Federal law strictly limits who can charge veterans for help with VA disability claims and when. Under 38 U.S.C. § 5901–5905 and the related VA accreditation regulations (38 CFR Part 14), only VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives are authorized to assist with claims, and only accredited attorneys and agents may charge a fee — and even then, only after a Notice of Disagreement or equivalent appeal has been filed on a specific claim, not for help with an initial application. VSO representatives, who are also accredited, are prohibited from charging any fee at all. Any company or individual who charges you money to "help" file an initial disability claim, promises to get you a higher rating for an upfront fee, or asks for a percentage of your back pay before any appeal exists is very likely operating outside VA rules and may be committing fraud.
You can check whether a person or organization is actually VA-accredited using the searchable accreditation database on the VA's website. If someone is not listed there, they have no legal authority to represent you before VA, regardless of what their marketing materials claim. Filing a claim yourself through VA.gov, a VSO (such as the DAV, VFW, or American Legion), or your state department of veterans affairs costs nothing.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →If you believe you were charged improperly or defrauded by a company posing as claims help, you have several avenues for recourse. You can file a complaint with the VA Office of Inspector General, report the company to your state Attorney General's consumer protection division (state AG offices often pursue civil restitution in these cases), and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If the company made specific promises or contracts, keep all documents, emails, and payment records, since these will matter for any refund or restitution process. Reporting a fraudulent scheme does not affect your actual VA claim status; you can still pursue your disability claim independently through legitimate, free channels while separately pursuing complaints against the company that overcharged you.
As a concrete next step, verify the accreditation status of anyone charging you for claims assistance through the VA's official accreditation search, and if they are not accredited, file complaints with your state Attorney General and the VA Office of Inspector General right away.
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