In This Section

Introduction

• definition of contemporaneous notice
• information a beneficiary must provide to justify sending a contemporaneous notice
• contemporaneous notice while the corporate record is in suspense, and
• contemporaneous notice and
  • active service pay
  • undeliverable checks
  • garnishment orders
  • report of death, and
  • eligibility verification reports (EVRs).

Change Date

X.ii.3.C.1.a.  Definition:  Contempor-aneous Notice

X.ii.3.C.1.b.  Information a Beneficiary Must Provide to Justify Sending a Contempor-aneous Notice

• income
• net worth
• marital status, or
• dependency

• contemporaneous notice, see 38 CFR 3.103(b)(3), and
• means for submitting or receiving evidence, see
  • 38 CFR 3.217(b), and
  • M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.D.1.d.

X.ii.3.C.1.c.  Contempor-aneous Notice While the Corporate Record Is in Suspense

X.ii.3.C.1.d.  Contempor-aneous Notice and Active Service Pay

• the Veteran submits a written statement that he or she has returned to active duty, or
• in some situations when the Veteran submits information about the receipt of active service pay.

X.ii.3.C.1.e.  Contempor-aneous Notice and Undeliverable Checks

• handling undeliverable, essential mail when current address is unobtainable, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.C.6, and
• receiving a returned check as a notice of death, see M21-1, Part XI, Subpart i, 1.A.2.a.

X.ii.3.C.1.f.  Contempor-aneous Notice and Garnishment Orders

• income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations, see 42 U.S.C. 659(a), and
• procedures for handling a garnishment when compensation is paid in lieu of military retired pay, see M21-1, Part VII, Subpart iii, 1.C.2.

X.ii.3.C.1.g.  Contempor-aneous Notice and Report of Death

• third-party reports of death, see 38 CFR 3.103(b)(3)(iii)
• sending a contemporaneous notice of notice of death processing, see M21-1, Part XI, Subpart i, 1.A.1.d, and
• handling severance proposals upon the Veteran’s death, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart ii, 5.B.2.h.

X.ii.3.C.1.h.  Contempor-aneous Notice and EVRs

Change Date

X.ii.3.C.2.a.  When a Contemporaneous Notice is Appropriate Based on Information Received by Telephone

• documenting information received by telephone, see 38 CFR 3.217(b), and
• handling information received by telephone that might affect benefits, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.D.1.f.

Introduction

• requirement for sending the contemporaneous notice, and
• required elements of the contemporaneous notice.

Change Date

X.ii.3.C.3.a.  Requirement for Sending Contempor-aneous Notices

• beneficiary
• beneficiary’s fiduciary (if applicable), and
• beneficiary’s designated representative (if any).

X.ii.3.C.3.b.  Required Elements for Contemporaneous Notice

• identification of the issues decided (including new rates)
• summary of the
  • evidence considered, and
  • laws and regulations applicable to the claim
• statement of effective date(s)
• detailed reasons for decision
• overpayment information
• explanation of how to obtain or access evidence used to make the decision, and
• summary of the applicable review options provided under 38 CFR 3.2500, that allow the claimant to seek further review of the decision.