Veterans know that there are times they need official evidence (letters and documents) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prove their military status — accessing certain benefits being one of the most crucial instances.

Thankfully, the VA now has a feature on their website Vets.gov that gives vets the power to download these official articles. It’s a tool called “Access Your VA Letters”, and one can use it by clicking here.

Before one of your documents or letters is available to be downloaded, the VA site will ask to verify your identity as well as your current address. If it’s not correct, it can be changed and updated — however, having an incorrect address doesn’t invalidate it as being official and serving its purpose as proof of status.

If you need a document or letter that isn’t available through the portal, or if you need to add an effective date to your Benefit Summary Letter, click here.

If you’re having any problems downloading, you can call the Vets.gov Help Desk: 1-855-574-8339 (they’re there Monday through Friday 8 am to 8 pm EST).