[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 13571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7328]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this 
information collection. This request for comment is being made pursuant 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Comments should address the accuracy of the burden 
estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the use of 
automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposal for the 
collection of information should be received on or before May 28, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans 
Benefits Administration (20M30), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. All comments will become a 
matter of public record and will be summarized in the VBA request for 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document VBA is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0101.
    Title and Form Number: Eligibility Verification Reports.
    a. Old Law Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving Spouse), VA 
Form 21-0511S.
    b. Old Law Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran), VA Form 21-
0511V.
    c. Section 306 Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving Spouse), 
VA Form 21-0512S.
    d. Section 306 Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran), VA Form 
21-0512V.
    e. Old Law and Section 306 Eligibility Verification Report 
(Children Only), VA Form 21-0513.
    f. DIC Parent's Eligibility Verification Report, VA Form 21-0514.
    g. Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran With 
No Children), VA Form 21-0516.
    h. Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Veteran With 
Children), VA Form 21-0517.
    i. Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving 
Spouse With No Children), VA Form 21-0518.
    j. Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Child or 
Children), VA Form 21-0519C.
    k. Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report (Surviving 
Spouse With Children), VA Form 21-0519S.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: These reports are used by VA regional offices to 
verify continued eligibility for pension and parents' Dependency and 
Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and to determine whether adjustments in 
the rate of payment are necessary. These reports are also used for 
developing supplemental income and estate information from claimants 
who have previously filed a formal application for pension or parents' 
DIC. It would be impossible to administer the pension and parents' DIC 
programs without the collection of information.
    Current Actions: Until recently, VA was required by 38 U.S.C. 
1315(e) and 38 U.S.C. 1506(2) to secure a completed Eligibility 
Verification Report (EVR) at least once a year from every pension 
beneficiary and every parents' DIC beneficiary under the age of 72, 
showing the beneficiary's income and dependency status and verifying 
other entitlement factors. Public Law 103-271, the Board of Veterans' 
Appeals Administrative Procedures Improvement Act of 1994, amended 38 
U.S.C. 1315 and 1506 to give the Secretary of veterans Affairs 
discretionary authority to require submission of income and resource 
reports by recipients of income-based benefits. VA amended 38 CFR 3.256 
and 38 CPR 3.277 to require submission of an EVR in three instances. 
First, VA will require submission of an EVR by any beneficiary whose 
Social Security number, or whose spouse's Social Security number, has 
not been verified by the Social Security Administration. VA will also 
require beneficiaries who receive income other than Social Security to 
submit an EVR. Further, VA will require completion of an EVR if it 
determines that submission of an EVR is necessary to preserve program 
integrity.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 406,250 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 30 minutes per report.
    Frequency of Response: Semi-annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 325,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the reports should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Ron Taylor, VA Clearance Officer (045A4), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, 
Telephone (202) 565-4412 or FAX (202) 565-8267.

    Dated: March 13, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
William T. Morgan,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 96-7328 Filed 3-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P