VA starts phasing out paper benefit claims

If you've been getting ready to file a paper benefit claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs, a deadline is looming that will force you to make a change.

The VA has tried recently to go paperless, meaning that veterans open and fill out a claim online. It says that speeds things up. The effective date becomes the date the file is first opened electronically, with one year to finish the details.

If you've wanted to stay with the old-school method and submit your claims via paper (even a letter or back of an envelope would suffice), you've been able to do that, with the effective date when your file is deemed complete.

Starting March 24, though, the VA is limiting your options. You can file online, or you can complete one of two paper forms. Form 21-0966 will be required as your Intent to File. This is the first step while you gather the balance of your supporting information. Then use Form 21-526EZ for officially filing your claim.

That's it, period. If you don't follow the new rules, your claim will languish and you'll lose benefit time because nothing happens until you use the correct form, which is Form 21-0966. That one starts the clock running. And no, don't expect the VA to send you the right form, at least not quickly.

If don't own or use a computer, find someone who will help you file your claim electronically. Or talk to your VSO, who ideally will have a stack of Intent to File forms already printed out. You might even get your library to pull up the form and print out a few for you. Just put Form 21-0966 in Google.

(c) 2015 King Features Synd. Inc.