How to Spot and Avoid Aid & Attendance Scams

What scammers are actually doing with Aid & Attendance

Scammers targeting Aid & Attendance benefits use a few predictable tactics: they charge upfront fees to "help" you file, they promise to speed up your claim in ways the VA cannot, they pose as VA employees or accredited representatives, or they collect your personal information and disappear. The VA does not charge veterans or survivors to file for Aid & Attendance, and no private company can make the VA move faster or change its decision.

The most common setup is a website or advertisement that looks official, offers to "check your may be able to access" for free, then transfers you to someone who charges $500 to $3,000 to file your claim. Another version is a call from someone claiming to be from the VA who asks for your Social Security number, bank details, or VA file number to "update your record" or "speed up processing." Neither of these is real.

Because Aid & Attendance involves money — the benefit can reach $3,737 per month for a single veteran, depending on your situation — scammers see it as worth their effort. Veterans and surviving spouses are the targets because you have a specific benefit to claim and you may not know the VA's actual process.

Key Takeaways

• The VA never charges a filing fee for Aid & Attendance, and no private company can speed up the VA's decision or may provide approval.
• Legitimate accredited representatives can charge a fee only after you are approved, and only up to 20 percent of your back pay — never upfront.
• If someone contacts you claiming to be from the VA and asks for personal information or money, hang up and call the VA directly at 1-800-827-1000 to report it.
• The VA's official Aid & Attendance application is VA Form 21-2680, filed through VA.gov, your local VA office, or by mail — never through a third-party website.
• Scammers often use official-looking websites with slight name changes or claim they are "VA-approved" — the VA does not approve private filing services.

How to tell if a representative is actually accredited

If you want help filing your Aid & Attendance claim, you can work with an accredited representative — but only certain people are allowed to charge you. The VA accredits three types of representatives: Veterans Service Officers (employed by your state or county), service organization representatives (from groups like the American Legion or VFW), and VA-accredited agents and attorneys.

Before you pay anyone, verify their accreditation on the VA's official website at va.gov/ogc/accreditation. Search by name or organization. If they are not listed, they are not accredited, and the VA will not recognize their work on your claim. Accredited representatives can charge a fee only after you receive your first payment, and only up to 20 percent of the back pay owed to you — never before approval, never upfront, and never a flat fee.

Veterans Service Officers and service organization representatives usually charge nothing. If someone tells you they are accredited but you cannot find them on the VA's list, that is a red flag. Do not give them money or personal information.

Red flags in websites, calls, and advertisements

Scam websites often mimic the VA's look but have slightly different names: "VA-Benefits.com," "VeteransAidAndAttendance.org," or "Official VA Assistance." The real VA website is va.gov. If you are unsure whether a site is real, type va.gov directly into your browser instead of clicking a link from an email or ad.

Watch for these specific claims, which are always false: "We can speed up your claim," "We may provide approval," "The VA approved us to file for you," "You must file through us," "We have a special connection at the VA," or "You need to act now or you will lose benefits." The VA does not move faster for anyone, does not may provide outcomes, and does not have preferred filing services.

Phone calls claiming to be from the VA are almost always scams. The VA rarely calls veterans unsolicited. If someone calls saying they are from the VA and asks for your Social Security number, bank account, or VA file number, hang up. Then call the VA yourself at 1-800-827-1000 to report the call. Do not use a phone number the caller gave you.

What happens if you give a scammer your information

If you have already given someone your Social Security number, bank account details, or VA file number, contact the VA right away at 1-800-827-1000 and tell them what happened. Ask them to flag your file for fraud. You should also contact your bank and ask them to watch your account for unauthorized charges, and consider placing a fraud alert with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) by visiting IdentityTheft.gov.

If money was charged to your account, contact your bank immediately to dispute the charge. Keep records of all communication with the scammer — emails, texts, call logs, receipts — and report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you paid by check or wire transfer, contact your bank to see if the transaction can be stopped or reversed.

Do not be embarrassed to report this. Scammers are skilled at making fake sites and calls look real, and veterans are targeted specifically because you have earned benefits. The VA and law enforcement need to know so they can stop the scammer from targeting others.

How to file Aid & Attendance the real way

You can file your Aid & Attendance claim three ways, all of them free. The fastest is usually online at VA.gov — you can start your application there without leaving home. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and information about your medical condition and living situation. The form is VA Form 21-2680.

You can also file in person at your local VA regional office. Find the office nearest you at va.gov/find-locations. Bring your discharge papers (DD Form 214) and any medical records that show you need help with daily activities. A Veterans Service Officer there can help you fill out the form at no cost.

A third option is to mail your completed VA Form 21-2680 to the VA regional office that handles your state. You can download the form from va.gov or request it by calling 1-800-827-1000. Mail it to the address listed on the form. Processing usually takes 2 to 6 months, sometimes longer if the VA needs more information from you.

Where to report a scam

If you encounter a scam targeting Aid & Attendance, report it to multiple places so authorities can track patterns and shut down operations. Report to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. Report to the VA's Office of Inspector General at va.gov/oig or 1-800-488-8244. If you were charged money, also report to your state's Attorney General office — search "[your state] Attorney General" online to find contact information.

If the scam involved a phone call, you can also report it to the Federal Communications Commission at fcc.gov/complaints. The more people who report the same scammer, the faster law enforcement can act. Your report helps protect other veterans and survivors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a VA-accredited attorney charge me upfront to file my Aid & Attendance claim?

No. Accredited attorneys and agents can charge a fee only after you receive your first payment, and only up to 20 percent of your back pay. If someone asks for money before you are approved, they are not following VA rules. Verify their accreditation at va.gov/ogc/accreditation before you work with them.

What if I see an ad on social media promising to help me get Aid & Attendance faster?

That is a scam. No private company can speed up the VA's process. The VA processes claims in the order they are received. If you see such an ad, do not click it. You can report it to the social media platform and to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Is it safe to file my Aid & Attendance claim online at VA.gov?

Yes. VA.gov is the official VA website and is secure. Make sure you are on va.gov — not a similar-sounding name — by typing it directly into your browser. Never click a link from an email or ad claiming to take you to the VA site.

What should I do if I already paid a scammer to file my claim?

Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 right away and explain what happened. They can flag your file and help you file correctly at no cost. Contact your bank to dispute the charge. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state's Attorney General. Do not send any more money to the scammer.

Can the VA tell me if a website or company is legitimate?

The VA can verify whether a representative is accredited by checking va.gov/ogc/accreditation. For other questions about whether something is a scam, call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 or contact the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also ask a Veterans Service Officer at your local VA office.