VA Form for Vets' Benefits Gets Public Feedback Call
Published Date: 2/26/2026
Notice
Summary
The VA is asking for public feedback on a form veterans use to say they plan to file for benefits like compensation or pension. This form helps set the start date for benefits, but no changes have been made to it—just more people are expected to use it. If you’re a veteran or survivor thinking about benefits, now’s the time to weigh in before March 30, 2026!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Protects your benefits' effective date
You can file VA Form 21-0966 to establish an effective date for an award if you submit a complete claim within one year of filing the form. That means filing the intent form can preserve the start date for compensation, pension, or survivors pension/DIC when you follow up with a full claim within one year.
Large expected filing volume and time burden
The VA estimates 701,272 people will file this form per year and that each response takes about 5 minutes, totaling an estimated 58,439 annual hours of respondent burden. If you file, plan to spend about five minutes completing the form.
VA will mail receipt and application materials
When you submit VA Form 21-0966, the VA will respond by mailing you a letter of receipt and the appropriate VA form or application for benefits. That step starts VA’s administrative process for your claim.
Form content unchanged despite higher filings
The notice states that no changes have been made to VA Form 21-0966 itself, even though the estimated respondent burden increased due to more filings. That means you will use the same form as before.
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