Financial Counseling Statement (VA Form 26-8844)

OMB Control No: 2900-0270	ICR Reference No: 201905-2900-008
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200712-2900-001
Agency/Subagency: VA	Agency Tracking No: VBA-LGY-NK
Title: Financial Counseling Statement (VA Form 26-8844)
Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 01/06/2020
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 10/22/2019
Terms of Clearance: In the next extension or revision request, VA shall 1. Respond appropriately to future public comments and the public comment made on this submission, 2. Shall include an analysis on whether there are cases where a spouse's signature is not needed and make any appropriate updates to the form based on this analysis (e.g., the spouse is not a coborrower, does not live in a community property state, is separated from the borrower), and 3. Shall include the items required by 5 USC 552a(e)(3).

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2022	36 Months From Approved
Responses	5,000	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	3,750	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: VA Form 26-8844 is completed by VA loan service representatives in counseling veteran obligators of seriously defaulted guaranteed home loans. The form is used in supplemental servicing activities developed pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 3732.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 38 USC 3732 Name of Law: Procedure on Default

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 28627	06/19/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 18903	09/03/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Financial Counseling Statement VA Form 26-8844 Financial Counseling Statement

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	5,000	0	0	5,000	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,750	0	0	3,750	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a reinstatement of a formerly approved collection so the burden increase was automatically selected.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $255,150

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Danny Green 202 421-1354 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 10/22/2019

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