--- title: "Part IX, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section B Income and Net Worth Development Forms and Acceptable Statements" document: "M-21-1" section: "Part IX, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section B" canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/ix.i.3.b-income-and-net-worth-development-forms-and-acceptable" source: "https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000178517/M21-1-Part-IX-Subpart-i-Chapter-3-Section-B-Income-and-Net-Worth-Development-Forms-and-Acceptable-Statements" updated: "2026-09-07T14:37:42.935028Z" --- September 10, 2025 ### IX.i.3.B.1.a. Application Forms for Pension and Parents' DIC The table below shows the application forms that should be used to file an original claim for * pension, and * Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). | ** If the claimant is filing the original claim for ...**| **Then the claimant should submit ...** Veterans Pension| _[VA Form 21P-527EZ, Application for Veterans Pension]()_. Survivors Pension| [ _VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits_]() Parents’ DIC| [ _VA Form 21P-535, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (Including Accrued Benefits and Death Compensation When Applicable)_](). **Note:** Starting with the July 2022 version of the _[VA Form 21P-534EZ]()_, there are no longer sections designated for Parents' DIC. **Reference:** For more information on prescribed claim forms, see [M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 1.A.1.a](). ### IX.i.3.B.1.b. Obtaining Supplemental Income and Net Worth Information The applications described in M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 3.B.1.a request income and, if applicable, net worth information. However, it is often necessary to * clarify or supplement income and net worth information furnished on the application, or * request income or net worth information in connection with the original claim, any other new claim, or a supplemental claim. Eligibility Verification Report (EVRs) and _[VA Form 21P-0969, Income and Asset Statement in Support of Claim for Pension or Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)]() , _are provided for this purpose.Effective October 18, 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) changed the net worth criteria for pension claims. As a result, applications for Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension were amended to incorporate a supplemental _[VA Form 21P-0969]()_ when the assets indicated by the claimant are above a designated threshold. _**Important**_ : Claims processors must take into account the asset threshold provided on the application form. If the application indicates that assets are at or below the listed threshold on the form, and the subsequent asset value block is incomplete, then assume the threshold maximum value listed on the form for net worth calculation purposes. Further development is not required regarding net worth amount unless the implied assets plus the income for VA purposes is above the maximum net worth threshold or there is contradictory information of record. ## 2. Basic Income and Net Worth Development Forms This topic contains information on the basic income and net worth development forms, including * EVR forms used to developing basic income/net worth information * sending EVR forms * determining if a pension claimant has dependents * recording _from/thru_ dates on pension EVR forms, and * recording _from/thru_ dates on pension EVR forms according to development period. June 17, 2026 ### IX.i.3.B.2.a. EVR Forms for Developing Basic Income/Net Worth Information Use the information on the EVR forms listed below to develop basic income and net worth information after an initial application has been filed. * _[VA Form 21P-0512s-1, Old Law and Section 306 Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving Spouse)]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0512V-1, Old Law and Section 306 Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran)]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0513-1, Old Law and Section 306 Eligibility Verification Report (Children Only)]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0514-1, DIC Parent’s Eligibility Verification Report]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0516-1, Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran With No Children)]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0517-1, Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran With Children)]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0518-1, Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving Spouse With No Children)]()_ * _[VA Form 21P-0519s-1, Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving Spouse with Children)]()_ , or * _[VA Form 21P-0519C-1, Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Child or Children)]()_. ### IX.i.3.B.2.b. Sending EVR Forms If an EVR form is sent to a beneficiary, enclose _[VA Form 21P-0510,__ Eligibility Verification Report Instructions]()_.**Note:** Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) should be used for development whenever possible.