There will NOT be a look-back gifting penalty period for the VA Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit. On February 27, 2014, Senate Bill 1982, known as The Veterans Pension Protection Act, did not get the required votes to pass. One of the purposes of this bill, which also contained other provisions, was to help curtail some of the backlog at the VA for processing this benefit.
Unlike Medi-Cal, VA does not have a look-back gifting penalty period for qualification for the Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit. As a result, you can theoretically gift all of your assets away today, and be eligible for this VA benefit tomorrow with no gifting penalty. California however has a 30 month look back penalty period for gifting for eligibility for Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal pays for nursing home costs, minus a share of cost contribution by the recipient.
A problem has been that the 30 month look back penalty rules for Medi-Cal have often been ignored when large gifts have been made for qualification for Aid & Attendance. The result has been that if you make a big gift today in order to receive this VA benefit, you may have created a long period of ineligibility for Medi-Cal, by not following the Medi-Cal gifting regulations. Your elder law attorney will advise that any gifting made for qualification for the VA Aid & Attendance Pension benefit should coincide with the Medi-Cal gifting rules.
If Senate Bill 1982 had passed, any gifts made within the last three years would be reported, and a penalty for eligibility would attach.
This information is not to be taken as legal advice, and you are encouraged to see your elder law attorney. At the Law Offices of Michael J. Young, at 1931 San Miguel Dr., Ste. 220, Walnut Creek, CA www.WalnutCreekElderLaw, 925-256-0298, lawyoung1@gmail.com we practice Elder Law and we help Baby Boomers, Seniors and families through their Elder Care Journey. We help families with long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts and powers of attorney. We also help Baby Boomers and families get their “Ducks in a Row” in order help them qualify for Medi-Cal and the VA Aid & Attendance Improved Pension benefit.