2022-17199. Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Authorization To Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party-Education Benefits

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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, and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations for the newly proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-NEW.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-NEW” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority:38 CFR 1.526(a) and 38 CFR 1.576(b).

Title: Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party—Education Benefits, VAF 22-10278.

OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW.

Type of Review: New Information Collection (ICR).

Abstract: VA Form 22-10278 is used to release information in its custody or control in the following circumstances: where the individual identifies the particular information and consents to its use; for the purpose for which it was collected or a consistent purpose ( i.e., a purpose which the individual might have reasonably expected). By law, VA must have a claimants or beneficiary's written permission (an “authorization”) to use or give out claim or benefit information for any purpose that is not contained in VA's System of Records, 58VA21/22/28 Compensation, Pension, Education and Veteran Readiness and Employment Records—VA. The claimant or beneficiary may revoke the authorization at any time, except if VA has already acted based on the claimant's permission. This form is designed to permit the beneficiary the opportunity to authorize release of information specific to their claim or benefits to a designated third party. Without this form, such information cannot be released by VA.

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 at 87 FR 12106 on June 6, 2022, on page 34348.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,667 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Time per Respondent: 5 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Once.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000.

By direction of the Secretary.

Maribel Aponte,

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