Fiduciary problems

[ckessa]

First of all thank you all for your help with getting A&A for my Dad. This is a wonderful website!
Since I am the caretaker (he is 91 and has dimentia) I cannot be the fiduciary so the VA appointed one for us one year ago. From the very beginning it has been a nightmare. She does not return any calls, she lied to me regarding the backpay and when it was deposited and I had to get my state senator involved to get the money released (over $6,000). I used to be able to call the VA directly with any questions but now they won't talk to me at all since he has a fiduciary. My main question to Debbie is: Does the monthly benefit amount change throughout the year? He was given a benefit of $973 a month and the fiduciary told me she charged $10 a month so a check was deposited for $963 for 3 months. Then it went down to $961, then $953, then $950, one month of $961 and now for January it's back to $950. When trying to find out why I have been told that benefits adjust during the year and that Dad's is in review. Her office informed me that since she hadn't paid herself all year that she had written herself a check for $389 out of his account for the years worth of work.  I can get no accounting on this because according to her supervisor, she is not responsible for any accounting to us, only to the VA. I also would like to know why the "raise" isn't there. I have once again tried to go through my senator, the director of the SLC Hub, and her supervisor but the last response we got was from the VA Hub stating that "there is an ongoing problem with Mr. ____ daughter (me) and they are looking into the matter". The ongoing problem is that I keep trying to get answers that she won't give me. Do you have any suggestions or is there anything I can do as a caretaker? I cannot believe that she has no responsibility to the family as to where the money goes, how much is in the account, etc. I am beyond frustrated. Thank you in advance if you can help with this.

[Fit2009]

Is there another non-caregiving family member that can be the fiducary?  You could try reporting her to the va general council because no, the amount does not change on a monthly basis - also, have you submitted all additional medical expenses that your father pays during the year?  Since he is getting a partial award, he can submit all co-pays or any expenses related to healthcare (cough syrup etc) at the end of each year and get reimbursed dollar for dollar up to the full award of $1,703 per month.

Good Luck,

[ckessa]

Thank you for your help. I will look up how to report her to the VA general council. Last month we asked if my husband could be the caretaker and I could be the fiduciary (I was not married when a fiduciary was appointed)and she said she would recommend it so we are waiting on that. Medical expenses? I submitted over $2800 worth of receipts to her LAST December and the only response I get from her is that she hasn't heard from the VA regarding those yet. Am also waiting on another $3000 back pay that of course she hasn't heard about. It just seems to me that the family that is taking care of the veteran should have access to at least see what money is in the account. Will start with reporting her to the council since the fudiciary HUB doesn't seem to think there is a problem. Thank you again.