A veteran was pressured by a commercial advocate to lodge multiple claims for conditions like headaches and sore toes. These claims were submitted with minimal supporting evidence and were ultimately not approved.
When the veteran tried to follow up, they discovered the company had shut down. They were left out of pocket and without support.
This experience highlights the risks of using unregulated, fee-for-service advocacy and the importance of understanding your options before lodging a claim.
Watch out for
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Pressure to lodge claims you don’t feel confident about. Claims need appropriate medical evidence to be considered.
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Fee-for-service advocacy is not regulated. If a company closes, you may lose both money and support.
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Lack of accountability. Unlike free advocates, paid services may not be bound by professional standards.
Find a free advocate
Free ESO advocates undertake formal training and are held to a professional code of conduct. You don’t have to pay to lodge a claim.
You can find a free, trained and qualified advocate near you via the Advocacy Register, which lists ESOs by location and services offered. All listed organisations will try to assist you, even if you’re not a member of that ESO.
Learn more about your options in our Making a Claim guide.
This news item is part of our Making a Claim education initiative, where we share real-life stories from veterans who have experienced challenges when seeking support to lodge compensation and rehabilitation claims.