Resources for veterans and their caregivers

• Managing Someone Else’s Money guide for Representative Payees and VA fiduciaries: This guide is for family or friends serving as a Representative Payee for Social Security or VA fiduciary, managing benefits for a loved one. It explains the responsibilities of Representative Payee and VA fiduciaries, as well as how to spot financial exploitation and avoid scams. The guide is part of the Managing Someone Else’s Money series for financial caregivers, which includes guides for other types of fiduciaries: the power of attorney, guardian, and trustee.
• VA aid and attendance fraud prevention resources: Scammers are targeting the aid and attendance benefit, which is an increased monthly pension for veterans or their surviving spouses who are eligible for a VA pension and need help with activities of daily living, are bedridden, are patients in a nursing home, or have certain vision limitations. Our handout explains how to spot these scams and how to safely apply for aid and attendance benefits.
• Planning for peace of mind: Social Security Advance Designation explains a new tool from the Social Security Administration that allows you to recommend someone you trust to manage your Social Security benefits if you become unable to do so yourself.
• Considering a financial caregiver? Know your options is a new resource to help you decide whether you or your loved one need an informal caregiver, who helps manage money on an as-needed basis, or a formal caregiver, established by a legal arrangement. The brief guide also walks you through what to consider when choosing a financial caregiver.