VA Form 21-0966 files an Intent to File (ITF) — a short notice that you plan to file a claim. Its whole job is to lock in your effective date today while you take the time you need to prepare the full claim.
When to use it
Use it before you file your actual claim, the moment you know you're going to file. There's no downside to filing it early, and it can protect months of back pay.
What it protects
Your effective date is the date your benefits are calculated back to. File the ITF now, submit your complete claim later, and — if granted — your award can reach back to the ITF date.
The one-year rule
After you file the ITF, you have one year to submit the complete claim (usually VA Form 21-526EZ). File within that year and your effective date holds. Let the year lapse and the protection is gone.
How to file
- •Online at VA.gov (starting an application online can establish an ITF).
- •By phone with the VA.
- •By mail using VA Form 21-0966.
The mistake to avoid
The single most common ITF error is missing the one-year deadline. File the ITF, then track the date so the window never slips.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
Put this to work
Track your one-year Intent to File deadline so your effective date is protected — countdown and a free reminder, no account.
ITF TrackerWant free, personalized help?
A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) helps with your claim at no cost — filing, evidence review, and appeals. Find an accredited representative on VA.gov →
This guide is educational information about the VA claims system — it is not legal or medical advice, and it does not predict or promise any claim outcome. Regulations and procedures change; always verify current requirements at VA.gov. VA Claim Commander is a self-service documentation tool, not a VSO, law firm, or VA-accredited representative.