**References:** For more information on generating letters with automated tools, see * [M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.D.1.a](), and * the _VBMS User Guide_. ### IX.i.3.B.2.c. Determining if an Pension Claimant Has Dependents If there is uncertainty as to whether or not an pension claimant has dependents, use the most inclusive form, which would be * [ _VA Form 21P-0517-1_](), in a Veterans Pension case, or * _[VA Form 21-0519S-1]()_ , in a Survivors Pension case. ### IX.i.3.B.2.d. Recording From/Thru Dates on Pension EVR Forms Claims processors must complete the _from/thru_ spaces on an EVR when the development period is anything other than the calendar year. Generally, when filling out these spaces on the EVR forms, write the date * of pension entitlement in the _from_ date space, and * that is 12 months from the end of the month of the _from_ date in the _thru_ date space. **Example:** If a surviving spouse’s entitlement is based on the date of claim, which is October 28, 2023, write * _10/28/23_ as the _from_ date, and * _10/31/24_ as the _thru_ date. ### IX.i.3.B.2.e. Recording From/Thru Dates on Pension EVR Forms According to Development Period Two sets of spaces for _from/thru_ dates are provided on pension EVR forms. If the development period covers * _less_ than six months * write the _from/thru_ dates in just one of the spaces, and * draw a line through the other space, or * _more_ than six months, write the _from/thru_ dates in both spaces, with the _from/thru_ dates on the right-hand side of the form being used for the calendar year following the first date on the left-hand side of the form. **Example:** If the date of entitlement is October 28, 2023, and the form is being dispatched on August 7, 2024 (more than six months later), write * _10/28/23_ and _10/31/24_ as the _from/thru_ dates on the left-hand side of the form, and * _01/01/24_ and _12/31/24_ as the _from/thru_ dates on the right-hand side of the form. ## 3. Specialized Income Development Forms April 18, 2023 ### IX.i.3.B.3.a. Forms for Developing Specific Types of Income Use the table below to determine the appropriate form to use to develop for specific types of income.| **If developing for ...**| **Then send ...** the income and net worth of the Veteran’s children if a surviving spouse remarries| [ _VA Form 21P 0519C-1_](), to the claimant. reported farm income| [ _VA Form 21P-4165, Pension Claim Questionnaire for Farm Income_](), to the claimant. reported * income from a business other than farming, or * rental income | [ _VA Form 21P-4185, Report of Income from Property or Business_](), to the claimant. information * on the date that the Veteran last worked, and * about the final wages and any retirement or other benefits to which the Veteran might be entitled | [ _VA Form 21-4192, Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits_](), to the Veteran’s former employer. **Reference:** For more information on developing for severance or accumulated leave pay, see [M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 3.C.1.d](). **References:** For more information on * development procedures, see [M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.D.1.a](), and * handling outdated forms, see [M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.B.4.a and b](). ## 4. Developing for Income and Net Worth Information by Telephone, E-Mail, or Electronic Claims Submission Service This topic contains information on developing for income and net worth information by telephone, e-mail or electronic claims submission service, including * claimant requirements for submitting information * procedures for oral communications, and * retroactive restoration of benefits. January 12, 2026 ### IX.i.3.B.4.a. Claimant Requirements for Submitting Information Effective March 24, 2015, VA only recognizes compensation, pension, survivors, and related claims if they are submitted on the required standard forms.Once a standard form is received, VA can accept further information by written correspondence, phone, etc., to clarify what was reported on the standard form.**Note:** VA does not require a standard form to report a change that will result in a decrease in benefits. A beneficiary may report such changes * in writing, or * by telephone, e-mail, or to be uploaded directly into the Centralized Mail portal using an approved VA claims submission service such as [QuickSubmit](). **Reference:** For more information on QuickSubmit, see [M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 1.A.3](). ### IX.i.3.B.4.b. Procedures for Oral Communications Follow the specific telephone contact procedures outlined in [M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.D.1.f]() and [M21-1, Part X, Subpart ii, 3.C.2](), on all oral communications in order to * use the information furnished to reduce or terminate benefits, and * furnish the beneficiary contemporaneous notice of the adverse action. **Reference:** For more information on the submission of statements or information affecting entitlement to benefits, see [38 CFR 3.217(b)](). ### IX.i.3.B.4.c. Retroactive Restoration of Benefits Per [38 CFR 3.103(b)(4)](), VA must retroactively restore benefits that were adversely affected based on oral communication, if, within 30 days of the date that the notice of adverse action is issued, the beneficiary or their fiduciary asserts that the adverse action was based upon * information or statements that were inaccurate, or * information that was not provided by the beneficiary or their fiduciary.