State Senator Andrew Maynard
October 2, 2008
Maynard: Disabled Veterans Have Time to Secure Forms, Letters and Receive Tax Credit
Federal decision means state veterans must obtain forms on their own
Historically, disabled veterans living in Connecticut received a form from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) each September to verify their service-related disability for their local tax assessors.
However, a system change this year means that veterans will have to seek out the forms on their own, and state Senator Andrew Maynard, co-chair of the General Assembly’s Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, wants to make sure that every disabled veteran who needs a 20-5455 form knows how to get one.
“This change of federal policy as had a significant effect not only on our state, but on veterans across the country who were unaware of this policy change and now are scrambling to get their letters filed,” Senator Maynard said. “In Connecticut, you still have time to get your Form 20-5455 and to file your letter with your local tax assessor. This was an ill-considered and inconvenient move by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs — one that I hope they will seriously reconsider. In the meantime, we want to be certain that no veteran loses out.”
A valid Letter of Disability Verification from the VA must be submitted to local tax assessors in order for disabled veterans to receive a tax abatement credit. While many veterans and advocates feared that an October 1 deadline for filing the letters could jeopardize tax credits for thousands of disabled veterans across the state, the attorney general has reported that veterans have until the end of March 2009 to file their letters.
Disabled veterans in need of a Form 20-5455 have four options to obtain one:
- E-mail a request to pctc.vbahar@va.gov.
- Fax a written request to (860)665-7654.
- Call the toll-free Connecticut Veterans Information Line at (866)928-8387 and ask them to submit a request to the VA on your behalf.
- Visit a district office of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, located in Bridgeport, Newington, Norwich, Rocky Hill, Waterbury or West Haven.
All requests for forms must include your full name, your VA claim number or Social Security number, and your complete mailing address.
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