E8-7140. Agency Information Collection (Financial Counseling Statement) 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. 3501-3521), 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 May 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through http://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. 2900-0270” 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. 2900-0270.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Financial Counseling Statement, VA Form 26-8844.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0270.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA personnel and veteran-borrower complete VA Form 26-8844 during financial counseling service to record net income, total expenditure, net worth, and to suggest areas where expenses can be reduced or income increased. Financial counseling service is provided to assist veteran-borrowers in retaining their homes during periods of temporary financial difficulty. The data collected is used to help borrowers who are seriously delinquent on guaranteed or insured VA home loans to budget and establish a repayment schedule for the loan.

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 January 22, 2008, at pages 3806-3807.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 3,750 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 45 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000.

Dated: March 28, 2008.

By direction of the Secretary.

Denise McLamb,

Program Analyst, Records Management Service.