Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Authorization To Disclose Information to a Third Party
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Veterans group made a paper that lets someone else help old or sick Veterans with their papers, but first, the paper is sent to another office to make sure it’s okay. People have 30 days to say if they like this idea or not, and it only takes a short time to fill out for about 1,200 people every year.
Summary AI
The Veterans Benefits Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, plans to send a form to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This form, known as VA Form 29-0975, allows a third party to help veterans and their beneficiaries manage their affairs, especially useful for those who are older or have disabilities. The form's review is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the public has 30 days to comment on the proposal. It's estimated that filling out the form will take about 5 minutes per person, with around 1,200 individuals expected to respond annually.
Abstract
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review is a notice from the Veterans Benefits Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The notice communicates the intent to submit a form, designated as VA Form 29-0975, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This form facilitates the authorization for a third party to assist veterans and their beneficiaries, particularly those who are elderly or have disabilities, in managing their affairs.
Summary of the Document
The principal focus of this notice is the submission of VA Form 29-0975, which allows a third party to act on behalf of veterans and their beneficiaries. The form's administration is part of the Department's integrated benefits program, guided by existing U.S. laws. The form is not mandatory for receiving benefits but offers an additional service for eligible individuals. The public has a 30-day period to provide feedback on this proposed collection activity. An evaluation of the form estimates that roughly 1,200 individuals will respond annually, with an anticipated completion time of about five minutes per respondent.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One notable issue in the document is the lack of detailed information regarding the expected financial cost of conducting this information collection activity. Without a clear cost breakdown, there could be concerns about inefficient use of resources or potential fiscal waste. Additionally, while an annual burden estimate of 100 hours is provided, the document does not explain how this estimate was derived, which may raise questions about its accuracy and transparency.
The document also states that the service is optional and that participation does not affect the receipt of benefits. However, this statement might be unclear to some readers, potentially leading to confusion among respondents who may fear that declining to fill out the form could adversely impact their benefits.
Further, the notice references a previous Federal Register publication from November 3, 2020, which opened a 60-day comment period. However, it does not summarize what comments or feedback were received, leaving readers uninformed about any public concerns or suggestions submitted during that period.
Lastly, the billing code detailed at the end of the document lacks context or explanation, which might perplex readers unfamiliar with such procedural elements.
Impacts on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
For the general public, particularly those who are veterans or beneficiaries, this document signifies an opportunity to express their views on the proposed information collection within a specified timeframe. Ensuring such provisions meet the needs and expectations of stakeholders is crucial for the Department's transparency and accountability.
Positive Impacts: For stakeholders directly involved, namely aging or disabled veterans and their dependents, this form could provide much-needed support in leveraging third-party assistance for personal affairs management. By making it simpler to authorize third-party involvement, the VA aims to streamline processes for those who need additional help.
Negative Impacts: On the other hand, the lack of detailed cost information could contribute to broader public skepticism regarding government spending processes, impacting trust and participation rates. Moreover, the optional nature and implications of the form need to be communicated clearly to avoid misunderstandings that might lead individuals to either unnecessarily complete the form or disregard it when it could be beneficial.
In summary, while the notice outlines a potentially useful tool for veterans and their families, it also raises questions about transparency and costs that could benefit from further clarification and communication.
Issues
• The document does not provide detailed information about the expected cost of the information collection activity, which could lead to concerns about potential wasteful spending.
• There is no breakdown of how the estimated annual burden of 100 hours was calculated, which might make it difficult to assess the accuracy of this estimate.
• The language regarding the optional nature of the service (i.e., 'The information collected provides an optional service and is not required to receive insurance benefits') may be unclear or could be misunderstood by respondents who might think participation affects their benefits.
• The document refers to a past Federal Register Notice published on November 3, 2020, without summarizing or providing details about the comments or feedback received during its 60-day comment period.
• The billing code at the end (8320-01-P) lacks an explanation or context, which might confuse readers not familiar with it.