VA Form 21-534 Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (Including Death Compensation if Applicable)

How to Fill Out VA Form 21-534?

1. Enter your name and Social Security Number (SSN), the name and SSN of the veteran, your contact information, and the veteran's VA file number in items 1 through 6E.
2. Provide identification and service information in Part I. Enter complete data about each period of the veteran's active service. If the veteran had never claimed any benefits from the VA, attach the corresponding discharge or separation documents.
3. Indicate the specific details related to all marriages of the veteran and the surviving spouse in Part II.
4. Provide information concerning all children of the veteran Part III.
5. Enter your net worth in Part IV.
6. Provide information about the income of the surviving spouse, children, and custodian of the children in Part V. Indicate all types of payments and incomes before any deductions or withholdings. Comment on the income reported in Items 27F and 28D in Item 37 ("Remarks").
7. Provide all deductible expenses in Part VI.
8. Enter your direct deposit data Part VIII.

VA Form 21-534 Instructions

The instructions for the VA 21-534 were provided with the form. You had to read them carefully, detach them, and keep them for references. The general instructions were as follows:

1. You were required to submit the claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation within one year. Otherwise, the benefits were payable from the date the claim was received in the VA.
2. You had to file the pension claim within 45 days from the date of the veteran's death. If no, the payments were assigned since the date the form was received by the VA.
3. The pension rate depended on the family income amount and the number of dependent children. To receive the information about VA Form 21-534 income limits and benefit rates, you needed to call the local VA office at +1 (800) 827-1000.
4. An attorney, an accredited representative of a veterans organization, or a representative of another service organization recognized by the Secretary of Veteran affairs could assist you with the claim.
5. If you were a minor or incompetent person, a legal guardian or any other individual acting on your behalf could help filling out VA Form 21-534.
6. If you were submitting the VA aid and attendance form as a surviving spouse claiming the applicable benefits, you needed to provide a medical statement. If you were a nursing home patient, the statement signed by the nursing home official had to be attached.
7. Every applicant had the right to personal hearings at any stage of claim processing or after the decision was made. For this purpose, you needed to inform the nearest VA office about the wish, and the authorized representative arranged the time and place. You could bring witnesses and their testimonies were added to the records.
8. You had to provide the evidence requested in the form. If you could not attach the evidence, you had to enter the reason on a separate sheet and attach this sheet to the document.

When submitting VA 21-534, you could also request Social Security benefits. The corresponding Form SSA-24, Application for Survivors Benefits, was attached to the form.

Where to Mail VA Form 21-534?

You had to mail or take VA 21-534 to your regional VA office. You could find its address in the blue pages of the telephone book under "United States Government, Veterans Affairs" or by calling the VA toll-free number, +1 (800) 827-1000. It was required to make a photocopy of the completed form for future references before submitting it to the VA office.