WASHINGTON, May 29, 2024 - Last year, more Veterans submitted their “intent to file” (ITF) for benefits claims than ever before. These ITFs are disability compensation claims that Veterans started, but didn’t finish, and they’re an important tool because they help Veterans preserve their earliest possible effective date for their benefits claim, which makes them potentially eligible for backdated benefits.
If you submitted an ITF last year, you must act fast. You only have 365 days from when you submitted your ITF to complete it. Here’s everything you need to know about ITFs and submitting your full claim:
How long do I have to finish my intent to file?
You must finish your intent to file—and submit your complete claim—within 365 days of submitting to preserve the earliest possible effective date for your benefits.
What does this mean under the PACT Act?
If we grant your benefits under the PACT Act and you submitted your intent to file on or before Aug. 14, 2023, you may be eligible for retroactive benefits dating back to Aug. 10, 2022—the date PACT Act was signed into law.
What does this mean for non-PACT claims?
If we grant your benefits, we’ll provide benefits that likely will date back to at least the date when you began your intent to file. We call this retroactive benefits (or backdated benefits). And this could be thousands of dollars.
How do I check the status of my ITF?
The quickest and easiest way to check the status of your PACT Act claim is to sign into your va.gov account with your existing Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon or My HealtheVet account. If you don’t have any of these accounts, you can create a free Login.gov or ID.me account. Once you are signed into your account, simply follow these three steps to check the status of your PACT Act claim.
- Go to your “My VA” dashboard. You will find the link for this dashboard in the top right corner of the page once you’re signed in.
- Scroll down to the “Track Claims” section. There, you will see a summary of the latest status information for any open claims or appeals you may have, to include open ITFs.
- Click on the “View Status” button for a specific claim. You’ll go to a page with more details about that claim’s status and supporting evidence. Evidence may include documents like doctor’s reports or medical test results.
Is it too late to file a claim if I haven’t already?
It’s never too late to file a claim or ITF for the benefits you deserve. You can file one by logging into, or creating, a VA.gov account and submitting online. You can also submit to a VA regional office near you, or work with a trained professional, like a VA accredited representative or VSO, to get help filing a claim for disability compensation. Other options include calling 1-800-827-1000 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST or by fax using 844-531-7818.
Will I be charged for submitting a claim or intent to file?
No. Remember, VA will never charge you for assistance filing for benefits. They are your benefits, and you earned them. To protect yourself from predatory claims agents, you have the right to verify anyone’s credentials before filing a claim or providing personal information.
If I miss the one-year deadline, what happens?
You can still finish your claim anytime, and we encourage you to do so. The only thing that may change is the effective date of your benefits.
For more information about ITFs, visit https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/.