Paid DVA Advocate vs Free Advocate: Why Veterans Choose Private Advocacy

Looking for the best way to get your DVA claim moving? Many veterans are torn between using a free DVA advocate and hiring a private DVA advocate (a fee‑for‑service advocate or paid advocate) for their compensation claims. While free advocates provide valuable help, a private advocate like Tactical Advocacy Group (TAG) offers more efficient, one‑on‑one support with a no‑win, no‑fee service – often making it the preferred choice for veterans who want results faster without the long waits. In this post, we explore why it’s said that 1 in 5 veterans opt for private advocacy, and how going with a paid advocate can help ensure you receive the full compensation your injuries deserve.
For some veterans, payouts can be substantial, potentially up to about $580,000 depending on your case. It’s an important decision which advocate you partner with – consider starting with a free initial assessment.

Why Choose a Private DVA Advocate?

If you are weighing up a private DVA advocate versus a free advocate, you are not alone. Both free and private advocates share the same core goal – helping you manage your DVA claim and secure your entitlements – but the experience can be very different. The key differences come down to resourcing, access, and pace:

• Resourcing: Free advocates are often well‑trained volunteers (or paid staff within ex‑service organisations) juggling many cases, typically with only limited hours to spread across all their clients. In contrast, a private advocate works full‑time on your claim, giving it dedicated attention. This means no competing priorities – your case gets the focus it needs.
• Access: With volunteer services, high demand can lead to massive waitlists, brief appointments, or difficulty getting updates at all. A private advocate, however, is just a phone call, SMS, or email away at any time. You get direct, responsive communication whenever you need questions answered or support – or you can contact TAG here.
• Pace: Many free advocacy services face long backlogs; claims might stall or take longer due to limited manpower. A private advocate keeps your claim moving steadily forward, actively following up and preventing it from being “lodged and forgotten.”

Free advocates do important work and have helped many veterans. If the free route is working for you – great! However, if you find yourself stuck in limbo, facing long delays, or needing more hands‑on help, a private advocate can be a game‑changer to push things along.

Benefits of a Private Advocate for DVA Claims

Choosing a private DVA advocate means choosing personalised, start‑to‑finish support for your claim. Here’s what a private advocate like TAG will do for you:

• One‑on‑One Guidance from Day One: Your advocate stays with you from initial consultation and claim triage all the way to final determination, covering every component of your claim (from initial liability and condition acceptance, through permanent impairment (PI) assessments, incapacity payment claims, and even applications for household or attendant care services). Generally you’re not passed between people – you have a single dedicated expert who knows your case inside out. This continuity builds trust and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Start by booking a free case review.
• Expert Evidence Preparation: We prepare a full evidence package for your claim that DVA decision‑makers can work with immediately. This includes reviewing your service history, identifying all service‑related conditions, and gathering supporting evidence for each condition. All the forms, facts, and timelines are checked and perfected so that your application meets DVA’s requirements under the MRCA, DRCA, and VEA legislation. By submitting a complete and well‑supported claim, we reduce back‑and‑forth requests and speed up the process.
• Connections to Veteran‑Friendly Specialists: While we are not doctors or lawyers and cannot give medical, legal, or financial advice, we have a vast network of trusted professionals. A private advocate can quickly connect you with veteran‑savvy GPs, psychiatrists, and other specialists to get the medical reports or advice you need. We even help organise and prepare you for your medical appointments, ensuring the doctors understand your service context and document your injuries properly for DVA. If you need legal or financial guidance (for example, on superannuation or legal appeals), we’ll point you to the right people fast.
• Stress‑Free Process Management: Think of a private advocate as your project manager for the claim. We handle all the paperwork and communications with DVA on your behalf – filling out forms, writing cover letters, lodging applications, and making those tedious follow‑up calls to DVA so you don’t have to. We keep you informed at every stage, explaining what to expect next. You remain in control without having to master legislation or chase updates weekly. Focus on your health and family, and let TAG do the heavy lifting.
• Aligned Incentives & Outcome Focus: Perhaps one of the biggest advantages is that a private advocate’s success is tied to your success. Because most private advocacy providers (including us) operate on a no‑win, no‑fee basis, our incentive is perfectly aligned with yours – we only get paid when you get a positive outcome. This means we are highly motivated to ensure you get all your entitlements. We don’t just lodge your claim and hope for the best; we actively strategise on how to get you every piece of compensation your injuries are entitled to under the legislation. And if something comes back incorrect or undervalued, we’re ready to jump in and pursue reviews or appeals to set it right. If you’re ready to talk through options, reach out to TAG.

In short, a private advocate offers tailored, proactive support that is hard to match in the stretched volunteer system. It’s about having an expert in your corner who treats your claim with urgency and personal attention.

The Cost Factor: Is a Private Advocate Worth It?

One consideration when comparing free vs private advocacy is, of course, cost. Free advocates don’t charge for their help, whereas private advocacy does involve a fee. However, reputable private DVA advocates typically use outcome‑based, transparent fee models that make the cost reasonable and risk‑free:

• No Win, No Fee: You do not pay anything upfront, and if your claim doesn’t succeed, you pay nothing at all. This ensures that a private advocate will never waste your time – our business only succeeds if we get you results. Discuss your situation via the contact form.
• Percentage of Compensation: Instead of a flat fee, most private advocates charge a percentage of any compensation payout you receive from DVA. This percentage is discussed openly with you from the start, so there are no surprises. With an ethical firm, the percentage is fair and reflects the work put in.

