04-8031. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service announces the proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by June 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection should be sent to the Military Pay Operations Directorate, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DFAS-PMAC/CL, ATTN: Gail Halfacre, 1240 East 9th Street, Room 2381, Cleveland, Ohio 44199.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the above address, or call Ms. Gail Halfacre, [phone].

Title, Associated Form, and OMB Number: Dependency Statements; Parent (DD Form 137-3), Child Born Out of Wedlock (DD Form 137-4), Incapacitated Child Over Age 21 (DD Form 137-5), Full Time Student 21-22 Years of Age (DD Form 137-6, and Ward of a Court (DD Form 137-7); OMB Number 0730-0014.

Needs and Uses: This information collection is used to certify dependency or obtain information to determine entitlement to basic allowance for housing (BAH) with dependent rate, travel allowance, or Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card. Information regarding a parent, a child born out-of-wedlock, an incapacitated child over age 21, a student age 21-22, or a ward of a court is provided by the military member or by another individual who may be a member of the public. Pursuant to 37 U.S.C. 401, 403, 406, and 10 U.S.C. 1072 and 1076, the member must provide more than one half of the claimed child's monthly expenses. DoDFMR 7000.14, Vol. 7A, defines dependency and directs that dependency be proven. Dependency claim examiners use the information from these forms to determine the degree of benefits. The requirement to provide the information decreases the possibility of monetary allowances being approved on behalf of ineligible dependents.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Annual Burden Hours: 24,300 hours.

Number of Respondents: 19,440.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 1.25 hours.

Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

When military members apply for benefits, they must complete the form which corresponds to the particular dependent situation (a parent, a child born out-of-wedlock, an incapacitated child over age 21, a student age 21-22, or a ward of a court). While members usually complete these forms, they can also be completed by others considered members of the public. Dependency claim examiners use the information from these forms to determine the degree of benefits. Without this collection of information, proof of an entitlement to a benefit would not exist. The requirement to complete these forms helps alleviate the opportunity for fraud, waste, and abuse of dependent benefits.

Dated: April 5, 2004.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD, Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.