Agency Information Collection Activity: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration; Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

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.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before January 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov , or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0261” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Danny S. Green at (202) 421-1354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: PL 94-502 and Chapter 32, title 38 U.S.C.

Title: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions, VA Form 22-5281.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0261.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Veterans and Servicemembers complete VA Form 22-5281 to request a refund of their contributions to the Post-Vietnam Veterans Education Program. Contributions made into the Post-Vietnam Veterans Education Program may be refunded only after the participant has disenrolled from the program. Request for refund of contribution prior to discharge or release from active duty will be refunded on the date of the participant's discharge or release from active duty or within 60 days of receipt of notice by the Secretary of the participant's discharge or disenrollment. Refunds may be made earlier in instances of hardship or other good reasons. Participants who stop their enrollment from the program after discharge or release from active duty, contributions will be refunded within 60 days of the receipt of their application.

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 at 84 FR 195 on October 8, 2019, pages 53836 and 53837.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 35,000 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 6 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 350,000.