[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47374-47375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18116]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0618]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Application by Insured 
Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated Benefit

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to 
publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed 
collection of information, including each proposed extension of a 
currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in 
response to the notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before October 25, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-0618'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

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. 2900-0618'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must 
obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for 
comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Authority: Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
    Title: Application by Insured Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated 
Benefit Form SGLI 8284.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0618.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA has amended regulations for the Servicemembers' Group 
Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) 
programs to add accelerated death benefit (Accelerated Benefit) 
provisions that permit terminally ill policyholders access to the death 
benefits of their policies before they die. Traditionally, an 
individual purchases life insurance in order to safeguard his or her 
dependents against major financial loss due to his or her death. Life 
insurance serves to

[[Page 47375]]

replace the lost income of an insured and to provide for his or her 
final expenses. In recent years, the insurance industry has recognized 
the financial needs of terminally ill policyholders and has begun 
offering policies with accelerated benefit provisions. A recent 
statutory amendment (Section 302 of the Veterans Programs Enhancement 
Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-368, 112 Stat. 3315, 3332-3333) added section 
1980 to Title 38, United States Code, which extends an accelerated 
benefit option to terminally ill persons insured in the SGLI and VGLI 
programs. This form expired due to high volume of work and staffing 
changes.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 40 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 12 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One-time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

    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. 2021-18116 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P