PSTAP Supporting Statement Part A 2900 0864 9-26-25 1

SUPPORTING STATEMENT - PART A

Post-Separation Transition Assistance Program (PSTAP)

Assessment– OMB Control Number 2900-0864

Summary of Changes from Previously Approved Collection

• There were a couple additions to both data collection instruments to collect additional information required by Congressional guidelines.

• There is an overall increase in burden based on inclusion of additional study participants mitigated by lower expected response rate changes from previous data collections.

• 1 comment received during the 60-Day period

1. Need for the Information Collection

This update to the current OMB Clearance is to extend the expiration date as well as add several questions to the survey based on updates to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (hereafter referred to as Public Law 116-315) was signed into law by the President on January 5, 2021. The primary purpose of Public Law 116-315 is to enhance benefits for homeless Veterans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and improve benefits and services for Service members and Veterans. This legislation includes more than 70 unique requirements and initiatives that the Veteran Benefits Administration must complete across the organization. One of those requirements is listed under Section 4306 of the Public Law. This second study will be identified throughout this document as the 4306 Study. As this study has requested a large number of similar variables as the PSTAP, it makes the most sense to combine the two studies as there will be some crossover among participants.

Justification for the PSTAP

Preparing Transitioning Service members (TSMs) for civilian life is an important goal for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This goal has been highlighted in a 2014 report to Congress by the General Accountability Office (GAO), “Better Understanding Needed to Enhance Services to Veterans Readjusting to Civilian Life” [GAO-14-676). VA’s progress toward meeting this imperative for Veterans’ readiness for civilian life includes expansions to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to meet long-term outcomes in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Transition Assistance Program for Servicemembers Transition from Active Duty MOU signed 16 Dec 2016). The Interagency group that carries out the performance management activities of this MOU is the Performance Management Workgroup (PMWG) comprised of the following federal partner agencies:

1. U.S. Department of Defense

2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

3. U.S. Coast Guard (representing Department of Homeland Security)

4. U.S. Department of Labor

5. U.S. Department of Education

6. U.S. Office of Personnel and Management

7. Small Business Administration

Active duty and reserve TSMs being discharged from their respective branches of service are required to take part in either an online or in-person TAP curriculum. After separation, Veterans, their family members, and caregivers remain eligible to take TAP. This training is comprised of a comprehensive set of courses that focus on the many aspects of transitioning to civilian life. Additional separate modules and tracks such as Entrepreneurship, (e.g., “Boots to Business”), can be selected. Contracted Benefit Advisors conduct VA TAP briefings at transition sites located at military installations across the country as well as locations Outside Continental United States (OCONUS). These briefings provide information on the full range of VA’s benefits, including but not limited to, VA healthcare, disability compensation, education, home loan program, insurance, vocational rehabilitation, and burial benefits. These benefits are collectively administered and monitored within the VA.

In April of 2019, OMB approved the Post-Separation Transition Assistance Program (PSTAP) Cross Sectional Assessment (OMB Control Number 2900-0864). The first administration of the Cross-Sectional Survey occurred in June of 2019. In March of 2020, OMB approved the addition of the Longitudinal Survey. Both surveys were then administered in 2021. Administration of these two surveys is expected to continue annually through the next expiration date. These two assessments are combined into the PSTAP Assessment Outcome Study.

The goal of the PSTAP Assessment is to gauge the impact of TAP on TSMs through a Cross-Sectional Survey and then continue to track those participants for several years to assess long-term Veteran outcomes through the Longitudinal Survey. Participants in the Longitudinal Survey are recruited via the Cross-Sectional Survey. In the first year of the longitudinal study, Veterans from the six-month, one-year, and three-year cohorts from the prior year’s Cross-Sectional Survey who opt in will be provided the opportunity to participate in the longitudinal survey. In future years, only the 6-month cohort respondents who opt in from the prior year’s Cross-Sectional Survey will be added to the longitudinal study. The purpose of this information collection request fulfills Executive Order 13571—Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service. Without collecting satisfaction information, VA would be unable to monitor and improve its TAP delivery and implementation. Additional legislative guidance for this improvement to TAP falls under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act (November 21, 2011, Public Law 112-56, §221-225, 125 Stat. 715-718) and the National Defense Authorization Act (Fiscal Year 1991, P.L. 101-510 amended Title 10 of the U.S.C.), specifically Chapter 58, which authorized comprehensive transition assistance benefits and services for Servicemembers transitioning from active duty, as well as their family members and caregivers.

