| As the backlogged number of unprocessed VA claims | | | | is living in conditions that are not healthy or services |
| is knocking on the door of 1 Million, one has to wonder | | | | being provided are not adequate even though they are |
| is anybody really at home. Is anyone really trying to | | | | entitled to the pension which would allow for better |
| find "the" solution of how to fix and bring this broken | | | | care and services, who is really taking advantage of |
| agency up to the standards our veterans and their | | | | the veteran? |
| families deserve? | | | | All of this "protecting" has created an "opportunity for |
| I had high hopes for the new VA administration, but to | | | | many individuals and companies to "Carpe Diem" - |
| date, have not been impressed. Every day there is yet | | | | Seize the Moment and many of these folks, but not all, |
| another story about a Regional Office that has been | | | | have found a way to use filing for this pension as a |
| caught shredding and changing dates on applications, | | | | revenue generator, and doing so under the guise of |
| or boxes of unopened applications are being | | | | reaching out to veterans and their families at no cost |
| discovered. There are not enough fingers to cover the | | | | for their assistance to make application, but it sure |
| holes in this dam. | | | | helps if mom and dad need someone to manage their |
| If the IRS was having this issue with collecting taxes | | | | investments and move them around so they will qualify |
| from "We the People", I can promise you that this | | | | for the pension from a financial standpoint. |
| would have been resolved and systems put into place | | | | Seminars are being held daily nationwide at $500.00 a |
| to make certain it would never happen again. Of this | | | | session to learn how you too can use this pension to |
| you can be certain, the IRS would not stand by and | | | | recruit new business and increase your sales. Don't |
| have 1 million tax returns waiting to be processed. | | | | overlook the kids who are taking care of mom and |
| So here is my take on all this and a couple of | | | | dad, they will be so grateful for your assistance they |
| questions that I believe bear asking. | | | | will want you to manage their assets as well. While |
| I think the VA needs to take a crash course in how | | | | you are at it, sell some annuities. |
| the IRS does things. These folks don't loose tax | | | | What most don't realize is that by moving things |
| returns they keep up with every dime you make. You | | | | around to a trust or annuity can often mean that when |
| can file on-line, they know if you haven't filed, and if | | | | mom or dad need that money to continue paying for |
| you are owed a refund, you can expect it in 30-45 | | | | their care, they won't have access to it. It will sit in that |
| days. If you owe money and don't pay, you are | | | | trust until they die and the beneficiaries get it. |
| assessed a penalty and will pay dearly for that. Big | | | | For those who are fortunate enough to have assets |
| incentive for making sure you allot the right amount of | | | | that need protecting, these services are valid, but for |
| deductions. Most of us hope to never know what an | | | | those who go into this situation strictly based on |
| audit notification looks like. | | | | wanting to file for this pension, you need to educate |
| If your taxes are complicated or more than you want | | | | yourself on whether this is truly in your best interest in |
| to deal with, you can make an appointment with the | | | | the long run. |
| fine folks at H&R Block or your personal | | | | Again this frenzy of businesses using this pension to |
| accountant and pay someone to prepare them for | | | | get in the hen house is largely due to the fact that the |
| you. | | | | VA has created a need for these services due to the |
| Now here is where I take issue. How is it that you can | | | | lack of information, the lack of trained employees well |
| legally seek the expertise of someone who | | | | versed in Improved Pension, taking a simple application |
| understands complicated tax laws, forms, and all the | | | | and turning it into more than it needs to be. If it was as |
| legitimate deductions and credits you are entitled to | | | | originally designed - a simple 4- page application based |
| just to make certain that the IRS gets a full accounting | | | | on meeting the need for assistance and financial |
| of your finances and their piece of your pie, but | | | | guidelines, there would not be a need nor an |
| veterans and their families legally are restricted from | | | | opportunity for those who use this as a calling card. |
