care, and child care.

The Smiling On America’s Heroes program is only available in Westchester and Orange County, New York right now, but by summer 2012 it will be open for all New York State veterans. The program’s principals then are set to launch it nationwide. Veterans must live in the counties to qualify or can sign up if their primary residence is there but they are currently out of the area. The program is privately funded, so it does not affect taxpayers.

The New York special needs law firm Littman Krooks LLP applauds the program for the area’s veterans and their loved ones. Veterans should take advantage of the many resources to stay healthy and properly plan for their long-term needs. Their New York City, White Plains or Fishkill special needs and estate planning attorneys are skilled in government benefits, long-term care, and asset preservation. To learn more, visit http://www.littmankrooks.com/.

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Entrepreneur Program for Disabled Vets Helps Them Kick-Start Business Ventures

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Post-9/11 military veterans with disabilities have an innovative entrepreneurship and small business management program they can attend for free in seven universities across the United States. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is a nine day course to help wounded warriors launch new businesses or enhance a company they have already begun. The fee for the EBV, food, housing and travel expenses is provided by the select universities, corporate sponsors and alumni.

The EBV is a mix of experiential training workshops and classes. From writing business plans, raising capital, and attracting clients, the course covers it all. The EBV is held at solid, business-minded universities including Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, Purdue University, and other schools. Support and technical assistance is also given for a year after the course is taken.

Syracuse University and Florida State University also have an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families. Family caregivers of disabled veterans and spouses of fallen soldiers can utilize the program to kick-start their business too.

“By being an entrepreneur, we are helping with the economic recovery,” said Randy Blass, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who serves as director for the FSU program. “You are creating jobs. That message is not lost on someone who still wants to serve and is looking for some identity to latch onto…We talk about business. We are going forward. We are not looking backwards.”

Alumni of the program have started and enhanced many types of businesses. The programs cater to all business ideas – the only must is to have the spirit of entrepreneurship and be open to thinking about new ways to improve your business acumen.

The New York special needs law firm Littman Krooks LLP applauds the EBV program for disabled veterans and their loved ones. In tandem with gaining knowledge about how to build a strong business, they advocate that disabled individuals and their families should take advantage of the many resources to properly plan for long-term needs. Their New York City, White Plains or Fishkill Special Needs attorneys are skilled in long-term care, asset preservation, government benefits, and protection planning for people with disabilities.

To learn more about New York special needs planning, visit http://www.littmankrooks.com/special-needs-planning, or http://www.specialneedsnewyork.com To learn more about New York elder law, visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com.

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Veterans Often Overlook Government Benefits

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Many former members of the armed forces are unaware of benefits available to them through the Veterans Administration. The Aid and Attendance Improved Pension—which has been available for nearly 60 years–is a case in point.  It provides funding to help defray the costs of ongoing assistance with such tasks of daily living as eating, taking medication, bathing, and toileting. Care in nursing homes or assisted living facilities due to mental or physical disabilities is also covered. Vets, 65 or older, who served during a period of war, and whose income and net worth fall within the required range, are eligible.  Compensation is not tied to service-related injuries. Surviving spouses and dependent children qualify for more limited coverage. A “homebound pension,” also available to those needing care, is less restrictive than Aid and Attendance and can frequently be used to compensate family caregivers or to defray the costs of adult day care. There is also a “basic pension,” having no medical pre-conditions, available to vets 65 or over who have limited income. Unmarried vets with no dependent children must have annual incomes under $11,830.  Those with a spouse must have an income of under $15,493 yearly. An elder law attorney can advise you on methods of protecting personal assets while qualifying for, and coordinating, Veterans and Medicaid benefits, the latter often needed to cover long-term care. Visit www.elderlawnewyork.com or www.littmankrooks.com for more information.

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Veteran Payouts Remain Unclaimed

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, over six million dollars have been claimed by veterans and their families in the last three years but millions of dollars still remain unclaimed. This money represents life insurance policy payouts, dividend checks and premium refunds that were mailed to policyholders but could not be delivered.  The Department of Veterans Affairs will hold these payouts indefinitely.

To find out if you or a member of your family is entitled to any of these any unclaimed funds, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website or call 1-800-669-8477. You can also write to the Department of Veteran Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center.

To claim funds, you will need to verify the veteran’s full name, date of birth, date of death (if applicable) and the veteran’s VA insurance file number or service number.  The VA insurance file number can be found on enlistment and discharge documents on file at county courthouses. If you are collecting money owed to a deceased veteran, the surviving spouse has access first, followed by children and parents.

Littman Krooks LLP offers legal services in several areas of law including Veterans’ Benefits, Elder Law, Estate and Tax Planning, Public Benefits, Estate Administration/Probate, Trusts and Estate, and Corporate and Securities.

For more information about veterans benefits, please visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com/veterans-benefits/ .

