Ask Mike - Auxiliary Grants in Virginia

Dear Mom in AG,

Thank you for writing about Auxiliary Grants in Virginia and how they may be impacted by Veteran's Administration (VA) benefits. You wrote that your Mother had qualified for Auxiliary Grant (AG) benefits that would pay for her to reside in an Assisted Living Facility (ALF). Your Father was a WW II veteran and because of that, your Mother had finally qualified for benefits from the VA. I assume that means cash benefits as well as medical. You fear that the VA benefits will disqualify your Mother from the Auxiliary Grant (AG) program and want to know if you can cancel or otherwise turn down the VA cash benefit so she can maintain her eligibility for the Auxiliary Grant program.

As you state in your message, the VA system can be complicated and difficult to navigate. VA benefits are an entitlement granted because of your Father's military service in World War II. The only way to be sure if you can cancel these benefits is to contact the VA and ask. However, the state of Virginia may not allow the VA benefits to be discounted in its determination for eligibility for the Auxiliary Grant program. So you will need to first check with the state of Virginia.

Even though this may not be the news that you wanted to hear, there may be somewhat of a silver lining. The VA has some long term care programs such as a direct cash benefit that can be used to pay for services. You should ask about programs or eligibility requirements when you contact the VA.

You may also be able to get more help by contacting a state or local agency related to PAS. You can find these easily on our website, by going to www.pascenter.org . Next click on "State Information" on the top left hand side of the Homepage. Next click on "Agencies Related to PAS" found under the heading "State Background and Contact Information for Resources & Agencies Related to PAS". A map of the USA will come up next. Click on the State of Virginia. A list of contacts will come up beginning with "Medicaid Agency" and ending with "State Independent Living Council and Centers for Independent Living". Click on both of these and as many of the others as you may need to try to get help with information about VA benefits and programs and to get help with the question about whether refusing VA benefits is possible under VA rules or allowable by the state and whether this will impact the AG benefits.

Thanks for writing and good luck!

Mike Oxford