| any assistance attached with a fee and are left to | | | | As a result, the VA has responded by now sending |
| figure it out on their own. | | | | out an additional form to those who submit an |
| Two government agencies, two different approaches, | | | | application that they have to sign stating that neither |
| two different agendas. | | | | they nor the veteran have paid anyone for any type |
| It is legal to make sure you pay your taxes, but illegal | | | | of assistance in completing the application. The |
| to make certain your claim for benefits is correct and | | | | application will not be processed until this form has |
| complete in order to "receive" your entitlements. | | | | been returned. |
| Interesting that there should be such a stark contrast | | | | So in the name of "protecting" the veteran, which in |
| between the two and who actually benefits from this | | | | my opinion translates to denying the veteran, there is |
| arrangement. | | | | yet another hurdle to jump through. |
| Decades ago the VA instituted a law that an attorney | | | | Rather an unfair dynamic that the VA has its |
| could not charge a veteran more than $10.00 for | | | | attorneys and council, but a veteran is not entitled to |
| representing him. This was done to "protect" the | | | | any representation upon making an initial application for |
| veteran from being taken advantage of by those who | | | | any benefit or compensation. They are only entitled to |
| would be so inclined to do so. | | | | representation if they are appealing a decision on their |
| So one might have to ask, who is truthfully exploiting | | | | claim while the IRS wants to make sure you get it right |
| and taking advantage of our veterans and their | | | | the first time. |
| families? Considering some recent actions on the part | | | | Of the two, which do you think is more efficient? |
| of the VA, the answer to this question may not be | | | | There are more of us that file income tax returns than |
| what you'd expect. | | | | there are veterans/widows filing for benefits, so how |
| The application for Improved Pension was originally a | | | | is it that the IRS can receive and process a higher |
| 4-page, simple straight forward application. Due to the | | | | volume of paper so seamlessly while the VA claims |
| benefit being highlighted and the rise in the number of | | | | they never received the application even though you |
| applications being submitted, the VA decided it was | | | | have a signed "Registered Return Receipt" proving |
| time to increase it to a 26-page application, and write it | | | | that they did? |
| so that you probably won't figure it out increasing the | | | | If you posed the question of why the IRS created the |
| odds they won't have to pay or at the very least | | | | EZ form while the VA took an easy form and turned it |
| delay having to pay. | | | | into 26 pages, it really is self explanatory. One wants |
| While the benefit sat idle and unused, 4 pages seemed | | | | your money and the other hedges their bets they can |
| to make perfect sense. Now that Baby-Boomers are | | | | keep their money. |
| our largest demographic and the VA is being flooded | | | | This mindset is nothing new. For insight as to how long |
| with applications for Aid and Attendance, whose best | | | | this treatment and mentality has been permitted and |
| interest is it in that the process should suddenly | | | | promoted, one need look no further than what was |
| become so much more complicated? The veteran is | | | | done to the "Bonus Army" when our veterans |
| not who first comes to mind as to who stands to gain | | | | marched into Washington in 1932 demanding what had |
| the most from this change. It seems a little suspect as | | | | been promised. Not much has changed in 77 years. Do |
| to the true motivation for having done so. Is the VA | | | | yourself a favor and Google "Bonus Army". You'll be |
| once again "protecting" the veteran? | | | | enlightened for having done so. |
| If you don't get it right the first time, you should not feel | | | | I know there are a lot of good hardworking people at |
| too badly about it as the national rate of applications | | | | the VA and local offices who have the right intent, but |
| being returned to the originating VA regional and local | | | | they are only acting under the directives they have |
| offices as being incomplete or missing documentation | | | | been given. What I want to know is who signs the |
| is 46%. | | | | memo authorizing these practices. |
| I wonder if these same employees who failed VA | | | | When bonuses hinge on giving a veteran the lowest |
| "Open Book" tests could find permanent employment | | | | possible disability rating rather than the rating they |
