TDIU & VA Form 21-4140

Question:

I know you get some goofy questions, I read your mail bag daily, but here goes. Do I still need to send a VA form 21-4140?   It is the time of year for me to send again..

Jim's Reply:

This is the least goofy and most legit question I'll field this week. Thanks!

The VA Form 21-4140 has been in place and misused for a lot of years. In the past the TDIU or Unemployability benefit veteran had to return the form on or about the anniversary of their TDIU award to attest that they hadn't worked at gainful employment the year before. The process was cumbersome, some regional offices didn't timely mail the forms and some veterans didn't understand what to do with them if they received them.

Thankfully and at long last, VBA has gone to an income matching system where your SSA/IRS account is correlated to your VA account and if you aren't reporting taxable income in excess of the poverty level, you have nothing to do. If there is any question of what you may have earned VA will then send you a 4140 to complete so that your benefit will continue uninterrupted.

Another bit of good news along these lines...VA eliminated the need for veterans who receive pension to submit complex financial statements each year. In a way similar to how income matching is done for the TDIU vet, the pension vet now finds it just a little easier to keep up with the paperwork.