2900-0579 justification

Supporting Statement for

Request For Vocational Training Benefits – Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans

(38 CFR 21.8014)

(2900-0579)

A. Justification

1. The information collection is authorized under Title 38 U.S.C., Chapter 18 (as amended by Section 401, Public Law 106-419, November 1, 2000), which provides vocational training benefits for certain children who were born to Vietnam veterans. The provisions of 38 CFR 21.8014 extend to women Vietnam veterans’ children with covered birth defects the requirement that is applicable to Vietnam veterans’ children with spina bifida for submitting a request for vocational training to be considered for this benefit.

2. VA needs to know sufficient identifying information about the applicant and the applicant’s natural parent who was a Vietnam veteran to be able to relate the claim to other existing VA records. The information collected allows a counseling psychologist (CP) or vocational rehabilitation counselor (VRC) in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Division to review the existing records and to set up an appointment for an applicant to meet with a VR&E staff member to evaluate the claim.

3. There is no set format for this request for benefits. The applicant must provide certain information to perfect the claim. Also, there is no record keeping requirements. We are unaware of any way that information technology can reduce the small burden imposed by this collection of information.

4. Similar information is not available for other sources. VA does not currently possess and is not aware of an alternative source for the required information.

5. Small organizations are not involved, however, the information requested is the minimum necessary to determine and evaluate the claim.

6. The information is unique to each child and must be collected. There is no special reporting format. The information collection is accomplished on a one-time basis per individual applicant.

7. There are no special circumstances that will require collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. The Department notice was published in the Federal Register on July 10, 2008, Vol. 73, Number 133, pages 39785-39786. No comments were received.

9. No payments or gifts to respondents have been made under this collection of information.

10. Individuals are assured of confidentiality on their responses under Compensation, Pension, Education, and Rehabilitation Records – VA (58VA21/22).

11. No information of a sensitive nature is collected.

12. Estimate of Information Collection Burden.

a. Number of Respondents is estimated at 60 per year.

b. Frequency of Response is one-time.

3. Annual burden is estimated at 15 hours.

3. The total annual reporting burden is based on each respondent taking 15 minutes

to write to VA indicating a desire to take part in a vocational training program and

providing the identifying information. Although there is no set format for this request

for benefits, the applicant must provide certain information to perfect the claim. There

are no record keeping requirements.

3. The total estimated cost to respondents is $225 (15 hours x $15 per hour).

13. This submission does not involve any record keeping costs.

14. Estimated Costs to the Federal Government:

$310.60 Estimated VR&E Division cost (60 cases x 10 minutes x 31.06) (31.06 average CP/VRC hourly wage)

15. There is no change in the reporting burden.

16. The information is not collected by statistical methods nor is it intended for publication.

17. The information collection complies with the requirement of 5 CFR 1320.

18. This submission does not contain any exceptions to the certification statement.

B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

This data collection does not employ statistical methods.