Va Fl 09-28

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NOTE:

VA_Fast_Letter_09-28.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington, D.C. 20420

June 18, 2009

Director (00/21)

All VA Regional Offices and Centers

In Reply Refer to: 212A

Fast Letter 09-28

SUBJ: Benefit Summary and Tax Abatement Letters

Purpose

The purpose of this letter is to inform regional offices (ROs) of the new process for providing benefit summary letters for veterans and survivors. These letters inform beneficiaries of their current benefit status and provide one document that can be used for multiple purposes. The beneficiary can use this letter for state tax and vehicle tax relief, as a statement of benefits to provide to lenders, in establishing civil service preference, or for any other program or entitlement requiring VA benefit verification.

Background

In the past, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provided VA Form 20-5455,Statement from Benefit Payment Records, to veterans who requested a summary of VA benefits for use in obtaining state veterans benefits. VA Forms 20-5455 were released regionally through BDN, and the content was based on the unique state tax laws in place at the time of the request.

As VBA converts to the Veterans Service Network (VETSNET), a solution for providing the letters is needed. However, an evaluation revealed that VBA does not have complete and/or current tax requirements from all 50 states.