Dad's file can be handled by three kinds of accredited person, and each carries different permissions. Before you compare offers, verify the credential. Someone who is not accredited is not a claim helper VA recognizes, however confident the pitch sounds. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Check the credential first
VA recognizes accredited veterans service organization representatives, accredited attorneys, and accredited claims agents. VA.gov has an accreditation search for these people. Search by name, then confirm the accreditation is active, that the listed organization matches the person in front of you, and that the name on the search result is the person who will touch the file. Print the result and keep it with the file.
Compare what each credential can do
Representatives of recognized veterans organizations generally help with claims without charging a fee. Attorneys and accredited claims agents may charge fees, but VA sets rules on when and how a fee may be charged on a pension claim. Do not assume a fee is allowed or prohibited. Read VA's current fee rule on VA.gov, then ask the candidate to show you the point in the process where a fee would apply.
Compare scope as well as cost. Ask whether the person will file the claim, follow up on VA letters, attend a required exam, or only review the packet. A credential that covers filing does not automatically cover every follow-up step.
Questions to put to each candidate
- What is your accreditation number, and which organization is listed with it?
- Have you handled a pension claim that includes an aid and attendance element?
- Who signs the filing, and will you give me a copy of everything submitted?
- Who answers VA's calls and reads its letters on this file?
- If a VA letter sets a deadline, who sees it first, and how fast do I hear about it?
- What do you need from Dad's records, and what happens to the originals?
Fee terms deserve their own careful reading before anything is signed. Here the point is narrower: confirm the credential before anyone sees Dad's records. The Local Help: St. Louis Offices page lists where to start. This desk is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Footnotes
- VA.gov, accreditation search for veterans service organization representatives, attorneys, and claims agents.
- VA.gov, pages on accreditation and fee rules for representatives, attorneys, and agents.