DOL Requests Comments on Death Gratuity Information Collection Under PRA

Content

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)-sponsored information collection
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency receives on or before May 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using
the search function.

Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of
the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202-693-0213, or by email at DOLPRAPUBLIC@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181, was enacted on January 28, 2008. Section
1105 of Public Law 110-181 amended the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) creating a new section, 5 U.S.C. 8102a effective
upon enactment. This section establishes a FECA death gratuity benefit of up to $100,000 for eligible beneficiaries of federal
employees and Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality employees who die from injuries incurred in connection with service with
an Armed Force in a contingency operation which also permits agencies to authorize retroactive payment of the death gratuity
for employees who died on or after October 7, 2001 in service with an Armed Force in the theater of operations of Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It also allows federal employees to vary the order of precedence of beneficiaries
or to name alternate beneficiaries and provides that the OWCP Forms CA-40, CA-41, and CA-42 are to be used to designate beneficiaries
and initiate the payment process for death gratuity benefits. Form CA-40 is an optional form that requests the information
necessary from the employee to accomplish this variance and to name alternate beneficiaries only if the employee wishes to
do so. OWCP Form CA-41 provides the means for those named beneficiaries and possible recipients to file claims for those benefits
and requests information from

such claimants so that OWCP may determine their eligibility for payment. Further, the statute and regulations require agencies
to notify OWCP immediately upon the death of a covered employee. OWCP Form CA-42 provides the means to accomplish this notification
and requests information necessary to administer any claim for benefits resulting from such a death.

Form CA-40 is an optional form that requests the information necessary from the employee to accomplish this variance and to
name alternate beneficiaries only if the employee wishes to do so. Form CA-41 provides the means for those named beneficiaries
and possible recipients to file claims for those benefits and requests information from such claimants so that OWCP may determine
their eligibility for payment. Further, the statute and regulations require agencies to notify OWCP immediately upon the death
of a covered employee. OWCP Form CA-42 provides the means to accomplish this notification and requests information necessary
to administer any claim for benefits resulting from such a death. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see
the related notice published in the
Federal Register
on February 3, 2026 (91 FR 4967).

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information,
and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally
be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number.
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for
more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for
existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-OWCP.

Title of Collection: Death Gratuity.

OMB Control Number: 1240-0017.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Federal Government.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 7.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 2 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Nicole Bouchet, Senior PRA Analyst. [FR Doc. 2026-07508 Filed 4-16-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-26-P

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