2019-19246. Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: VA Fiduciary's Account, Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account, and Certificate of Balance on Deposit and Authorization To Disclose Financial Records

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, 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:

Comments must be submitted on or before October 7, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov,, or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0017” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Danny S. Green, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 811 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0017” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-21.

Title: Supplement to VA Forms 21P-4706b, 21P-4706c and 21P-4718a.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0017.

Type of Review: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.

Abstract: VA maintains supervision of the distribution and use of VA benefits paid to fiduciaries on behalf of VA beneficiaries who are incompetent, a minor, or under legal disability. The forms are used to verify beneficiaries' deposit remaining at a financial institution against a fiduciary's accounting. The following forms will be used to ensure claimants' benefits payments are administered properly.

(a) VA Forms 21P-4706b and 4706c are used by VA to determine proper usage of benefits paid to fiduciaries. The 21P-4706c is provided to assist VA fiduciaries in conforming to requirements of various State courts.

(b) VA Form 21P-4718a—Fiduciaries are required to obtain certifications that the balances remaining on deposit in financial institutions as shown on accountings are correct. Certifying official at a financial institution completing the form must affix the institution's official seal or stamp. The data collected is used to confirm appointment of a fiduciary for a VA beneficiary and to prevent fiduciaries from supplying false certification, embezzling funds, and possibly prevent and/or identify fraud, waste and abuse of government funds paid to fiduciaries on behalf of VA beneficiaries.

Without this information, VA would be unable to determine if the veteran's fiduciary is properly using the funds for this benefit according to VA law. The forms were inadvertently allowed to expire due to competing priorities at 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 84 FR 117 on June 18, 2019, pages 28395 and 28396.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Average Annual Burden: 11,167 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 20 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 33,500.

By direction of the Secretary.

Danny S. Green,

Interim VA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality Performance and Risk, Department of Veterans Affairs.