83 FR 30226 - Agency Information Collection Activity: Request for Substitution of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 124 (June 27, 2018)

Veteran's Benefits Administration (VBA), 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.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30226-30227]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13817]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0740]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Request for Substitution 
of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veteran's Benefits Administration (VBA), 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.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before August 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Nancy Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email 
to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0740'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may 
be viewed online through FDMS.

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: 38 U.S.C. 5121(a).
    Title: Request for Substitution of Claimant Upon Death of Claimant.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0740.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through its 
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), administers an integrated 
program of benefits and services established by law for veterans, 
service personnel, and their dependents and/or beneficiaries. 
Information requested by this form is authorized under the authority of 
38 U.S.C. 5121A, Payment of Certain Accrued Benefits Upon Death of a 
Beneficiary.
    VA Form 21P-0847, Application for Request to Substitute Claimant, 
will be used to allow claimants to request substitution for a claimant 
who passed away prior to VA processing a claim to

[[Page 30227]]

completion. This is only allowed when a claimant dies while a claim or 
appeal for any benefit under a law administered by the VA is pending. 
The substitute claimant would be eligible to receive accrued benefits 
due a deceased claimant under Section 5121(a). The substitute claim 
must be filed no later than one year after the date of the death of the 
claimant. By law, VA must have a claimant's or beneficiary's written 
permission (an ``authorization'') to be a substitute claimant. The 
claimant or beneficiary may revoke the authorization at any time, 
except if VA has already acted based on the permission.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,557 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000.


    By direction of the Secretary.
Cynthia D. Harvey-Pryor,
Department Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Privacy and Risk, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-13817 Filed 6-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P