Extension of Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) Application Periods in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, 46982-46983 [2021-18089]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
46982
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 160 / Monday, August 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
provides the effective date of the
determination by VA or the date the
Secretary received the SSA notice of
award for SSDI or SSI benefits, and
directs the holder of each FFELP loan
made to the borrower to submit a
disability claim to the guaranty agency
in accordance with paragraph (g)(1) of
this section.
(iii) If the claim meets the
requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this
section and § 682.406, the guaranty
agency pays the claim and must—
(A) Discharge the loan, in the case of
a discharge based on data from VA; or
(B) Assign the loan to the Secretary,
in the case of a discharge based on data
from the SSA.
(iv) The Secretary reimburses the
guaranty agency for a disability claim
after the agency pays the claim to the
lender.
(v) Upon receipt of the claim payment
from the guaranty agency, the loan
holder returns to the person who made
the payments any payments received on
or after—
(A) The effective date of the
determination by VA that the borrower
is unemployable due to a serviceconnected disability; or
(B) The date the Secretary received
the SSA notice of award for SSDI or SSI
benefits.
(vi) For a loan that is assigned to the
Secretary for discharge based on data
from the SSA, the Secretary discharges
the loan in accordance with paragraph
(c)(3)(iv) of this section.
(vii) If the borrower notifies the
Secretary that they do not wish to
receive the discharge, the borrower will
remain responsible for repayment of the
borrower’s loans in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the promissory
notes that the borrower signed.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 685—WILLIAM D. FORD
FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM
5. The authority citation for part 685
continues to read in part as follows:
■
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087a, et seq.,
unless otherwise noted.
*
*
*
*
*
6. Section 685.213 is amended by:
a. In paragraph (b)(1) introductory
text, removing the words ‘‘To qualify’’
and adding, in their place, ‘‘Except as
provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this
section, to qualify’’.
■ b. In paragraph (c)(1) introductory
text, removing ‘‘To qualify’’ and adding
in their place ‘‘Except as provided in
paragraph (d)(1) of this section, to
qualify’’.
■ c. Removing paragraph (c)(1)(v).
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
■
■
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:11 Aug 20, 2021
Jkt 253001
d. Adding paragraphs (d) and (e).
■ e. Removing the parenthetical
authority citation at the end of the
section.
The additions read as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
§ 685.213 Total and permanent disability
discharge.
Extension of Veterans’ Group Life
Insurance (VGLI) Application Periods
in Response to the COVID–19 Public
Health Emergency
■
*
*
*
*
*
(d) Discharge without an application.
(1) The Secretary may discharge a loan
under this section without an
application or any additional
documentation from the borrower if the
Secretary—
(i) Obtains data from the Department
of Veterans Affairs showing that the
borrower is unemployable due to a
service-connected disability; or
(ii) Obtains data from the Social
Security Administration (SSA) showing
that the borrower qualifies for SSDI or
SSI benefits and that the borrower’s next
scheduled disability review will be no
earlier than five nor later than seven
years.
(2) [Reserved]
(e) Notification to the borrower. (1)
After determining that a borrower
qualifies for a total and permanent
disability discharge under paragraph (d)
of this section, the Secretary sends a
notification to the borrower informing
the borrower that the Secretary will
discharge the borrower’s title IV loans
unless the borrower notifies the
Secretary, by a date specified in the
Secretary’s notification, that the
borrower does not wish to receive the
loan discharge.
(2) Unless the borrower notifies the
Secretary that the borrower does not
wish to receive the discharge the
Secretary discharges the loan—
(i) In accordance with paragraph
(b)(4)(iii) of this section for a discharge
based on data from the SSA; or
(ii) In accordance with paragraph
(c)(2)(i) of this section for a discharge
based on data from VA.
