[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17139-17140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06318]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0004]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Application for 
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension and Accrued 
Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (Including Death Compensation 
if Available); Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by 
a Surviving Spouse or Child--In-Service Death Only; Application for 
DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits

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 revision 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 May 24, 2022.

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. 2900-0004'' 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. 2900-0004'' 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: Title 38 U.S.C. 1151; 1310; 1541; 1542; 5101(a); and 
5121.
    Title:

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          VA Form no.                             Title
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21P-534.......................  Application for Dependency and Indemnity
                                 Compensation, Survivors Pension and
                                 Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse
                                 or Child (Including Death Compensation
                                 if Available).
21P-534a......................  Application for Dependency and Indemnity
                                 Compensation by a Surviving Spouse or
                                 Child--In-Service Death Only.
21P-534EZ.....................  Application for DIC, Survivors Pension,
                                 and/or Accrued Benefits.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0004.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The VA Form 21P-534 is used to gather the necessary 
information to determine the eligibility of surviving spouses and 
children for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), death 
pension, accrued benefits, and death compensation. VA Form 21P-534a is 
an abbreviated application for DIC that is used only by surviving 
spouses and children of veterans who died while on active duty service. 
The VA Form 21P-534EZ is used for the Fully Developed Claims (FDC) 
program for pension claims, DIC and accrued claims.
    VA Form 21P-534EZ has been updated, to include:
     Removed all Parent's DIC questions from the form as this 
will be covered under the VA Form 21-535, Application for Dependency 
and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (Including Accrued Benefits and 
Death Compensation When Applicable).
     Updated instructions.
     Added an optional use Survivors Benefits Application 
Checklist for applicant's benefit to assist in organizing submission of 
claim.
     Separated Section I and II to include Veteran's 
Identification Information/Claimant's Identification Information.
     Removed questions--How many times veteran married?/How 
many times claimant married? as regulations allow.
     Removed mailing address of nursing home or facility from 
Section

[[Page 17140]]

VIII as this is covered in the Worksheet the claimant is directed to 
complete.
     Added an income source section and updated Section IV 
instructions to reflect this change.
     Added an Alternate Signer Certification and Signature 
(Section XVI).
     Restructured Worksheet for An Assisted Living, Adult 
Daycare, or a Similar Facility and Worksheet for In-Home Attendant 
Expenses and questions removed for better clarity.
     New standardization data points; to include optical 
character recognition boxes. This is a non-substantive change.
     The burden has been increased from 25 to 40 minutes as the 
25 minute time frame did not fit the length of this form.
    No changes have been made to the VA Form 21P-534, and VA Form 21P-
534a.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 130,138 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 43 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 181,588.

    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. 2022-06318 Filed 3-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P