05-16236. 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. 3501-3521), 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 September 16, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), 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. 2900-2900-0576.”

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. 2900-0576” in any correspondence.

Title: Certificate of Affirmation of Enrollment Agreement—Correspondence Course (Under Chapters 20, 32, & 35, Title 38 U.S.C., Section 903 of PL 96-342, or Chapter 1606, Title 10, U.S.C.), VA Form 22-1999c.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0576.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Claimants enrolled in a correspondence training course complete VA Form 22-1999c and submit the form to the correspondence school to affirm the enrollment agreement contract. The certifying official at the correspondence school submit the form and the enrollment certification to VA for processing. VA uses the information to determine if the claimant signed and dated the form during the ten-day reflection period deciding whether to enroll in the correspondence course and if such course is suitable to his or her abilities and interest. In addition, the claimant must sign VA Form 22-1999c on or after the twelfth day the enrollment agreement was dated. VA will not pay educational benefits for correspondence training that was completed nor accept the affirmation agreement that was signed and dated on or before the enrollment agreement date.

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 April 4, 2005 at pages 17145-17146.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 135 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 3 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,700.

Dated: August 9, 2005.

By direction of the Secretary.

Denise McLamb,

Program Analyst, Records Management Service.