I have cared for my Parents for over 10 years. My mother passed away. I have been my Father's POA and his representative for several years through the VA. I fill out all his papers and take care of his needs. My name is on his account so I am able to buy the things he needs. I have my own separate account. Why would they stop me from being able to get money from his account for his needs because of a few things on my credit report from years ago. I have never even had a traffic ticket or anything criminal against me. Now I'm stuck not being able to pay for his home health care and other needs. I do not steal his money. It is for him. I worked hard to get it started to get care for him because his health is failing and I am disabled, also. This should be changed. Why should my few old credit bills from surgeries I didn't even know I had stop me from being able to care for my Father with his own money as I have been doing and doing a good job also for years. This is not right. I could understand in some circumstances but not mine.
I don't think you should worry too much about not being your dad's VA fiduciary, given that the VA will appoint someone as his fiduciary (or allow him full control if he his competent for that), so his home health care bills and other bills can be paid. And, on the bright side, you won't have to track the money and provide detailed reports to the VA, as someone else will have to do that.
Kudos to you for taking care of your parents for over 10 years. Best wishes for you and your dad.
P.S. As a side note, neither durable powers of attorney (DPOA) nor court-ordered conservatorships are applicable to either VA or SS benefits, as each of those agencies have their own rules and regulations, completely separate from civil jurisdictions.
"Why should my few old credit bills from surgeries I didn't even know I had..."
I'm confused how you could have had surgeries but not be aware of them?
Ask the bank how are Dads bills to get paid.
They hold credit against you because if you can't handle ur own money you may not be able to handle another persons.
This is a good article from this site, as well.
A bank SHOULDN'T refuse a properly worded relatively recent POA. It is really illegal to do so. Usually that language is written right into the POA. But they have a right to check and question, and some pension plans, stock stuff does require paperwork to be done. POA doesn't work for the IRS and for Social Security. They DO have their own forms, rules and regulations.
Are you keeping meticulous records; that is to say do you have folders, receipts and all you need to prove you are paying for his bills? And are you paying properly signing his name and then "your name" with by POA following it?
You name should not be on his accounts. That is co-mingling money. You should be listed only as "POA" after presenting your POA papers.
You should see an attorney to learn how to do the fiduciary duties of a POA. No one will stop you if your POA papers are correctly done and you are paying your father's bills, keeping records and receipts.
You cannot play fast an loose with POA. That is to say you cannot buy your dad clothing and then take that money from his account just claiming "I got him clothes on my charge card and he owes me this." That is a huge NO NO.
So just become well educated on acting as a POA. This is a legal fiduciary duty and you can be prosecuted for doing it wrong.
I am here to tell you it is not your bills that are stopping you acting as Fiduciary. It is something else. You need to find out what that is. Your bills are your own business and have nothing to do with your father and his monies.