[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18484-18485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06651]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0002]


Agency Information Collection Activity: 21P-527 Income, Net Worth 
and Employment Statement; 21P-527EZ Application for Veterans Pension

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 May 31, 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdd3dcd3dec493d6d8ceced4d3dad8cffdcbdc93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="335d525d504a1d585640405a5d5456417345521d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-0002'' 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, (202) 266-4688 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#600d01120902050c4e01100f0e14052016014e070f16"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="224f43504b40474e0c43524d4c56476254430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0002'' 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. 5101(a), 38 CFR 1502, 38 CFR 1503.
    Title: 21P-527 Income, Net Worth and Employment Statement; 21P-
527EZ Application for Veterans Pension.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0002.
    Type of Review: Revision 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. Title 38 
U.S.C. 5101(a), 38 CFR 1502, 38 CFR 1503 provides that a specific claim 
in the form provided by the Secretary must be filed in order for 
benefits to be

[[Page 18485]]

paid to any individual under the laws administered by the Secretary. VA 
Form 21P-527EZ, Application for Pension, is the prescribed form for 
Veterans Pension applications. VA Form 21P-527 Income, Net Worth and 
Employment Statement, is used by Veterans to apply for pension benefits 
after they have previously applied for pension or for service-connected 
disability compensation using one of the prescribed forms. A Veteran 
might reapply for pension using this form if a previous compensation or 
pension claim was denied or discontinued, or if the Veteran is 
receiving compensation and the veteran now believes that pension would 
be a greater benefit.
    The following updates were made:

<bullet> VA Form 21P-527EZ, Application for Veterans Pension
<bullet> VA Form 21P-527, Income, Net Worth and Employment Statement

    VA Form 21P-527EZ has been updated, to include:
    <bullet> Updated instructions.
    <bullet> Added an optional use Veterans Benefits Application 
Checklist for applicant's benefit to assist in organizing submission of 
claim
    <bullet> Separated Section I and II to split Veteran's 
Identification Information from contact information
    <bullet> Removed questions--How many times veteran married?/How 
many times Spouse married? as regulations allow
    <bullet> Removed mailing address of nursing home or facility from 
Section VIII as this is covered in the Worksheet the claimant is 
directed to complete.
    <bullet> Added an income source section and updated Section IX 
instructions to reflect this change.
    <bullet> Added an Alternate Signer Certification and Signature 
(Section XIII).
    <bullet> Restructured Worksheet for An Assisted Living, Adult 
Daycare, or a Similar Facility and the Worksheet for In-Home Attendant 
Expenses and questions removed for better clarity.
    New standardization data points; to include optical character 
recognition boxes. This is a non-substantive change.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 24,731 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 27.5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53,958.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data 
Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-06651 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P


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