Agency Information Collection Activity: Supporting Statement Regarding Marriage

• Published date: 24 February 2021
• Citation: 86 FR 11385
• Record Number: 2021-03732
• Section: Notices
• Court: Veterans Affairs Department

Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)]
                [Notices]
                [Page 11385]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-03732]
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                DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
                [OMB Control No. 2900-0115]
                Agency Information Collection Activity: Supporting Statement
                Regarding Marriage
                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 April 26, 2021.
                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 [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control
                No. 2900-0115'' 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 [email protected].
                Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0115'' 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. 103.
                 Title: Supporting Statement Regarding Marriage (VA Form 21P-4171).
                 OMB Control Number: 2900-0115.
                 Type of Review: Extension 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) provides that a specific claim in the form provided by
                the Secretary must be filed in order for benefits to be paid to any
                individual under the laws administered by the Secretary. VBA utilizes
                VA Form 21P-4171 to collect information from third parties regarding
                claimed common-law marriage between Veterans and spouse/surviving
                spouses. VBA used this the information collected to determine whether
                or not the claimed common-law marriage is valid under the laws of the
                state/territory where the parties resided at the time of marriage or
                the laws of the state/territory where the parties resided when the
                right to benefits accrued, in accordance with 38 CFR 3.1(j) and pay
                monetary benefits.
                 Affected Public: Individuals and households.
                 Estimated Annual Burden: 800 hours.
                 Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 20 minutes.
                 Frequency of Response: Once.
                 Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,400.
                 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. 2021-03732 Filed 2-23-21; 8:45 am]
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