Form VA Form 21-0845 VA Form 21-0845 Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Thir

INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE AUTHORIZATION TO
DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY
GENERAL INFORMATION
At VA, we recognize and respect the importance of privacy. Personal information that we collect is kept confidential to the
extent provided by law. In accordance with the Privacy Act and applicable confidentiality statutes, VA will only disclose the
information in its custody or control in the following circumstances: where the individual identifies the particular information
and consents to its use; where disclosure of the information is required by law; or where the disclosure is otherwise legally
permitted, including release for a purpose compatible with the purpose for which it was collected.
By law, VA must have your written permission (an "authorization") to use or give out your claim or benefit information for any
purpose that is not permitted by all applicable legal authorities. You may revoke your written permission at any time, except if
VA has already acted based on your permission.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

QUESTIONS
1-5

In this section, give us the veteran's identification information to include name, social security number,
VA file number, date of birth and the veteran's service number, if applicable.

6-9

In this section, provide the beneficiary/claimant's identification information, who is not the veteran.
In Item 10 VA will give your personal benefit or claim information to the person or organization you enter
in this box. You may select only one person or one organization. If you designate an organization,
you must also identify one or more individuals in that organization to whom VA may disclose your benefit
or claim information. This form cannot be used to disclose federal tax information to third parties.

10-13

IMPORTANT: The information provided in Item 6, "Name of Beneficiary/Claimant Who Is Not the Veteran,"
cannot be the same information provided in Item 10.
Item 13 tells VA the duration of your consent. If you do not want your authorization to be effective indefinitely,
tell us when to stop releasing your personal benefit or claim information to your authorized third party in
Item 13. Check the box that applies and fill in dates, if applicable.

14

Select the security question you would like us to ask your designated third party and provide the answer.
This question will be asked each time your designated third party contacts the VA.

WHERE DO I SEND MY COMPLETED WORK?
Send your signed authorization in by utilizing any of the following methods:
MAIL TO

FAX TO

ONLINE

Department of Veterans Affairs
Evidence Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444

844-531-7818 (Toll Free)
248-524-4260 (Foreign claims)

www.ebenefits.gov

NOTE: You should make a copy of your signed authorization for your records before mailing it to VA. You can only have one
VA Form 21-0845, Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party, on file with VA at a time.
WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND?
If you change your mind and do not want VA to give out your personal benefit or claim information, you may notify us in
writing, or by telephone at 1-800-827-1000 or electronically via the Internet at https://iris.custhelp.com/. Upon notification
from you VA will no longer give out benefit or claim information (except for the information VA has already given out based
on your permission).
VA FORM
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21-0845

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OMB Approved No. 2900-0736
Respondent Burden: 5 minutes
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX
(DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE)
(VA DATE STAMP)

AUTHORIZATION TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION
TO A THIRD PARTY
INSTRUCTIONS: Use this form if you want to give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) permission to release your personal
beneficiary or claim information to a third party. This form may not be executed by any beneficiary recognized as incompetent for
VA purposes, nor can VA accept this form from any beneficiary recognized as incompetent for VA purposes.

SECTION I - VETERAN'S IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
NOTE: You may either complete the form online or by hand. If completed by hand print the information requested in ink, neatly, and legibly to expedite processing the form.
1. VETERAN'S NAME (First, Middle Initial, Last)

3. VA FILE NUMBER (If known)

2. VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

4. VETERAN'S DATE OF BIRTH (MM/DD/YYYY)
Month

Day

Year

5. VETERAN'S SERVICE NUMBER (If applicable)

SECTION II - BENEFICIARY/CLAIMANT'S IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
6. NAME OF BENEFICIARY/CLAIMANT WHO IS NOT THE VETERAN (First, Middle Initial, Last)

7. ADDRESS OF BENEFICIARY/CLAIMANT (Number and Street or rural route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code
9. EMAIL ADDRESS (Optional)

8. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

SECTION III - CONTACT INFORMATION
10. VA IS AUTHORIZED TO DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION SPECIFIED BELOW TO ONE PERSON OR ONE ORGANIZATION LISTED BELOW.
PROVIDE THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM VA IN ITEMS 10A AND 10B OR PROVIDE
THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORGANIZATION YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION'S REPRESENTATIVE IN ITEMS 10C AND 10D.
B. ADDRESS OF PERSON

A. NAME OF PERSON

NOTE: An organization may have more than one representative. Include the first and last name of any additional representatives.
C. NAME OF ORGANIZATION (Include name of representative(s))

D. ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION

11. I, THE BENEFICIARY/CLAIMANT AUTHORIZE THE VA TO CONTACT THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION LISTED IN ITEM 10A OR 10C FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MY VA RECORD (Check only one box below to tell VA the specific benefit or claim information you
want disclosed)
LIMITED INFORMATION (Go to Item 12)

VA FORM
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21-0845

ANY INFORMATION (Go to Item 13)
SUPERSEDES VA FORM 21-0845, SEP 2016, WHICH
WILL NOT BE USED.

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VETERAN'S SSN
12. IF YOU SELECTED "LIMITED INFORMATION", CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Status of pending claim or appeal

Amount of money owed VA

Current benefit and rate

Request a benefit payment letter

Payment history

Change of address or direct deposit

Other (Specify below)

13. IF YOU SELECTED "ANY INFORMATION", THE TERMS OF SUCH RELEASE OF INFORMATION WILL BE:
From the date of signing below until

One time only

(Specify date - month, day, year)

Ongoing until written notice is given to VA to terminate
14. SPECIFY THE SECURITY QUESTION YOU WANT USED WHEN VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF YOUR DESIGNATED THIRD PARTY. CHECK ONLY ONE SECURITY
QUESTION BOX IN ITEM 14A AND PROVIDE THE ANSWER IN ITEM 14B.

A. SECURITY QUESTION

B. ANSWER

The city and state your mother was born in
The name of the high school you attended
Your first pet's name
Your favorite teacher's name
Your father's middle name

SECTION IV - DECLARATION OF INTENT
I CERTIFY THAT the statements on this form are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
15. VETERAN SIGNATURE (Do NOT print)

16. DATE SIGNED (MM,DD,YYYY)

PRIVACY ACT INFORMATION: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized
under the Privacy Act of 1974 or title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law enforcement, congressional
communications, epidemiological or research studies, the collection of money owed to the United States, litigation in which the United States is a
party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and delivery of VA benefits, verification of identity and status, and personnel
administration as identified in the VA system of records, 58VA21/22/28 Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment Records - VA, published in the Federal Register. Your obligation to respond is voluntary. VA uses your SSN to identify your claim
file. Providing your SSN will help ensure that your records are properly associated with your claim file. Giving us your SSN account information
is voluntary. Refusal to provide your SSN by itself will not result in the denial of benefits. The VA will not deny an individual benefits for refusing
to provide his or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: We need this information to release your private benefit and/or claim information to a designated third party(ies). The
execution of this form does not authorize the release of information other than that specifically described. The information requested on this form
will authorize release of the information you specify. Title 38, United States Code, allows us to ask for this information. We estimate that you will
need an average of 5 minutes to review the instructions, find the information, and complete this form. VA cannot conduct or sponsor a collection
of information unless a valid OMB control number is displayed. You are not required to respond to a collection of information if this number is not
displayed. Valid OMB control numbers can be located on the OMB Internet Page at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. If desired, you can
call 1-800-827-1000 to get information on where to send comments or suggestions about this form.

VA FORM 21-0845, XXX XXXX

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