Skip to Content

Add or remove dependents with VA Form 21-686C

Equal to VA Form 21-686c (Application Request to Add And/Or Remove Dependents) and/or Equal to VA Form 21-674 (Request for Approval of School Attendance) and/or Equal to VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension)


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 are removing a stepchild under 18 from your benefit, you’ll need the name and address of the person the child now lives with
    • If you are removing a deceased dependent from your benefit, you’ll need the date and place of death
    • If you are 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 are 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, for example; 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

    If you’re adding a dependent to your pension benefits (equal to VA Form 21P-527EZ), you’ll need:

    • Social Security numbers for you and your dependent
    • Details about your dependent, including their full names, Social Security numbers, birthdate, and marriage details
    • Information about whether or not the dependent earned an income in the last 365 days
    • You and your spouse’s total net worth

    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

  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 other 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.

  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.


If you have trouble using this online form, call us at (). We’re here 24/7.

If you need help gathering your information or filling out your form, contact a local Veterans Service Organization (VSO).