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PUBLIC SUBMISSION

As of: 9/29/26, 2:34 PM
Received: September 29, 2026
Status: Posted
Posted: September 29, 2026
Tracking No. mun-07f3-t5ua
Comments Due: September 29, 2026
Submission Type: Web

Docket: VA-2026-VACO-0001
Notices
Comment On: VA-2026-VACO-0001-0309
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Income and Asset
Statement in Support of Claim for Pension or Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation [FR Doc
No: 2026-15453; OMB Control No. 2900-0829]
Document: VA-2026-VACO-0001-0408
Comment on VA-2026-VACO-0001-0309 (Anonymous)

Submitter Information
Name: Anonymous Anonymous

General Comment
To Whom It May Concern:
I am submitting these comments in response to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) request for
public comment regarding the proposed extension of OMB Control Number 2900-0829, which covers VA
Form 21P-0969 (Income and Asset Statement in Support of Claim for Pension or Parents' Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation).
Please find my feedback regarding the specific evaluation criteria below:
1. Necessity and Practical Utility of the Information
The collection of this information is absolutely necessary for the proper performance of VBA’s functions.
Allowing claimants to accurately report unreimbursed medical expenses is critical to establishing
eligibility and calculating correct benefit rates for needs-based programs like VA Pension and Parents'
DIC. This form has clear, practical utility for Veteran Service Representatives as they determine incomebased benefits.
2. Accuracy of the Burden Estimate
The estimate of 30 minutes per respondent appears optimistic given the population served. Claimants or
their beneficiaries—often elderly individuals, surviving parents, or disabled veterans—frequently
navigate complex medical billing histories. Gathering multiple receipts, tracking unreimbursed out-ofpocket costs, and matching them to financial statements can take significantly longer than 30 minutes,
particularly for those without dedicated administrative support.
3. Ways to Enhance Quality, Utility, and Clarity
To improve the quality and clarity of the data collected, the VA should:
• Provide clear, interactive digital tooltips on the electronic version of the form to explicitly define what
qualifies as an "unreimbursed medical expense."
• Include a simple, plain-language checklist on the first page outlining the exact supporting documentation
needed (e.g., insurance explanations of benefits, pharmacy printouts).
• Format tables with auto-calculating totals for online submissions to minimize user calculation errors

before the form is finalized.
4. Ways to Minimize the Burden Through Technology
The burden on vulnerable individuals and households can be substantially reduced by:
• Allowing direct digital uploads of medical expense spreadsheets or pharmacy printouts to eliminate the
need to manually transcribe every single line item into the form fields.
• Integrating secure data-sharing with Medicare or major healthcare networks (with claimant consent) to
automatically populate known out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• Optimizing the digital form for mobile devices, as many claimants use smartphones rather than desktop
computers to manage and photograph document receipts.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this information collection and for your ongoing efforts to
streamline benefits for veterans and their families.
Sincerely,
Concerned citizen

VA RESPONSE
Thank you for your comments on the 21P-0969 form renewal; we appreciate the time and effort you have put
into providing feedback and suggestions.
We are continuing our efforts to simplify the application process and are working on solutions to reduce the
burden on Veterans and Survivors seeking VA benefits.
Veterans Benefits Administration will review all public input received during the comment period, and if we
need further clarification or information, we may reach out for additional input.
Thank you again for your engagement and support in enhancing the form.