The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through its Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), administers an integrated program of benefits and services, established by law, for veterans, service personnel, and their dependents and/or beneficiaries. Title 38 U.S.C. 5101(a) provides that a specific claim in the form provided by the Secretary must be filed in order for benefits to be paid to any individual under the laws administered by the Secretary. VA Form 21P-527EZ will be the prescribed form for Veterans Pension applications.
In RIN 2900-AO73, VA proposes to amend its pension regulations to maintain the integrity of its needs-based pension program. VA has authority under 38 U.S.C. 501(a) to prescribe all rules and regulations which are necessary or appropriate to carry out the laws administered by VA. VA would amend its information collections in conjunction with RIN 2900-AO73. This rulemaking is largely in response to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, GAO-12-50, Veteransâ Pension Benefits: Improvements Needed to Ensure Only Qualified Veterans and Survivors Receive Benefits.
VA Form 21P-527EZ, Application for Pension, is the prescribed form for claiming Veterans Pension. VA Form 21P-527EZ is used to gather the necessary information to determine a veteranâs eligibility to Veterans Pension. Without the information, VA will not be able to determine a Veteranâs eligibility to the benefit.
VA Form 21P-527, Income, Asset, and Employment Statement (formerly Income, Net Worth and Employment Statement) is another form used to gather necessary information to determine a veteranâs entitlement to Veterans Pension. Veterans use this form to reopen a previously discontinued pension award to reinstate benefits.
US Code:
38 USC 1502
Name of Law: Determinations with respect to disability
US Code:
38 USC 1503
Name of Law: Determinations with respect to annual income
The reduction in the number of estimated annual respondents and burden hours was published in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 2900-AO73 (80 FR 3839 through 386, on January 23, 2015).
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.
Form 21P-527EZ Application for Veterans Pension
2900-0002 Supporting Statement 20181012.docx
Application for Veterans Pension