How to find a VA-accredited claims agent and vet them before you sign

Quick answer: Start with VA's free official accreditation search at va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp. If the person is not listed as accredited, do not pay them for claims help. Then ask about fees, who does the actual work, and how to end the relationship, and watch for red flags like upfront fees or pressure to sign the same day.

Sources checked October 8, 2026. Independent guide, not affiliated with VA. Not legal advice. If you have questions about your own situation, consult an attorney.

Start with VA's official search

VA's Office of General Counsel (OGC) runs the only official list of people authorized to represent claimants: the accreditation search. It is free, public, and takes under two minutes. You can search by name, city, state, and representative type. Filter for claims agents specifically, because attorneys and VSO representatives are accredited under different rules and work differently.

A few practical tips:

• Search by last name only if a full-name search returns nothing. Spelling variations and name changes cause misses.
• Check the state listed. An agent can represent claimants in any state, so the listing may show a different state than yours. That is normal.
• Confirm the status is current. Accreditation can be suspended or cancelled, so a listing from a year ago is not proof of status today. See how to check VA accreditation status for the full walkthrough.
• No listing, no payment. If someone wants money for claims help and does not appear in the search, stop there. Representing claimants for a fee requires accreditation under 38 CFR 14.629.

What accreditation proves, and what it does not

Accreditation is a real credential, but it is worth knowing exactly what it certifies. To be accredited as a claims agent, a person must pass VA's character-and-fitness review and score at least 75 percent on the written exam, complete continuing legal education, and stay subject to VA discipline under 38 CFR 14.633. That means an accredited agent has cleared VA's own bar for honesty, knowledge, and ongoing competence.

What accreditation does not tell you:

• Experience with your kind of claim. Appeals, higher-level review, supplemental claims, and initial claims each need different skills. Ask what they actually do most.
• Quality of service. Accreditation is a minimum standard, not a rating. Two accredited agents can be very different to work with.
• Fee fairness. An agent can be accredited and still charge at the top of the allowed range. The fee norms below are your protection.

Questions to ask before you sign

Treat the first conversation like an interview, because it is one. Good agents expect these questions and answer them plainly:

• Are you currently VA-accredited as a claims agent, and under what exact name does the OGC search list you?
• How do you charge, and when does the fee clock start? (The correct answer involves the notice of the initial decision, never before.)
• What is in the fee agreement, and will I get a copy that is filed with VA before any work is billed?
• Who actually does the work on my file: you, or staff, or another agent?
• What is your experience with claims like mine, such as appeals or higher-level review?
• How will we communicate, and how quickly do you respond to questions?
• How do I end the relationship if I want to change representatives? (You can revoke a power of attorney; see how to fire your VA claims agent.)

Red flags that mean walk away

These are the warning signs claimants report most. Any one of them is reason to stop and find someone else:

• Not in the OGC search. The single most important check. Unaccredited people cannot charge you for claims help.
• Upfront fees for an initial claim. Fees may only be charged after notice of the initial decision is mailed (38 U.S.C. 5904). Demands for payment before a decision are a red flag.
• Guaranteed ratings or outcomes. Nobody can guarantee a VA decision. Promises of a specific percentage are dishonest by definition.
• Pressure to sign the same day. Legitimate agents give you time to read the fee agreement.
• Blank forms or missing copies. Never sign a blank form, and always keep your own signed copy of everything.
• Accreditation is "pending" or "in the mail." Pending is not accredited. Wait or move on.
• Pitches for financial products during the meeting. Accreditation may not be used to market financial products, per VA's OGC accreditation page.

Fee norms every claimant should know

The fee rules protect you. Here is the normal pattern for how VA-accredited claims agents charge:

• No fees before the first decision. An agent may not charge for services provided before notice of the initial decision is mailed to you (38 U.S.C. 5904). Help with filing your initial claim is effectively free work.
• The 20 percent benchmark. Under 38 CFR 14.636, a fee up to 20 percent of past-due benefits is presumed reasonable. A fee over 33 1/3 percent is presumed unreasonable.
• Direct pay cap. If VA withholds your past-due benefits to pay the agent directly, the payment cannot exceed 20 percent of those past-due benefits.
• Written agreement required. The fee agreement must be in writing, signed by you, with a copy filed with VA. See fee agreements and direct pay for what a proper one contains.
• You can dispute a fee. If you think a fee is wrong, VA's OGC reviews fee disputes. See how fee disputes are decided.

The one-claim free helper exception

You may hear that someone can help without accreditation. There is a narrow exception in 38 CFR 14.630: a person may help with one claim only, without charge. The moment money changes hands, this exception does not apply. A friend or family member can help you file for free, but anyone charging you needs accreditation.