(3) If the borrower notifies the
Secretary that they do not wish to
receive the discharge, the borrower will
remain responsible for repayment of the
borrower’s loans in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the promissory
notes that the borrower signed.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2021–18081 Filed 8–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4700
38 CFR Part 9
RIN 2900–AR24
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Final rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This document adopts as a
final rule, without change, an interim
final rule amending the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) regulation
regarding Veterans’ Group Life
Insurance (VGLI). The amendment was
necessary in order to extend the
deadline for former members to apply
for VGLI coverage following separation
from service to address the inability of
former members directly or indirectly
affected by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
(COVID–19) public health emergency to
purchase VGLI.
DATES: Effective September 22, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
Weaver, Department of Veterans Affairs
Insurance Service (310/290B), 5000
Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
19144, (215) 842–2000, ext. 4263. (This
is not a toll-free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An
interim final rule amending VA’s
regulation regarding the deadline for
former members to apply for VGLI
coverage following separation from
service was published in the Federal
Register on June 9, 2021 (86 FR 30541).
VA provided a 30-day comment
period that ended on July 9, 2021. No
comments were received. Based on the
rationale set forth in the interim final
rule, we now adopt the interim final
rule as a final rule without change.
SUMMARY:
Administrative Procedure Act
In the June 9, 2021, Federal Register
notice, VA determined that there was a
basis under the Administrative
Procedure Act for issuing the interim
final rule with immediate effect. We
invited and did not receive public
comment on the interim final rule. This
document adopts the interim final rule
as a final rule without change.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This final rule contains no provisions
constituting a collection of information
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501–3521).
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
direct agencies to assess the costs and
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\23AUR1.SGM
23AUR1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 160 / Monday, August 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
benefits of available regulatory
alternatives and, when regulation is
necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety
effects, and other advantages;
distributive impacts; and equity).
Executive Order 13563 (Improving
Regulation and Regulatory Review)
emphasizes the importance of
quantifying both costs and benefits,
reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and
promoting flexibility. The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs has
determined that this rule is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866. The Regulatory
Impact Analysis associated with this
rulemaking can be found as a
supporting document at
www.regulations.gov.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Secretary hereby certifies that
this final rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities as they are
defined in the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–612. The provisions
contained in this final rulemaking are
applicable to individual Veterans, and
applications for VGLI, as submitted by
such individuals, and are specifically
managed and processed within VA and
through Prudential Insurance Company
of America, which is not considered to
be a small entity. Therefore, pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 605(b), the initial and final
regulatory flexibility analysis
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604 do
not apply.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
Unfunded Mandates
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that
agencies prepare an assessment of
anticipated costs and benefits before
issuing any rule that may result in an
expenditure by the State, local, and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or
by the private sector of $100 million or
more (adjusted annually for inflation) in
any given year. This final rule will have
no such effect on State, local, and tribal
governments or on the private sector.
Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review
Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs
designated this rule as not a major rule,
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Program number and title for
this rule is 64.103, Life Insurance for
Veterans.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:11 Aug 20, 2021
Jkt 253001
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 9
Life insurance, Military personnel,
Veterans.
Signing Authority
Denis McDonough, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on August 16, 2021, and
authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the
Federal Register for publication
electronically as an official document of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy
& Management, Office of the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
PART 9—SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP
LIFE INSURANCE AND VETERANS’
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
Accordingly, the Department of
Veterans Affairs is adopting the interim
rule amending 38 CFR part 9 that was
published at 85 FR 35562 on June 9,
2021, as final without change.
[FR Doc. 2021–18089 Filed 8–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 36
46983
VA is
amending its final rule, ‘‘RIN 2900–
AR05; Loan Guaranty: COVID–VAPCP’’,
that was published on May 28, 2021, in
the Federal Register at 86 FR 28692. In
the Paperwork Reduction Act section of
the final rule, VA noted it had
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for approval new
information collections under 38 CFR
36.4803 and 36.4805 through 36.4807.
OMB has approved these collections of
information and assigned an OMB
control number. Therefore, VA is
issuing these technical amendments to
add the OMB control number to the
published regulation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 36
Condominiums, Housing, Individuals
with disabilities, Loan programs—
housing and community development,
Loan programs—veterans, Manufactured
homes, Mortgage insurance, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements,
Veterans.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the VA amends 38 CFR part
36 to read as follows:
PART 38—PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND
VETERAN’S RELIEF
1. The authority citation for part 36
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501 and 3720.
