VA 559a

REQUEST FOR NEW OR REVISED FORM OR FORM LETTER
1. TO (VHA, VBA, etc.)

2. DATE OF REQUEST

VBA, Loan Guaranty
02/08/2021
3. FROM (Originating office and person to contact)

4. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Ext.)

Kimberly Girard, Assistant Director, LP Field
(612) 970-5501
5. FORM OR FORM LETTER NO. (If assigned)

6. TITLE OR SUBJECT

Circular 26-21-03: Certificate of Eligibility Enhancements to
Streamline Income Verification.
This Circular references VA Form 26-8937

OMB 2900-0406,26-8937
7. TYPE OF FORM OR FORM LETTER REQUESTED (Check one)
NEW

REVISED

TEST

NONRECURRING

OVERPRINT

REINSTATEMENT

8. JUSTIFICATION AND PURPOSE (Explain the necessity, how the form or form letter will be used, reason for revision, etcetera)

The purpose of this Circular is to announce enhancements to the Certificate of Eligibility
(COE) for VA’s home loan guaranty program. These enhancements will enable lenders to
expedite the loan origination process for certain Veterans who utilize their VA-guaranteed
loan benefits. VA continues to modernize the VA-guaranteed loan application process to
promote speedy loan closings for Veterans and lenders. VA’s enhancements to the COE will
eliminate the majority of instances in which lenders and VA will utilize VA Form 26-8937,
Verification of VA Benefits, to verify a Veteran’s receipt of income from VA. Examples of
this type of income include monthly compensation for a service-connected disability or nonservice-connected pension. The enhancements will also streamline the process for those
instances in which the form will still be used. Additionally, the COE enhancements should
provide more certainty to lenders regarding whether to collect a funding fee from Veterans
who are rated as eligible to receive compensation either as the result of a pre-discharge
disability examination and rating or based on a pre-discharge review of existing medical
evidence that results in the issuance of a memorandum rating . The enhancements should also
help lenders understand when certain kinds of income should receive additional verification
from VA.
9. USED BY (Specific users by organizational element and location)

10. ESTIMATED MONTHLY USAGE

Individuals and households

10,000 respondents a month

11. CONCURRENCES OF OTHER AFFECTED OFFICES

NA
12. PROPOSED COVERING ISSUE(S) (Attach draft, if available)
TO BE RELEASED WITH FORM OR FORM LETTER

TO BE RELEASED SEPARATELY

NOT REQUIRED

13. FORMS AND FORM LETTERS REPLACED, SUPERSEDED, OR ELIMINATED (List by form number and issue date)

NA

DIRECTIVES/HANDBOOKS
14. WILL EXISTING STOCKS
BE USED?

YES
15. METHOD(S) OF MAKING ENTRIES
COMPUTER

PENCIL

16. TOTAL QUANTITY REQUESTED

INK

TYPEWRITER

OTHER (Specify)

17. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS (Indicate any special requirements regarding physical make-up.)

NA

18. DATE REQUIRED IN USING OFFICE

19. DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS
FOR INITIAL DISTRIBUTION - BALANCE TO BE
DEPOT STOCKED (Attach VA Form 7225)

TO DEPOT STOCK - FOR ISSUE ON
AUTHORIZED REQUISITION

OTHER (Specify)
20. SIGNATURE OF ORIGINATING OFFICER

Kimberly M.
Girard 199743
VA FORM
DEC 2012

559a

Digitally signed by Kimberly
M. Girard 199743
Date: 2021.02.08 14:37:32
-06'00'

21. DATE

22. SIGNATURE OF PUBLICATIONS CONTROL OFFICER

23. DATE

NO