VFW Action Corps Weekly

VA Announces May 1 End to Home Loan Relief Program: On April 23, VA announced it will stop accepting submissions to the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program effective May 1, 2025. This includes any new VASP Trial Payment Plans (TPPs), where borrowers demonstrate the ability to make their new monthly payments for three months before the loan is fully modified. However, active TPPs will continue through Aug. 31, 2025. If you are facing foreclosure on a VA-guaranteed home loan, speak to your lender before May 1. Read more.

Protecting Veterans from Bad Actors: Con artists often target veterans who receive significant VA benefits, such as Purple Heart recipients and those eligible for Special Monthly Compensation, specially adapted housing grants, or VA pensions. Common scams include identity theft, fraudulent investment schemes, and fake financial services that mimic legitimate free offerings. You can protect yourself by never sharing your VA account details and by authorizing benefits deposits only into bank accounts in your own name. Suspected fraud should be immediately reported to VA at 800.827.1000. Learn more.

VA Program Helps Veterans Manage Their Benefits: VA’s Fiduciary Program protects veterans who are unable to manage their own VA benefits due to illness, injury, or age. If medical documentation or a court establishes incompetence, VA will assign a fiduciary who is usually a family member or friend selected by the veteran. This individual must then undergo an investigation to determine suitability. Veterans may appeal VA’s determination of incompetence or its selection of a fiduciary. Learn more.

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced five burial updates and five identifications for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War.

Updates:

-- World War II Army Pvt. Willard D. Merrill, Maine

-- World War II Army Sgt. Ivor D. Thornton, Virginia

-- Korean War Army Master Sgt. George C. Manring, Florida

-- Korean War Army Pfc. George Armand Curley Jr., New Hampshire

-- Korean War Army Sgt. Orace J. Mestas, Colorado

Identifications:

-- World War II Navy Fireman 1st Class Edward D. Bowden

-- World War II Army 1st Lt. Robert P. Aikman

-- World War II Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Byron R. Michener

-- World War II Navy Seaman 1st Class Paul E. Newton

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Albert J. Estrada

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