VA Accredited Attorneys Archives ⋆ Cathy Cress

Geriatric care managers can be a huge help to older veterans to get VA benefits. With nearly 10 million veterans in the U.S. who over the age of 65, older vets are usually good candidates for geriatric care management services both now and in the future.

Unfortunately, navigating the services, supports, and VA benefits available to older veterans can be a challenge for geriatric care managers and clients alike. Services and supports for this population are available at the federal, state and local level addition to the service navigation complexity. The configuration of services received by veterans and their families is likely to consist of federal services provided by the Veterans Administration in addition to more localized services for older adults in general like those provided by senior centers, area agencies on aging, etc.

VA Benefits available to veterans and their families range from federal VA home improvement grants, burial benefits, medical care, respite, housing programs, pension, and even local benefits like business loans and discount programs.

Like most clients served by geriatric care managers, this population will need both VA Benefits and personalized assistance in meeting their care needs. For this reason, it is important to note that services and supports designed for older adults, in general, are also key resources for veterans.

While the VA is a great resource, don’t overlook the value and expertise in VA Benefits offered by local organizations like local healthcare centers, senior centers, and Area Agencies on Aging, among others.

Find the many ways care managers can access hard to find VA services and serve retired vets.

Handbook of Geriatric Care Management 4th edition includes a new chapter that will help you help vets Maximizing the Health and Well-Being of Older Veterans by Dr. Lenard Kaye, director of the Center for Aging at the University of Maine and Glenn Osbourne, director of the National Veterans Legal Aid Group . As an aging life or geriatric care manager, or senior advocate, learn how to to get elder veteran’s VA benefits they so deserve.

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The second and largest group of VA-accredited attorneys is those who assist in the development of initial disability benefit claims. Often, these attorneys also practice in related areas of law pertaining to seniors (“elder law”) and their specialized needs such as estate planning, Medicaid planning and retirement planning.

Unfortunately, these additional areas of interest may lead to conflicts of interest. Because federal law prohibits charging a fee to assist in the origination of an original claim for benefits, a reasonable question to ask when interviewing a VA accredited attorney is “How are your services funded?” Often, you will discover that the principal offer will be related to providing other, non-VA related services legal services that are fee-based, such as estate planning, etc. Great caution should be exercised to thoroughly understand the attorney’s level of knowledge pertaining to VA benefits and procedures as well as understanding why the attorney is offering to assist veterans. If the offer is based on obtaining paying clients for the attorney’s core legal services, a potential conflict of interest may exist. Again, exercise due diligence and caution!

Be aware that attorneys are permitted under federal law to charge fees for assisting veterans in particular situations

Beware VA Accredited Attorneys Inital Disability Claims

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