VA claim scams usually look like help: a company offers to file, “coach” or “optimize” your claim for a fee. Federal law says only VA-accredited VSO representatives, attorneys and claims agents may help prepare, present and prosecute a VA claim, and help from a VSO is free. If an unaccredited company wants to charge you for claim help, treat that as your first warning sign.
At Woobie, the bear is what you cannot change: the rating schedule, cost-of-living adjustments and taxes. The shark is anyone who profits from your confusion about them. This guide covers the shark, and how to check anyone before you pay.
What does the law say about paying for VA claim help?
Under 38 U.S.C. § 5904, only accredited attorneys, claims agents and VSO representatives may help prepare, present and prosecute a VA claim, and their fees are restricted. VSO representatives cannot charge. Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge only after VA issues an initial decision on your claim, under a written fee agreement (38 CFR 14.636).
California added its own layer. SB 694, signed on Feb 10, 2026, requires federal accreditation before anyone may prepare, present or prosecute a veteran’s benefits claim, bars fees that federal law does not allow and extends the state’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act to veterans’ benefits claims. It also prohibits sharing login credentials for government systems. The civil-penalty framework for unaccredited people begins Jan 1, 2027.
The picture is still moving. Other states have passed fee laws, and some are being challenged in court. VA can pull an accredited representative’s accreditation but has limited power over people who were never accredited, which is why Congress has considered bills such as the GUARD VA Benefits Act to restore federal penalties. Check congress.gov for where any bill stands today.
What are the red flags?
Be careful if a company or person does any of these things:
- Charges you to file, prepare or “review” your initial claim and is not VA-accredited.
- Ties the fee to your back pay, or asks for a lump sum worth several months of your expected increase.
- Asks for your VA.gov username and password or other login details.
- Promises a rating, an approval or a decision date. VA decides, and no one else controls the outcome or the timeline.
- Steers you away from VA’s exams toward its own doctors, or says its doctors are “VA certified.”
- Calls itself a coach or consultant but still tells you what to claim or prepares your forms.
- Pushes you to sign today or will not put the contract and fee in writing.
- Dodges the question when you ask whether it is accredited.
Who can legitimately help, and what does it cost?
| Who | What it costs | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| VSO representative (DAV, VFW, American Legion, county and state offices) | Free | Accredited by VA; you appoint them with VA Form 21-22 |
| Accredited claims agent | Fees only after VA’s initial decision | Not an attorney; written fee agreement required |
| Accredited attorney | Fees only after VA’s initial decision | Written fee agreement; fees up to 20% of past-due benefits are presumed reasonable and over 33 1/3% presumed unreasonable |
| Unaccredited consultant or coach | Not allowed to charge for claim help | Cannot be appointed as your representative; check VA’s search |
| Doctor or other medical provider | Set by the provider | A medical opinion is evidence, not claim help, and your own doctor can write one |
How do you check someone before you pay?
- Look them up. Search for the person in VA’s accredited representative search. If they prepare or present claims and are not listed, walk away.
- Read the fee agreement. For an attorney or claims agent it must be in writing and signed by both of you, and it should state exactly how the fee is figured.
- Keep your login private. If you have already shared it, change your password and review your account.
- Take your time. A legitimate helper will let you think it over and talk to a VSO first.
Most veterans do not need to pay anyone to file. Our step-by-step guide to filing a VA disability claim online shows how to do it yourself, and free accredited VSOs can walk you through it.
What if you already paid?
- Stop sending money and keep the contract, receipts and messages.
- Check whether the person is accredited using VA’s search.
- Report it to the Federal Trade Commission and your state attorney general’s consumer protection office.
- Ask an accredited VSO representative, whose help is free, to look at where your claim stands.
For more on the fee rules, see our guide to free versus paid VA claim help.
Where does Woobie fit?
Woobie is not a law firm or an accredited claims agent, does not file claims and is not affiliated with VA. It offers a free Veterans Benefits Platform and calculator, a free consultation, and Independent Medical Opinions written by licensed medical professionals for a flat fee that does not depend on your claim outcome or back pay. A medical opinion is evidence, not claim help, and your own doctor can write one too. Apply the checks above to Woobie and to everyone else.
A note on money tools
Woobie has featured Percapita, a financial app, as a partner for veterans who want budgeting and savings tools. It is separate from VA benefits and from any claim help. Its features and terms are set by Percapita, so read them on its own site before you sign up.
Percapita is not a bank. Banking services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.
Frequently asked questions
Are all companies that charge for VA claim help scams?
No. Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge fees under VA’s rules, but only after VA issues an initial decision and under a written fee agreement. The problem is an unaccredited person or company charging for claim help, or any fee that falls outside those rules.
Is paying for a nexus letter or medical opinion a scam?
Not by itself. A medical opinion is evidence from a licensed provider, not claim help, and providers may charge for their time. VA does not require a paid one, and your own doctor can write one. Be cautious of any package that bundles a medical opinion with claim filing or strategy, or that ties its fee to your outcome.
Is there an official list of bad VA claim companies?
No single official list exists. VA’s accreditation search shows who is accredited, and anyone who prepares, presents or files claims without being listed is not authorized to do so. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general take complaints about consumer fraud.
Where can I report a VA benefits scam?
Report it to the Federal Trade Commission and to your state attorney general’s consumer protection office. An accredited VSO representative can also check where your claim stands and tell you whether anything looks wrong.
Questions about your medical evidence? Woobie offers a free consultation to talk through your situation. Woobie is not a law firm or an accredited claims agent and does not file claims. Schedule a free consultation →