To get a copy of your VA disability benefit letter, sign in to VA.gov and download the Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter as an instant PDF. If you’d rather not use the website, you can call the VA, visit a regional office, or send a written request by mail. The online route takes about five minutes once your account is set up.
Download It From VA.gov
The online download lives at VA.gov/records/download-va-letters. You’ll need a verified account with one of the two sign-in providers the VA still accepts: Login.gov or ID.me. Older My HealtheVet and DS Logon credentials no longer work.1U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Signing In To VA.gov
Setting up either account takes a one-time identity check that usually runs about ten minutes. Have your Social Security number, a phone number in your name, and a valid photo ID ready. ID.me accepts a U.S. driver’s license, state ID, passport, or passport card; Login.gov accepts a driver’s license or state ID.2U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Verifying Your Identity on VA.gov It’s worth getting this done before you actually need the letter, so you’re not scrambling to verify your identity while a lender or employer waits.
Once you’re signed in, the site shows you the mailing address on file and asks you to confirm it. That address prints on the letter itself. You can update it if it’s wrong, but the letter is valid either way. Pick “Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter” from the list, then use the checkboxes to include or exclude specific details. Most people leave every box checked. Some organizations ask you to uncheck the monthly payment amount for privacy reasons. The file downloads as a PDF, so you’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader or a similar viewer.3Department of Veterans Affairs. Download VA Benefit Letters
Save the PDF and print a few extras. Lenders, employers, and government offices usually want a paper copy, and keeping spares means you won’t have to log back in every time someone asks.
Request It by Phone, In Person, or by Mail
If you’d rather not deal with an online account, call the VA’s main information line at 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A representative can put in a request to have the letter mailed to you.
You can also walk into a VA regional office. Bring a government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. Staff can pull your records and print the letter on the spot, or help you get through VA.gov on one of their computers. Veterans Service Organizations can help too. The VA’s facility locator on its website will show you the nearest office.4U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. How to File a VA Disability Claim
Written requests go to the Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center, P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Include your full name, Social Security number, and a clear description of what you’re asking for.5Veterans Affairs. How to File a VA Disability Claim Mail is the slowest option. Letters sent by mail generally arrive within 10 business days, though the VA notes it may take longer.6Veterans Affairs. The VA Claim Process After You File Your Claim
Make Sure You’re Downloading the Right Letter
The VA offers several benefit letters, and grabbing the wrong one is a common mistake. The Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter (sometimes called an award letter) is the one most veterans need. It confirms your disability rating, service dates, and compensation details in a single document.
Other letters on the same download page cover narrower purposes:
- Benefit Verification Letter, confirming you receive VA benefits without detailed service history.
- Service Verification Letter, proving your military service periods without disability or compensation information.
- Civil Service Preference Letter, documenting your eligibility for federal hiring preference.
- Commissary Letter, verifying eligibility to shop at military commissaries and exchanges.
- Proof of Service Card.
- Minimum Essential Coverage Letter, showing you have qualifying health coverage through VA for tax purposes.
- Proof of Creditable Prescription Drug Coverage, confirming your VA prescription benefits meet Medicare Part D standards.
- Decision Letter, the formal notification of a VA decision on a claim.
A letter type only appears in your list if the VA has established your eligibility for the underlying benefit. If you don’t see one you expected, that’s why.3Department of Veterans Affairs. Download VA Benefit Letters
One letter you won’t find here: the Certificate of Eligibility for a VA home loan. That comes from a separate tool on VA.gov under housing assistance.3Department of Veterans Affairs. Download VA Benefit Letters
What the Letter Shows
The Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter lists your combined service-connected disability rating as a percentage, your service dates, the effective date of your disability rating, and your monthly payment amount if you chose to include it.
Payment figures on the letter reflect current VA compensation rates. For 2026, monthly compensation starts at $180.42 for a 10 percent rating. A veteran rated at 50 percent with no dependents receives $1,132.90 per month, and a 100 percent rating pays $3,938.58 per month without dependents. Rates are higher with a spouse, children, or dependent parents.7U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Current Veterans Disability Compensation Rates The 2026 rates reflect a 2.8 percent increase that took effect December 1, 2025. Because these amounts adjust annually with the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, a letter you download in January will show different numbers than one from the previous November.
Where You’ll Use It
The letter is official proof of your disability status, and a number of programs ask for it.
VA Home Loan Funding Fee Exemption
Veterans receiving disability compensation are exempt from the VA funding fee, which otherwise ranges from 1.25 to 3.3 percent of the loan amount. Your lender will ask for the benefit letter to verify your status.8Veterans Affairs. VA Funding Fee and Loan Closing Costs The exemption also applies if you’re eligible for compensation but receiving retirement or active-duty pay instead.9Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Circular 26-23-19 – VA Funding Fee Exemption and Refund Procedures for Lenders
Federal Hiring Preference
Disabled veterans receive a 10-point preference in federal hiring, and the Civil Service Preference Letter documents this. If you’re claiming 10-point preference, you’ll also submit Standard Form 15 with the VA letter. Veterans with a rating of 10 percent or more are placed at the top of the highest hiring category when agencies use category rating.10U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members
Property Tax and State Benefits
Most states offer property tax reductions or full exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The specific benefit depends on your rating and your state. Veterans rated at 100 percent often qualify for a complete property tax exemption; lower ratings may get a partial reduction. Many states also waive or reduce vehicle registration fees for disabled veterans. Your benefit letter is the standard proof these programs ask for.
Commissary and Exchange Access
Veterans with a service-connected disability rating and an honorable discharge can shop at military commissaries and exchanges. Present your VA letter along with a passport or driver’s license at checkout.11Veterans Affairs. Commissary and Exchange Privileges for Veterans