Don’t Feed the Sharks

What is VA Accreditation?

You wouldn’t see a doctor without a medical license and you wouldn’t hire a lawyer without a law license. Why should giving legal advice to Veterans—our Nation’s heroes, be any different? Federal law already requires any person assisting Veterans, whether free or for compensation, must be accredited by the VA, and no person may prepare claims, give advice, or charge fees to Veterans without VA accreditation.

Accreditation ensures:

• Qualified Representation

• Ethics training

• Up-to-date continuing legal education

• Legal and reasonable fees

• Veterans have a venue to dispute fees

Accredited representatives are bound by strict standards of conduct. If an accredited representative acts unethically, charges illegal fees, or provides grossly incompetent representation, a Veteran can file a grievance with the VA Office of General Counsel. The VA has the power to suspend or cancel their accreditation, effectively ending their career. Just like a state bar can regulate and suspend attorneys, and a medical board oversees doctors. Think of VA accreditation like a medical license. While your neighbor might offer you health advice, you wouldn't let them perform surgery on you. Similarly, while many people offer advice on VA benefits, only accredited representatives are licensed, trained, and regulated by the federal government to handle the “surgery” of a complex VA legal claim.

Unaccredited actors (“claims sharks”) ignore these laws. They often entrap Veterans in illegal contracts, demanding a percentage of a Veteran’s future monthly benefits, sometimes for life, for work that should have been free, or for a much smaller fee. Accredited representatives are legally forbidden from doing this.

What HB 108 Would Do

HB 108 not only invites, it encourages bad actors to flourish in Georgia.

As written, HB 108 would:

• Encourage unaccredited claims “consultants” to operate within the state, even though their activities conflict with federal law.

• Authorize for-profit consulting, allowing individuals with no accreditation, oversight, or ethics training to charge Veterans fees for filing claims.

• Eliminate accountability, because state law enforcement would have no mechanism to enforce VA accreditation or stop bad actors.

• Create confusion for Veterans, making it harder to distinguish between legitimate accredited assistance and illegal predators.

HB 108, the “SAVE Act,” doesn’t protect Veterans, it enables criminals.

Georgia Needs to Protect Veterans, Not Enable Violations of Federal Law

Georgia law should hold unaccredited actors accountable— Demand Criminal Penalties

Instead of making it easier for unqualified individuals to prey on Georgia’s Veterans, Georgia should:

• Introduce enforceable criminal penalties for anyone violating federal law by assisting with VA claims without VA accreditation.

• Require VA accreditation verification for anyone offering claims service in Georgia.

• Empower law enforcement to investigate and prosecute violators.

• Publicly list offenders so Veterans can identify predators.