Senators Carper & Coons Join VA Secretary McDonough and Delaware Veterans in New Castle to Warn of ‘Claim Sharks’

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to meet with veterans and get the word out about “claim sharks.” “Claim sharks” is a term used for unaccredited lawyers and consultants who offer to help veterans file their disability claims with the veterans Benefits Administration and then take a significant percentage of the benefit the veteran receives. However, veterans are afforded these services free of charge through the VA.

After hosting a Veterans’ Resource Fair at the Major Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center, they sat down with military and community leaders to discuss how to better serve our veterans around the state and nation. Today’s fair connected VA representatives with veterans and their family members to help with claims, eligibility, toxic exposures, health care, caregiver support, patient advocacy, community care, women’s health, behavioral health, and suicide prevention. This was provided at no cost to them, and these services are available to all veterans by visiting benefits.va.gov or by calling 1-800-827-1000.

Additionally, Senators Carper and Coons cosponsored legislation in the Senate to apply penalties to these “claim sharks” and wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission regarding this bad practice. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) cosponsored similar legislation in the House.

“Over the course of my career, I have worked to ensure that we not only equip our servicemembers, veterans, and their families with the benefits they have earned and deserve, but protect those benefits from bad actors,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper, a 23-year veteran of the Navy and last serving veteran of the Vietnam War in the U.S. Senate. “With the passage of the PACT Act – which expanded benefits to service members and their families exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances – we now are seeing ‘claim sharks’ looking to make a profit from these benefits. I am committed to rooting out these bad actors and today’s Veterans’ Summit helped do just that by raising awareness of these ‘sharks’ and connecting our veterans with free, comprehensive services.”

“The most sacred promise we must keep as a nation is for the continued care of the brave men and women who have served our country,” said Senator Coons. “This administration has worked tirelessly to honor and support our veterans, from the historic investment we made two years ago in veterans’ health care to continuing efforts like this summit that connect veterans with services and protect them from scams. We must continue to step up to protect those who have served our country, and I’m proud to back these latest efforts to get the word out about nefarious claim sharks and other heinous individuals who seek to take advantage of our veterans.” 

“Ensuring that our veterans and their families are cared for is our sacred obligation, and I am committed to fulfilling that responsibility through my work in Congress,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I am grateful to Senator Carper for leading this annual summit, which has connected our state’s veterans with essential services and information. I also thank Secretary McDonough for joining us this year to raise awareness of claim sharks. Together, we will continue to inform veterans about avoiding these bad actors and protecting their hard-earned benefits.”