USER GUIDE. the American Legion

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1 USER GUIDE the American Legion

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3 USER GUIDE The American Legion Claims Coach provides step-by-step guidance to you and your service officer through the process of filing for VA benefits. The app contains a nationwide directory of accredited American Legion service officers, a builtin organizer for appointments, documents, deadlines and a wealth of other information resources. A personal, secure file called My Checklist keeps everything in order, from your initial meeting through VA s decision. LET S GET STARTED!

4 WHAT IS THE CLAIMS COACH? The American Legion Claims Coach is an organizational tool to help clarify the process of VA benefits application. The app does not replace personal contact with service officers, but it can help veterans understand the claims process, gather the right documentation for meetings and map out the steps in the journey. The app does not automatically set appointments for the user, nor does it directly file forms with VA. The Claims Coach is an educational and organizational tool that streamlines the filing process and helps veterans make the most of time with their service officers. The Claims Coach is not computer software or a Web page. It is designed for use on mobile devices such as smartphones or electronic tablets. Some features of the app connect to websites, but the Claims Coach, once downloaded onto your phone or tablet, is your own personal, safe and secure organizer.

5 DOWNLOAD YOUR APP The Claims Coach is available, free of charge, from the Apple itunes store or Google Play. On your device, you can get to the store to download your app by tapping the appropriate icon on your home screen. Once you have launched the store, search for The American Legion. The Claims Coach will be one of the apps offered. Tap the install button next to the icon. For even quicker access to the app, visit The American Legion website using the browser on your device. This address will take you to a menu of American Legion mobile apps. Click on the Claims Coach icon, and then click on the link to take you to the appropriate store to download your app.

6 INSIDE THE APP Once you have installed the app on your device, you can launch it by finding the Claims Coach icon (left) on your home screen and tapping it. When it s up and running, the home screen (right) of the app will appear. Is This For Me? Start here. Tap the button and answer simple questions about your condition, your military status and your VA claim history to assess how the Claims Coach can best help you. Start the Process Tap this button to launch the organizational tool that will help guide you through the 4-step process. Service Officer Directory Tap this button and then type your ZIP code into the Service Officer Directory. This tool will locate accredited American Legion Service Officers near you and provide a phone number and address to help you contact them from your mobile device. These service officers stand ready to help you fill out the forms and file your VA claim, free of charge.

7 HOME Tap this button to return to the home screen. CLAIMS COACH RESOURCES DIRECTORY Tap this button to find the tool that will guide you through the four-step process. Tap this button to find advice, a glossary, FAQs, news sources, and other helpful tools. Tap this button to find an accredited American Legion service officer near you.

8 The Claims Coach breaks the VA claim filing process down into four steps. Tap each button to move though the steps, building your checklist of things to do that will increase the likelihood for a successful claim. As you complete each step, the red buttons on the left will turn yellow and then green to mark your progress.

9 THE CLAIMS PROCESS 1. Find a Service Officer Your best chance at filing a successful claim is to work with an accredited American Legion service officer to file your claim. This step helps you find and connect with a service officer in your state and sets up meeting reminders. 2. Gather Documents & File a Claim After your initial meeting, your service officer will tell you what documents you will need to gather to support your claim. Keep track of what items you need and chart your progress as you prepare to meet with your service officer and fill out the VA claim form. 3. Manage your Claim After you have filed your claim, there are still things to do while you await your ratings decision. This step helps you keep track of managing your communications with VA. 4. Awards and Appeals Once you receive your ratings decision, you and your service officer still have work to do. Whether you just need clarification of the ratings and the benefits you are awarded, or if you are unsatisfied with your decision and choose to file an appeal, this step will point you in the right direction.

10 Within each step of the Claim Process, a list of tasks outlines the path for you. Tap the empty box next to each task as you complete it to place a check mark in the box. Gray arrow icons show you where special tools provide extra help. Tap the gray arrow to get to the tool. Green plus and red minus icons indicate where you can add or remove items from your checklist.

11 THE CLAIMS PROCESS Get Help During any part of the Claim Process, Help is just a tap away. This button will take you to a list of topics specific to whatever step you are working on. Appointment Reminders During each step of the Claim Process, you will need to make appointments to meet with your service officer. After you have scheduled an appointment, use this tool to add these appointments to your Checklist. Spin the date and time dials to match your appointment time, and tap the Add to My List button. Your appointment time will now appear on your Checklist, and the Claims Coach will remind you of your appointment with a pop-up message as the date nears.

12 YOUR CHECKLIST Building Your Checklist The Claims Coach is first and foremost an organizational tool. Each part of the process is broken down into tasks that you check off as you go. During Step 2, you can customize your Checklist to include the specific documents your service officer recommends to support your claim. Add items to Your Checklist Tap the Add New Item to List button at the bottom of the Step 2 screen. A list of common documents will appear. Tap the name of a document to select it, and then tap the Done button at the top right of the screen. Repeat these steps for each item you wish to add. To add an item that does not appear on the list, tap the empty box at the bottom of the screen, type what you would like to add, then tap the Done button.

13 Accessing Your Checklist As you build your Checklist, you can find it in two places: 1. First, tap on the Home button. Next, tap on the My Checklist button. 2. Tap the Claims Coach button on the bottom navigation. Then, tap the My Checklist button in the upper left corner.

14 YOUR CHECKLIST What to do with your Checklist At the top of your Checklist, tap the button on the top right of the screen. This will launch your program with your Checklist as a message. Each step of the process is broken down by task, and an [x] will appear next to the items you have completed. This function allows you to send a copy of the list to yourself to print a hard copy. Your service officer may also request that you send a copy of the list to show your progress.

15 STARTING OVER Starting Over At any time during the Claim Process, you can go back to the beginning and start again. Tap the Claims Coach button in the bottom navigation. Next, tap the Start Over button in the top left corner of the Claims Coach page. If you tap this by accident, don t worry. A warning screen will give you the chance to cancel the restart.

16 RESOURCE CENTER The Resource Center provides extra tools and tips that will help you understand more about the Claim Process and keep you up to date on new developments from VA. Before You Start Tips and a simple explanation of the Claims Process and what your goals should be as you build your Checklist. What to Expect It is best to fill out your claim form with your service officer by your side. This section highlights the different parts of a VA Claim so that you ll know what kinds of things your service officer will ask of you and can arrive at your meeting better prepared. FAQs Answers to the questions most commonly asked of service officers. Glossary Definitions of common terms and acronyms used in the filing process. Helpful Links Links to websites that can unravel the mysteries of the VA Claim Process. When you tap these links your Internet browser will be launched, so you ll need to go back to the Home screen of your device and then tap on the Claims Coach icon to return to the app.

17 Benefits Bulletins News about VA benefits. When you tap these links your internet browser will be launched, so you ll need to go back to the Home screen of your device and then tap on the Claims Coach icon to return to the app. Appeals Process Advice about what happens if you are unsatisfied with VA s decision. Contact Us Contact information for technical assistance or questions about this mobile app.

18 RESOURCE CENTER Claims Process Help The remaining sections contain the information accessed through the Get Help button in the Claims Process section. Each section contains advice specific to each of the four steps within the Claim Process.

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20 DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW Use a QR code scanner app on your mobile device to scan the image below. This will take you directly to The American Legion s website, where you can download Legion Claims Coach and other mobile apps. the American Legion STOCK #