VA Form 21-0538 – Mandatory Verification of Dependents

VAFORMS.NET – VA Form 21-0538 – Mandatory Verification of Dependents – If you are a Veteran receiving disability compensation from the VA, you may be entitled to additional benefits for your dependent children. These benefits can include monthly payments, health care, and education assistance. To receive these benefits, you must complete and submit VA Form 21-0538 – Mandatory Verification of Dependents. This form requires you to provide information about your dependents, including their name, date of birth, and relationship to you.

Download VA Form 21-0538 – Mandatory Verification of Dependents

What is a VA Form 21-0538?

A VA Form 21-0538, also known as a “Mandatory Verification of Dependents” form, is a document that is used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to verify the existence of dependents claimed by veterans. The form is used to determine if veterans are eligible for certain benefits, such as the VA’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program.

The form must be completed and submitted to the VA along with supporting documentation, such as birth certificates or marriage licenses, to verify the veteran’s dependency claim. Once the form and documentation have been reviewed and approved by the VA, the dependent’s information will be added to the veteran’s record.

Where Can I Find a VA Form 21-0538?

If you’re a Veteran receiving disability compensation, you may be eligible to receive additional benefits for your dependents. To apply for these benefits, you’ll need to fill out VA Form 21-0538.

This form can be found on the Veterans Affairs website. If you’re unable to find it, you can also request a copy from your local VA Regional Office.

Once you have the form, you’ll need to fill it out and submit it along with evidence of your dependency (such as marriage or birth certificates). Once your claim has been processed, you should start receiving benefits for your dependents within a few months.

VA Form 21-0538 – Mandatory Verification of Dependents

Often referred to as “Mandatory Verification of Dependents”, VA Form 21-0538 is a form issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the purpose of verifying dependents’ eligibility for Veterans’ benefits. As a part of the award adjustment process, VA may choose to adjust an award based on information received through the VA Benefits System (VBMS). In addition to determining if a dependent is eligible for a Veteran’s award, VA Form 21-0538 is used to determine whether a dependent is eligible for an increased compensation rate. If a dependent is eligible for an increased compensation amount, the surviving spouse must report the change on VA Form 21-0538. If a dependent is eligible for an increase in compensation, but the Veteran has not reported the change, the surviving spouse will be responsible for an overpayment if the overpayment occurs.

VA Form 21-0538 is part of the modern awards processing process. As a part of this process, VA forms are sent to surviving spouses, and dependents on an award, to verify their eligibility. VA Form 21-0538 is required in cases where the Veteran has not responded to an EP 138 or if a dependent has not provided all the information required by VA Form 21-0537, Marital Status Questionnaire. When a VA Form 21-0538 is sent, the RO must follow the steps listed in the table below.

VA Form 21-0538 must be added to the Modern Awards Processing – Development module in VBMS. The RO must follow the steps in the table below when receiving a VA Form 21-0538 from a surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse has not returned the questionnaire, the VA will send a DIC to the surviving spouse, and then process the DIC. If the surviving spouse has returned the questionnaire, the VA will proceed to Step 26. The surviving spouse may then contact VA to inquire about an overpayment.

If the surviving spouse does not contact VA, the VA will process the DIC and assign a suspense date of 30 days from the current date. If the surviving spouse fails to return the VA Form 21-0538 within the 65-day deadline, the VA will discontinue benefits for the surviving spouse. However, if the surviving spouse does not contact VA, a DIC will be sent to the Veteran. If the surviving spouse fails to contact VA within the 65-day deadline, the VA may adjust the award based on the surviving spouse’s information. If the surviving spouse has remarried, the surviving spouse should follow the steps below to verify his or her marital status.

VA Form 21-0538 is a useful tool, but it is not an absolute requirement. A beneficiary must also follow the steps listed in the table above to verify his or her dependent status. If the questionnaire is incomplete, the beneficiary may contact VA for additional information. In some cases, the VA may not require additional information on the VA Form 21-0686c. However, the questionnaire must be filled out and returned to the VA to be considered complete.

VA Form 21-0538 Example