Veterans Knowledge HubGetting help with your claim: free advocates & paid services
You never have to pay to lodge a DVA claim. Trained ESO advocates help for free. If you consider a paid service, know how fees work and what to ask before you sign.
Quick answer
EditorialClaiming is free
OfficialDVA charges nothing to lodge a claim, and free help from trained ESO advocates is available across Australia.
Paying doesn't speed things up
OfficialDVA says using a paid provider doesn't make your claim faster or guarantee a result.
No fee cap yet
OfficialDVA doesn't currently regulate what for-profit advocates charge. Reforms to curb commission-style fees have been consulted on but weren't law as at 2 Oct 2026.
Get fees in writing
GuidanceBefore signing with any paid service, get the full fee in dollars, exit costs and any cooling-off period in writing.
You never have to pay to make a claim
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Lodging a claim with DVA costs nothing. You can lodge it yourself in MyService, or get free help. DVA says more than half of veterans who deal with it lodge their claims themselves, without anyone helping.
- Free help is widely available. Ex-service organisations (ESOs) provide trained advocates at no charge. Some may ask for a small amount to cover incidental or admin costs.
- Paying doesn't speed things up. DVA says paying for claims help has no effect on how long a claim takes, doesn't guarantee a result, and gives no provider special access or treatment.
- Decisions follow the law. DVA says to be wary of anyone who promises a particular outcome.
DVA's own words: you do not need to pay, or give up a portion of your entitlements, for advice from an advocate.
Source: DVA – What to consider if you're looking for help?; DVA – Transparency matters (8 May 2026)
Free ESO advocates and the Advocacy Register
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Most free claims help comes from advocates who volunteer or work for an ESO such as the RSL. They are trained through DVA's Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP), which delivers the nationally recognised Course in Military Advocacy. They are not DVA staff.
- How to find one: search the Advocacy Register by location. It lists ESOs (not individual advocates) with their contact details and the level of qualified advocates they have. DVA says listed ESOs will try to help even if you can't become a member.
- What they can do: help you prepare and lodge claims in MyService, ask for a review of a decision, appeal to the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB) and Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), and represent you at hearings. They can also point you to help with health, housing, transition and more.
- Protection for you: ATDP-trained advocates are covered by professional indemnity insurance and work to DVA's service standards for claims advocacy.
- Free by design: ATDP training is only open to advocates from ESOs that don't charge fees for compensation and wellbeing advocacy. For-profit businesses can't nominate their staff for it.
What to ask to see: DVA suggests sighting the advocate's Letter of Authorisation from their ESO, their Statement of Attainment from the Course in Military Advocacy, and evidence of current professional indemnity insurance.
Source: DVA – What is an advocate?; Advocacy Register; DVA – What to consider if you're looking for help?
Other free help: RSL, Legacy, DVA and Legal Aid
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- RSL: Many RSL state branches and sub-branches offer free advocacy. For example, RSL Queensland’s DVA Advocacy service helps with claims and appeals at no charge. Start at RSL Australia to find your state branch.
- Legacy: Legacy supports the families of veterans, including advocating for their rights and benefits.
- DVA itself: call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), 8am to 5pm local time on weekdays (DVA contact page). Serving members can see a Veteran Support Officer on base. Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs are another place to find support in person.
- Legal Aid NSW Veterans’ Advocacy Service: the Veterans’ Advocacy Service gives free advice on the VEA, DRCA and MRCA. It can help with claim forms and statements, and with reviews at the VRB, ART and higher courts. DVA says it isn't means tested.
- Legal Aid in other states and territories: most commissions can give free legal help for an ART appeal against certain VRB decisions. This usually depends on a merits test, and the rules differ in each state. See DVA's Legal Aid summary for each state or National Legal Aid.
If a claim is weighing on you, Open Arms offers free, confidential counselling 24/7 on 1800 011 046.
Source: DVA – Appendix 1: Legal Aid assistance for veterans and families; Legal Aid NSW – Veterans’ Advocacy Service
What the rules say about fees, and what's changing
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Right now there is no DVA fee cap or fee schedule for paid advocates. DVA says the fees for-profit claims businesses charge are not regulated by DVA. Lawyers aren't regulated by DVA either. They are regulated by the law society or legal regulator in each state and territory, and a lawyer should give you written details of their fees and how they're worked out.
How we got here:
- Nov 2025: a Senate committee report on veterans’ advocacy services recommended DVA explore laws to curb harmful practices by commercial advocates, including possible fee caps.
- Dec 2025: the Government Response agreed to that recommendation.
