Jim,

My father is a veteran of WWII and is now in an assisted living residence. My mother is in a retirement home and we’ve been trying to get benefits for my father, age 90. We’ve been to the VA office here in Lincoln, Nebraska and after filling out all the paperwork and their reviewing it, they have denied my parents any benefits stating they have too much income.

I was able to get my father a 10% hearing loss disability due to his flying in WWII. Of course my mother believes they are entitled to these benefits and she has now met someone who says we went to the wrong people and that he knows the “right” people and that we need to follow him to someplace and fill out the paperwork again.

He won’t give us the address as he says it’s too hard to find, we either have to ride with him or follow him. I’m real concerned about this as my mother has already given this person more information then she should have. Have you ever heard of this type of scam before?

Reply:

Benefits for older veterans are often elusive. If the older veteran doesn't have an established service connected disability or if the overall savings and income exceeds strict limits, there are often no VA benefits available.

Many VA benefits are based on overall family income and that income usually must be very low before VA benefits will apply.

Almost as if to make up for a lack of benefits are the many unscrupulous people who will prey on elderly veterans, knowing that they are often desperate to get some help.

I have heard a lot of fishy stories in my work as a veterans advocate but this one is a grand prize winner. It almost makes me believe that the fellow is trying to set you up for a robbery by taking you to someplace where he knows there won't be help or witnesses.

I'd advise that you do all you can to convince your mother that she may be setting herself up for a scam or worse.

If I were you I would probably want to call my local law enforcement agency and report that you believe a senior citizen may be being scammed. Ask if they have any special unit or a detective that might be assigned to look into such cases.

Older citizens are vulnerable to scams. They grew up in a more trusting era and they want to believe that others are sincere and good when they offer to help. The scammers take advantage of that and often get away with stealing life savings...and there won’t be any benefits for the trouble.