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Maryland lawmakers consider ban on unaccredited firms that charge veterans to pursue VA claims
Summary
Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on SB 928, a bill that would ban non‑VA‑accredited organizations from charging fees to help veterans prepare or submit VA benefits claims, after witnesses described ‘claim‑shark’ practices and state officials described free accredited services.
Senate Finance Committee members heard hours of testimony and personal accounts on Thursday about a growing industry that charges veterans upfront or contingency fees to prepare Department of Veterans Affairs benefit claims.
The hearing focused on Senate Bill 928, introduced by Senator Smith, which would make it unlawful in Maryland for entities that are not accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans for a fee in preparing and submitting VA claims. Witnesses described two tiers of providers — accredited, nonprofit Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) and attorneys who provide no‑cost or regulated services, and private “claims consultants” they called “claim sharks” who charge large…
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