I frequently speak with MOAA members who write or call in with questions for a veteran or survivor friend with limited or no computer resources and/or skills. Many are intimidated by the volume of information available online, or afraid they are going to be scammed or hacked. Others tell me that the VA’s updated “veteran friendly” website is difficult to navigate for someone with limited online experience.
If you know a veteran/survivor under these circumstances, here are some simple steps you can take to assist them to get information or to attain their VA benefits.
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1. Find a Veteran Service Organization (VSO). MOAA always recommends the use of a VSO when dealing with the VA. VSOs provide free counseling and claim services to assist veterans and survivors with a VA disability compensation claim and/or appeal and survivor benefits. You can find the Directory of National Veterans and Military Service Organizations here.
Most states also participate in the County VSO program. County VSOs perform the same services as the national VSOs and will usually have insight into state veteran/survivor benefits, as well. To find a County VSO program go here or search “your state’s department of veteran services” online.
2. Help them submit an “Intent to File” (ITF). While waiting to get an appointment with a VSO, you can assist your friend by helping to fill out and submit VA Form 21-0966 “Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC” a copy of the ITF can be downloaded here.
Submission of an ITF obviously tells the VA that the veteran or survivor intends to file a claim. The date the VA receives the ITF becomes the claim date and the individual then has one year from that date to submit the specific claim. Once the claim is adjudicated by the VA, the award date goes back to the date the VA received the ITF giving the veteran/survivor the maximum amount of entitled benefit.
Mail or FAX the ITF to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
P.O. Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
FAX: 844-531-7818
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3. Use MOAA’s “Information and Advice” services. MOAA provides information and advice on the VA disability compensation claim and appeal processes to MOAA members and non-members alike. Questions can be posed via telephone at 800-234-MOAA (6622) or by emailing vso@moaa.org.
If your veteran/survivor friend does have access to a computer, they can access MOAA’s archived VSO webinars at www.moaa.org/vsowebinar. These one-hour YouTube videos cover a variety of topics concerning VA benefits.
4. Find the nearest “Area Agency on Aging.” Like the County VSO program, most states participate in the federally subsidized Area Agency on Aging program. This program provides support in many areas to our aging population; from in-home services to caregiver support, transportation and legal services. The nearest Area Agency on Aging can be found by searching your ZIP code here.
