Overview
Title
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Defense Department wants people's thoughts on a new plan to collect important information about military families to make sure they get the right benefits like housing and travel help. Some concerns include that it might take too long to fill out the forms, and it's not really clear how the information will be protected or specifically used.
Summary AI
The Department of Defense's Defense Finance and Accounting Service is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection. This collection aims to help certify dependency or determine entitlement to allowances such as housing, travel, and ID cards for military members' dependents. Individuals or households would be affected, with the collection involving 14,975 respondents and taking approximately 54 minutes per response. Comments must be submitted by April 1, 2021, and further information can be requested from the Defense Finance and Accounting Services.
Abstract
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review is an announcement from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), part of the Department of Defense, inviting public comments on a proposed information collection. This collection aims to gather data to determine eligibility for certain military allowances, such as housing and travel benefits, and to certify dependency for military member dependents. The document sets a comment submission deadline of April 1, 2021.
General Summary
The primary purpose of this proposed information collection is to establish or verify the dependency status of individuals linked to military members. The DFAS seeks to ensure that only eligible dependents receive benefits by asking individuals or households to submit relevant information through specified forms. The agency estimates that around 14,975 respondents will be involved, with each response requiring an average of 54 minutes to complete. Comments on the necessity, utility, and burden of this data collection are encouraged from the public.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several concerns emerge from this proposal. Firstly, the document lacks explicit information on data protection measures for respondents, potentially leading to privacy concerns. Respondents may hesitate to share personal and sensitive data without clear assurances of privacy and security.
Furthermore, the time burden on respondents is substantial, with an average of nearly an hour per response. This lengthy requirement might discourage individuals from completing the forms fully or at all, impacting the robustness of the data collected.
The text also does not specify the exact nature of the data being collected or how it will be applied beyond determining dependency status. Greater transparency could increase public confidence in the process and improve the data's perceived utility.
Additionally, involving medical professionals or educational administrators in the information collection process could place an additional burden on these individuals. The absence of clear guidelines about what is expected from them exacerbates this issue.
Lastly, the reliance on technical references to U.S. legislation without a straightforward explanation may confuse some readers, making it difficult for them to appreciate the document's context fully.
Impact on the Public
The proposed information collection could affect a broad segment of the public associated with the military, particularly service members who must substantiate their dependents' status. There is a potential positive impact if the collection process is efficient, as it ensures appropriate allocation of military benefits and prevents unauthorized expenditure on ineligible claims. However, if the process proves cumbersome, it might discourage legitimate claims, causing eligible dependents to lose out on entitled benefits.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For military members and their families, the successful implementation of this process could provide clarity and security regarding the benefits they are entitled to receive. However, the process might be seen as an administrative burden, particularly for those who have to engage external professionals like doctors or educators to validate certain claims.
Medical professionals and educational administrators, who are called upon to provide verification, might experience increased workload without clear guidance. However, these professionals are somewhat secondary stakeholders compared to the military households directly engaged.
In summary, while the proposed information collection has the potential to streamline benefit distribution, there are significant concerns regarding privacy, administrative burden, and clarity that warrant careful consideration from the DFAS and the public during the comment period. Addressing these issues could improve the effectiveness and transparency of the information collection, thereby enhancing public trust and participation.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific information about how the data will be protected, which could raise privacy concerns for respondents.
• The average burden per response is 54 minutes, which may be considered lengthy for respondents, potentially leading to lower participation or incomplete data submission.
• There is a lack of clarity regarding what specific data will be collected and how it will be used beyond certification of dependency. More detailed information could improve transparency.
• The document mentions the requirement for medical doctors, psychiatrists, or college administrators to provide information, which may create an additional burden on these professionals without clear guidelines on what is expected from them.
• The document relies heavily on references to U.S. Codes and regulations without providing a clear explanation of their relevance, which could make it difficult for a lay reader to understand the context.