This bill amends title 38, United States Code, to mandate that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reissue benefits to a beneficiary when a fiduciary has misused their funds. The Secretary must make this payment promptly, even while undertaking a good faith effort to recoup the misused amount from the responsible fiduciary. Any funds successfully recouped from the fiduciary will then be remitted to the beneficiary if not already paid. For deceased beneficiaries, the reissued amount will be paid to an eligible individual or entity, specifically excluding the misusing fiduciary. The total amount repaid to a beneficiary or their successor cannot exceed the original misused benefit amount. Furthermore, the Secretary is directed to establish methods for determining if fiduciary misuse resulted from departmental negligence, though this determination is not a prerequisite for reissuing benefits.
Administrative remediesDepartment of Veterans AffairsFraud offenses and financial crimesVeterans' pensions and compensation
Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-892| Senate
| Updated: 3/11/2025
This bill amends title 38, United States Code, to mandate that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reissue benefits to a beneficiary when a fiduciary has misused their funds. The Secretary must make this payment promptly, even while undertaking a good faith effort to recoup the misused amount from the responsible fiduciary. Any funds successfully recouped from the fiduciary will then be remitted to the beneficiary if not already paid. For deceased beneficiaries, the reissued amount will be paid to an eligible individual or entity, specifically excluding the misusing fiduciary. The total amount repaid to a beneficiary or their successor cannot exceed the original misused benefit amount. Furthermore, the Secretary is directed to establish methods for determining if fiduciary misuse resulted from departmental negligence, though this determination is not a prerequisite for reissuing benefits.