E8-3239. Agency Information Collection Activities (Certification of School Attendance-REPS) 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 (VBA), 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 24, 2008.

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. 2900-0394” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], FAX [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0394.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Certification of School Attendance—REPS, VA Form 21-8926.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0394.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA Form 21-8926 is used to verify beneficiaries receiving Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors (REPS) benefits based on schoolchild status are in fact enrolled full-time in an approved school and is otherwise eligible for continued benefits. The program pays benefits to certain surviving spouses and children of veterans who died in service prior to August 13, 1981 or who died as a result of a service-connected disability incurred or aggravated prior to August 13, 1981. Beneficiaries over age 18 and under age 23 must be enrolled full-time in an approved post-secondary school at the beginning of the school year to continue receiving REPS benefits.

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 1, 2007, at page 55858.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 300 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 15 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.

Dated: February 12, 2008.

By direction of the Secretary.

Denise McLamb,

Program Analyst, Records Management Service.