Veterans & National Security · Report · File No. 261029-125
Arizona veterans to get restitution checks this week from $1.2 million VetLink fund
Arizona's attorney general says veterans who paid VetLink Solutions for help with VA disability claims will start receiving checks this week. The money comes from a state settlement. It is not a VA benefit.
Every quote in this story (1) was matched word for word against its source. How we work
Hundreds of Arizona veterans are due to receive restitution checks this week from a $1.2 million fund. The fund comes from a settlement with a company accused of misleading veterans who wanted help with disability claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 1.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday that veterans with eligible claims involving VetLink Solutions will begin receiving checks this week. Her office said it expects to send out the money this week 1.
What the state alleges
The state says VetLink Solutions broke the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. It alleges the company falsely marketed its services and charged disabled veterans fees for help with VA disability claims 1. Some fees reached $12,000, according to the attorney general's office 1.
The state also alleges VetLink implied it could do work that only VA-accredited representatives may do. It says the company lacked that accreditation and was not a recognized Veterans Service Organization 1. The state says the company kept going after two cease-and-desist letters from the VA. It ceased operations in 2024 1.
These are allegations resolved by a consent judgment, which is a settlement approved by a court.
Veterans deserve trusted assistance—not deceptive sales tactics. My office will continue to hold accountable anyone who tries to take advantage of Arizona veterans.
Who qualifies and what the total is
To qualify, veterans had to pay the company consulting fees for help with a disability claim between January 2019 and March 13, 2024. They also had to submit a claim by the September 10, 2026, deadline 1. That deadline has passed, so veterans who missed it should not expect a check.
The full settlement totals $1.95 million. Of that, $1.2 million is for restitution, $700,000 is for civil penalties and $50,000 covers attorneys' fees and costs 12. The office has not said how much each veteran will get 1.
When the settlement was first announced on May 21, the attorney general's office said Arizona customers would be paid first. It also said the judgment permanently bars the company from misrepresenting any VA affiliation or authority to handle VA claims without accreditation 2.
What happens next
Veterans who submitted a claim should watch their mail. Anyone who believes they are eligible and filed a claim, but gets no check within 14 days, should contact the settlement administrator at 866-880-0070 or info@azagvetlinksettlement.com 1.
These checks are not extra VA disability benefits. They are repayments from a state settlement over fees veterans paid for help with their claims 1.
That matters because paid claim consultants can target veterans. Veterans can get help filing VA claims for free from accredited representatives, and the attorney general's office said the company charged for services VA-accredited representatives could not charge for 2. Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek the case highlights "the growing need for stronger consumer protections, greater awareness of free VA-accredited assistance, and accountability for businesses that profit from veterans navigating complicated benefit systems" 1.
The Record
- End of the period covered by the state's allegations against VetLink Solutions, which ceased operations in 2024 1.
- Attorney General Kris Mayes announces a $1.95 million settlement with VetLink Solutions and its principals 2.
- Deadline for eligible veterans to submit restitution claims 1.
- Mayes announces restitution checks will begin going out this week 1.
Sources
- Newsweek, “VA Benefits Update: Hundreds of Veterans Eligible for Payouts in Arizona” (2026-10-29). newsweek.com/va-benefits-update-hundreds-of-veterans-eligibl
- Arizona Attorney General's Office, “Attorney General Mayes announces nearly $2 million settlement to protect veterans” (2026-05-21). azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-announces-near
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
Desert Storm memorial opens on National Mall as fight over Gulf War vets' benefits lingers
Gulf War veterans dedicated their first national memorial in Washington on Oct. 24. Meanwhile, a Republican plan to pay for new veterans' benefits by cutting tinnitus and sleep apnea ratings has stalled in the House but has not gone away.
VA brings Oracle records system to Cleveland, Anchorage as deal swells to $27 billion
The VA planned to switch its Cleveland and Anchorage hospitals to Oracle's electronic health record system on Saturday, Oct. 24. The system was linked to harm to at least 149 patients in earlier rollouts, and Congress has subpoenaed Oracle's top executives over a contract that has nearly tripled in size.
Turning Point spends over $18 million for Biggs as Arizona governor race tightens
Charlie Kirk's group has poured money into Andy Biggs's bid to beat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Reports say recent polls put Hobbs's lead within the margin of error, five days before the election.
Delivered free to your door*
The Morning Edition
One short email at 7 a.m. Eastern: the day's top files, one clip worth your time, and the race to watch. Plain English, large type, no clutter.
*Your inbox. Free. Unsubscribe with one click, any time.