Step

Action

1

Is there a signed DE-200 Authorization to Release Information in DocuWare?

• If YES, continue to step 2

• If NO, STOP. You cannot use this method to verify the amount of income received.

2

Call the VA automated line at 1-800-827-1000.

3

When prompted, select “1” for Self Service.

4

When prompted, select “1” for “Most Recent Payment”.

5

When prompted, enter the customer’s social security number followed by the pound (#) sign.

6

When prompted, Confirm the correct social security number was entered with “1” for “YES” or “2” for “No”.

7

When prompted, enter the customer’s date of birth, using 2 digits for the month, 2 digits for the day and 4 digits for the year (XX-XX-XXXX).

8

When prompted, Confirm the correct Date of Birth was entered with “1” for “YES” or “2” for “No”.

9

If the Veteran’s payment is found by the automated system, it will provide:

• The date of the last payment and the amount in dollars and cents. 

• Use the reported amount as the gross VA payment amount when using MAP606E.2 or MAP606E.3.

10

Document the collateral contact in case notes stating a valid DE-200 Authorization to Release Information is in the customer’s DocuWare file and the VA Automated Line was used to verify the gross amount of VA income. 

1

Review the proof from the VA. Does the payment include change (both dollars and cents)?

• If YES, continue to step 2.

• If NO, STOP. Pension payments are always rounded to the dollar. See Entering VA Pension in HEAplus. See MA606RRR for more information. If there is proof it is compensation, continue to step 2.

2

Enter the full amount of the compensation received by the Veteran or Surviving Spouse including both dollars and cents into HEAplus.

3

Ask the customer if they are receiving Aid and Attendance for themselves or for their spouse (if married).

4

Review the proof for Aid and Attendance. Does the proof include a portion for Aid and Attendance?

• If YES, add the Aid and Attendance amount in HEAplus.

• If NO, continue to step 5.

5

Help the customer get proof by calling or sending a DE-210 form to the VA. 

6

Count the full amount of the VA Compensation Income until proof is provided that a portion is excluded for Aid and Attendance.

 
NOTE     If the customer is claiming Aid and Attendance and does not have proof but counting the income puts the customer over the income limit for ALTCS, attempt to help the customer get proof. If proof cannot be obtained, submit a PCR that explains all the attempts made to get the proof.

Step

Action

1

Review the proof from the VA. Does the payment include change (both dollars and cents)?

• If YES, STOP. Pension payments are always rounded to the dollar. The customer is receiving compensation or a Medal of Honor Pension. Compensation and Medal of Honor pensions are counted for non-MAGI programs. See section 2 for initial applications and Section 3 for renewals.

• If NO, continue to step 2.

NOTE     The VA Calculator form may only be used to determine Pension amounts. See MA606RRR for more information.

2

If you receive a DE-210 from the VA, Review section III.C. Is the box next to “All attributable to Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowance?” checked?

• If YES, STOP. The entire VA payment amount is excluded income. Enter the customer’s Total VA Income Payment in HEAplus and enter that same amount as “Aid and Attendance.”

• If NO, continue to step 3.

3

Open the VA Calculator (DE-210C) form from the DMPS Forms Library.

NOTE     The form is updated annually. The year to which the form applies is shown in the form title. If you need to calculate VA Improved Pension amounts for a different year than is available in the forms library, please submit a PCR.

4

Use the information found on the DE-210, award letter, or other VA verification to answer the questions on the VA Calculator form as described in the following steps.

5

Answer Question 1 on the DE-210C “Yes” to indicate that the customer is receiving a pension. 

NOTE     If the customer or proof indicates that it is a “protected pension” or “360 Pension”, submit a PCR. These pension types are not common as most have converted to an “Improved Pension.”

6

Use the proof from the VA to enter the customer’s “Total VA payment” in HEAplus and enter that same amount on the DE-210C for Question 2. 

7

Answer BOTH questions using the information from section II of the DE-210, an award letter, or other proof for Question 3 on the DE-210C VA Calculator.

For Example:
If the customer is the veteran, select “Yes” from the dropdown for “Is the customer the Veteran?,” and “No” from the dropdown for “Is the customer the dependent or survivor of the Veteran?”

8

Is the customer a Veteran without dependents (spouse, child, dependent parent) who gets more than $1,750, or a Survivor without dependents who gets more than $1,095?

• If YES, this is proof the customer is receiving Aid and Attendance. Use the amount for the Veteran or surviving spouse listed in step 9.

• If NO, continue to step 9.

9

Review the award letter or other VA verification to see if the customer gets Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowance. Then, use the table below to find the Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowance amount for the DE-210C VA calculator.

NOTE     The customer cannot receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance at the same time.

10

Is the Aid and Attendance or Housebound amount within $1.00 of any amount listed in the drop-down for Question 4 or the table above?

• If YES, select the amount from the dropdown that is within $1.00 of the amount from the DE-210, other proof, or the amount from the chart above. Continue to step 11.

• If NO, STOP. Make sure that you are using the version of the VA Calculator form for the same year as the payment information on the DE-210. If you cannot find the correct amount using the VA calculator for the correct year, submit a PCR.

NOTE     If you get a “Verify Amount” error for Question 4 on the DE-210C VA Calculator, check the answers for Question 3 and Question 4 to be sure that they match the information on the DE-210. If Questions 3 and 4 match the DE-210 but you still get a “Verify Amount” error message, submit a PCR.

11

Review section III.E of the DE-210 or other VA verification. Is the customer receiving an allowance for a dependent?

• If YES, answer “Yes” for Question 5 on the DE-210C. Continue to step 12.

• If NO, answer “No” for Question 5. Continue to step 12.

NOTE     If the customer has more than one dependent (For example: spouse and child), submit a PCR.

12

Enter the gross amounts of all non-VA income EXCEPT SSI-Cash for the veteran, spouse, and dependents in the table for Question 6 in the VA Calculator DE-210C.

13

Enter the Aid and Attendance, Dependent Allowance, and UME amounts from the “Breakdown of VA Benefits by Type” table on the DE-210C VA Calculator into HEAplus.

Step

Action

1

Get the customer’s Social Security Number from HEAplus.

2

Open the current DE-210W form. (Rates are effective from December 1 of the previous year.)

3

Enter the customer’s SSN into the DE-210W. Are there any red flags listed on the left-hand side of the DE-210W?

• If YES, STOP. Submit a PCR for verification of VA income and provide the information shown in the Red Flag.

• If NO, continue.

4

Did the information for the DE-210C VA Calculator populate?

• If YES, Open the DE-210C VA Calculator and enter the answers to the Questions on the VA Calculator as described on the DE-210W. Enter the amounts provided by the DE-210C VA Calculator into HEAplus.

• If NO, continue.

5

Did the income information populate?

• If YES, enter the income information into HEAplus.

• If NO, submit a PCR.

6

Enter Case Notes that the VA income amounts were verified using the DE-210W, include the Year and Month of the Tool.

Step

Action

1

Is the VA income a pension?

• If YES, continue to step 2.

• If NO, STOP. No further action is needed.

2

Is the customer in a Nursing home and receiving a pension that exceeds $90.00?

• If YES, skip to step 4.

• If NO, continue to step 3.

3

Is the customer receiving a pension of $90.00 and has moved out of a Nursing Home?

• If YES, continue to step 4.

• If NO, STOP, no further action is needed.

4

Complete and send the VA Notification of ALTCS Approval (DE-211) form to the Veterans Administration. Enter case notes for the action taken.