VA Form 21P-601

Application for Accrued Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary

Survivor / DICOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Survivor Benefits

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

As soon as possible after the veteran's death. File with or shortly after 21P-534EZ. There is a 1-year filing deadline from the date of death under 38 USC 5121.

The veteran had a pending VA claim, a pending appeal, or was owed retroactive benefits that were not paid before death. You want to claim those amounts on the veteran's behalf.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate

—Documentation of any pending VA claim or appeal at the time of death

—Rating decision or claim number for the pending action

—Your relationship to the veteran (must be spouse, child, or parent in priority order)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate

—Documentation of pending claim or basis for accrued amount

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Your name, SSN, relationship to veteran, addressPII

Your information as the person claiming the accrued benefits. Priority order: (1) Surviving spouse living with the veteran at death, (2) Surviving children, (3) Surviving parents. If no eligible survivor exists, the estate may claim, but contact a VSO.

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship)

Common mistakes

Not establishing your priority relationship - VA will ask for documentation of marriage, parentage, or other relationship.

Section II - Deceased Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 6-10Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date of deathPII

Identify the veteran. The VA File Number is essential - this is what allows VA to find the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(veteran's legal name, SSN, VA file number, date of death)

Common mistakes

Missing VA File Number - VA cannot locate the pending claim without it.

Section III - Basis for Accrued Claim

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 11-16What was owed to the veteran and why

Describe the basis for the accrued amount: Was there a pending claim for service connection? Was there a pending increase? Was there a denied claim on appeal? Was there a retroactive rating that was being processed? Was the veteran underpaid? Include the claim number if known and the status at the time of death.

Example

e.g., Veteran filed for PTSD increase to 70% in 01/2025. VA was still developing the claim when veteran died 03/15/2026. The increase was effective to 01/15/2025 per rating decision 04/30/2026 - 14 months of retroactive PTSD differential owed at death.

Common mistakes

Missing the 1-year deadline from the veteran's date of death - accrued benefits claims must be filed within 1 year.
Not knowing about 38 USC 5121A (substitution) - if there was a pending claim at death, you can substitute as claimant rather than claim accrued amounts; a VSO can advise which approach is better.

Authority

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 17-18Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date. Attach the death certificate and any documentation of the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not attaching documentation of the pending claim or basis - the claim cannot be evaluated without it.
Filing after the 1-year deadline - accrued benefits are permanently lost after 1 year from death.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.1000 - Rules for claiming benefits accrued and unpaid at the veteran's death.

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

38 USC 5121A - Survivor substitutes into pending claim at veteran's death.

VA Form 21P-601

Application for Accrued Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary

Survivor / DICOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Survivor Benefits

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

As soon as possible after the veteran's death. File with or shortly after 21P-534EZ. There is a 1-year filing deadline from the date of death under 38 USC 5121.

The veteran had a pending VA claim, a pending appeal, or was owed retroactive benefits that were not paid before death. You want to claim those amounts on the veteran's behalf.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate

—Documentation of any pending VA claim or appeal at the time of death

—Rating decision or claim number for the pending action

—Your relationship to the veteran (must be spouse, child, or parent in priority order)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate

—Documentation of pending claim or basis for accrued amount

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Your name, SSN, relationship to veteran, addressPII

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship)

Common mistakes

Not establishing your priority relationship - VA will ask for documentation of marriage, parentage, or other relationship.

Section II - Deceased Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 6-10Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date of deathPII

Identify the veteran. The VA File Number is essential - this is what allows VA to find the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(veteran's legal name, SSN, VA file number, date of death)

Common mistakes

Missing VA File Number - VA cannot locate the pending claim without it.

Section III - Basis for Accrued Claim

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 11-16What was owed to the veteran and why

Example

e.g., Veteran filed for PTSD increase to 70% in 01/2025. VA was still developing the claim when veteran died 03/15/2026. The increase was effective to 01/15/2025 per rating decision 04/30/2026 - 14 months of retroactive PTSD differential owed at death.

Common mistakes

Missing the 1-year deadline from the veteran's date of death - accrued benefits claims must be filed within 1 year.
Not knowing about 38 USC 5121A (substitution) - if there was a pending claim at death, you can substitute as claimant rather than claim accrued amounts; a VSO can advise which approach is better.

Authority

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 17-18Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date. Attach the death certificate and any documentation of the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not attaching documentation of the pending claim or basis - the claim cannot be evaluated without it.
Filing after the 1-year deadline - accrued benefits are permanently lost after 1 year from death.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.1000 - Rules for claiming benefits accrued and unpaid at the veteran's death.

