VA's Fiduciary Program: Improved Compliance and Policies Could Better Safeguard Veterans' Benefits (open access)

VA's Fiduciary Program: Improved Compliance and Policies Could Better Safeguard Veterans' Benefits

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Many individuals receiving monthly compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have mental impairments that prevent them from managing their finances. VA's Fiduciary Program selects and oversees third parties, called fiduciaries, to help manage and protect beneficiaries' funds. GAO examined (1) how effective program policies and procedures are in monitoring fiduciaries and safeguarding beneficiary assets, and (2) challenges VA faces in improving program performance and oversight. GAO reviewed program policies, analyzed a nationally representative random sample of case files, interviewed Central Office managers and staff, and conducted three site visits to Fiduciary Program offices which accounted for 25 percent of program beneficiaries. During these visits GAO interviewed regional office managers and staff and conducted 32 file reviews."
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library