OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW
Estimated Burden: 20 minutes
Expiration Date: xx/xx/20xx
Veteran Financial and Credit Counseling Services Study
The purpose of this study is to gather information from financial and credit counselors, providers, and subject matters experts in order to assess Veterans’ needs, use of financial and credit counseling services, and barriers to accessing these services. Financial and credit counseling includes any professional services that help with income planning, savings, and spending.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We are required to inform you that this information is collected in accordance with section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Therefore, we may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number. We estimate that the time needed to gather the necessary information and complete this survey will average 20 minutes.
Privacy Act Statement: The information requested on this form is solicited pursuant to section 313 of the Cleland-Dole Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-328). The purpose of this data collection is to assess financial and credit counseling services offered to Veterans. Your disclosure of the information requested is voluntary, and your identity will be kept confidential. Information collected will become part of a system of records that complies with the Privacy Act of 1974. This system is identified as "Veteran, Patient, Employee and Volunteer Research and Development Project Records-VA (34VA12)" as set forth in the Compilation of Privacy Act Issuances via online GPO access at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/privacyact/index.html VA may make a “routine use” disclosure of information provided, as permitted by the Privacy Act, when the information will be used for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which VA collected the information. The results of this study, which will not include personally identifiable information about the individual respondents, will be shared with Congress via a congressionally mandated report.
Thank you in advance for your time and feedback to help VA improve financial and credit counseling services and better meet the needs of Veterans.
Answering the questions of this survey is optional. If you choose to answer any of these questions, please answer them honestly and to the best of your knowledge and ability:
Please answer the questions below to the best of your ability and review any records about Veterans you have served to answer these questions, if needed. If you have no records, please do your best to approximate. If you do not have this data, please write 0.
Q1. During the past 6 months, how many Veterans have you served in your job or role? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q2. During the past 6 months, how many Veterans have you served who ran out of money to pay for rent, utilities, or food? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q3. During the past 6 months, how many Veterans have you served who had trouble keeping track of their savings and spending? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q4. During the past 6 months, how many Veterans have you served who had someone take money from them without their permission or scammed them of their money? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q5. During the past 6 months, how many Veterans have you served who used their own bank account? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q6. During the past 6 months, how many Veterans have you served who had bad credit (i.e., credit score of 300-629)? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q7. During the past 6 months, about how many Veterans have you served who had received any type of financial or credit counseling service? _____ Veterans
How many of these Veterans were homeless? _____
Q8. Of all the Veterans you have served who have received financial or credit counseling services in the past 6 months, what type of services did they receive? (Check all that apply)
Rep payee or conservator service- voluntary
Rep payee or conservator service- involuntary
Fiduciary service
One-on-one financial coaching
Group financial literacy/education
Help setting up a bank account
Help with opening a line of credit/credit card
Help with using prepaid cards with spending limits (e.g., Truelink, Greenlight, Patriot)
Help setting up financial monitoring tools (e.g., Eversafe, digital apps)
Help getting other sources of income (e.g., benefits)
I Don’t Know
A. Were these financial and credit counseling services provided by the VA?
□ Yes, all □ Yes, some □ No □ Do not know
Q9. Please indicate how much you agree with the following statements using the rating scale below:
1 (Strongly disagree)
2 (Disagree)
3 (Neither agree or disagree)
4 (Agree)
5 (Strongly agree)
A) Veterans are concerned that getting financial and credit counseling costs too much money. ______
B) Veterans are concerned that getting financial and credit counseling would be too embarrassing. _____
C) Veterans are concerned that getting financial and credit counseling would harm their reputation. _____
D) Veterans fear they will be blamed for their financial and credit problem when seeking financial and credit counseling.____
E) Veterans are concerned they would be seen as weak when seeking financial and credit counseling. ___
F) Veterans do not believe financial and credit counseling works. ____
G) Veterans do not trust financial and credit counselors. _____
H) Veterans do not have transportation to get to financial and credit counseling locations. _______
I) Veterans need childcare to have the opportunity to get financial and credit counseling. _______
J) Veterans do not know if they are eligible for financial and credit counseling. _______
K) Veterans do not know where to get help for financial and credit counseling. _______
L) Veterans find it difficult to go to financial and credit counseling locations during the hours offered.___
M) Veterans’ health issues make it difficult for them to get financial and credit counseling. _______
N) The COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for Veterans to get financial and credit counseling. ______
O) Veterans do not know what services are available. ______
P) Veterans do not use financial and credit counseling services because they do not receive any information from VA about these services. ______
Q) Veterans do not use financial and credit counseling services because the information they receive from VA is not easy to understand. ______
R) Veterans do not use financial and credit counseling services because the information they receive from VA does not convince them that financial and credit counseling services is right for them. ______
S) Any other Veteran barriers to financial and credit counseling, please specify_____________________
Q10. Please indicate below how much you agree with the following statements. Please answer in terms of the Veterans you have served in the past 6 months who received any financial or credit counseling. If you have not served any Veterans who received any financial or credit counseling, please answer as to whether it WOULD help.
