2012-23650. Agency Information Collection (Access to Financial Records) 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, 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; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before October 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov or to VA's OMB Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0739” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], Fax [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0739.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Access to Financial Records, 38 CFR 3.115.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0739.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Under 38 CFR 3.115, VA is authorized to request access to financial records to obtain the current address of beneficiaries from financial institutions in receipt of a VA direct deposit payment. VA will only request the current address for beneficiaries whose mail was returned to the 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 on July 19, 2012, at pages 42556-42557.

Affected Public: Business or Other for Profit.

Estimated Annual Burden: 4,167 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.

Dated: September 21, 2012.

By direction of the Secretary.

Denise McLamb,

Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service.