The OWCP-44 is the form used to report
the status of a rehabilitation case, submitted by the contractor
vocational rehabilitation counselor during an ongoing vocational
rehabilitation effort, and to request prompt adjudicatory claims
action based on events arising during that effort.
As indicated in item 12, since
the last clearance three years ago, the responses from the
respondents decreased from 6,050 to 4,775, which is an adjustment
of 1,275 responses. Accordingly, the burden hours decreased from
1,010 to 796, an adjustment of 214 hours. We attribute the
reduction in part due to the decrease in the number of claims filed
since the last submission and an increase in return to work without
vocational rehabilitation assistance. The agency believes this most
recent data accurately reflects the actual average number of
responses and has made a corresponding change to the estimates.
While not expected materially to change burden, the form has been
revised to delete a few data fields requiring entry by the
Rehabilitation Counselor such as date wage loss began/date
rehabilitation case opened; also, action items were either expanded
or deleted that require completion by the Rehabilitation Counselor.
The Privacy Act Statement was revised and the form will also
include an accommodation statement to contact OWCP if further
assistance is needed in the claims process for claimants who have
mental or physical limitations.
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.