Organizations with patriotic names are all over the Puget Sound region. Some promise to make veterans or their widows eligible for Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits of pension or aid and attendance. These advocates, as they refer to themselves, do so by repositioning a veteran's or a widow's assets, thus making them appear to be eligible for VA purposes. The advocate sells various financial products to the veteran or widow, often of questionable worth, with great fanfare. This practice often leads to trouble with Social Security benefits. The advocates also promise the veteran to file the claim with the VA.

Bill Milford (a pseudonym to protect his identity) is a nationally accredited veteran service officer who has been meeting with veteran organizations and advocates for the elderly and sharing experiences about these financial planners (as these so-called veteran advocacy groups really are).

Milford related how a veteran was allowed to move into a local assisted living facility with the promise that his claim with the VA would be granted, which would help pay for care. A member of one such program advocated for this veteran.

However, "the paperwork was never filed until nine months later," Milford said. "He (the veteran) had no money to invest." In other words, the veteran was automatically eligible for VA benefits, and did not need to hide or reposition assets from the VA.

In the end, the veteran lost $15,000 by having this particular advocate/financial planner help him. True veteran service organizations will provide the service at no charge.

During discussions last week, other examples of veterans and widows using the services of these advocacy groups with patriotic names came up. In one case, an 85-year-old woman was sold a 25-year annuity.

A resident at another assisted living community is in jeopardy. A planner promised the facility he would get a widow her benefits, but did not file on time. The widow could not afford her new residence with promises and VA benefits. In the meantime, various programs in King and Pierce Counties are assisting veteran service officers by writing off the lost dollars for a veteran.

If you have any such experiences or want more information, email Milford at VeteranFraud@gmail.com.