OFFE NEWS

July 1, 2025

Protect Veterans from Pension Poaching

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) cautions veterans to be alert to a form of financial
exploitation known as “pension poaching.” VA pension benefits are available to wartime veterans
or their surviving spouses who meet certain age or disability requirements and have limited
income and net worth. Veterans are targets of a wide range of pension-poaching schemes, all of
which attempt to steal their assets. Frequently, scammers promote suspect legal or financial
products or services that are designed to qualify otherwise ineligible individuals for a VA
pension, either by falsifying financial information or restructuring assets to meet criteria. Others
may charge large fees to represent unsuspecting veterans in pursuing pension benefits for
which they may not qualify. Some may also try to sell in-home care to eligible pension recipients
that may be overpriced or is never provided. Scams often start with a dishonest lawyer, financial
planner, or insurance agent soliciting veterans through cold calls, mail campaigns, or in-person
encounters at a senior center or assisted living facility.

Steer clear of and report to the OIG individuals and organizations that:

• claim to guarantee eligibility for a particular benefit;

• encourage false reporting of income and expense information, reallocating assets to trusts, or

purchasing annuities to qualify for a VA pension;

• charge upfront fees or a percentage of any awarded benefit to file VA claims or applications

(free help is available from VA-accredited individuals and entities);

• apply pressure to provide sensitive financial information like credit card numbers; or

• attempt to redirect VA deposits to a bank account controlled by a caregiver, power of attorney,

claim representative, or anyone other than the rightful beneficiary.

RELATED RESOURCES:

• Find accredited representatives authorized to help veterans and their dependents and survivors with VA benefits claims. Note: If someone isn’t recognized by VA, they can’t legally help with a VA benefit claim.

• Veterans can also receive assistance from their state’s veterans office or the Federal Trade Commission.

•VA fact sheet on pension poaching prevention

Operation Firing For Effect (OFFE) is a bipartisan Veterans Advocacy group, and subsidiary of Veterans For Veteran Connection, Inc., a 501(c)19 non-profit corporation devoted to the protection and improvement of entitlements and services earned by our men and women in uniform. 
 
 
OFFE does not endorse political candidates running for office. OFFE does report on issues of importance to our former military personnel and their families and that includes News from both sides of the aisle. OFFE will grant equal time to any candidate (regardless of political affiliation) who wishes to share and explain their position(s) on Veterans Affairs.