Fiduciary

What is the Fiduciary Program?

The purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Fiduciary Program is to protect beneficiaries who are unable to manage their VA benefits through the appointment and oversight of a fiduciary. Beneficiaries include Veterans, surviving spouse, dependent parents, minor children (including minor apportionee), and certain helpless children who are entitled to receive VA benefits, including proceeds of VA insurance.

VA will conduct a field examination to appoint a fiduciary to assist you if you have been determined unable to manage your VA benefits due to:

• Injury
• Disease
• The infirmities of advanced age, or being less than the age of majority
• Judicial determination of inability to manage affairs

The VA Field Examination

A VA field examination will be scheduled for the purpose of appointing a fiduciary to assist you in managing your VA benefits.

During the field examination, please have the following information available for review by the field examiner:

• Photo identification.
• The source and amount of all monthly bills, recurring expenses (annual, bi-annual, quarterly, etc.), and income.
• A list of all assets, including bank accounts, property, stocks, bonds, life insurance, burial plans, etc.
• Name, phone number, and address of your next of kin.

Selection Process

During the selection process, the VA will first seek to qualify the individual you desire to serve as your fiduciary.

The fiduciary selection is based on an assessment of the qualifications of the proposed fiduciary. When seeking a fiduciary, the following may be considered:

• Beneficiary’s preference
• A spouse or other relative
• Chief officer of a public or private institution in which the beneficiary receives care, or a professional fiduciary

An assessment may include, but is not limited to:

• Willingness to serve and fulfill the responsibilities of a fiduciary
• An interview with prospective fiduciary, a credit history check
• Criminal background inquiry