VSP content feedback - Staging - Dependents form

[peggygannon]

User story

This ticket captures VSP content feedback on 686 Dependents Form in a staging environment.

Staging link: https://staging.va.gov/view-change-dependents/add-remove-form-686c/ Access information for the tool or feature in staging (usual staging password):

User (Mark): vets.gov.user+228@gmail.com (has zero on award, 2 not) User (Eric): vets.gov.user+10@gmail.com (has zero on award, 3 not) User (Randall): vets.gov.user+99@gmail.com (has 2 on award, 1 not) User (Jerry): vets.gov.user+271@gmail.com (has 2 on award, 4 not)

Acceptance criteria

• [x] VSP provides content feedback for form/tool and any associated static pages @amygoldman
• [x] Peggy reviews recommended content updates
• [x] Content recommendations shared with product team
• [ ] Team incorporates feedback and/or asks follow up questions about the feedback
• [ ] Teams leaves comments about any feedback they decide not to take
• [ ] VSP checks form/tool after content feedback has been incorporated

[peggygannon]

Hi, @amygoldman I've provided my feedback in the google doc. Please let me know if you have any questions! Once you've had a chance to review/update, please drop in your recommended content edits into this ticket, so we can share with the product team. Thank you!

[amygoldman]

Hi, @sporeboy Here are add'l content changes for the Dependents form to be implemented post-launch.

@amygoldman did this review, so please reach out to her if you have any questions about the recommendations below.

Save time—and save your work in progress—by signing in before starting your application

When you’re signed in to your VA.gov account:

• We can prefill part of your application based on your account details.

• You can save your application in progress and come back later to finish filling it out. You’ll have 60 days from the date you start or update your application to submit it. After 60 days, we’ll delete the application and you’ll need to start over.

Note: If you sign in after you’ve started your application, you won’t be able to save the information you’ve already filled in.

Follow the steps below to apply to add or remove a dependent.

1. Prepare When you apply, be sure to have these on hand:
   • Social Security numbers for you and your dependents
   • Your current and previous marriage details, such as places and dates. If your spouse was married before, you'll need those details too
   • Details about your children, including their full names, Social Security numbers, and places and dates of birth
   • If you’re removing a stepchild who’s under 18 from your benefit, you'll need the name and address of the person the child now lives with
   • If you're removing a deceased dependent from your benefit, you'll need the date and place of their death.
   • If you're removing other dependents due to divorce, a child under 18 getting married, or a student under 23 leaving school, you'll need the date of the event.

If you're adding a student 18 to 23 years old (equal to VA Form 21-674), you'll need:

• Social Security numbers for you and your dependent
• Details about your dependent, including their full names, Social Security numbers, birthdate, and school address
• School names and addresses for where the student will attend, as well as where the student attended last term
• Details about what the student will be studying, such as their major
• Important term start, and end dates, and expected graduation date
• Details about your dependent's past and expected income, and information about any property or assets the student may have

2. Apply Complete this dependents form and upload additional information if needed. You will need to upload additional evidence to add your spouse if you:
   • Live outside the U.S. its bases or territories. You'll need to provide the marriage certificate, church record, or another public marriage document.
   • Married by common-law. You'll need to provide two VA Forms 21-4170, one completed by the claimant, the other by the spouse. You'll also need two VA Forms 21P-4171 completed by two different people. If there are children from the marriage, you'll also need to provide their birth certificates.
   • Married according to tribal custom. You'll need to provide affidavits of all parties involved, including two witnesses and the person who performed the ceremony. These affidavits must include the marriage date and location. All of these documents must also include the mailing address of the person who performed the ceremony.
   • Married by proxy. You'll need to provide all the documents and/or certificates issued to conduct the marriage. You will need to upload additional evidence to add a child if:
   • You live outside the U.S., its bases, or territories. You'll need to provide the child's birth certificate.
   • Your child is adopted. You must provide the final adoption decree, the placement agreement, or the child's revised birth certificate.
   • Your child is not capable of self-support. You must provide medical evidence of an existing permanent mental or physical disability before the child's 18th birthday. You'll also need to send a doctor's statement describing your child's impairment.

After submitting your application, you'll get a confirmation message. You can print this for your records.

What if I need help filling out my application? An accredited representative, with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), can help you fill out your application. Get help filing your claim.

3. VA review We process applications in the order we receive them. We may contact you if we have questions or need more information.

4. Decision You’ll get a notice in the mail once we've processed your claim.

LOGGED IN AS MARK:

Your dependent status application (686C-674) is in progress. Your application was last saved on 9/4/2020 at 12:52 p.m. You can continue applying now or come back later to finish your application. Your application will expire on Nov. 3, 2020.

