Bill Overview
Title: GUARD VA Benefits Act
Description: This bill imposes criminal penalties and/or fines on individuals for directly or indirectly soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine or imprisonment.
Sponsors: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals indirectly or directly involved in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of claims for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill seeks to protect veterans who are applying for VA benefits by imposing penalties on unaccredited representatives.
- Veterans are at risk of being defrauded by unqualified individuals who charge fees for claims related to VA benefits.
- The legislation is directly targeted at reducing fraudulent activities and ensuring veterans receive legitimate support for their claims.
- By imposing penalties on fraudulent activities, veterans seeking support for VA benefits will be safeguarded from exploitation.
- Veterans Affairs (VA) handles benefits claims and therefore all individuals applying for such benefits would be the primary population impacted by this bill.
Reasoning
- The beneficiaries of this policy are primarily veterans who are at risk of being defrauded by unaccredited representatives.
- The presence of fraudulent claims processors is a significant issue, which this policy aims to address by penalizing unauthorized fees.
- By ensuring that assistance with VA claims comes from accredited sources, veterans can expect a more reliable process, which can potentially increase their wellbeing.
- The policy will not directly impact all veterans but will have a higher impact on those currently or intending to apply for benefits.
- Professionals who are currently operating outside the law in assisting with VA claims will be directly affected, possibly facing legal and financial repercussions.
- The policy has a limited budget which means that enforcement has to be targeted and effective to maximize impact.
- The target population for policy impact is around 19 million veterans, however not all interact with the VA system actively, thus reducing direct policy impact.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Army Veteran (Texas)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is much needed. There are too many people trying to make a quick buck off of veterans who just want what they're due.
- I've always used reputable sources, but I've heard horror stories from others.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Legal Advisor for Veterans Affairs (California)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's fantastic to see the government stepping in to penalize those who take advantage of our veterans.
- This bill should hopefully make my job easier by minimizing fraudulent claims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran Benefits Consultant (Florida)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There's a lot of scams in this sector, and it affects our credibility too.
- This law could clear the playing field for those who follow the rules.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Widow of a Vietnam Veteran (New York)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been confused by all the paperwork, and I wish this bill had been around earlier to ensure I got proper help.
- This policy might stop people from preying on vulnerable folks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Fraudulent Veteran Claims Representative (Ohio)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this is unfair; I'm helping veterans navigate a complex system.
- This policy would probably put me out of business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Social Worker (Virginia)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives us more confidence to combat the bad actors.
- I think it will elevate veteran trust in our programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
I.T. Specialist (Illinois)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad there are protections like this, even if it doesn't impact me directly.
- Any support for veterans' safety nets is a good step.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Veteran Advocate Volunteer (Washington)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time something like this was passed.
- Veterans need protection from scams, and this is a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Veteran (North Carolina)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing there's a regulation helps ease the concern about who I can trust when I decide to file.
- I hope this makes the application process a bit more straightforward.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Accredited VA Representative (Colorado)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen competitors overcharging veterans, and this will hopefully curb those tendencies.
- A more level playing field for those of us who do work ethically.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $14000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $19000000)
Year 5: $13000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $12000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $17000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- Cooperation with law enforcement and legal branches is crucial to effectively enforce penalties delineated by the bill.
- Resource allocation for vetting and educating veterans about their rights in submission processes remains essential to maximize the legislation's intent.
- Monitoring long-term compliance and correct adaptation of systems by the VA to deter fraudulent practices must be prioritized.