VA Refines Rules for Alternate Document Signers
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The VA wants your thoughts on updating a form that lets someone else sign benefit papers for Veterans. This change helps the VA verify those alternate signers quickly and easily. If you have ideas or concerns, speak up by February 17, 2026—no money changes, just smoother paperwork for Veterans and their helpers!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Alternate Signer Verification Required
If someone else signs VA benefit forms for a Veteran or claimant, the VA will use VA Form 21-0972 to collect that alternate signer’s contact information so it can contact and verify the signer. The VA says without this information it would be unable to verify who is appointed to represent the claimant, the extent of that representation, or access to records. The form itself is not changing.
Estimated Paperwork Burden Increased
The VA estimates 22,278 respondents per year will complete VA Form 21-0972, with an average burden of 15 minutes per respondent and a total annual burden of 5,570 hours. VA states no changes have been made to the form, but the estimated respondent burden rose due to the number of receivables averaged over the past year.
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