[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 174 (Friday, September 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47236-47238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22749]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collections; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on these 
information collections. This request for comments 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 proposals for the 
collection of information should be received by no later than November 
5, 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 the 
VBA is soliciting comments concerning the following information 
collections:

    OMB Control Number: None assigned.

[[Page 47237]]

    Title and Form Number: State Application for Interment Allowance 
Under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 23, VA Form 21-530a.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Need and Uses: The information is requested under the authority of 
Title 38 U.S.C., 2303, which authorizes payment to a State of $150 as a 
plot or internment allowance for the burial of an eligible veteran in a 
cemetery owed by that State and used solely for the interment of 
persons eligible for burial in a national cemetery.
    Current Actions: Title 38 U.S.C., 2304, requires that applications 
for payment must be made within 2 years of the burial of the veteran. 
The use of VA Form 21-530a will allow the State to consolidate 
applications for submission for payment. This information will reduce 
the processing time and ensure payment to the State in a more timely 
manner. VA Form 21-531a will be used to gather information from a State 
that is seeking payment of benefits for plot-interment allowances. This 
information is necessary for payment of the allowance.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 20,000 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 30 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0104.
    Title and Form Number: Report of Accidental Injury in Support of 
Claim for Compensation or Benefits, VA Form 21-4176.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The form is used in support of claims for disability 
benefits based on disability which is the result of an accident. The 
information given by the veteran is used as a source to gather specific 
data regarding the accident and to afford the veteran an opportunity to 
provide information from his or her own knowledge regarding the 
accident.
    Current Actions: The VA gathers the information to comply with 
Title 38 U.S.C., 105, 1110, 1131, and 1521a, which provide basic 
requirements for line of duty and misconduct determinations. Benefits 
may be paid if a disability is incurred in line of duty and is not the 
result of the veteran's own willful misconduct under 38 CFR 3.301.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 2,200 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 30 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,400.

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0198.
    Title and Form Number: Application for Annual Clothing Allowance, 
VA Form 21-8678.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The form is used to gather the necessary information 
to determine if the veteran has established entitlement to a clothing 
allowance payment.
    Current Actions: The information is requested under the authority 
of Title 38 U.S.C., 1162, which provides a clothing allowance to a 
veteran who has service connected disability that causes him or her to 
wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance which tends to wear 
out or tear clothing. 38 CFR 3.810 grants entitlement to the clothing 
allowance upon application by the veteran.

    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,120 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,720.

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0379.
    Title and Form Number: Work-Study Time Record (Student Services), 
VA Form 22-8690.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The information is used to ensure that the amount of 
benefits payable to the student who is pursuing work-study is correct. 
Without the information, the VBA would not have a basis upon which to 
make payment.
    Current Actions: The VA has authority to pay work study allowance 
to veterans, reservists, and qualified dependents under Chapters 30, 
32, and 25, Title 38 U.S.C., Chapter 1606, Title 10 U.S.C. Benefits are 
payable after completion of 50 hours of service after the initial 
advance payment is made (100 hours). VA Form 22-8690 serves as the 
report of hours completed.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Individuals or 
households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 12,975 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 51,900.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0399.
    Title and Form Number: Student Beneficiary Report - REPS, VA Form 
21-8938.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The form is used to verify that an individual who is 
receiving the REPS (Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors) 
benefits based on schoolchild status is in fact enrolled full-time in 
an approved school and is otherwise eligible for continued benefits. 
The form is released each March and sent to all student beneficiaries. 
If the form were not used, payments would continue to be made to 
ineligible payees and substantial overpayments would result.
    Current Actions: The program pays VA benefits to certain surviving 
spouses and children of veterans who died in service prior to August 
13, 1981, or who died as a result of a service-connected disability 
incurred or aggravated prior to August 13, 1981. Child beneficiaries 
must be enrolled full-time in an approved post-secondary school.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,767 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 20 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,300.

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0460.
    Title and Form Number: Request for Verification of Employment, VA 
Form 26-8497.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The form is used by lenders to verify a loan 
applicant's income and employment information when making guaranteed 
and insured loans. The VA, however, does not require the exclusive use 
of VA Form 26-8497 for verification purposes; any comprehensible form 
of independent verification would be acceptable, provided all 
information presently shown on VA Form 26-8497 is provided. VA Form 26-
8497 is also used in processing direct loan cases, offers on acquired 
properties, and release of liability/substitution of entitlement cases 
when needed.
    Current Actions: The VA collects data necessary for compliance with 
the requirements of Title 38 U.S.C. 3710(b) (2) and (3). These 
requirements prohibit the VA from guarantying or making any loan unless 
the contemplated terms of payment required in the mortgage, to be

[[Page 47238]]

given in part payment of the purchase price or the construction cost, 
bear a proper relation to the veteran's present and anticipated income 
and expenses and that the veteran is a satisfactory credit risk.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 58,750 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 235,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the formd should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Jacquie McCray, Information Management Service (045A4), 
810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 273-8032 
or FAX (202) 273-5981.

    Dated: August 22, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 96-22749 Filed 9-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P