Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Senator Hassan to Protect Veterans from Financial Scams Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON – The bipartisan Veterans Care Financial Protection Act, cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan, will be heading to the President’s desk for his signature after passing both the House of Representatives and Senate. The bill would help protect veterans who receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assistance from financial scams.

“The bipartisan Veterans Care Financial Protection Act will help protect veterans from bad actors who attempt to scam them out of the benefits they have earned and need,” Senator Hassan said. “As scam artists find new ways to target veterans, we must improve our consumer protection efforts to ensure that programs like the Aid and Attendance benefit program can continue to serve the best interests of the men and women who have served our country.”

The VA offers an Aid & Attendance benefit program (A&A) to help pay for assisted living or in-home personal care for veterans who qualify for a VA pension, and who require in-home supports. Scam artists have targeted veterans, charging them fees for obtaining the benefit even though the application process is free. Some scammers even take control of the veteran's assets and move them into an irrevocable trust or an annuity, which the elderly veteran often cannot access again for many years, and may disqualify the veteran from other assistance, like Medicaid.

The Veterans Care Financial Protection Act has been endorsed by the following organizations: The American Legion, The Association of the U.S. Army, The Association of the U.S. Navy, The Fleet Reserve Association, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, The Military Officers Association of America, and The Retired Enlisted Association.

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