02-11234. 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 et seq.), 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; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before June 6, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Information Management Service (045A4), 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.” 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. 2900-0270” in any correspondence.

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: The form is an integral part of VA's supplemental servicing program for helping veteran-borrowers who are seriously delinquent on guaranteed or insured VA home loans. In VA's supplemental servicing effort, financial counseling is performed in appropriate cases to afford veteran-borrowers the maximum assistance possible to retain their homes during periods of temporary financial difficulty. The information collected is used to make recommendations to the borrower in an effort to help the borrower cure the default status of 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 February 21, 2002, at pages 8067 and 8068.

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 Total Respondents: 5,000.

Dated: April 23, 2002.

By direction of the Secretary.

Genie McCully,

Acting Director, Information Management Service.