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Content style guide

Engagement messages

Engagement messages recommend that the person enter or update data in the system. Engagement messages can be initiated by either the system or another person.

Note: The Help users to recover from errors pattern has guidance on when to consider instructing the person to call for VA.gov technical support and when to add other “next-step” calls to action.

Learn more in the Help users to recover from errors pattern

Alert length considerations

  • When possible, keep error and alert message titles (headings) to 50 characters, including spaces. Error and alert message titles should follow the general guidelines for page and section titles.
  • Keep slim alerts to 100 characters (with spaces) when possible. If you have a slim alert that’s longer than 100 characters, contact the VA.gov content and IA team. The team will work with you to edit the alert or determine if we need to make an exception (up to 150 characters).

Prompt to complete a task or enter data

Scenario Message title Message content Actions Component State Location Continue a saved application, claim, form, etc. Continue your [application, claim, form] for [benefit name] Your [application, claim, form] will expire on [Month Day, Year]. If you'd still like to submit this [application, claim, form], you'll need to do so before this date. Or you can start a new [application, claim, form] any time. Continue your [application, claim, form] (primary button); Start over (secondary button) Alert Informational Replace affected component Save your work in progress (unauthenticated), sign in not required Sign in with a verified account Here’s how signing in with an identity-verified account helps you:

• We can fill in some of your information for you to save you time.
• You can save your work in progress. You’ll have 60 days from when you start or make changes to submit your [application, claim, form].

Don’t yet have a verified account? Create an ID.me or Login.gov account. We’ll help you verify your identity for your account now.

Not sure if your account is verified? Sign in here. If you still need to verify your identity, we’ll help you do that now.

Note: You can sign in after you start filling out your [application, claim, form]. But you’ll lose any information you already filled in. Sign in or create an account (primary button); Start your [application, claim, form] without signing in (link) Alert Informational After h1 on form introduction page Save your work in progress (unauthenticated), sign in required Sign in with a verified account You’ll need to sign in with an identity-verified account through 1 of our account providers. Identity verification helps us protect all Veterans’ information and prevent scammers from stealing your benefits.

Don’t yet have a verified account? Create an ID.me or Login.gov account. We’ll help you verify your identity for your account now.

Not sure if your account is verified? Sign in here. If you still need to verify your identity, we’ll help you do that now. Sign in or create an account (primary button); Learn about creating an account (link) Alert Informational After h1 on form introduction page Optional sign in without prefill Sign in with a verified account When you sign in with an identity-verified account, you can save your work in progress. You’ll have 60 days from when you start or make changes to submit your [application, claim, form].

Don’t yet have a verified account? Create an ID.me or Login.gov account. We’ll help you verify your identity for your account now.

Not sure if your account is verified? Sign in here. If you still need to verify your identity, we’ll help you do that now.

Note: You can sign in after you start filling out your [application, claim, form]. But you’ll lose any information you already filled in. Sign in or create an account (primary button); Start your [application, claim, form] without signing in (link) Alert Informational After h1 on form introduction page Prefill: Intro variation (authenticated) We prefilled some of your information Since you’re signed in, we prefilled part of your [application, claim, form] based on your VA.gov profile. You can also save your [application, claim, form] in progress and come back later to finish filling it out.

Note: You’ll have 60 days from when you start or make updates to your [application, claim, form] to come back and finish it. N/A Alert Informational After h1 on form Introduction page Prefill: Step variation (authenticated), if saving to form and profile N/A If you make any changes here, your VA.gov profile will reflect those changes. N/A Alert Informational After Progress bar - Segmented on a Form Step page Autosave (authenticated) N/A We saved your request on [Month Day, Year] at [timestamp with time zone]. Your request ID number is [ID number]. N/A Alert - Background-only with icon Success After Button group on a Form Step page Verify your identity with ID.me or Login.gov Verify your identity We need you to verify your identity for your [ID.me, Login.gov] account. This step helps us protect all Veterans’ information and prevent scammers from stealing your benefits.

This one-time process often takes about 10 minutes. You’ll need to provide certain personal information and identification. Verify with [ID.me, Login.gov] (brand asset button) Alert Warning After h1 on form Introduction page Sign in with a different account You need to sign in with a different account We need you to sign in with an identity-verified account. This helps us protect all Veterans’ information and prevent scammers from stealing your benefits. You have 2 options: a verified ID.me or a verified Login.gov account.

If you already have an ID.me or Login.gov account, sign in with that account. If you still need to verify your identity for your account, we’ll help you do that now.

If you don’t have an ID.me or Login.gov account, create one now. We’ll help you verify your identity. Sign in with ID.me (brand asset button 1); Sign in with Login.gov (brand asset button 2); Learn about creating an account (link) Alert Warning After h1 on form Introduction page Verify a U.S. address (failure) We can’t confirm the address you entered with the U.S. Postal Service Tell us which address you’d like to use. N/A (address options appear after the alert box) Alert Warning After Check your mailing address heading
Last updated: Jul 02, 2026