2013-02023. Agency Information Collection (Verification of VA Benefits) Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

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, 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; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov or to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0406” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Crystal Rennie, Records Management Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], FAX [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0406.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Verification of VA Benefits, VA Form 26-8937.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0406.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Lenders authorized to make VA-guaranteed home or manufactured loans on an automatic basis are required to determine through VA whether any benefits related debts exist in the veteran-borrower's name prior to the closing of any automatic loan. Lenders cannot close any proposed automatic loan until evidence is received from VA stating that there is no debt, or if a debt exists, or the veteran has agreed on an acceptable repayment plan, or payments under a plan already in effect are current. VA Form 26-8937 is used to assist lenders and VA in the completion of debt checks in a uniform manner. The form restricts information requested to only that which is needed for the debt check and to eliminate unlimited versions of lender-designed forms. The form also informs the lender whether or not the veteran is exempt from paying the funding fee, which must be collected on all VA home loans unless the veteran is receiving service-connected disability compensation.

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 October 19, 2012, at page 64383.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 10,000 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One-time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 120,000.

Dated: January 25, 2013.

By direction of the Secretary.

William F. Russo,

Deputy Director, Office of Regulations Policy and Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.