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

38 USC 5121A - Survivor substitutes into pending claim at veteran's death.

VA Form 21P-601

Application for Accrued Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary

Survivor / DICOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Survivor Benefits

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

As soon as possible after the veteran's death. File with or shortly after 21P-534EZ. There is a 1-year filing deadline from the date of death under 38 USC 5121.

The veteran had a pending VA claim, a pending appeal, or was owed retroactive benefits that were not paid before death. You want to claim those amounts on the veteran's behalf.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate

—Documentation of any pending VA claim or appeal at the time of death

—Rating decision or claim number for the pending action

—Your relationship to the veteran (must be spouse, child, or parent in priority order)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate

—Documentation of pending claim or basis for accrued amount

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Your name, SSN, relationship to veteran, addressPII

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship)

Common mistakes

Not establishing your priority relationship - VA will ask for documentation of marriage, parentage, or other relationship.

Section II - Deceased Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 6-10Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date of deathPII

Identify the veteran. The VA File Number is essential - this is what allows VA to find the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(veteran's legal name, SSN, VA file number, date of death)

Common mistakes

Missing VA File Number - VA cannot locate the pending claim without it.

Section III - Basis for Accrued Claim

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 11-16What was owed to the veteran and why

Example

e.g., Veteran filed for PTSD increase to 70% in 01/2025. VA was still developing the claim when veteran died 03/15/2026. The increase was effective to 01/15/2025 per rating decision 04/30/2026 - 14 months of retroactive PTSD differential owed at death.

Common mistakes

Missing the 1-year deadline from the veteran's date of death - accrued benefits claims must be filed within 1 year.
Not knowing about 38 USC 5121A (substitution) - if there was a pending claim at death, you can substitute as claimant rather than claim accrued amounts; a VSO can advise which approach is better.

Authority

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 17-18Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date. Attach the death certificate and any documentation of the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not attaching documentation of the pending claim or basis - the claim cannot be evaluated without it.
Filing after the 1-year deadline - accrued benefits are permanently lost after 1 year from death.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.1000 - Rules for claiming benefits accrued and unpaid at the veteran's death.

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

38 USC 5121A - Survivor substitutes into pending claim at veteran's death.

VA Form 21P-601

Application for Accrued Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary

Survivor / DICOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Survivor Benefits

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

As soon as possible after the veteran's death. File with or shortly after 21P-534EZ. There is a 1-year filing deadline from the date of death under 38 USC 5121.

The veteran had a pending VA claim, a pending appeal, or was owed retroactive benefits that were not paid before death. You want to claim those amounts on the veteran's behalf.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate

—Documentation of any pending VA claim or appeal at the time of death

—Rating decision or claim number for the pending action

—Your relationship to the veteran (must be spouse, child, or parent in priority order)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate

—Documentation of pending claim or basis for accrued amount

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Your name, SSN, relationship to veteran, addressPII

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship)

Common mistakes

Not establishing your priority relationship - VA will ask for documentation of marriage, parentage, or other relationship.

Section II - Deceased Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 6-10Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date of deathPII

Identify the veteran. The VA File Number is essential - this is what allows VA to find the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(veteran's legal name, SSN, VA file number, date of death)

Common mistakes

Missing VA File Number - VA cannot locate the pending claim without it.

Section III - Basis for Accrued Claim

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 11-16What was owed to the veteran and why

Example

e.g., Veteran filed for PTSD increase to 70% in 01/2025. VA was still developing the claim when veteran died 03/15/2026. The increase was effective to 01/15/2025 per rating decision 04/30/2026 - 14 months of retroactive PTSD differential owed at death.

Common mistakes

Missing the 1-year deadline from the veteran's date of death - accrued benefits claims must be filed within 1 year.
Not knowing about 38 USC 5121A (substitution) - if there was a pending claim at death, you can substitute as claimant rather than claim accrued amounts; a VSO can advise which approach is better.

Authority

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 17-18Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date. Attach the death certificate and any documentation of the pending claim or accrued amount.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not attaching documentation of the pending claim or basis - the claim cannot be evaluated without it.
Filing after the 1-year deadline - accrued benefits are permanently lost after 1 year from death.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.1000 - Rules for claiming benefits accrued and unpaid at the veteran's death.

38 USC 5121 - Accrued benefits payable to specified survivors.

38 USC 5121A - Survivor substitutes into pending claim at veteran's death.