2013-23136. Agency Information Collection (Application for Refund of Educational Contributions) Activity 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 24, 2013.

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. 2900-0261” 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] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0261.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions (VEAP, Chapter 32, Title 38, U.S.C.), VA Form 22-5281.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0261.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Veterans and service persons complete VA Form 22-5281 to request a refund of their contribution to the Post-Vietnam Veterans Education Program. Contribution made into the Post-Vietnam Veterans Education Program may be refunded only after the participant has disenrolled from the program. Request for refund of contribution prior to discharge or release from active duty will be refunded on the date of the participant's discharge or release from activity duty or within 60 days of receipt of notice by the Secretary of the participant's discharge or disenrollment. Refunds may be made earlier in instances of hardship or other good reasons. Participants who stop their enrollment from the program after discharge or release from active duty contributions will be refunded within 60 days of receipt of their application.

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 June 18, 2013 at page 36643.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 85 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 511.

Dated: September 19, 2013.

By direction of the Secretary.

Crystal Rennie,

VA Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.