tdiu Va Announcement/form 21-4140

[deanbrt]

Does the following announcement mean that for TDIU we no longer have to fill out the above form that we have not worked in the past year?

Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

VA, SSA and IRS Cut Red Tape for Veterans and Survivors December 20, 2012

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New Policy Eliminates Paperwork, Allows More VA Staff to Focus on Eliminating Claims Backlog

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it is cutting red tape for Veterans by eliminating the need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR). VA will implement a new process for confirming eligibility for benefits, and staff that had been responsible for processing the old form will instead focus on eliminating the compensation claims backlog.

Historically, beneficiaries have been required to complete an EVR each year to ensure their pension benefits continued. Under the new initiative, VA will work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify continued eligibility for pension benefits.

“By working together, we have cut red tape for Veterans and will help ensure these brave men and women get the benefits they have earned and deserve,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

VA estimates it would have sent nearly 150,000 EVRs to beneficiaries in January 2013. Eliminating these annual reports reduces the burden on Veterans, their families, and survivors because they will not have to return these routine reports to VA each year in order to avoid suspension of benefits. It also allows VA to redirect more than 100 employees that usually process EVRs to work on eliminating the claims backlog.

"Having already instituted an expedited process that enables wounded warriors to quickly access Social Security disability benefits, we are proud to work with our federal partners on an automated process that will make it much easier for qualified Veterans to maintain their VA benefits from year to year," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.

"The IRS is taking new steps to provide critical data to help speed the benefits process for the nation's Veterans and Veterans Affairs," said Beth Tucker, IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support. "The IRS is pleased to be part of a partnership with VA and SSA that will provide needed data quickly and effectively to move this effort forward."

All beneficiaries currently receiving VA pension benefits will receive a letter from VA explaining these changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their unreimbursed medical expenses.

More information about VA pension benefits is available at http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension and other VA benefit programs on the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov.

[Teac]

Nothing like the va to do something sensible... then pat themselves on the back...... all in the name of doing what they should be doing to begin with....

[hedgey]

I could be wrong, deanbrt, but I think this EVR is for benefits that are tied to your financial status, not TDIU. I have to do the TDIU form this or next month, so I have it sitting in front of me. It's titled EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONNAIRE. Until the VA tells me differently, I'm going to keep sending it in every year.

I haven't received anything from the VA about needing to do one, but January is the anniversary month of my TDIU, so I send it in on my own. Better safe than cut off. I worry especially because my spouse has CHAMPVA based on my TDIU, and losing it would be a disaster.

[deanbrt]

"I worry especially because my spouse has CHAMPVA based on my TDIU, and losing it would be a disaster."

Same for me.

"I worry especially because my spouse has CHAMPVA based on my TDIU, and losing it would be a disaster."

Same for me.

[tmoe]

deanbrt, I think this is for those receiving pension and not compensation benefits.