Form 22-10278 Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Thir

INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE AUTHORIZATION TO
DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY- EDUCATION BENEFITS
GENERAL INFORMATION
At VA, we recognize and respect the importance of privacy. Personal information that we collect is kept confidential to the
extent provided by law. In accordance with the Privacy Act and applicable confidentiality statutes, VA will only disclose the
information in its custody or control in the following circumstances: where the individual identifies the particular information
and consents to its use; where disclosure of the information is required by law; or where the disclosure is otherwise legally
permitted, including release for a purpose compatible with the purpose for which it was collected.
By law, VA must have your written permission (an "authorization") to use or give out your claim or benefit information for any
purpose that is not permitted by all applicable legal authorities. You may revoke your written permission at any time, except if
VA has already acted based on your permission.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

QUESTIONS
1-7

8-11

In this section, give us the claimant's identification information to include name, social security number,
VA file number, date of birth, mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address.

In Item 8 VA will give your personal benefit or claim information to the person or organization you enter
in this box. You may select only one person or one organization. If you designate an organization,
you must also identify one or more individuals in that organization to whom VA may disclose your benefit
or claim information. This form cannot be used to disclose federal tax information, provide copies of letters
and notifications or allow any type of changes to the claimant's VA record, such as address, email, or direct
deposit.
Item 11 tells VA the duration of your consent. If you do not want your authorization to be effective indefinitely,
tell us when to stop releasing your personal benefit or claim information to your authorized third party in
Item 11. Check the box that applies and fill in dates, if applicable.

12

Select the security question you would like us to ask your designated third party and provide the answer.
This question will be asked each time your designated third party contacts the VA.

WHERE DO I SEND MY AUTHORIZATION?
Send your signed authorization to VA by using one of the following methods:
MAIL TO

SUBMIT ONLINE

EASTERN REGION

WESTERN REGION

VA Regional Office
P. O. Box 4616
Buffalo, NY 14240

VA Regional Office
P. O. Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402

https://www.va.gov/
https://ask.va.gov/

NOTE: You should make a copy of your signed authorization for your records before sending it to VA. You can only have
one VA Form 22-10278, Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party - Education Benefits, on file with VA
at a time.
WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND?
If you change your mind and do not want VA to give out your personal benefit or claim information, you may notify us in
writing, or by telephone at 1-888-442-4551 or electronically via the Internet at https://ask.va.gov/. Upon notification from you
VA will no longer give out benefit or claim information (except for the information VA has already given out based on your
permission).
VA FORM 22-10278, XXX 20XX

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OMB Approved No. 2900-0914
Respondent Burden: 5 minutes
Expiration Date: XX/XX/20XX

AUTHORIZATION TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION
TO A THIRD PARTY- EDUCATION BENEFITS
INSTRUCTIONS: Use this form if you want to give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) permission to release your personal benefit or claim information to a
third party. This form may not be executed by any claimant recognized as incompetent for VA purposes, nor can VA accept this form from any claimant recognized as
incompetent for VA purposes.

SECTION I - CLAIMANT'S IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
NOTE: You may either complete the form online or by hand. If completed by hand print the information requested in ink, neatly, and legibly to expedite processing the form.
1. CLAIMANT'S NAME (First, Middle Initial, Last)

3. VA FILE NUMBER (If known)

2. CLAIMANT'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

4. CLAIMANT'S DATE OF BIRTH (MM/DD/YYYY)

5. MAILING ADDRESS OF CLAIMANT (Number and Street or rural route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number
State/Province

City
Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

6. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)
Enter International Phone Number (If applicable)
7. EMAIL ADDRESS (Optional)

I agree to receive electronic correspondence from VA in regards to my claim.

SECTION II - CONTACT INFORMATION
8. VA IS AUTHORIZED TO DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION SPECIFIED BELOW TO ONE PERSON OR ONE ORGANIZATION LISTED BELOW.
PROVIDE THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM VA IN ITEMS 8A AND 8B OR PROVIDE
THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORGANIZATION YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION'S REPRESENTATIVE IN ITEMS 8C AND 8D.
A. NAME OF PERSON (First, Middle Initial, Last Name)

B. ADDRESS OF PERSON
No. &
Street
City

Apt./Unit Number
State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

NOTE: An organization may have more than one representative. Include the first and last name of any additional representatives.
C. NAME OF ORGANIZATION (Include name of representative(s))

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22-10278

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CLAIMANT'S SSN
D. ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number
State/Province

City
Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

9. I, THE CLAIMANT AUTHORIZE VA TO SPEAK WITH THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION LISTED IN ITEM 8A OR 8C FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MY VA RECORD (Check only one box to tell VA if only specific benefit or claim information can be
disclosed, or if all applicable benefit information can be disclosed)
ALL INFORMATION BELOW (Skip to Item 11)

LIMITED INFORMATION (Go to Item 10)

10. IF YOU SELECTED "LIMITED INFORMATION", FILL ALL THAT APPLY
Status of pending claim or appeal

Amount of money owed VA

Current benefit and rate

Change of address or direct deposit
(Only allowed if claimant is a minor)

Other (Specify below) (Note: Third parties cannot initiate any changes to your
record)

Payment history
11. IF YOU SELECTED "ANY INFORMATION", THE TERMS OF SUCH RELEASE OF INFORMATION WILL BE:
Ongoing until written notice is given to VA to terminate

From the date of signing below until

(Specify date - MM, DD, YYYY)
12. SPECIFY THE SECURITY QUESTION YOU WANT USED WHEN VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF YOUR DESIGNATED THIRD PARTY. CHECK ONLY ONE SECURITY
QUESTION BOX IN ITEM 12A AND PROVIDE THE ANSWER IN ITEM 12B.

A. SECURITY QUESTION

B. ANSWER

I would like to use a pin or password
The city and state your mother was born in
The name of the high school you attended
Your first pet's name
Your favorite teacher's name
Your father's middle name
Create my own question (Enter your question
below)

SECTION III - DECLARATION OF INTENT
I CERTIFY THAT the statements on this form are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
13. CLAIMANT'S SIGNATURE (REQUIRED)

VA FORM 22-10278, XXX 20XX

14. DATE SIGNED (MM,DD,YYYY)

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CLAIMANT'S SSN

PRIVACY ACT INFORMATION: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized under
the Privacy Act of 1974 or title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law enforcement, congressional
communications, epidemiological or research studies, the collection of money owed to the United States, litigation in which the United States is a
party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and delivery of VA benefits, verification of identity and status, and personnel
administration as identified in the VA system of records, 58VA21/22/28 Compensation, Pension, Education, and Veteran Readiness and Employment
Records - VA, published in the Federal Register. Your obligation to respond is voluntary. VA uses your SSN to identify your claim file. Providing
your SSN will help ensure that your records are properly associated with your claim file. Giving us your SSN account information is voluntary.
Refusal to provide your SSN by itself will not result in the denial of benefits. The VA will not deny an individual benefits for refusing to provide his
or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it

displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this project is 2900-0914, and it expires XX/XX/20XX. Public reporting
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per respondent, per year, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to VA Reports
Clearance Officer at vapra@va.gov. Please refer to OMB Control No. 2900-0914 in any correspondence. Do not send your completed VA Form
22-10278 to this email address.

VA FORM 22-10278, XXX 20XX

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