Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted 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 includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before August 23, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., or e-mail denise.mclamb@mail.va.gov. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0249.” Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-7316. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0249” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Loan Service Report, VA Form 26-6808.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0249.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA Form 26-6808 is used when servicing delinquent guaranteed and insured loans and loans sold under 38 CFR 36.4600. With the respect to the servicing of guaranteed and insured loans and loans sold under 38 CFR 36.4600, the holder has the primary servicing responsibility. However, VA has the responsibility to see that the servicing efforts of holders are consistent with VA policies and guidelines. In those cases in which early payment of the delinquency appears unlikely, supplemental servicing by VA will be conducted to determine whether the holder may have overlooked any relief measures. Since there are ordinarily financial losses to both the borrower and the Government resulting from the foreclosure of a guaranteed loan, supplemental servicing can protect the interest of each by assuring that appropriate relief is extended to those borrowers whose loans can be reinstated within a reasonable period of time. VA Loan Service Representatives complete VA Form 26-6808 during the course of personal contacts with delinquent obligors. The information acquired may form the basis of VA's intercession with the holder for the acceptance of specially arranged repayment plans or other forbearance aimed at assisting the obligor in retaining his or her home.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on May 5, 2004, at page 25173.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 16,667 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 25 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.