2023-16049. Agency Information Collection Activity: Statement of Person Claiming To Have Stood in Relation of Parent

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Veteran's Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before September 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Nancy Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900–0059” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 266–4688 or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900–0059” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VBA invites comments on: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

Authority:38 U.S.C. 1310, 1315.

Title: Statement of Person Claiming to Have Stood in Relation of Parent (VA Form 21P–524).

OMB Control Number: 2900–0059.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through its Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), administers an integrated program of benefits and services, established by law, for veterans, service personnel, and their dependents and/or beneficiaries. Title 38 U.S.C. 5101(a) provides that a specific claim in the form provided by the Secretary must be filed in order for benefits to be paid to any individual under the laws administered by the Secretary. 38 U.S.C 1315 established Dependency Indemnity Compensation to Parents (known as Parents' DIC). Parent's DIC is a monthly benefit payable to the parent(s) of a deceased Veteran. The payable monthly benefit is dependent on the parent's (parents') annual income. Additional funds are payable to the parent(s) if they are in a patient in a nursing home, blind, so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person.

38 CFR 3.59 defines the term parent as “. . . a natural mother or father (including the mother of an illegitimate child or the father of an illegitimate child if the usual family relationship existed), mother or father through adoption, or a person who for a period of not less than 1 year stood in the relationship of a parent to a Veteran at any time before his or her entry into active service.”

The information collected will be used by VBA to evaluate a claimant's parental relationship to a deceased Veteran when the claimant is not the Veteran's natural mother or father or adopted mother or father.

Affected Public: Individuals and households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 42 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 2 hours (120 minutes).

Frequency of Response: Once.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 21.

By direction of the Secretary.

Maribel Aponte,

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.