If you are a veteran planning to file a new VA disability claim, the single most important financial move you can make before the new year is filing an Intent to File (ITF).
This simple, free, one-page form can be worth thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars in back pay. Here’s the year-end strategy you need to know.
What is an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966)?
An Intent to File is a simple declaration to the VA that you plan to file a claim. It is not the claim itself.
Its one and only purpose is to lock in your “effective date.”
The effective date is the date the VA starts your benefits. In most cases, this is the date the VA receives your claim. However, if you file an ITF first, your effective date becomes the day the VA received your ITF—as long as you submit your full claim within one year.
The Year-End Strategy: Why Filing Before Dec 31st is Critical
Filing an ITF before December 31, 2025, is a powerful strategic move for two reasons:
- It Preserves Your 2025 Benefits: Let’s say you file an ITF on December 30, 2025. You’re busy, so you take your time gathering evidence and submit your full claim on June 1, 2026. Your claim is approved in November 2026.
- Without an ITF: Your effective date would be June 1, 2026. You’d get 5 months of back pay.
- With an ITF: Your effective date is December 30, 2025. You get 10 months of back pay. You’ve just gained 5 extra months of compensation just by filing the ITF.
- It Locks in Your Date for COLA: It locks in your entitlement before the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) takes effect. This means your retroactive pay will be calculated correctly based on when your entitlement began.
How Do I File an Intent to File?
You have three easy, fast, and free ways to do this:
- Online (Recommended): Log in to your VA.gov account. Find the option to “start a new disability claim.” The system will automatically log your ITF and give you one year to complete the application. This is the fastest and most easily provable method.
- By Phone: Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 and tell the representative, “I want to submit an Intent to File for disability compensation.”
- By Mail: Fill out VA Form 21-0966, “Intent to File a Claim for Compensation,” and mail it to the VA. Make sure you get tracking or proof of mailing.
Who Should Do This Right Now?
- Any veteran considering a new claim for any condition.
- Any veteran who just received a diagnosis but isn’t ready to file.
- Any veteran who wants to file for an increase but needs time to get medical evidence.
You have nothing to lose and potentially a full year of back pay to gain. Do not wait until January. You can file an ITF in less than 5 minutes online.