2014-02622. Agency Information Collection (Annual Certification of Veteran Status and Veteran-Relatives) 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 (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 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov,, or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0654” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0654.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Annual Certification of Veteran Status and Veteran-Relatives, VA Form 20-0344.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0654.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VBA employees, non-VBA employees in VBA space and Veteran Service Organization employees who have access to VA's benefit records complete VA Form 20-0344. The individuals are required to provide personal identifying information on themselves and any Veteran relatives, in order for VA to identify and protect benefit records. VA uses the information collected to determine which benefit records require special handling to guard against fraud, conflict of interest, improper influence etc. by VA and non-VA employees.

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 November 15, 2013 at page 68905.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 5,834 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 25 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,000.

Dated: February 4, 2014.

By direction of the Secretary.

Crystal Rennie,

Department Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.