| with the IRS. I suspect that performance standards are | | | | deserve, I'm hard pressed to believe that this qualifies |
| probably just a "little" higher. Millions of taxpayer's | | | | as acting in the veteran's best interest. Make no |
| monies going uncollected - not going to happen, but it is | | | | mistake here, there is a vested interest, but |
| ok for a million veterans to be waiting on the VA to | | | | somewhere along the way the interest got shifted to |
| get it right. There is something incredibly wrong with | | | | self serving. |
| this scenario. | | | | Like solving any other mystery - follow the money. |
| The VA continues to operate off an antiquated | | | | Until such time that the VA can get its house in order, I |
| "Fiduciary" process refusing to acknowledge POA or | | | | think the individuals who do nothing but help file for |
| DPOA. The IRS acknowledges POA. Your mom or | | | | Improved Pension and have no hidden agenda or want |
| dad might have some investments that pay dividends, | | | | to sell you anything, should have the right to provide |
| so there may be some monies to be collected, so for | | | | the same assistance as your accountant does. Most |
| the sake of efficiency they will gladly work with you to | | | | of these well intended folks have to stay behind |
| assure a proper return has been filed. | | | | closed doors for fear of retribution by the VA for |
| The VA's refusal to respond to the demands of | | | | actually helping a veteran make a correct application. |
| accepting POA and doing away with the fiduciary | | | | The VA will argue that the veteran is entitled to |
| process is once again done in the name of "protecting" | | | | assistance with filing for free, but when the SO of the |
| the veteran. According to the VA they have to make | | | | office you walk into knows nothing about the pension, |
| certain that the family member or other interested | | | | or says you don't qualify, when actually you do, "free" |
| party who holds POA can't take advantage of the | | | | comes at a pretty hefty price. |
| veteran or widow and have access to the pension | | | | Yes these folks (the good ones) who work secretly |
| money to spend at their discretion such as purchasing | | | | behind the scenes helping veterans and their families |
| Depends or Ensure. | | | | should be able to charge a modest fee for their |
| I'm sure that somewhere there is someone who | | | | expertise and assistance, but the VA will never |
| absconded with funds they were not entitled to and | | | | sanction anything of the likes, they have too much to |
| did in fact take advantage of a veteran, but I'm willing | | | | lose. |
| to wager a guess that most who are providing care | | | | There would be too many applications to approve with |
| for a loved one have spent the check out of their own | | | | no reason to deny them. There are budgets to be |
| pocket long before it is received. | | | | justified, bonuses to be earned, and credits for getting |
| It is the lesser of two evils. On one hand you have the | | | | a Service Organization assigned as Claimant's |
| family member who is taking advantage of the | | | | Representative rather than the family member so that |
| veteran or widow by writing a check every month to | | | | you can't call and inquire about the status of the claim. |
| the ALF or caregiver hoping they will have enough to | | | | The SO isn't paying the monthly bill so they won't have |
| pay it as credit cards are maxed out and all funds | | | | much motivation to follow up and press for a ruling or |
| have been depleted while waiting to be approved as a | | | | approval. And lastly they are busy making sure that no |
| fiduciary. | | | | one other than them can "take advantage" of a |
| On the other hand you have the VA who wants to | | | | veteran or widow. |
| take months to arrange for a fiduciary to be appointed | | | | The IRS has a few free months before it is tax |
| without much care as to how you will pay for | | | | season again. Maybe they can step in and show the |
| everything pending their approval. In the meantime if | | | | VA how to get the job done. Better yet, instead of |
| you have to move your loved one to a lesser quality | | | | employees getting bonuses for the highest number of |
| facility due to costs, or arrange to bring them in-home | | | | denied applications or lowest disability ratings given, |
| and provide the care yourself, keep in mind the VA is | | | | how about an imposed penalty with incurring interest |
| only doing their job and "protecting" the veteran or | | | | for any application that takes longer than 90 days to |
| widow. | | | | process! |
| So if the veteran is doing without basic essentials and | | | | Now there's an idea that has merit. |