Agency Information Collection Activity: Application by Insured Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated Benefit

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, 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 October 25, 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 nancy.kessinger@va.gov. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0618” 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 maribel.aponte@va.gov. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0618” 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: Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.

Title: Application by Insured Terminally Ill Person for Accelerated Benefit Form SGLI 8284.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0618.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA has amended regulations for the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) programs to add accelerated death benefit (Accelerated Benefit) provisions that permit terminally ill policyholders access to the death benefits of their policies before they die. Traditionally, an individual purchases life insurance in order to safeguard his or her dependents against major financial loss due to his or her death. Life insurance serves to replace the lost income of an insured and to provide for his or her final expenses. In recent years, the insurance industry has recognized the financial needs of terminally ill policyholders and has begun offering policies with accelerated benefit provisions. A recent statutory amendment (Section 302 of the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-368, 112 Stat. 3315, 3332-3333) added section 1980 to Title 38, United States Code, which extends an accelerated benefit option to terminally ill persons insured in the SGLI and VGLI programs. This form expired due to high volume of work and staffing changes.

Affected Public: Individuals and households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 40 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 12 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One-time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.