RIN 2900–AR05
2. Amend § 36.4803 by revising the
sentence in parenthesis at the end of the
section to read as follows:
■
Loan Guaranty: COVID–19 Veterans
Assistance Partial Claim Payment
Program
Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Technical amendments.
AGENCY:
The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is making technical
amendments to the final rule published
on Friday, May 28, 2021. The final rule
establishes the COVID–19 Veterans
Assistance Partial Claim Payment
program (COVID–VAPCP), a temporary
program to help Veterans return to
making normal loan payments on a VAguaranteed loan after exiting a
forbearance for financial hardship due,
directly or indirectly, to the COVID–19
national emergency.
DATES: These technical amendments are
effective August 23, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Trevayne, Assistant Director,
Loan Property and Management, Loan
Guaranty Service (26), Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632–8862.
(This is not a toll-free telephone
number.)
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
§ 36.4803 General requirements of the
COVID–19 Veterans Assistance Partial
Claim Payment program.
*
*
*
*
*
(The Office of Management and
Budget has approved the information
collection requirements in this section
under control number 2900–0889).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Amend § 36.4805 by revising the
sentence in parenthesis at the end of the
section to read as follows:
§ 36.4805 Terms of the partial claim
payment.
*
*
*
*
*
(The Office of Management and
Budget has approved the information
collection requirements in this section
under control number 2900–0889).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Amend § 36.4806 by revising the
sentence in parenthesis at the end of the
section to read as follows:
§ 36.4806
veteran.
*
E:\FR\FM\23AUR1.SGM
*
Terms of the assistance to the
*
23AUR1
*
*
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46982-46983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18089]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 9
RIN 2900-AR24
Extension of Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) Application
Periods in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document adopts as a final rule, without change, an
interim final rule amending the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
regulation regarding Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). The
amendment was necessary in order to extend the deadline for former
members to apply for VGLI coverage following separation from service to
address the inability of former members directly or indirectly affected
by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency to
purchase VGLI.
DATES: Effective September 22, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Weaver, Department of Veterans
Affairs Insurance Service (310/290B), 5000 Wissahickon Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19144, (215) 842-2000, ext. 4263. (This is not a toll-
free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An interim final rule amending VA's
regulation regarding the deadline for former members to apply for VGLI
coverage following separation from service was published in the Federal
Register on June 9, 2021 (86 FR 30541).
VA provided a 30-day comment period that ended on July 9, 2021. No
comments were received. Based on the rationale set forth in the interim
final rule, we now adopt the interim final rule as a final rule without
change.
Administrative Procedure Act
In the June 9, 2021, Federal Register notice, VA determined that
there was a basis under the Administrative Procedure Act for issuing
the interim final rule with immediate effect. We invited and did not
receive public comment on the interim final rule. This document adopts
the interim final rule as a final rule without change.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521).
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the
costs and
[[Page 46983]]
benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety
effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity).
Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review)
emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits,
reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. The
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this
rule is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order
12866. The Regulatory Impact Analysis associated with this rulemaking
can be found as a supporting document at www.regulations.gov.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-
612. The provisions contained in this final rulemaking are applicable
to individual Veterans, and applications for VGLI, as submitted by such
individuals, and are specifically managed and processed within VA and
through Prudential Insurance Company of America, which is not
considered to be a small entity. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
605(b), the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604 do not apply.
Unfunded Mandates
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C.
1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and
benefits before issuing any rule that may result in an expenditure by
the State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for
inflation) in any given year. This final rule will have no such effect
on State, local, and tribal governments or on the private sector.
Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number and title
for this rule is 64.103, Life Insurance for Veterans.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 9
Life insurance, Military personnel, Veterans.
Signing Authority
Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on August 16, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
PART 9--SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND VETERANS' GROUP
LIFE INSURANCE
Accordingly, the Department of Veterans Affairs is adopting the
interim rule amending 38 CFR part 9 that was published at 85 FR 35562
on June 9, 2021, as final without change.
[FR Doc. 2021-18089 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
