Serving Those Who Served: Determining Eligibility for Veterans Benefits – Live Online CLE Webcast

"Serving Those Who Served: Determining Eligibility for Veterans Benefits – Live Online CLE Webcast" is a live webinar scheduled for November 11, 2026, at 1:00 pm ET, presented by Colleen D. Bratkovich, a Shareholder and Partner at Zacharia Brown & Bratkovich. This program offers a comprehensive overview of key VA benefits available to aging veterans and surviving dependents, focusing on VA Improved Pension, Survivors’ Pension, Aid & Attendance, and Housebound benefits. Participants will delve into the eligibility criteria, including service, disability, financial, and other requirements that determine qualification for these benefits.

The course provides an in-depth examination of the financial eligibility rules governing VA Pension benefits, covering net-worth limitations, exempt and non-exempt resources, income calculations, and unreimbursed medical expenses. Attendees will explore strategies to reduce countable net worth and understand how various assets—such as bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and secondary real estate—impact benefit eligibility. Special attention is given to the VA’s three-year lookback rule and the consequences of asset transfers before applying for benefits, including the calculation of periods of ineligibility.

Additionally, the program extends beyond pension benefits to discuss long-term care services available through the VA Health Care System, including home health, adult day care, hospice, assisted living, and nursing-home care. It also covers the VA Family Caregiver Assistance Program, detailing circumstances under which qualifying family caregivers may receive financial and health-care assistance for caring for a veteran with a service-connected disability.

This webinar is ideal for attorneys specializing in administrative law, wills, trusts, and estates, as well as those advising veterans and their families. By attending, legal professionals will gain valuable insights into VA benefits, enhancing their ability to assist clients in navigating the complexities of veterans' benefits eligibility.