[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 194 (Friday, October 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59200-59201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16513]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0017]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits 
Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the 
collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes 
the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and 
burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 6, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise McLamb, Initiative Coordination 
Service (005G1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 565-8374, fax (202) 565-7870 or e-mail 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0017.'' Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources 
and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-7316. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 
2900-0017'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title:
    a. Annual-Final Report and Account, VA Form 21-4706.
    b. Federal Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706b.
    c. Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706c.
    d. Account Book, VA Form 21-4718.
    e. Certificate of Balance on Deposit and Authorization to Disclose 
Financial Records (Pursuant to Title 38, U.S.C., Chapter 55 and Title 
12, U.S.C., Chapter 35), VA Form 27-4718a.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0017.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA maintain supervision of the distribution and use of VA 
benefits paid to fiduciaries on behalf of VA claimants who are 
incompetent, a minor, or under legal disability. The forms are used to 
verify beneficiaries' deposit remaining at a financial institution 
against a fiduciary's accounting. The following forms will be used to 
ensure claimants' benefits payments are administered properly.
    a. VA Forms 21-4706, 4706b and 4706c are used by estate to 
determine proper usage of benefits paid to fiduciaries. The 21-4706 and 
21-4706b are both necessary to conform to requirement of various state 
courts.
    b. VA Form 21-4718 is provided to VA fiduciaries to submit 
accountings to either State courts or the VA. It is not a reporting 
form per se, but a vehicle to assist the fiduciary in accurately 
maintaining records of monies received and spent.
    c. VA Form 21-4718a--Fiduciaries are required to obtain 
certifications that the balances remaining on deposit in financial 
institutions as shown on accountings are correct. Certifying official 
at a financial institution completing the form must affix the 
institution's official seal or stamp. The data collected is used to 
appoint an appropriate fiduciary for a VA beneficiary and to prevent 
fiduciaries from supplying false certification, embezzling funds, and 
possibly prevent and/or identify fraud, waste and abuse of government 
funds paid to fiduciaries on behalf of VA beneficiaries.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published on May 18, 2006 at page 28918.

[[Page 59201]]

    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 29,566.
    a. Annual-Final Report and Account, VA Form 21-4706--1,100.
    b. Federal Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706b--6,300.
    c. Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706c--2,000.
    d. Account Book, VA Form 21-4718--20,000.
    e. Certificate of Balance on Deposit and Authorization to Disclose 
Financial Records, Pursuant to Title 38, U.S.C., Chapter 55 and Title 
12, U.S.C., Chapter 35) VA Form 27-4718a--165.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:
    a. Annual-Final Report and Account, VA Form 21-4706--30 minutes.
    b. Federal Fiduciary's Accounts, VA Form 21-4706b--27 minutes.
    c. Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706c--30 
minutes.
    d. Account Book, VA Form 21-4718--2\1/2\ hours.
    e. Certificate of Balance on Deposit and Authorization to Disclose 
Financial Records, Pursuant to Title 38, U.S.C., Chapter 55 and Title 
12, U.S.C., Chapter 35) VA Form 27-4718a--3 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 31,512.
    a. Annual-Final Report and Account, VA Form 21-4706--2,200.
    b. Federal Fiduciary's Accounts, VA Form 21-4706b--14,000.
    c. Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706c--4,000.
    d. Account Book, VA Form 21-4718--8,000.
    e. Certificate of Balance on Deposit and Authorization to Disclose 
Financial Records, Pursuant to Title 38, U.S.C., Chapter 55 and Title 
12, U.S.C., Chapter 35), VA Form 27-4718a--3,312.

    Dated: September 25, 2006.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Denise McLamb,
Program Analyst, Initiative Coordination Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-16513 Filed 10-5-06; 8:45 am]
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