2900-0660 justification

Supporting Statement for VA Form Letter 21-30

Request for Contact Information

2900-0660

A. Justification

1. 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. 38 U.S.C. 5502 and 38 U.S.C. 5711 provide that VA has the authority to make investigations and examine witnesses upon any matter within the jurisdiction of the Department, including determining whether a fiduciary of a VA beneficiary is properly executing his/her duties.

2. VA Form Letter 21-30 is used to locate a fiduciary, beneficiary, claimant, or witness when a field examination is necessary in order to gather information that is needed to maintain program integrity. The form is used only when contact information cannot be obtained by other means, or when travel funds may be significantly impacted (e.g., when the individual resides in a remote location and has a history of not being home during the day or when visited).

3. The collection of information does not involve the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The information is obtained by telephone and Internet map and directory sites whenever possible. VA Form Letter 21-30 is partially completed by VA with claimant-specific information before it is mailed to certain individuals. To avoid improper use by claimants who are not required to submit this form, the form is not available on the VBA website for downloading. A faxed copy of a properly signed VA Form Letter 21-30 may be accepted if there are no questions as to its validity. Currently, there has been no consideration of using other information technology. The Department will reconsider using other information technology when the resources become available, and usage of this form increases.

4. Program reviews were conducted to identify potential areas of duplication; however, none were found to exist. There is no known Department or Agency which maintains the necessary information.

5. The collection of information does not involve small businesses or entities.

6. If the collection were not conducted, VA would have no means of obtaining the contact information needed to interview individuals who are difficult to locate. Without this information, VA could not effectively administer its benefit programs and misuse of funds and fraud could continue.

7. There is no special circumstance requiring collection in a manner inconsistent with

5 CFR 1320.6 guidelines.

8. The Department notice was published in the Federal Register on Pctpber 1, 2007, pages 55858 - 55859. No comments were received.

9. No payments or gifts to respondents have been made under this collection of information.

10. The records are maintained in the appropriate Privacy Act System of Records identified as 58VA21/22, "Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation Records - VA" as set forth in Privacy Act Issuances, 1993 compilation found in 42 Fed. Reg. 49726 (9/27//1977).

11. There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Estimate of Information Collection Burden.

a. Number of Respondents is estimated at 5,000 per year.

b. Frequency of Response is one time for most respondents.

c. Annual burden is 1,250 hours.

d. The estimated completion time of 15 minutes is based on review by staff personnel.

e. The total estimated cost to respondents is $18,750 (1,250 hours x $15 per hour).

13. This submission does not involve any recordkeeping costs.

14. Estimated Costs to the Federal Government:

a. Processing/Analyzing costs $20,479

(GS-10/5 @ $27.53 x 5,000 x 2/60 = $4,588)

(GS-9/5 @ $25.00 x 5,000 x 5/60 = $10,416)

(GS-3/5 @ $13.14 x 5,000 x 5/60 = $5,475)

b. Printing and production cost $100

c. Total cost to government $20,579

15. There is no change in the reporting burden.

16. The information collection is not for publication or tabulation use.

17. The collection instrument, VA Form Letter 21-30, may be reproduced and/or stocked by the respondents and veterans service organizations. This VA form letter does not display an expiration date, and if required to do so would result in unnecessary waste of existing stocks of this form. This form letter is submitted to OMB every 3 years. As such, this date requirement would also result in an unnecessary burden on the respondents and would delay Department action on the benefit being sought. VA also seeks to minimize its cost to itself of collecting, processing and using the information by not displaying the expiration date. For the reasons stated, VA continues to seek an exemption that waives the displaying of the expiration date on VA Form Letter 21-30.

18. This submission does not contain any exceptions to the certification statement.

B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

The Veterans Benefits Administration does not collect information employing statistical methods.