The Fee Agreement is the foundational contract that establishes the financial relationship between a veteran and their accredited attorney or claims agent. This document is essential because it authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize your right to represent the veteran and, crucially, permits the VA to withhold your fee directly from the veteran’s retroactive benefits. By filing this agreement, you ensure that payment terms are transparent and that the mechanism for direct payment is triggered immediately upon a favorable rating decision.
When to Use This Document
- Establishing New Representation: File this immediately when a veteran retains your services to handle an appeal or claim to lock in your effective date for fee eligibility.
- Securing Direct Payment: Use this agreement to officially request that the VA withhold your contingency fee (typically 20%) from the veteran’s past-due benefits and pay you directly.
- Filing a Notice of Disagreement or Appeal: Submit this alongside decision review forms (such as the 20-0995 or 10182) to ensure the VA applies the fee agreement to any resulting backpay awards.
- Updating Fee Terms: Use a new agreement if the scope of representation changes or if you renegotiate the fee structure with an existing client.
Streamline Your Practice
Stop wasting time chasing down signatures and juggling scattered PDF files. VA Claim Helper allows accredited representatives to generate, organize, and manage Fee Agreements and other essential forms for all your clients in one secure place.