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Bernard A. Krooks to Speak on Financial Abuse of Seniors

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., managing partner of Littman Krooks LLP, will teach a seminar on “Fraud and Exploitation of the Elderly” at Pace Law School in New York City on June 16. The course is being conducted in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was established in 2006 to increase understanding of the problem of elder exploitation and neglect and to protect the dignity, rights and financial security of seniors.

The seminar will focus on the financial exploitation of seniors, in many cases committed by a close relative or other trusted person. Lessons from the Brooke Astor case will be used as illustration. In addition, recent changes to New York’s power of attorney law will be examined, some of which were designed to prevent elder financial abuse and to protect seniors from the mismanagement of their affairs by caregivers.

“This is a timely and socially significant topic,” explains Krooks. “The current economic climate is increasing the number of multi-generation households, as families seek to control living expenses. The temptation is there, and seniors, as well as concerned family members, need to be aware of steps to protect against abusive behavior that can result in both economic disaster and emotional scars.”

Bernard Krooks has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and as a “New York Super Lawyer.” He is the newly elected president of the Estate Planning Council of Westchester County, a former president of NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys), and a past chair of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Littman Krooks LLP offers legal services in several areas of law, including elder law, estate planning, veterans’ benefits, special needs planning, special education advocacy,  and corporate and securities.  The firm’s offices are located at 655 Third Avenue, New York, New York; 399 Knollwood Road, White Plains, New York; and 300 Westage Business Center Drive, Fishkill, New York.  For more information about Littman Krooks LLP, visit www.littmankrooks.com.

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VA Nursing Home Care

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Many veterans may be eligible to receive nursing home benefits from the Veterans Administration. The VA currently provides nursing home care to veterans through three national programs: VA Community Living Centers (CLC), state veterans’ homes that are owned and operated by the states, and the contract community nursing home program.

Community Living Centers offer veterans both short-term (less than 90 days) and long-term (more than 91 days) stays. To be eligible for short-term stay in a CLC, a veteran must be enrolled in VA health care. During a short-term stay, veterans receive a variety of services including: respite care, rehabilitation, hospice, skilled nursing, and maintenance care for those waiting for placement in the community. Long-term stays are available to enrolled veterans who need care for the term of their lives or for an extended amount of time due to a service-related disability.

State veterans homes are owned and operated by the states. States must petition the VA to receive a portion of the construction costs and to be recognized as a state home. Once a home has been recognized, the VA pays a portion of the per diem cost as long as the home continues to meet VA standards. States are entitled to establish their own eligibility requirements, as well as to determine which services will be offered for short- and long-term care. Some homes may offer specialized services to veterans.

Veterans can also receive nursing home care from some community nursing homes that have established contracts with the VA. These partnerships allow veterans to receive long-term nursing home care in their own communities so that they can stay near their loved ones.

Placement in any of these programs requires that a potential resident be medically stable, have sufficient functional defects to make inpatient nursing home care necessary, and receive an assessment by a medical provider that states institutional nursing home care is necessary. In addition to this, each potential resident must meet the requirements of the facility to which he or she is applying. An elder law attorney can assist in the process of choosing the appropriate institution.

To learn more about New York Elder Law, NY Elder Law, New York Elder Care, NY Elder Care, or New York Estate Planning visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com.

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The VA Basic Pension Benefit

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

The Veterans Administration’s Improved Pension Program (IPP) includes a basic benefit that is open to many low-income United States veterans or their surviving spouses. Many veterans are simply unaware of this benefit, or think that they do not qualify because the benefits of this program are dramatically different from other VA programs. This is because most pension benefits usually come only after years of service. In order to be eligible for the VA’s “Basic Pension” benefit, a veteran must meet the income and net worth requirements and must have served a minimum of 90 days in the military during one of the following wars:

World War II: December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946

Korean War: June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955

Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975

Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law of Presidential Proclamation.

In order to meet the financial requirements of this benefit, the VA must determine that a veteran’s or surviving spouse’s net worth is not enough to provide adequate support for a lifetime. One’s primary residence and vehicles are not used to determine net worth. Also, a veteran’s countable income must be less than the available pension amount. Countable income is determined by deducting a veteran’s or surviving spouse’s income after deducting all unreimbursed, recurring health care expenses. These expenses can include assisted living costs, ongoing pharmacy costs, insurance premiums, and more.

Importantly, to receive this benefit and the others associated with the IPP, a veteran does not need to have a service-related injury, does not need to have retired from the military, and does not need to have been involved in combat.

Although the Basic Pension benefit offers the lowest amount of benefits in the IPP plan, all benefits provided under this program are tax-free. Eligible applicants should contact an attorney who is experienced in elder law and estate planning.

To learn more about New York Elder Law, NY Elder Law, New York Elder Care, NY Elder Care, or New York Estate Planning visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com.

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