View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No: 2900-0605	ICR Reference No: 202312-2900-008
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201710-2900-006
Agency/Subagency: VA	Agency Tracking No: 2900-0605
Title: Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements and Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements
Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule	Conclusion Date: 02/22/2024
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/20/2023
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is not approved at this time. In the preamble of the final rule, the agency should provide to OMB a summary of all comments received on the proposed information collection and identify any changes made in response to these comments.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date		36 Months From Approved
Responses	0	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	0	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: (1) Applicants seeking accreditation as claims agents or attorneys to represent benefits claimants before VA must file VA Form 21a, Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, with VA's Office of General Counsel (OGC). The information requested in VA Form 21a includes basic identifying information, as well as certain information concerning training and experience, military service, and employment. See 38 U.S.C. 5901; 38 CFR 14.629(b). (2) If accredited agents and attorneys wish to maintain accreditation, they must file recertifications with OGC that they have completed Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements and are in good standing with other courts, bars, and Federal and State agencies. See 38 U.S.C. 5904(a)(2)-(3); 38 CFR 14.629(b). (3) Accredited agents and attorneys must file with VA any agreement for the payment of fees charged for representing claimants before VA. 38 U.S.C. 5904(c)(2); 38 CFR 14.636(g). (4) Claimants, accredited agents, or accredited attorneys may request an OGC determination on a reasonable fee allocation in a given case. If they do, OGC will solicit (optional) responses from the other parties in the case. 38 U.S.C. 5904(c)(3); 38 CFR 14.636(i). (1) The information in the VA Form 21a is used by OGC to determine the applicant’s eligibility for accreditation as a claims agent or attorney. More specifically, it is used to evaluate qualifications, ensure against conflicts of interest, and to establish that statutory and regulatory eligibility requirements, e.g., good character and reputation, are met. (2) The information in recertifications is used by OGC to monitor whether accredited attorneys and agents continue to have appropriate character and reputation and whether they remain fit to prepare, present, and prosecute VA benefit claims. (3) The information in a fee agreement is used by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to associate the fee agreement with the claimant's claims file, to potentially determine the attorney or agent’s fee eligibility, and to potentially process direct payment of a fee from the claimant's past-due benefits. It is used by OGC to monitor whether the agreement is in compliance with laws governing paid representation, and to potentially review fee reasonableness. (4) The information in a request for OGC fee review, or a response to such request, is used by OGC to determine the agents’ or attorneys’ contribution to and responsibility for the ultimate outcome of the claimant's claim, so that a determination on reasonable fees can be rendered.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 38 USC 5903 Name of Law: Recognition with respect to particular claims
   US Code: 38 USC 5904 Name of Law: Recognition of agents and attorneys generally
   US Code: 38 USC 5901 Name of Law: Prohibition against acting as cliams agent or attorney
   US Code: 38 USC 5902 Name of Law: Recognition of representatives of organizations
   PL: Pub.L. 109 - 461 101(i) Name of Law: Limitation on collection of fee assessment

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
2900-AR93	Proposed rulemaking	88 FR 88295	12/21/2023

Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: a. VA Form 21a and Recertifications: The adjustments are program adjustments due to change in estimate of the number of filings and type of filers. b. Filing of Fee Agreements and Requests for OGC Fee Review: The adjustment is a program adjustment due to change in estimate number of filings. Both numbers have increased because of an increase in cases where a claimant is represented by an attorney or agent. c. Motion for Review of Representative’s Charges: VA may have a need to collect information for purposes of reviewing the expenses of agents and attorneys under 38 C.F.R. § 14.637; however, the information does not constitute a collection of information because of its infrequency of occurrence. See 5 C.F.R. 1320.3(c). Because (c) is not a collection of information for purposes of 5 C.F.R. part 1320, VA will not request that it be included in this collection.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $711,900

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? No

Agency Contact: Jonathan Taylor 202 461-7650 jonathan.taylor2@va.gov

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