- Feb–May 2026: DVA ran a public consultation on regulating veteran advocacy (submissions closed 8 May 2026). The stated aims were to restrict exploitative fees, ban overseas hosting of veterans’ data, stop misleading conduct and advertising, and make sure fee-charging advocates are trained, insured and ethical.
Options DVA put forward (proposals only, not law): banning fees based on a percentage of your compensation (commission) or on getting a result (contingency), such as a set number of impairment points or a Gold Card; limiting break fees to the work actually done; banning ‘no win, no fee’ style advertising; and requiring fee-charging advocates to belong to a recognised professional body. The paper notes DVA knows of commissions as high as 29%, and of break fees above $27,000 reported to the Senate inquiry.
Also new: the Institute of Veterans’ Advocacy (IVA), a new professional body for advocates, opened for members in February 2026 (DVA news). In August 2026 the Government announced $50.7 million over three years for 109 ESOs through the BEST grants program to boost free advocacy.
Source: DVA – What to consider if you're looking for help?; DVA – Consultation paper: Veteran advocacy regulation
Costs DVA or a tribunal may cover
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DVA doesn't pay advocate or business fees for claims. But some costs can be paid or reimbursed:
| Cost | What applies |
|---|---|
| Lodging a claim | Free. No DVA fee applies. |
| Medical evidence for a VRB review | DVA may reimburse some costs of getting relevant medical evidence. Claim with form D7526. |
| Travel to the VRB | DVA may reimburse some travel costs for a hearing. Contact DVA to check your case (review pathway page). |
| Applying to the ART | No fees for VEA, DRCA or MRCA reviews. In limited circumstances the ART may award you legal or associated costs (DVA – ART). |
| Financial and legal advice on a permanent impairment payment | If your MRCA permanent impairment is assessed at 50 or more impairment points, DVA can reimburse advice from a qualified financial adviser and a practising lawyer about taking a lump sum or weekly payments. The combined limit is up to $3,397.18 from 1 July 2026 (MRCA rates). |
The advice reimbursement covers your payment choice only. It doesn't cover other legal matters or advice on managing investments you already have. You can check an adviser on ASIC's Financial advisers register.
Source: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA; DVA – Compensation under VEA and MRCA pathway
How paid claims businesses and lawyers work
Guidance
Some veterans choose a paid provider, for example for complex cases or for convenience. Services these businesses advertise include:
- gathering service and medical records and preparing the claim
- arranging medical appointments and reports
- lodging claims and dealing with DVA for you
- permanent impairment, incapacity and reassessment claims
- reviews and appeals at the VRB and ART
Common fee models (from providers' own sites and DVA's consultation paper):
- Percentage of your payout (commission): a share of your compensation. DVA has raised concerns about this model.
- Capped fee: a percentage or a set amount with a stated maximum.
- Fixed fee per stage: quoted up front.
- ‘No win, no fee’: common with law firms. Read what ‘win’ means, and whether you still pay outside costs such as medical reports.
DVA notes that for-profit providers can't use ATDP training, may or may not carry professional indemnity insurance, and may not offer wellbeing support. The free ESO option is always open, even if you have used a paid service before.
Questions to ask before you sign
Guidance
- Exactly what will I pay? Is it a percentage, a capped amount or a fixed fee? Get it in writing, with an example worked out in dollars.
- Which payments does the fee come from? Lump sums only, or ongoing weekly payments, back pay, or future claims too? Is it a ‘lifetime’ fee?
- What if I want to leave? Ask about termination or break fees, and how they're calculated.
- Is there a cooling-off period? If a business phoned you, came to your door or approached you in public, the ACCC explains you may be able to cancel within 10 business days. Otherwise, ask whether the contract includes one.
- Who does the work, and are they qualified and insured? Ask about training and professional indemnity insurance. For a lawyer, check they hold a practising certificate.
- Who pays for medical reports and appointments, and who chooses the doctors?
- Where is my data stored? Is it kept in Australia?
- How often will you update me, and what happens if the business closes?
DVA lists similar questions on its looking for help page.
Source: DVA – Important questions to ask; ACCC – Telemarketing and door-to-door sales
Red flags
Guidance
- Promises of a set payout, impairment rating or Gold Card, or claims of a ‘fast track’ with DVA. DVA says no provider gets special access.
- Pressure to sign quickly, or a contract you can't take home to read.
- Fees that aren't explained in dollars, or that are taken from all your future payments.
- Large exit or ‘break’ fees regardless of work done.
- Encouragement to claim conditions you don't have, or lots of tests you don't feel you need.
- Being told free ESO advocates aren't an option or ‘won't get you as much’.
- No clear Australian business details (ABN, address) or data stored overseas.
If you're unsure, a free ESO advocate or the Legal Aid NSW Veterans’ Advocacy Service can give you a second opinion before you commit.
