VA Form 21-0788: Apportionment of VA Award, Fill Online

What is VA Form 21-0788?

VA Form 21-0788 is how you ask the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to apportion an award, that is, to pay part of a veteran's disability compensation, or of a surviving spouse's award, directly to someone else. The form says that in certain limited circumstances a veteran's award may be apportioned to the veteran's spouse, child or dependent parent, and a surviving spouse's award may be apportioned for the veteran's children.

It is completed by the spouse, child or dependent parent requesting the apportionment, or by a person acting on behalf of a minor child. You give the veteran's details, your own, the people the apportionment is for, and the reason, such as the veteran's or beneficiary's incarceration for more than 60 days after a conviction, the veteran's incompetency while receiving care, the beneficiary living under enemy control, or the veteran's disappearance.

FileIt asks the form's questions in plain English and prints your answers on VA's own PDF, with accented names printed correctly and longer answers wrapped to fit. The finished form is saved to your vault, where you can send it for e-signature or print and sign it.

Who fills it: The spouse, child or dependent parent asking for the apportionment, or the person acting for a minor child.
Given to: VA by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or electronically. The form lists the Evidence Intake Center (compensation) and the Pension Intake Center (pension and survivors).
Signature: The claimant signs item 15A.
Edition: FEB 2026 (OMB No. 2900-0666, expires 02/28/2029)
Agency: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration

Who needs to fill out VA Form 21-0788?

A veteran's current spouse who wants part of the veteran's award paid to them.
A veteran's child aged 18 to 23 in school, or a child over 18 permanently incapable of self-support.
A custodian filing for a veteran's child under 18.
A veteran's dependent parent.
Anyone in one of these roles when the beneficiary is incarcerated, incompetent and in care without a fiduciary, living under enemy control, or has disappeared.

When to use VA Form 21-0788

When you are asking VA to apportion a veteran's or surviving spouse's award to you or to the children you act for.
When VA asks you for information about an apportionment claim.

What you need before you start

The veteran's name, Social Security number, VA file number (if known) and date of birth.
Your name, relationship to the veteran, address, phone and email.
For each person the apportionment is for: name, Social Security number, relationship to the veteran, and whether they already receive an apportionment.
Whether any stepchild still lives in the veteran's household (and if not, when they left), and whether any child has been adopted by another person.
The reason for the claim and, if the beneficiary is incarcerated or receiving care, the facility's name and address.

What’s on VA Form 21-0788

The 2026 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 6 parts, and it is signed by Claimant:

Section I: Veteran's identification informationClaimant
Section II: Information on claimant or individual acting on behalf of a minor childClaimant
Section III: Apportionment information - 10. Person(s) you are requesting an apportionment forClaimant
Section III (continued): 13A. Reason for the apportionment claimClaimant
Section IV: RemarksClaimant
Section V: Certification and signatureClaimant

How to fill out VA Form 21-0788, step by step

1 Section I: Veteran's identification

The veteran's name, Social Security number, VA file number and date of birth.

2 Section II: Claimant

Your name, relationship to the veteran, address, phone and email. If you are certifying that you are married for VA purposes, the form says your marriage must be recognized by the place where you or your spouse lived at the time of marriage, or when you filed your claim.

3 Section III: Apportionment information

Complete only the parts that apply to you: up to four people the apportionment is for, the stepchild and adoption questions, and the reason in 13A. For an incarceration, say whether the conviction was for a felony or a misdemeanor, and give the facility in 13B.

4 Sections IV and V: Remarks and signature

Add any remarks, then sign 15A and date 15B, certifying the statement is true and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief.

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving out the reason for the claim in 13A.
Not giving the facility in 13B when the beneficiary is incarcerated or receiving care.
Forgetting the stepchild or adoption questions when the claim is for children.
Sending it to the wrong intake center: the form lists one for compensation and one for pension and survivors benefits.

After you fill it out

Sign it (FileIt can send it for e-signature) and submit it. The form says VA recommends submitting electronically, through VA.gov's upload or AccessVA, or you can mail it: compensation claims to the Evidence Intake Center, P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444, and pension and survivors benefit claims to the Pension Intake Center, P.O. Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365. FileIt does not submit it for you.

Keep FileIt's copy in your vault with any VA letters about the claim.

Fill out VA Form 21-0788 online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 41 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start VA Form 21-0788 now — it’s free

VA Form 21-0788: frequently asked questions

Can I fill out VA Form 21-0788 online with FileIt?

Yes. FileIt asks the form's questions and prints your answers on VA's official PDF. You can then send it for e-signature from your vault, or print and sign it.

What is an apportionment?

Paying part of a veteran's or surviving spouse's VA award directly to the veteran's spouse, child or dependent parent. The form says this is possible in certain limited circumstances.

Who signs VA Form 21-0788?

The claimant: the spouse, child or dependent parent requesting the apportionment, or the person acting on behalf of a minor child, in item 15A.

How do I submit the form?

By mail, in person at a VA regional office, or electronically; the form says VA recommends electronic submission as the fastest. The mailing addresses are on page 2 of the form.

Is there a deadline or fee?

The form and the VA.gov page give no fee or deadline. If VA sent you a letter about the claim, follow the dates in that letter.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0788-ARE.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-0788/
Edition shown on this page: VA Form 21-0788, FEB 2026 (OMB No. 2900-0666, expires 02/28/2029) (checked 2026-10-25).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.