The VA launched its “Ask VA” web portal Monday at https://ask.va.gov/, offering a single online location for beneficiaries to ask questions and offer suggestions to the department.

VA beneficiaries who log in before accessing Ask VA can track answers to their previous questions, ask follow-up questions or provide additional details to earlier requests, and have some of their information filled in automatically for some types of questions. Beneficiaries can log in via their ID.me, Premium My HealtheVet, or Premium DS Logon accounts – click the links to learn more about setting up these accounts.

Users also will be able to submit documents through the portal as part of their inquiries. They will receive a reference number for their queries and can enter it into the Ask VA main page to receive any updates.

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Ask VA will replace the GI Bill Help Portal and the Inquiry Routing and Information System (IRIS). The GI Bill portal will close “in a short period of time,” per the VA website, with users asked to print out or download any materials they may need for future reference. The IRIS website already has been redirected to the VA’s contact page.

Before asking a question at Ask VA, check VA.gov/resources for answers to frequently asked questions, including:

• Details on the department’s coronavirus response and resources.
• How to update your VA account, to include address changes and direct deposit information.
• Information on VA burial benefits.
• How to check on claims, including appeal options.

MOAA also offers VA-benefits resources, including an August 2021 webinar on VA benefits and other online resources.