e. Requirements for an Alternate Signer requires an alternate signer be at least one of the following a court-appointed representative an individual responsible for the care of the claimant or beneficiary, including a spouse or other relative an attorney-in-fact or agent authorized to act on behalf of the claimant or beneficiary under a durable POA, or agent including the manager or principal officer acting on behalf of an institution caring for the claimant. f. Handling a Form or Application With an Alternate Signature When an alternate signer certifies or represents that he or she is an appropriate signer under the criteria set forth in , VA will generally accept the alternate signature in the absence of discrepant information. Upon discovery of any discrepant information, send a development letter to the claimant and/or alternate signer for clarification, to include the sample language provided in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.C.2.h. Reference: For more information on the requirements for an alternate signer, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.C.2.e. g. Handling VA Form With an Alternate Signature VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, includes an alternate signer certification and acknowledgement paragraph. Send a development letter to the claimant and/or alternate signer for clarification, to include the sample language in M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.C.2.h, when a completed VA Form 21-526EZ is received that does not contain the required certification, and the evidence or information before VA is unclear as to whether an alternate signer is appropriate under PL 112-154 and . h. Sample Development Language for Alternate Signer Develop to the alternate signer, claimant and/or beneficiary using the sample language below if the signature on the form clearly belongs to someone other than the claimant or beneficiary, and there is not a completed VA Form that includes the required alternate signer certification, and there is no evidence or information of record that would allow VA to ascertain the basis for the alternate signer designation, or there is discrepant information that is questionable or conflicting in establishing the authority of the alternate signer of the form.
a. Determining Which RO or PMC Has Jurisdiction Over Mail From Residents of a Foreign Country See the table below when determining jurisdiction for mail received from residents of a foreign country. If the mail received is for … And the claimant resides in … Then refer mail to the … disability compensation, pension, survivor benefits, or related appeals the Philippines Manila RO. disability compensation or related appeal(s), work items, or non-rating issues a foreign country other than the Philippines Pittsburgh RO. pension or survivor claims or related appeal(s) Mexico Central and South America, or the Caribbean St. Paul Pension Management Center (PMC). pension or survivor claims or related appeal(s) a foreign country other than the Philippines Mexico Central and South America, or the Caribbean Philadelphia PMC. Exception: For mail related to claims received from dependents residing in a foreign country, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 1.C.3.b. Reference: For more information on foreign claim jurisdiction, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, 5.A.1.b. b. Claims From Dependents Residing in a Foreign Country Jurisdiction over claims from dependents residing in a foreign country is based on the primary beneficiary’s place of residence and entitlement and not on the dependent’s place of residence. Example: A Veteran living in Salt Lake City, Utah, files a claim for disability compensation. After the Salt Lake City RO awards entitlement based on a 50-percent disability evaluation, the Veteran’s dependent, who lives in Seoul, Korea, files a claim for an apportioned share of the Veteran’s