VA Form 21P-601 — Application for Accrued Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary

What is VA Form 21P-601?

VA Form 21P-601 applies for accrued benefits: benefits that were due a VA beneficiary at the time of death but not paid before death. VA's form page says to use it, in some cases, to apply for unpaid benefits VA owed to a beneficiary when they died. The instructions explain that accrued benefits follow a line of succession set by law (for a deceased Veteran: the surviving spouse, then the children in equal shares, then dependent parents) and, if no one qualifies by relationship, may reimburse whoever paid for the last illness and burial.

The form asks for the Veteran's and the deceased beneficiary's details and the date of death; your name, Social Security number, address and relationship; the beneficiary's surviving relatives; and whether you waive substitution. If you are claiming reimbursement for last illness or burial, Section III lists those expenses and other debts and Section IV is signed by every unpaid creditor.

FileIt pre-fills your name, date of birth and email from your vault record, prints each answer in the form's boxes on VA's own PDF (SEP 2025 edition), and shows the expense and creditor sections only when you need them. Every signature on this form is to be signed in ink, so FileIt leaves them for a pen. FileIt never submits anything to VA.

Who needs to fill out VA Form 21P-601?

• A surviving spouse, child or dependent parent owed a share of benefits a beneficiary hadn't been paid at death.
• A person who paid, or is responsible for paying, a deceased beneficiary's last illness or burial expenses, when no one is entitled by relationship.
• The executor or administrator of the estate, when the expenses were paid from the estate's funds.

When to use VA Form 21P-601

• After a VA beneficiary dies with benefits due but not paid.
• Not if you already applied for survivor benefits on VA Form 21P-534EZ or 21P-535, which the instructions say also cover accrued benefits.

What you need before you start

• The Veteran's name, SSN and VA file number, and the deceased beneficiary's name and date of death.
• Your SSN, date of birth, address, phone and relationship to the beneficiary.
• The names, relationships, dates of birth and addresses of the beneficiary's surviving spouse, children and parents.
• A copy of the death certificate, unless the beneficiary died in a VA medical facility.
• For reimbursement: the bills and statements of account for the last illness and burial, and the unpaid creditors' signatures.
• If the estate is being administered: a certified copy of the letters of administration or letters testamentary.

What’s on VA Form 21P-601

The 2025 edition has 5 pages. FileIt asks for it in 6 parts:

1. Section I: Claimant and deceased beneficiary informationClaimant
2. Section II: Deceased beneficiary's surviving relativesClaimant
3. Section III: Debts, expenses and burial of the deceased beneficiaryClaimant
4. Section IV: Waiver of reimbursement from all unpaid creditorsClaimant
5. Section V: SignatureClaimant
6. Section VI: RemarksClaimant

How to fill out VA Form 21P-601, step by step

1 Section I: Claimant and deceased beneficiary

Items 1 to 12: the Veteran, the deceased beneficiary (if not the Veteran) and the date of death, then your name, SSN, date of birth, address, phone, email and relationship.

2 Section II: Surviving relatives

Item 13: check spouse, child or children, parent, or none. Item 14 lists each relative. Item 14E asks whether you waive substitution, which the instructions explain in Paragraph C.

3 Section III: Debts, expenses and burial

Only if claiming reimbursement of last illness or burial expenses: each expense with its amount and whether it was paid, any reimbursement you received, other debts, and whether the estate is being administered.

4 Section IV: Unpaid creditors

Every creditor for an unpaid expense certifies it and waives their right to the accrued benefit, signing in ink.

5 Sections V and VI: Signature and remarks

Sign item 23A in ink and date it. If you sign with an "X", two witnesses sign and print their names and addresses. Use Remarks for anything that doesn't fit.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Filing one form for several people: each person claiming a share needs their own.
• Missing the one-year time limit.
• Listing an unpaid expense without the creditor's signed waiver in Section IV.
• Leaving out the death certificate or the itemized bills.
• Signing electronically: every signature line on this form says to sign in ink.

After you fill it out

Print the PDF, sign item 23A in ink and date it; have any unpaid creditors sign Section IV.

Attach the death certificate, bills and any letters of administration.

Mail it to the Pension Intake Center or take it to a VA regional office, as the instructions say, and keep a photocopy of everything you send.

VA Form 21P-601: frequently asked questions

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-21P-601-ARE.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21p-601/
• Edition shown on this page: VA Form 21P-601, SEP 2025 (OMB No. 2900-0216, expires 09/30/2028) (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.

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