2900-0580 justification

Supporting Statement for

Request for Transportation Expense Reimbursement (38 CRF 21.8370)

OMB control number 2900-0580)

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. This 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. 38 CFR 21.8370 extends to women Vietnam veterans’ children covered birth defects the requirement for Vietnam veterans’ children with spina bifida that a child receiving vocational training must request VA payment for travel expenses to receive this payment.

2. A child must specifically request VA assistance with transportation expenses. This allows VA to investigate the child’s situation to establish that the child would be unable to pursue training or employment without VA travel assistance. To receive payment, the child must provide supportive documentation of actual expenses incurred for the travel. This prevents VA from making payment erroneously or for fraudulently claimed travel.

3. There is no set format for this request for benefits. The application must provide certain information to perfect the claim. 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 from 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 evaluation 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 for the initial request and monthly to obtain travel reimbursement.

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 August 27, 2008, Volume 73, Number 167, pages 50673-50674. There were no comments received.

9. No gifts will be made to respondents.

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 Information Collection Burden

a. Number of estimated respondents 50

b. Frequency of Response Monthly

c. Estimated annual burden 63 hours

d. The total annual reporting burden is based on each respondent taking 15 minutes to prepare and submit the initial request (50 respondents X 15 minutes = 750/60 minutes =12.5 hours). Each respondent will then require 5 minutes to copy and submit receipts for transportation expenses to obtain reimbursement (50 respondents X 12 months = 600 responses X 5 minutes = 3,000/60 = 50 hours). Although there is not set format for this request for benefits, the applicant must provide certain information to perfect the claim.

e. The estimated annual burden per responses averages 6 minutes (63 hours x 60 minutes=3,780/600 responses = 6 minutes). The total estimated annual cost to respondents is $945 (63 hours X $15 per hour).

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

14. Estimated Annualized Cost to the Federal Government

Estimated VR&E Division cost (50 cases X 12 months X 5 minutes X $31.06 = $1,553 (average CP/VRC hourly wage)).

15. There is no change in burden.

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

17. The public can find the affected part of the Code of Federal Regulations by searching for the OMB information collection number (2900-0580). 38 CFR 21.8370 show the OMB information collection number but do not contain an expiration date. This information collection will be submitted to OMB every three years for approval. Revising and reprinting the affected pages of these regulations to show an expiration date would result in a costly waste of existing stock and would delay Department action on the benefit being sought. By requesting an exemption from displaying the expiration date in these regulations, VA can minimize the cost to itself. VA seeks a continued exemption from displaying the expiration date on the pages of 38 CFR 21.8370.

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

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

The collection of information doesn’t employ statistical methods.