Receiving financial and credit counseling had helped/would help Veterans…
1 (Strongly disagree)
2 (Disagree)
3 (Neither agree or disagree)
4 (Agree)
5 (Strongly agree)
A) GET A JOB OR GET A BETTER JOB. _______
B) GET OR KEEP A PLACE TO LIVE. _______
C) MAKE MORE MONEY. _______
D) IMPROVE THEIR CREDIT SCORE. _______
E) IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH. _______
F) IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. _______
G) STOP USING DRUGS/ALCOHOL. _______
H) Any other Veteran outcomes? If so, please specify________________________________
Q11. In your opinion, how can VA best assist Veterans with their financial and credit counseling needs? Please share with us.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The next section of the survey will ask some basic questions about you. Answering them is also voluntary. These questions are being asked to get an understanding of the people who responded to this survey and their practices as they relate to financial and credit counseling services.
Q12. How old are you?
20 years old and under
21 – 29 years old
30 – 39 years old
40 – 49 years old
50 – 59 years old
60 – 69 years old
70 – 79 years old
80 years or older
Prefer not to answer
Q13.? Which gender identity do you most identify with?
Male
Female
Transgender, male-to-female
Transgender, female-to-male
Nonbinary
Questioning
Other ( please specify)
Prefer not to answer
Q14. What is your race?
American Indian or Alaskan Native
American Indian or Alaskan Native & Black or African American
American Indian or Alaskan Native & White
Asian
Asian & White
Black or African American
Black or African American & White
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Other Multiple Races (please specify) _______________________________________________
Prefer not to answer
Q15. What is your ethnicity?
Hispanic
Not Hispanic
Prefer not to answer
Q16 What is your job title or role? (Please select all that apply)
Association of Military Banks of America member
Banker
Financial or credit counselor
Researcher with subject matter expertise in finances
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Grantee
Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Grantee
Other position or subject matter expert. Please specify:______________________
Prefer not to answer
Q17. How many years have you held your job title/role? _____ years
Prefer not to answer
Q18. Have you ever served in the military (i.e., are you a Veteran)?
Yes
No
Prefer not to answer
Q19. Does your organization systematically ask clients whether they have served in the military (i.e., identify Veteran status)?
Yes
No
Prefer not to answer
Q20. Of the Veterans you have provided services to, which VA homeless program(s) have the Veterans been participating in, if any? (Check all that apply)
CWT-TR program- Compensated Work-Therapy/Transitional Residence
GPD program- Grant & Per Diem
HCHV program- Health Care for Homeless Veterans
HCRV program- Health Care for Re-entry Veterans
H-PACT program- Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team
HUD-VASH program- Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing
SSVF program- Supportive Services for Veterans Families
VJO program- Veterans Justice Outreach
Provided services to Veteran(s) experiencing homelessness but do not know which VA homeless programs they were utilizing if any
None
Other VA homeless program, please specify________
Prefer not to answer
Thank you for your time and input -- it is appreciated and will inform our work.
Comments concerning the accuracy of the burden estimate and any suggestions regarding this burden should be sent to:
Dina Hooshyar, MD, MPH - Director, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans (NCHAV), Veterans Health Administration Homeless Program Office
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2023-12-13 |