HD10 - Compensation for Veterans’ Benefits Claim Assistance (Chapter 730, 2024)
Executive Summary: Chapter 730 of the 2024 Acts of Assembly directed the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Counsel to convene a work group to examine and make recommendations regarding persons receiving compensation for representing veterans and their families in benefits claims before the U.S. Veterans Administration. The Office of the Attorney General convened a work group including, among other stakeholders identified below: (1) organizations that support legislation prohibiting persons from receiving compensation, except as permitted by federal law; and (2) representatives of the for-profit veterans’ benefits claims assistance industry that support legislation allowing persons to receive compensation, provided that certain criteria are met. These stakeholders were starkly divided and unable to reach agreement on proposed approaches or legislation that would address their respective concerns about the for-profit veterans’ benefits claims assistance industry. As a consequence, the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Counsel respectfully submits in this report that the General Assembly will be best served by weighing the options raised by various participants and potentially considering adopting one of those approaches. The main possible options raised include: (1) passing legislation prohibiting persons from receiving compensation for representing veterans and their families in benefits claims, except as permitted by federal law; (2) passing legislation allowing persons to receive compensation under certain circumstances; or (3) allowing these issues to be determined at the federal level. |