What it is
VA Form 21P-509 is the sworn statement VA uses to decide whether your parent qualifies as a dependent under 38 CFR 3.250. It collects the parent's income, expenses, household composition, and the support you provide. VA pairs this with VA Form 21-686c (Application to Add/Remove Dependents) to add the parent to your compensation award.
When you use it
You file it when your combined disability rating is 30% or higher and a parent depends on you for reasonable maintenance. "Parent" includes biological, step, and adoptive parents, 38 CFR 3.250 does not distinguish between them. You can also file if a parent's income or household has changed and you need VA to redetermine dependency.
What to gather before you fill it out
- Parent's full legal name, SSN, date of birth, and relationship to you (bio/step/adoptive).
- Parent's monthly gross income from every source: Social Security, pensions, wages, SSI, rental income, interest.
- Parent's recurring expenses and number of people in the household the parent supports.
- Your monthly contribution to the parent (cash, rent, utilities, groceries, medical).
- Marital status of the parent and, if remarried, the stepparent's income.
How to submit
Upload the completed PDF in VA.gov under the Disability section, mail to the Evidence Intake Center (Janesville, WI), or hand it to an accredited VSO with your 21-686c. File both forms together so VA does not split the claim.
Common pitfalls
- Income math is the trap. 38 CFR 3.250 sets monthly limits ($400 single parent / $660 married / +$185 per additional family member) for conclusive dependency. Over those limits VA does an individualized analysis of "reasonable maintenance," not an automatic denial, answer the income and expense questions fully instead of giving up.
- These dollar figures are adjusted; verify the current limit on VA.gov before you certify.
- Filing 21P-509 alone does not add the parent, you must also submit 21-686c.
- Foreign-resident parents get no conclusive presumption regardless of income.
- If your parent qualifies and is housebound or needs aid and attendance, you may also be entitled to the dependent-parent A&A enhancement, claim it separately.
Related forms
- VA Form 21-686c. Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents
- VA Form 21-674. Request for Approval of School Attendance (child dependents)