OMB files this comment in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11( c ). This OMB action is not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of1995. This action has no effect on any current approvals. If OMB has assigned this ICR a new OMB Control Number, the OMB Control Number will not appear in the active inventory. For future submissions of this information collection, reference the OMB Control Number provided. Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.11(c), OMB files this comment on this information collection request (ICR). In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the NPRM and will describe in the preamble of the final rule how the agency has maximized the practical utility of the collection and minimized the burden. The next submission to OMB must include the draft final rule.
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36 Months From Approved
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Several Agencies are publishing a regulation to implement statutory restrictions on the garnishment of Federal benefit payments. Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits, Veterans benefits and Federal Civil Service retirement benefits are exempt under Federal Law from garnishment orders. The intent of the Agencies is to address the hardships that recipients of federal benefits are encountering when financial institutions freeze an account and the difficulties that financial institutions have in determining whether funds deposited in an account are exempt from garnishment. The proposed rule establishes straightforward, uniform procedures that financial institutions must follow when a garnishment order is received for an account into which Federal benefit payments have been directly deposited. Financial institutions that comply with the required procedures are given a safe harbor under the rule. The rule requires a financial institution to review the account, to determine if any exempt benefit payments have been directly deposited within the 60 calendar days prior to the receipt of the garnishment order, and, if so, requires the financial institution to ensure that the account holder has access to a protected amount of funds in the account. Once the account review is completed the financial institution must notify the accountholder of the receipt of the garnishment order and provide certain additional information. In addition, a financial institution must maintain certain records of account activity and actions taken in response to garnishment orders sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the rule.
US Code:
12 USC 1786
Name of Law: Federal Credit Union Act
US Code:
12 USC 1818
Name of Law: Federal Deposit Insurance Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Appendix A to Part 212.docx
Notice to Account Owner and Record Retention