Step 1 of 3: What do you want to do? If you’re claiming a dependent child 18 to 23 years old who’ll be attending school, and if you’ve never received benefits for this child, you must also select the “Claim benefits for your child under 18” checkbox below. Note: To claim a dependent child under 18, they must be unmarried. A person must be unmarried to be considered a child for VA purposes. What would you like to do? Check all that apply. (*Required)

• Claim benefits for a spouse
• Claim benefits for your child who's under 18 and unmarried
• Claim benefits for your child 18 to 23 years old who'll be attending school (VA Form 21-674)
• Report a divorce
• Report that a stepchild who’s under 18 has left your household.
• Report the death of a spouse, child, or dependent parent.
• Report the marriage of a child who’s under 18.
• Report that a child 18 to 23 years old has stopped attending school.

Step 2 of 4: Veteran's information This is the personal information we have on file for you. COLDER POLARBEAR Date of birth: January 1st, 1950 Gender: Male

Note: If you need to update your personal information, please call Veterans Benefits Assistance at 800-827-1000 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Step 3 of 4: Information needed to add your child Does your child live with you? (*Required) Application has been saved. Last saved at Sept. 9, 2020 at 7:24 p.m.

→ YES What do you want to do? Claim benefits for your child who’s under 18 and unmarried. Veteran’s Information

Information needed to add your child Child Child’s first name Child’s middle name Child’s last name Child’s suffix Child’s Social Security number Child's date of birth

Information needed to add your child This occurred outside the U.S.

Was this child previously married? No

Information needed to add your child Does your child live with you? Yes This occurred outside the US State City Biological Adopted Not capable of self-support Was this child previously married? Information needed to add your child Does your child live with you?

Important: The purpose of this form is to get information from you that could change your VA benefits. When you submit this application, you're giving VA permission to make benefit payment changes that could result in an overpayment. If this happens, we'll notify you about repayment options.

By submitting this form, you certify that you are the claimant and the information you gave above is true and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief.

Note: According to federal law, there are criminal penalties, including a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years, for withholding information or for providing incorrect information. (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)

I have read and accept the privacy policy (*Required) Need help? If you need help filling out the form, or if you have questions about eligibility, call VA Benefits and Services at 800-827-1000.

→ NO Person your child lives with First name (Required) Middle name Last name (Required) Child's address They live on a United States military base outside of the U.S. Learn more about military base addresses The United States is automatically chosen as your country if you live on a military base outside of the country. Country (Required) Street Line 2 Line 3 City (Required) State (Required) Postal Code (Required)

LOGGED IN AS ERIC

Your profile is missing some required information The personal information we have on file for you is missing your VA file number. You need to update your personal information. Please call Veterans Benefits Assistance at 800-827-1000 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

LOGGED IN AS RANDALL

Your application is in progress Your dependent status application (686C-674) is in progress. Your application was last saved on 8/28/2020 at 2:10 p.m. You can continue applying now or come back later to finish your application. Your application will expire on Oct. 27, 2020.

Step 3 of 6: Information needed to add your spouse Your spouse’s information Spouse’s first name (Required) Spouse’s middle name Spouse’s last name (Required) Spouse’s suffix Spouse’s Social Security number (Required) Spouse’s date of birth (Required ) Month Day Year Is your spouse a Veteran? (*Required) Spouse’s VA file number Spouse’s service number

Step 3 of 6: Information needed to add your spouse Date of marriage (*Required) Month Day Year

Where were you married? This occurred outside the US State (Required) City (Required)

Type of marriage: (*Required)

• Religious or civil ceremony (minister, justice of the peace, etc.)
• Common-law
• Tribal
• Proxy
• Other

Additional evidence needed If you didn't get married by a religious or civil ceremony, or if you don't live in the U.S. or a U.S territory, you'll need to provide additional evidence to establish a spouse. What are some examples of additional evidence?

• Additional information could include a copy of the public or church record that shows:
• The identities of the people involved
• The marriage date and place
• How many times you and your spouse have been married, if applicable. If an official record isn’t available, you should submit at least one of the following documents:
• • The official report from your branch of service showing you got married while you were in the service
• • A certified copy of the original marriage certificate
• • An affidavit from the official who married you
• • Other evidence that may be considered

Does your spouse live with you? (*Required)

No Reason for separation (*Required)

Your spouse’s address They live on a United States military base outside of the U.S. Learn more about military base addresses

Step 3 of 6: Information needed to add your spouse Was your spouse married before?

Yes Former spouse’s information Former spouse’s first name (Required) Former spouse’s middle name Former spouse’s last name (Required) Former spouse’s suffix

[amygoldman]

^ revised copy recommendations

[peggygannon]

@thanks, @amygoldman can you bold/or highlight where you made changes? this will be easier for the product team designer to see the areas you changed. thx!

@peggygannon confirming that I bolded the changes, but if it's too confusing I can highlight them instead.

[peggygannon]

@sporeboy Checking in to see if you have any questions about the feedback?