Veterans should never go into debt to access their earned benefits! The VFW has repeatedly expressed concerns about charging veterans for initial claims assistance based on their future benefits, and thus, we strongly oppose H.R. 3132, CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025, as written. This would potentially put veterans into debt even before utilizing their benefits. The VFW is grateful that the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs staff sought our input on the legislation and included some safeguards in it, but the fee structure is a poison pill that should ultimately kill this bill. 

Maybe the committee advanced this bill to finally get the aggressive Claim Shark lobbyists out of their offices, but we urge our legislators in the House not to consider passing such a blatant cash grab for illegal companies who know they’re breaking the law and lining their pockets with taxpayer dollars intended for disabled veterans. The VFW opposes this legislation and will continue to fight any effort to put veterans into debt to access their earned disability benefits.