04-28592. Agency Information Collection Activities 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. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted 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 includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before January 31, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., or e-mail [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0474.” Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the information collection 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. 2900-0474” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Create Payment Request for the VA Funding Fee Pay System (VA FFPS); A Computer Generated Funding Fee Receipt, VA Form 26-8986.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0474.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Veterans obtaining a VA-guaranteed home loan must pay a funding fee to VA before the loan can be guaranteed. The only exceptions are loans made to veterans receiving VA compensation for service-connected disabilities, (or veterans whom, but for receipt of retirement pay, would be entitled to receive compensation) and unmarried surviving spouses of veterans who died in active military service or from service-connected disability regardless of whether the spouse has his or her own eligibility.

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 September 15, 2004, at pages 55663-55664.

Affected Public: Business or other for profit and individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 14,167 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 2 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One-time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 425,000.

Dated: December 15, 2004.

By direction of the Secretary.

Loise Russell,

Director, Records Management Service.