Source: DVA – Consultation paper: Veteran advocacy regulation; DVA – What to consider if you're looking for help?
Businesses that help veterans with claims
Guidance
These Australian businesses advertise paid help with DVA claims. Descriptions are summarised from each business's own website as at 2 October 2026. We haven't assessed their quality, qualifications or results, and fees can change, so always get a written quote.
| Business | What they offer (paraphrased from their site) | Fee model |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran Claims Australia (veteranclaims.com.au) | Veteran-led advocacy: initial liability claims, organising evidence and claim packs, reviews, impairment matters and appeals under the MRCA, DRCA and VEA. | Ask them |
| Veterans First Consulting | Commercial advocacy firm that says it manages the whole claim, including appointments and dealing with DVA: initial liability, permanent impairment, incapacity, appeals and other claims. | Site says ‘no win, no fee’, with a single lifetime fee covering successful claims and a ‘fee cap guarantee’. Ask for the dollar amount. |
| Military Claims (militaryclaims.com.au) | Veteran-owned advocacy led by a former DVA staff member: DVA and CSC (super invalidity) claims, permanent impairment, appeals and mental health claims. | Ask them |
| Outpost Advocacy | Paid advocacy covering DVA claims, reassessments, ongoing veteran support and family support, with a ‘lifetime membership’. | Site states fees on complex permanent impairment claims are capped at 4.9%, up to a maximum of $20,000 excl. GST. |
| Slater and Gordon (law firm) | Military compensation lawyers: help with claims, medical assessments, paperwork and challenging decisions, including at the VRB and ART. | Site says ‘No Win, No Fee’ (conditions apply). Ask them. |
| Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB, law firm) | Defence force lawyers: DVA claims, lump sum disputes, and appeals to the VRB and ART. | Site offers a free first appointment and ‘no win, no fee’. Outside costs such as medical reports may still be payable. Ask them. |
| Turner Freeman (law firm) | Solicitors helping with DVA claim forms, service records, medical evidence and the DVA process. | Site says ‘no win, no fee’ and a ‘Low Fee Promise’. Ask them. |
| Gain Lawyers (law firm, Qld) | Lawyers for current and former ADF members across DVA claims and reviews. | Site says ‘no win, no fee’ with no uplift fees, and that it covers evidence costs during the claim. Ask them. |
Veteran experiences (2)
Experience
Finding an advocate experienced in VEA cancer claims
Outcome not knownWhat happened: A person assisting an older veteran with a VEA cancer claim had difficulty finding an advocate with specific experience in cancer-related claims. They were looking for someone with enough familiarity with VEA cancer matters to provide meaningful support.
Check the official rule: DVA – What is an advocate?
Advocates with little experience in cancer claims
QuestionWhat happened: A person assisting an older veteran with a cancer-related DVA claim found that the advocates they contacted had limited experience with that type of matter. The difficulty was not accessing advocacy generally, but finding support with the relevant subject-matter experience.
What other veterans said: Comments disagreed about when cancer treatment can be accessed without first establishing service-related liability. The useful takeaway is not to assume another veteran's cancer coverage applies automatically; the veteran's service and treatment eligibility should be checked.
Check the official rule: DVA – What is an advocate?
Experiences collected October 2026. Got a correction? Use the feedback form.
Official sources
Official
- dva.gov.auWhat is an advocate? (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auWhat to consider if you're looking for help? (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auAppendix 1 Legal Aid assistance for veterans and families (DVA)View source
- advocateregister.org.auAdvocacy Register (ATDP)View source
- web.atdp.org.auAdvocacy Training and Development ProgramView source
- dva.gov.auConsultation paper: Veteran advocacy regulation (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auVeterans’ advocacy regulation – have your say (DVA, Apr 2026)View source
- dva.gov.auTransparency matters (DVA media release, 8 May 2026)View source
- dva.gov.auGovernment Response to Senate advocacy inquiry (Dec 2025, PDF)View source
- aph.gov.auSenate report: advocacy services for veteransView source
- minister.dva.gov.auFree advocacy funding doubles (Minister, 12 Aug 2026)View source
- dva.gov.auAdministrative Review Tribunal (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auCompensation under VEA and MRCA pathway (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auD7526 VRB medical evidence costs form (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auPermanent impairment payments under the MRCA (DVA)View source
- dva.gov.auCompensation payment rates for MRCA (DVA)View source
- legalaid.nsw.gov.auVeterans’ Advocacy Service (Legal Aid NSW)View source
- accc.gov.auTelemarketing and door-to-door sales (ACCC)View source
All links opened and checked 2026-10-02.