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CA-001 // California law

California’s New Claim-Help Law Draws a Hard Line on Accreditation and Credentials

California’s SB 694 adds consumer protections around assistance with veterans’ benefits claims—including federal-accreditation requirements and a ban on sharing secure-government login credentials.

4 minute readSource verified
THE SHORT VERSIONBefore someone touches a VA benefits claim, know exactly what service they are offering, whether they are federally accredited for that role, what they charge, and why they need any information from you.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS

California Veterans considering paid claims help, Veterans using a VSO, and families comparing claim consultants with accredited representatives

01

What changed

California added guardrails around benefits-claim assistance.

Governor Newsom signed SB 694 on February 10, 2026. California says the law requires federal accreditation before someone may prepare, present, or prosecute a veteran benefits claim, and it prohibits unauthorized fees except where federal law expressly permits them.

The law also prohibits a person from requiring a Veteran to share login credentials or from accessing a secure government system using someone else’s credentials. It specifically addresses Common Access Card PINs.

02

The line that matters

A medical opinion and claims representation are not the same service.

A business offering a medical evaluation or written medical opinion is not automatically describing itself as the person who will prepare, present, or prosecute a VA claim. The legal and practical questions change when the business crosses into claims representation.

That is why the sales pitch, contract, fee, access requests, and actual work performed all matter. A title such as “consultant” is not a substitute for federal accreditation when the work is claim representation.

03

Why it matters

Never trade account control for help.

VA’s own accreditation tools let Veterans verify accredited attorneys, claims agents, VSO representatives, and recognized VSOs. An accredited VSO representative’s services on VA benefits claims are free; accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge fees in the situations federal law allows.

A legitimate helper should be able to explain their role without asking for your VA.gov password, one-time login code, or CAC PIN.

04

Practical next move

What to do with this information.

  1. Do not share a VA.gov password, one-time code, or CAC PIN with a company, consultant, or individual.
  2. If someone will prepare, present, or prosecute a VA benefits claim, verify their federal accreditation before signing or paying.
  3. Read the contract for the precise service being sold; medical evidence, education, and claims representation are different services with different rules.
  4. Use a County Veterans Service Office, recognized VSO, accredited claims agent, or attorney when you need representation.
05

Verify it yourself

Source rack.

Read the primary source before applying a national announcement to an individual situation.

State of CaliforniaGovernor signs SB 694 consumer protections for Veterans seeking benefits helpOpen official source →U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsSearch VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representativesOpen official source →