[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 83 (Monday, May 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 23492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09128]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0115]


Agency Information Collection Activity under OMB Review: 
Supporting Statement Regarding Marriage

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: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Refer to 
``OMB Control No. 2900-0115.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise 
and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 1717 H Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email [email protected]. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0115'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 103.
    Title: Supporting Statement Regarding Marriage (VA Form 21P-4171).
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0115.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement without change of a previously 
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. Title 38 
U.S.C. 5101(a) provides that a specific claim in the form provided by 
the Secretary must be filed in order for benefits to be paid to any 
individual under the laws administered by the Secretary. VBA utilizes 
VA Form 21P-4171 to collect information from third parties regarding 
claimed common-law marriage between Veterans and spouse/surviving 
spouses. VBA used this the information collected to determine whether 
or not the claimed common-law marriage is valid under the laws of the 
state/territory where the parties resided at the time of marriage or 
the laws of the state/territory where the parties resided when the 
right to benefits accrued, in accordance with 38 CFR 3.1(j) and pay 
monetary benefits. In an effort to safeguard Veterans and their 
beneficiaries from financial exploitation, the instructions on 21P-4171 
were amended to include information regarding VA-accredited attorneys 
or agents charging fees in connection with a proceeding before the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to a claim.
    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 86 FR 35 on February 24, 2021, page 11385.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 800 Hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 20 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,400.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data 
Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-09128 Filed 4-30-21; 8:45 am]
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