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Content style guide

System messages

System messages alert the person of important system-related issues or statuses. System messages are initiated by the system and not by the person’s actions.

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

Scheduled downtime notifications

Scenario Message title Message content Component State Site-wide         Advance notification Upcoming site maintenance We’ll be working on VA.gov soon. During that time, you won’t be able to sign in or use tools.

Start time: Month Day, Year, at 0:00 a.m. ET
End time: Month Day, Year, at 0:00 a.m. ET Maintenance banner Before maintenance During downtime Site maintenance We're working on VA.gov right now. If you have trouble signing in or using tools, check back after we're finished. Thank you for your patience.

Start time: Month Day, Year, at 0:00 a.m. ET
End time: Month Day, Year, at 0:00 a.m. ET Maintenance banner During maintenance Entire site is accessible We're working on the site We’re working on VA.gov right now. You should still be able to sign in and use tools. But if you have any trouble, check back later. Maintenance banner Warning In an application, claim, form, tool, etc.         During downtime We're working on [name] right now If you have trouble using this [application, claim, form, tool], check back after [Month Day, Year] at [0:00 a.m./p.m. ET]. Modal Warning Partial downtime notification Some tools or services aren't working right now You may have trouble accessing some features on VA.gov at this time. We’re working to fix this. Check back later. Alert Warning General error (500), version 1 This [tool, application, form] isn’t working right now We’re sorry. There’s a problem with [name]. Refresh this page or try again later.

[Add instructions for who to contact or how to remedy the problem.] N/A Alert General error (500), version 2 Sorry, we couldn’t complete your request [Name] isn’t working as expected. [Add instructions to remedy the problem or when to come back and try again.] N/A Alert General error (500), version 3 We can’t access your [type of information] right now We’re sorry. There’s a problem with our system. Check back later.

[Add instructions to remedy the problem or when to come back and try again.] N/A Alert Sign-in page         During downtime You may have trouble signing in with your [ID.me, Login.gov]account We’re sorry. We’re working to fix a problem with our [ID.me, Login.gov] account sign-in process. If you’d like to sign in to VA.gov with this account, check back later. Alert Warning

Unscheduled downtime notifications

Scenario Message title Message content Component State Site-wide         During downtime Site maintenance We’re working on VA.gov right now. If you have trouble signing in or using tools, check back after we’re finished. Thank you for your patience.

Start time: Month Day, Year, at 0:00 a.m. ET
End time: Month Day, Year, at 0:00 a.m. ET Maintenance banner During maintenance In an application, claim, form, tool, etc.         During downtime We're working on [name] We’re making some updates to this [application, claim, form, tool]. We’re sorry it’s not working right now. Check back later. Modal Informational Sign-in page         During downtime You may have trouble signing in with your [ID.me, Login.gov] account We’re sorry. We’re working to fix some problems with our [ID.me, Login.gov] account sign-in process. If you’d like to sign in to VA.gov with this account, check back later. Alert Warning

Updates to user data (system-initiated)

Note: We wrote some messages to reflect the example. We’ll add other variations to the expanded dictionary section.

Scenario Message title Message content Actions Component State Location Status update (ex. claim closed) Your [claim type] claim update Our records show that we closed your claim on [Month Day, Year]. N/A Alert Informational Replace affected component Action required (ex. claim evidence request) We need your help to finish reviewing your claim Provide more evidence (supporting documents) so we can finish reviewing your claim. Review details Alert Warning Before 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 identify-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 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 Identity verification 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
Last updated: Feb 04, 2026