Beginning this month, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will publicly disclose the amounts it pays to VA-accredited attorneys and claim agents who assist Veterans with disability claims. While the practice of paying attorneys from the money owed to Veterans upon claim approval is established, sharing this data is a new initiative. Veterans and their families can choose to hire either a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) for free assistance or a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent, who may charge fees after the initial claim is decided. The VA pays attorney and agent fees from Veterans’ past-due benefits, known as backpay, with a cap of 20% on these fees before other deductions. If backpay is insufficient to cover the fees, the remainder is paid by VA funds. The VA will post monthly updates on the total amounts paid to attorneys and agents, including a 12-month total of $394.7 million and a monthly average of $32 million. This data will also be broken down by calendar year, state, and congressional district to help Veterans make informed decisions about their claims.