Health Eligibility Center
(HEC) Income Verification (IV) Forms
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
06/23/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2025
117,109
122,789
48,338
49,758
0
0
VHA Directive 1909 provides policy for
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Eligibility Center
(HEC) Income Verification (IV) Program under authority of 38 United
States Code (U.S.C.) 1722; 38 U.S.C. 5317. Title 38 U.S.C. 1722
established eligibility assessment procedures, based on income
levels, for determining whether nonservice-connected (NSC) Veterans
and non-compensable zero percent service-connected (SC) Veterans,
who have no other special eligibility are eligible to receive
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care at no cost. Title
26 U.S.C. 6103 (l)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, and 38 U.S.C.
5317 establish authority for VA to verify Veterans’ gross household
income information against records maintained by the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) when
that information indicates the Veteran is eligible for cost-free VA
health care. In accordance with VHA Directive 1909, it is VA policy
that the Health Eligibility Center (HEC) is responsible for the
Income Verification Program, i.e., verifying NSC and
non-compensable zero percent SC Veterans’ gross household income
through computer matching activity with IRS and SSA. The social
security numbers (SSNs) of all Veterans and their spouses
identified in the financial assessment will be verified under the
Social Security Number Verification Information Exchange Agreement
(IEA), between the SSA and VHA HEC, prior to income matching
activity with IRS. If IRS and SSA income matching identifies
discrepancies in the Veteran’s self-reported gross household income
information that potentially impacts eligibility for VA health care
benefits, HEC must independently verify the IRS and SSA income
data. If the Veteran’s eligibility for VA health care benefits is
changed as a result of the income verification process, HEC will
transmit the updated eligibility information to those facilities
that provided health services to the Veteran during the applicable
income-reporting period. HEC’s Income Verification Division (IVD)
sends Veterans and spouses individual letters and forms to confirm
income information reported by IRS and SSA. HEC does not change the
Veteran’s copay status until information supplied by IRS and SSA
has been independently verified, either by the Veteran or through
appropriate due process procedures. This collection has been
revised by removing VA Form 10-302A because all relevant
information can be reported on VA Form 10-302. There is a reduction
in the burden hours due to the removal of VA Form 10-302A from the
collection.
US Code:
38
USC 5317 Name of Law: Use of income information from other
agencies
US Code: 26
USC 6103 Name of Law: Confidentiality and disclosure of returns
and return information
US Code: 38
USC 1722 Name of Law: Determination of Income Thresholds
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.