VA Form 21-0845 — Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party

What is VA Form 21-0845?

By law, VA needs your written permission to give out your claim or benefit information for a purpose not otherwise permitted. VA Form 21-0845 is that permission: it lets VA release your personal benefit or claim information to one person or one organization you name, such as a family member who helps you with paperwork.

You choose how much VA may share: limited information (for example the status of a pending claim, payment history or a benefit payment letter) or any information, and for any information whether it's one time only, ongoing until you tell VA to stop, or until a date. You also pick a security question VA asks your third party each time they contact VA. The form says you can only have one VA Form 21-0845 on file at a time, and you can revoke it at any time except where VA has already acted on it.

FileIt pre-fills the veteran's name and date of birth from your vault's People record and prints your answers onto VA's own PDF (MAY 2026 edition), names with accents included. It saves the finished form in the person's vault folder. You sign it by hand or through FileIt's eSignature and send it to VA yourself.

Who needs to fill out VA Form 21-0845?

• Veterans who want a spouse, adult child, friend or caregiver to be able to ask VA about their claim or benefits.
• Surviving spouses and other beneficiaries who want someone to help them deal with VA.
• Anyone working with an organization (not acting as an accredited representative) that needs VA to share information with it.

When to use VA Form 21-0845

• When someone helping you calls VA and VA can't talk to them without your written permission.
• When you want a third party to be able to get a benefit payment letter, payment history or claim status for you.
• When you want to replace an existing authorization, since only one 21-0845 can be on file at a time.

What you need before you start

• The veteran's name, Social Security number, date of birth, and VA file and service numbers if known.
• If you're not the veteran, your own name, plus your address, phone and email.
• The name and address of the one person, or the organization's name, its representatives' names and its address.
• What VA may share and for how long, and the answer to the security question you choose.

What’s on VA Form 21-0845

The 2026 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 7 parts, and it is signed by Veteran or beneficiary/claimant:

1. Section I: Veteran's identification informationVeteran or beneficiary/claimant
2. Section II: Beneficiary/claimant who is NOT the veteranVeteran or beneficiary/claimant
3. Address and contact details (items 7-9)Veteran or beneficiary/claimant
4. Section III, item 10: who VA may disclose toVeteran or beneficiary/claimant
5. Items 11-13: what VA may disclose, and for how longVeteran or beneficiary/claimant
6. Item 14: security question for your third partyVeteran or beneficiary/claimant
7. Section IV: Declaration and signatureVeteran or beneficiary/claimant

How to fill out VA Form 21-0845, step by step

1 Section I: Veteran's identification

Items 1 to 5: the veteran's name, SSN, VA file number, date of birth and service number.

2 Section II: Beneficiary/claimant

Items 6 to 9, only if the person authorizing the release is not the veteran: their name, address, phone, email and whether they agree to electronic correspondence. The person in item 6 can't be the same as the third party in item 10.

3 Item 10: Who VA may tell

One person (10A name, 10B address) or one organization (10C name with its representatives, 10D address).

4 Items 11 to 13: What and how long

Limited information, then tick what in item 12; or any information, then choose one time only, ongoing until written notice, or until a date in item 13.

5 Item 14: Security question

Tick one question and give the answer. VA asks it each time your third party contacts VA.

6 Section IV: Signature

Sign item 15 (required) and date item 16.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Naming both a person and an organization: the form allows one person OR one organization.
• Naming an organization without the names of the representatives VA may talk to.
• Ticking 'Limited information' without ticking anything in item 12, or 'Any information' without choosing how long in item 13.
• Ticking more than one security question, or forgetting the answer.
• Using this form to appoint an accredited representative or to release tax information, which it can't do.
• Forgetting to keep a copy before mailing it, as the instructions recommend.

After you fill it out

Sign and date the form, by hand or with FileIt's eSignature.

Mail it to the Evidence Intake Center address in the instructions, or submit it through VA's online options.

Tell your third party the security question and answer. To revoke the permission later, the instructions say to notify VA in writing, by phone or through Ask VA.

VA Form 21-0845: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VBA): https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0845-ARE.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-0845/
• Edition shown on this page: VA Form 21-0845, MAY 2026 (OMB No. 2900-0736, expires 05/31/2029) (checked 2026-10-01).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (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 2026-10-01.

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