2022-08311. Agency Information Collection Activity: Application for Burial Benefits (Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23)

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before June 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0003” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 1717 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0003” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VBA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 2302, 2303, 2304, 2307, and 2308.

Title: Application for Burial Benefits (Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23), VA Form 21P-530EZ.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0003.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The major use of the form is to determine a claimant's eligibility to for monetary burial benefits, including the burial allowance, plot or interment allowance, and transportation reimbursement for a deceased Veteran.

The respondent burden has increased due to the estimated number of receivables averaged over the past year.

VA Form 21P-530EZ has been updated as follows:

• Updated instructions to reflect the regulation change and updates to the form
• Split Section I into Section I—Veteran's Information and Section II—Claimant's Information
• Moved Veteran's Information Questions to Section I
• Changed Section Titles to Section III—Veteran's Service Information; Section IV—Information Regarding Final Resting Place; Section V—Claim for Burial Allowance; Section VI—Claim for Plot and/or Transportation Allowance
• Question 18—added Tribal trust land, name of cemetery or tribal trust land and zip code FNP>
• Question 20A—removed VA Hospitalization Death/Amount paid from (now covered under non-service-connected burial allowance)
• Moved Question 20A to Section VI (now question 23)

Affected Public: Individuals and households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 64,223.50 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 128,447.

By direction of the Secretary.

Maribel Aponte,

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