Non-Substantive Revision OMB Control Number 2900-0154 (VA Form 1990R)

Non-Substantive Revision

OMB Control Number 2900-0154 (VA Form 22-1990R)

VA is requesting a non-substantive revision to OMB control number 2900-0154.

This information collection is being revised to include the new VA Form 22-1990R, “Application for Veterans Retraining Assistance Program”. This collection instrument will support the implementation of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), authorized by Section 211 of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56). The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012. To qualify, a Veteran must:

• Be at least 35 but no more than 60 years old

• Be unemployed

• Have an other than dishonorable discharge

• Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program

• Not be in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability

• Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program

The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants may receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). DOL will provide employment assistance to every Veteran who participates upon completion of the program. VA will begin accepting applications online by May 15, 2012.

Participants must be enrolled in a program of education approved for VA benefits offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and provide training towards a high demand occupation.

VA requests approval of a non-substantive revision to OMB Approval 2900-0154 to include an abbreviated version of the existing VA Form 22-1990 specifically for VRAP Applicants. The information requested on the new form VA Form 22-1990R is duplicative of the information currently collected on the approved instrument (VA Form 22-1990). We note that the terminology regarding career objective was amended to request high demand occupation in the new VA Form 22-1990R. While the information provided will be the same, we changed the terminology for clarity as VRAP applicants are only eligible to pursue training that leads to a high demand career objective/occupation.