2021-25007. Agency Information Collection Activity: COVID-19 Refund Modification

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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 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. 2900-0891.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 1717 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0891” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: 38 CFR 36.4338(a).

Title: COVID-19 Refund Modification.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0891.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA is temporarily expanding the list of loan modification options available to servicers that do not require VA's prior approval to include a new loan modification, the COVID-19 Refund Modification, to assist certain COVID-impacted veterans as they exit a COVID-19 forbearance. Under 38 U.S.C. 3720(a)(2), Congress has provided the Secretary with discretion “[n]otwithstanding the provisions of any other law” to set the terms and conditions to which the Secretary will consent to loan modifications. Additionally, while VA has outlined in regulation at 38 CFR 36.4315(a) the terms of loan modifications that do not require prior VA approval, VA may waive a regulatory requirement if VA finds the interest of the Government are not adversely affected and such waiver would relieve undue prejudice to a debtor, holder, or other person without impairing the vest rights of any person affected. 38 CFR 36.4338(a).

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 50210 on September 7, 2021, pages 50210 and 50211.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 25,800.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 90 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 17,200.

By direction of the Secretary.

Maribel Aponte,

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.