New “Intent to File” Process Established

A new “Intent to File” process has been established for Veterans and Survivors who intend to file a claim for VA compensation, pension, or survivors’ benefits, but need additional time to gather all of the information and evidence required to support their claim.

WHAT IS THE INTENT TO FILE PROCESS

The intent to file process allows you additional time to collect all of the information needed to support your claim while protecting the earliest possible effective date for any award of benefits or increased benefits resulting from your claim. The date the VA receives your intent to file will be protected as your effective as long as the correct application form is completed and submitted within one year

WHAT DOES AN INTENT TO FILE A CLAIM CONTAIN?

Your intent to file must contain:

1. Sufficient personal information to identify the Veteran and claimant (if not the veteran)
2. An election of the general benefit(s) you are seeking (i.e., compensation, pension, or survivors benefits)
3. You or your representatives’ signature.

HOW DO VETERANS OR SURVIVORS NOTIFY VA OF THEIR INTENT OT FILE?

There are three ways you can notify VA of your intent to file a claim:

1. ELECTRONICALLY— via benefits or with the support of a Veterans Service Officer through the Stakeholder Enterprise portal (SEP)
2. COMPLETING AND MAILING PROPER FORM— VA Form 21-0966, Intent to file a claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC.
3. OVER THE PHONE, OR IN PERSON—Claimants can call the VA National Call Center (800-827-1000) or tell a public contact representative in person at one of the VA’s regional offices.

INTENT TO FILE PRESERVES THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A POTENTIAL CLAIM.
Once the VA is notified of your intent to file, you will have up to one year from the date the VA receives your intent to file to submit a formal claim for benefits with supporting information.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• VA will only recognize one intent to file at any given time
• Your completed claim must be received within 1 year of the date VA receives your intent to file for same general benefit in order for VA to consider your intent to filer when assigning an effective date.
• Once you have submitted a completed claim, your intent to file for that general benefit will no longer be active, if you intend to file another claim, but need time to complete, you must submit a new “Intent to File”.

Please contact your County Veterans Service Office for additional information 856-339-8603

This information taken from VA bulletins.