change of address DURING filing process

[redrose451]

For the past month, I have been filling out paperwork for A & A benefits for my mom.(spouse of a Vet), to help pay for in-home caregivers.  All paperwork has her current address listed. A few days ago, I found an ALF for her, as she is needing more hours of care than the in-home service could provide.  She is scheduled to move in Tues., Feb 7.  That is good news!  However, the medical evaluation form(21-2680) and the attendant affidavit forms, which were already signed by her Dr. and paid caregivers have the current address for my mom.  As of Tuesday, her address will be the ALF.  By Wednesday, I will physically take the A & A paperwork to the local VA center, to be sent to Philadelphia for processing. 
My question: can I note in the cover letter that her address was changed to the ALF, as of 2/7/12?  I can change the address's myself, on some of the paperwork( for instance 21-534) but the medical evaluation form and attendant affidavits were already signed prior to us knowing mom would be moving to an ALF.  In addition, should I note on each form that the address is changed?

Your site is marvelous!!!

[vetadmin]

Two things -

1.  Yes you can change her address, and you can also include on the 21-4138 telling the VA she has moved to that facility.  You should also get a statment of occupancy from the ALF, which will state she is a resident as well as her monthly costs and services provided.

2.  DO NOT take the papers to your local VA office for them to send off.  You need to mail the application via Return Receipt to the proper pension center for her state, and keep a complete copy of the application and documents included.

See this link on the forums here for the state break down. http://www.veteranaid.org/forums/index.php/topic,1312.0.html

Good luck with the process.

[redrose451]

Thank you for your reply!
Is there a specific reason NOT to take the paperwork to the main VA office? 
When I began to gather the paperwork and forms together, I had numerous questions about filling out the various forms.  (this was before I found your wonderful site!)  Trying to get an appointment with the local, VA rep(in our suburb), was a nightmare.  So, my husband(also a vet) and I got in the car and drive to the main VA office in downtown Buffalo, NY.  We met with an extremely helpful rep!  No waiting/no appointment needed.  Since I already had the 21-534 partially filled out, he assigned a "VA File Number" to it, writing it on the first page of 21-534. He said when we come back with all paperwork properly filled out, we would already be in the system and the VA office in Buffalo would take care of the sending off everything to Philadelphia.
However, since reading just about everything on this site, I know everyone says to mail it, Return Receipt.  I guess what I really want to know.......since the "VA File Number" has already been assigned, should we mail it?  Or take it downtown, in person?

[vetadmin]

Mail it.

The VA is notorious for saying "they never received it".  The local office is not going to send it with any type of proof of delievery documented.  If you wait 90 days and call to inquire about the status and you are told "they never received it", you won't have a leg to stand on.

[redrose451]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I'll mail it!

[Marp]

Our County VA faxed our paperwork for us.  They are set up with the Pension Center in Milwaukee where they can fax the paperwork directly into the Milwaukee center's electronic processing sytem.  By sending the paperwork this way, we were able to reduce the process by several weeks because we didn't have to wait for someone at the VA to scan the paperwork into the electronic system.  I guess that process can take a few weeks.

We were going to mail it, return receipt, as well just to be sure there was no question that the VA received the paperwork.  We ended up not doing that which was a risk.

So, if the people you're working with can fax the information directly into the VAs electronic document system, you may want to ask them to do that.  For security, you could also mail the application, return receipt.  That way you could have the best of both worlds - the application is faxed through the faster system &, in case that gets messed up, someone at the VA will have to sign for the one you mail.