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By Suzanne Blake
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Veterans filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) could receive new protections under a bipartisan bill in Congress.
The Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act, is aimed at cracking down on practices lawmakers say exploit veterans navigating the benefits system.
The legislation comes amid growing concerns that some veterans are being misled or overcharged for help filing disability claims, often paying high fees to unaccredited companies or consultants who operate outside long‑standing VA rules.
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Why It Matters
Applying for VA disability benefits can be complicated, slow, and confusing, especially for veterans dealing with serious injuries or chronic illness.
That complexity has fueled the rise of unaccredited claims companies that charge veterans thousands of dollars for help filing claims, even though the same assistance is legally supposed to be available for free through accredited veterans service organizations.
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What To Know
The new bill targets a rapidly expanding industry that offers paid assistance with VA disability claims.
While the VA has long allowed accredited representatives, such as veterans service organizations, attorneys, and claims agents, to help veterans for free or regulated fees, new companies have emerged that operate in a legal gray area.
These firms often market heavily online and charge veterans thousands of dollars for help submitting claims or appealing VA decisions. Veterans advocates have warned that some of these operators provide misleading information and collect fees that far exceed what accredited representatives are allowed to charge.
"Companies use auto-dialers to tap into VA hotlines, track payment increases for thousands of veterans without their knowledge, and then send invoices for five times the monthly payment increase," Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek. "Sometimes thousands of dollars, for work veterans could have had done for free through accredited VSOs."
Sponsors of the bill argue that veterans, many of whom are dealing with injuries or financial strain, are uniquely vulnerable to aggressive marketing and unclear contracts.
"It's crazy what these guys are trying to get away with," Representative Chris Pappas, D-N.H, told NPR. "To use a robo-dialer to make multiple calls to government lines and then just send veterans a bill whenever their eligibility has changed, it's just outrageous."
The bipartisan proposal would tighten rules around who can charge veterans for help with disability claims and expand the VA’s authority to take action against bad actors.
Lawmakers say this would strengthen enforcement against unaccredited claims consultants and improve transparency around fees and services.
It would also reinforce existing protections meant to keep disability benefits in veterans’ pockets and give the VA clearer tools to intervene when veterans are misled
"It doesn't try to fix the whole industry in one stroke. It cuts off one specific technological weapon these companies rely on. That narrow scope is actually why it might succeed where the bigger ban has stalled," Ryan said.
Some private companies involved in helping veterans with claims argue that demand for their services reflects problems within the VA system itself, including long wait times and complicated paperwork.
"It all comes down to lobbying power and political influence. The bigger the lobby, the harder the fight," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "Morally, I think this should pass, and quite honestly, protections like this should exist nationwide for civilians as well."
What Happens Next
The legislation has been introduced but would still need to move through committees in both chambers of Congress before reaching the president’s desk.
"The bill has bipartisan support," Ryan said. "The VA has already publicly acknowledged the problem. This isn't controversial territory. I expect it to move through."
In the meantime, the VA has announced it's ramping up its nationwide Memorial Day efforts.
VA Expands Memorial Day Tribute Effort Across the U.S
The VA has started a month-long initiative known as “Memorial May,” partnering with major nonprofit organizations to honor and celebrate fallen service members at cemeteries across the country.
The program, led by the VA’s National Cemetery Administration, brings together groups including Carry the Load, the Travis Manion Foundation, and Victory for Veterans to coordinate events, volunteer activities, and storytelling campaigns in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day on May 25.
Officials are expecting more than 70,000 volunteers to take part this year, with activities planned at over 100 VA national cemeteries nationwide. These efforts range from organized marches and grave site visits to the placement of commemorative tokens and flowers, all aimed at making sure veterans’ sacrifices are recognized and remembered on a personal level.
Each nonprofit contributes a distinct element to the tribute. Carry The Load hosts marches in dozens of locations across the country, encouraging participants to carry flags or signs honoring fallen loved ones. The Travis Manion Foundation’s “Honor Project” mobilizes volunteers to visit grave sites, place handcrafted tokens, and pause for reflection, often at the request of families. Meanwhile, Victory for Veterans focuses on placing flowers on graves, a gesture that organizers say makes sure that no service member is ever overlooked.
The VA says that the goal is to not only honor the fallen, but to also engage communities nationwide in acts of remembrance, reinforcing the significance of Memorial Day beyond a single weekend.
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