To put it in perspective, some lawyers or less scrupulous “advocates” charge as much as 30% of your payout – which can seriously erode your compensation. By contrast, at TAG, our fee is a modest 6% of the lump sum compensation – sitting at the very low end of the industry. We believe veterans should keep the vast majority of their payout; our smaller share is just to cover our time and expertise in achieving that result. You keep 94% of what you’re awarded, and if for some reason we can’t win your case, you owe us nothing.

When you weigh a small success fee against the possibility of long waits, stalled files, or missing out on benefits you didn’t realise you could claim, many veterans find the trade‑off absolutely worth it. In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 1 in 5 veterans (20%) choose to use private advocates for their DVA claims. Why? Because they know having professional, dedicated support can mean the difference between a drawn‑out, frustrating process and a smooth claim that delivers the full compensation they deserve. For most, that peace of mind and faster progress makes the decision much easier.

Free Advocates vs Private Advocates: A Fair Comparison

It’s important to stress that private advocates do not replace the free advocacy options – both models have their place, and both can be valuable. Free volunteer advocates (often through RSL or other ex‑service organisations) remain a vital part of the veterans’ support network and deserve respect for the work they do. They suit some veterans and certain straightforward claims, especially if you’re not in a rush.

However, the reality is that the free system is under strain. Demand is high and many free advocates are carrying heavy caseloads. Unfortunately, sector reviews have noted an ageing cohort of advocates, with many retiring and fewer new ones to replace them. Some of these volunteers may only be available a day or two each week, which leads to capacity issues. This can translate to long wait times, delayed communications, or files that don’t get the consistent follow‑up they might need.

On the other hand, a private advocate makes supporting your claim their professional job. They are available whenever you have questions, and they drive your claim forward without you having to constantly check in. If you want assured availability, faster responses, and steady follow‑through on your case, going with a private advocate is often the better alternative – especially for complex or higher‑stakes claims.

Ultimately, you have the right to choose the support that fits your situation best. There’s no one‑size‑fits‑all answer. Some veterans start with free services and later switch to private advocacy if things aren’t progressing. Others begin with a private advocate from the outset to ensure things are done right from day one. It’s your choice.

If you’re unsure what to do, remember that exploring a private advocate doesn’t cost you anything initially. For example, TAG offers a free initial assessment of your injuries and existing claims. This no‑obligation review will give you a clear understanding of what you might be entitled to and a plan for how we can help you achieve it. Armed with that information, you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed with a private DVA advocate or not.

Australia‑Wide Support for All Veterans

One concern veterans sometimes have is location – but with TAG, no location is too remote. We proudly support veterans Australia‑wide across every state and territory: QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT. Whether you’re in a major city like Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, or Darwin, or in a regional/rural area, our team is equipped to assist you. We use phone, email, and online tools to work with you no matter where you are, ensuring distance is never a barrier to getting the help you need with your DVA claim.

FAQ

Q: Do paid DVA advocates replace free advocates?
A: No – both free and paid advocacy models have value. A paid (private) advocate doesn’t replace the free volunteer system, and vice versa. It’s about using the option that gives you the timely, consistent, and personalised support you need for the best possible outcome. If you’re getting great results with a free advocate, that’s fantastic. If not, a private advocate can step in to provide more intensive support. It’s not an either/or judgement of value – it’s about what works for your situation.

Q: What does a fee‑for‑service DVA advocate cost?
A: Most operate on an outcome‑based no‑win, no‑fee basis. That means there’s no upfront cost and you only pay a fee if your claim succeeds. The fee is usually a transparent percentage of any lump sum compensation you receive (discussed with you beforehand). For example, at TAG our fee is 6% of the payout – well below some others who might charge 20% or more. We make sure everything is clear up front, so you can weigh the cost against the value you’ll be getting in return (expert guidance, faster results, and maximising your entitlements). If you want to talk numbers, send us a message.

Q: Can a DVA advocate advise me on medical or legal matters?
A: Not directly on specialised medical or legal issues – a DVA advocate is not a doctor, financial adviser, or lawyer. We won’t diagnose conditions or give legal counsel. However, a good advocate will connect you to the right medical, legal, or financial professionals as needed. Meanwhile, we handle the entire claims process for you: we gather and package all the evidence, fill out all required paperwork, and handle all communications with DVA on your behalf. You can rest easy and focus on your well‑being while we coordinate the moving parts of your claim – start by booking your free assessment.

Takeaway

Choosing between a free advocate and a private DVA advocate comes down to what you need for your DVA claim to succeed. If you want assured availability, expert guidance, and steady progress, a private DVA advocate is often the smart choice. The small contingency fee can be well worth the faster results and maximised compensation. Free advocates remain an important resource and work well for some veterans, but you always have the freedom to choose the advocate who will keep your claim moving, educate you on what to expect, and stay accessible when you need them. Ultimately, the right advocate is the one who puts your needs first and fights to get you the outcome your service‑related injuries deserve. If you’re ready to talk, get in touch with TAG.