By: Bill Damson
Many of our Association of BellTel Retirees members bravely served this nation as members of the military. Some served overseas, others on the home front. Many came back from fighting overseas went right into long careers with the company in telecommunications. Both on the job and in the service of our nation, you earned benefits you are entitled to. We encourage you to access them.
For former members of the military and their spouses, it’s important to make sure you know the multiple veteran benefits available to you through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
All veterans are entitled to a wide variety of benefits including burial at a National Cemetery should you choose, healthcare, education, loans, disability compensation, and more.
It’s of note that if you are diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), in most cases this diagnosis qualifies you for 100% disability and compensation from the VA.
What you may not know is that there are specialized benefits and healthcare for veterans over the age of 65.
The Aid and Attendance (A&A) program is an increased monthly pension that you are eligible for if you meet one of the following conditions:
- Require help performing daily functions, including bathing, eating or dressing.
- Are bedridden.
- Are a patient in a nursing home.
- Eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
You may also be eligible for the Housebound program, which is an increased monthly pension if you are significantly confined to your home because of a permanent disability.
VA healthcare for elderly veterans also includes geriatric programs, long term care, home based and community services and nursing home or residential care.
Any veteran with an honorable discharge is also eligible for free hospice care.
For more in-depth information on all the programs available to veterans, we encourage you or your family to visit VA.gov.
Make sure you are enrolled for these benefits. You can check or apply online, so make sure you have your DD 214. This document proves you served your country. If you don’t have this important paperwork already, you can request a new copy online from VA.gov.
You may also work with an accredited representative or agent to help you navigate the process. Joining a veteran organization like, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US (VFW), and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) will help keep you updated on benefits and can assist you in handling claims.
Preparing Your Documents & Affairs
Whether you served this country or not, being prepared and making sure you take care of yourself, and your families is of the utmost importance.
None of us enjoy thinking about our mortality, but retirement comes with responsibilities that we all must address to make sure our families are taken care of when we eventually pass. The last thing you want is for lawyers or the courts, and not your loved ones, to make those decisions for you.
Here are some things to do that will put you and your family at ease.
First and foremost, make sure you have a Last Will and Testament in place. This document will make clear what you would like to happen to your prized belongings and assets after your passing. This could also include planned gifts to a non-profit organization, like the BellTel Retirees.
Also, make sure you have a Living Will. This document will speak for you, in the event that you can no longer speak for yourself. You should also have a power of attorney for healthcare, and a durable power of attorney to speak on your behalf during healthcare or legal predicaments.
It’s important to make sure all bank accounts have direct beneficiaries. The beneficiary will then only need to go to the bank with your death certificate and an ID of their own.
If you own a home, a Transfer On Death deed is a vital document. Completing this form and filing it with your county of residence or village town hall can potentially save your heirs thousands of dollars. This will allow an easier path to passing your home on to a loved one.
You may also create a Funeral Planning Declaration, which allows a person to lay out their wishes in relation to memorial or religious services upon passing.
It’s also smart to keep a list of all your important financial documents, bank accounts, investments, credit cards, utilities, with clear instructions on how and when all of these get paid. You should also make sure that someone has access to log into these accounts on your behalf.
Most importantly, make sure these documents are stored somewhere safe and confidential and that someone you trust knows exactly where they are.
Don’t forget to continue to give to and support the Association of BellTel Retirees, a vital protection and safety net looking out for all retirees.
Bill Damson was the Former Vice Commander of the New York State American Legion, retired from Verizon in 2003, and is a longtime member of the Association of BellTel Retirees.
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