New Bill Will Keep Companies From Targeting Disabled Vets

Disabled veterans have sacrificed their lives for their country. On top of that, many vets have to deal with scams and constant harassment from predatory companies looking to rip them off of their hard-earned money and benefits.

A new bipartisan bill in Congress is seeking to crack down on what lawmakers describe as predatory tactics used by “claim sharks.” These companies have been accused of charging disabled veterans significant fees for assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims.

The bill, which was introduced by four lawmakers, would prohibit companies from using auto-dialing technology to contact federal agencies. The proposal was inspired by a 2025 NPR investigation into Trajector Medical, a company accused of using automated dialing software to access a VA hotline intended for veterans. According to the report, the company allegedly monitored veterans’ benefit payments, often without their full understanding, and automatically billed clients when their disability payments increased. This outraged the lawmakers, prompting them to create the bill.

Companies like Trajector already operate in a legal gray area. Federal law bars businesses from charging veterans for help filing initial disability claims, since those services are available free through the VA and accredited nonprofit organizations. However, civil penalties tied to those violations were removed years ago, limiting regulators’ ability to punish companies accused of misconduct.

Veterans should not be exploited by businesses seeking to profit from their earned benefits. One of the lawmakers described the bill as a “commonsense approach” to stopping abusive practices.

Trajector Medical has minimized the potential impact of the legislation on its operations and said in a statement that it supports the proposal. The company stated that it depends on clients voluntarily reporting successful claims outcomes tied to its medical evidence services.

The newer bill targets what lawmakers view as a major revenue source for companies like Trajector: automated monitoring systems. Trajector’s “CallBot” software allegedly makes tens of thousands of monthly calls to a VA hotline that veterans use to check claims status and payment information. The system reportedly responds to automated prompts and inputs veterans’ personal information, including Social Security numbers and birthdates, to detect benefit increases and trigger billing.

Although Trajector says veterans are informed about the practice, many former clients told NPR they did not fully understand the extent of the monitoring. Bills generated through the system can reportedly range from several hundred dollars to more than $20,000.

Without access to the automated hotline monitoring system, companies like Trajector would instead need veterans to voluntarily provide updated VA rating decisions before calculating fees. Trajector reportedly charges a one-time fee equal to five months of the veteran’s increased disability payments.

Learn More About Veterans Benefits

Unfortunately, many companies take advantage of disabled veterans because they tend to be older and more vulnerable to scams. The good news is that filing a claim can be done for a reasonable fee.

If you are a disabled veteran, get the help you need from a White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon. We can help you get your claim approved without a hassle. Call 914-294-2145 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation today.

Source:

npr.org/2026/05/04/nx-s1-5719493/veterans-disabilities-claims-congress-legislation