83 FR 12653 - Agency Information Collection Activity: Application by Insured Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated Benefit

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 56 (March 22, 2018)

Veterans Benefits Administrations, 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 extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed from veterans to process accelerated death benefit payment.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12653-12654]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05852]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0618]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Application by Insured 
Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated Benefit

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits Administrations, 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 extension of a 
currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in 
response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information 
needed from veterans to process accelerated death benefit payment.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before May 21, 2018.

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 Administrations (20M33), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-0618'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

[[Page 12654]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Harvey-Pryor at (202) 461-
5870.

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: Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
    Title: Application by Insured Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated 
Benefit Form SGLI 8284.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0618.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement without change of a previously 
approved collection.
    Abstract: VA has amended regulations for the Servicemembers' Group 
Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) 
programs to add accelerated death benefit (Accelerated Benefit) 
provisions that permit terminally ill policyholders access to the death 
benefits of their policies before they die. Traditionally, an 
individual purchases life insurance in order to safeguard his or her 
dependents against major financial loss due to his or her death. Life 
insurance serves to replace the lost income of an insured and to 
provide for his or her final expenses. In recent years, the insurance 
industry has recognized the financial needs of terminally ill 
policyholders and has begun offering policies with accelerated benefit 
provisions. A recent statutory amendment (Section 302 of the Veterans 
Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-368, 112 Stat. 3315, 
3332-3333) added section 1980 to Title 38, United States Code, which 
extends an accelerated benefit option to terminally ill persons insured 
in the SGLI and VGLI programs. This form expired due to high volume of 
work and staffing changes.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 40 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 12 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One-time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,
Department Clearance Officer, Office of Quality and Compliance, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-05852 Filed 3-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P