[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 15678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07462]



[[Page 15678]]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0495]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Marital 
Status Questionnaire

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, 
this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit 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 and it 
includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 
17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0495'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny S. Green at (202) 421-1354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 101(3), 103.
    Title: Marital Status Questionnaire, VA Form 21P-0537.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0495.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through its 
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), administers an integrated 
program of benefits and services established by law for Veterans, 
service personnel, and their dependents and/or beneficiaries. VA Form 
21P-0537 Marital Status Questionnaire is used to confirm the marital 
status of a surviving spouse in receipt of Dependency and Indemnity 
Compensation (DIC) benefits. If a surviving spouse remarries, he or she 
is no longer entitled to DIC unless the marriage began after age 57 or 
has been terminated. Information is requested by this form under the 
authority of 38 U.S.C. 101(3) and 38 U.S.C. 103.
    VA Form 21P-0537 is used by VBA to verify a surviving spouse's 
current marital status to determine his or her continuing entitlement 
to DIC benefits. The form letter is automatically generated and mailed 
to DIC beneficiaries. Agency action depends on the information provided 
by the beneficiary. If the information provided supports the 
beneficiary's continued entitlement to benefits, no action is taken. If 
the information provided by the beneficiary does not support continued 
entitlement to benefits, VA will act to terminate benefit payments, 
based on the facts found.
    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 at 84 FR 2949 on February 8, 2019, page 2949.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,484.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17,808.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Danny S. Green,
VA Interim Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Performance, and Risk, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-07462 Filed 4-15-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P