Scam or lifeline? Nevada veterans split over paying for help securing VA benefits

Based on the provided text, here is a summary of the key points regarding the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act and the surrounding debate over third-party assistance for veterans' benefits: **The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act Proposal:** - The Senate and House versions of the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act have been referred to committees for consideration. - The act proposes to ban third-party organizations from charging veterans fees for assistance with benefits claims, aiming to protect veterans from "criminals seeking to prey on their benefits." - Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto support the bill, stating it would "safeguard veterans' benefits and support them from abuse." **Opposition to the SAFEGUARD Act:** - Veterans Benefits Group (VBG) spokesperson Patrick Holmes argues the act "doesn't distinguish between bad actors and ethical providers" and "targets the industry as a whole instead of the fraudulent or deceptive practices." - Holmes advocates for "targeted legislation" including interest rate limits, transparency requirements, data security standards, wide disclosure of free resources, and penalties for fraud. - He notes eleven states (including Alabama, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia) have already implemented such targeted standards. - Veteran advocate Keirn opposes *any* third-party fees, stating veterans charging for "something that's rightfully his" is "wrong" and suggesting providers should be "tied up and put in jail." - However, Keirn acknowledges the benefits process is complicated and says he wouldn't advise veterans to handle claims alone due to the risk of errors. **Veteran Perspectives and Process Challenges:** - A VBG-commissioned Harris Poll of 2,000 veterans (conducted late 2025, results released July 15, 2026) found: - 94% believe veterans should be free to use third-party help "if it helps them secure the benefits they deserve." - 84% found the benefits process "confusing and slow." - 43% reported waiting over six months for benefits; 23% waited over a year. - Keirn agrees the process is complicated but maintains veterans should not handle claims alone due to the risk of errors leading to denial. **Context on VA Benefits Processing:** - The 2017 Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act reduced the VA claims backlog. - As of the article's time, the backlog had dropped below 70,000 claims for the first time since 2020. - However, the 2022 PACT Act (expanding eligibility) has increased claim volume, offsetting some backlog reductions. - Nevada has over 50 VA-accredited representatives and nine VA offices statewide; VSO services are funded by nonprofits, grants, and government sources. **Core Dispute:** The central conflict is whether banning all third-party fees (SAFEGUARD Act) effectively protects veterans from fraud or unfairly restricts access to helpful, ethical assistance that many veterans say they need to navigate a complex system. Opponents argue the solution lies in regulating bad actors rather than eliminating the entire third-party assistance sector.