VA is benefitting from the direct objective and subjective feedback from Veterans on their long-term outcomes and how they relate to the TAP training they received. Specifically, the survey will be administered to gauge the long-term effectiveness of TAP by: (1) examining the relationship between attendance in TAP courses and the use of VA Benefits; (2) analyzing the effect of participation in TAP courses on the long-term outcomes of Veterans in the broad life domains of employment, education, health and social relationships, financial, social connectivity and overall satisfaction and well-being, and; (3) identifying areas of improvement for TAP and the broader transition process to guide training and/or operational activities aimed at enhancing the quality of service provided to transitioning service members, Veterans, their families, and caregivers.

Justification for the 4306 Study

Section 4306 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to conduct a longitudinal study on changes to Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and provide annual progress reports and a final report. After review of the requirements of Section 4306, it was determined that conducting this study under this current OMB Clearance would be beneficial given that the data collection required is similar to the current PSTAP study. This would eliminate additional burden of many Veterans participating in two studies providing similar data. The below table provides preliminary analysis of the data requirements of the 4306 study with the current PSTAP survey questions.

4306 Requirement	PSTAP Longitudinal Survey	Comments
1. The percentage of each cohort that received unemployment benefits during the study	During the past 12 months, did you receive unemployment compensation?	No change needed
2. The numbers of months members of each cohort were employed during the study	What is your current employment status?	Add question for number of months employed
3. Annual starting and ending salaries of members of each cohort who were employed during the study	Please mark expected annual income range, including salary, as well as any retirement income such as your military retirement, any disability payments, real estate income, and any other sources of income, before taxes are taken out. If you are not sure, please make your best guess.	Current PSTAP survey questions require a range for income instead of exact numbers
4. How many members of each cohort enrolled in an institution of higher learning	In the past 12 months, did you engage in any education and/or training programs? In the past 12 months, have you engaged in an apprenticeship or internship program?	No change needed
5. The academic credit hours, degrees, and certificates obtained by members of each cohort during the study	Please select all degrees and certifications you have obtained in the last 12 months.	Degrees obtained already asked. Will need to add: How many academic credit hours did you complete during the past 12 months?
6. The annual income of members of each cohort	Please mark expected annual income range, including salary, as well as any retirement income such as your military retirement, any disability payments, real estate income, and any other sources of income, before taxes are taken out. If you are not sure, please make your best guess.	Current PSTAP survey questions require a range for income instead of exact numbers
7. The total household income of members of each cohort	Please mark expected annual income range, including salary, as well as any retirement income such as your military retirement, any disability payments, real estate income, and any other sources of income, before taxes are taken out. If you are not sure, please make your best guess.	Current PSTAP survey questions require a range for income instead of exact numbers
8. How many members of each cohort own their principal residences	What is your current living situation? Mark one answer	No change needed
9. How many dependents of each cohort have	How many people are supported by your HOUSEHOLD income, including yourself, your significant other (if you have one), and anyone else partially or fully supported by this income whether or not they live with you?	No change needed
10.The percentage of each cohort that achieves a successful outcome for TAP	The following questions ask how satisfied you feel, on a scale from zero to 10. Zero means you feel no satisfaction at all and 10 means you feel completely satisfied.	Several questions will be modified or added to which will ensure compliance with this item.
11.Other criteria the Secretaries and the Administrator of the SBA determine appropriate	Thinking back to your transition process, is there anything else that VA could have done then or could be doing now to help you after your service?	Many questions asked in the current PSTAP survey gather data relative to this requirement.

As shown, most data already being collected under the PSTAP study is required for the 4306 study. Adding the 4306 cohorts, described in detail in Supporting Statement B, to the PSTAP study will ensure Veterans do not receive two separate surveys collecting similar data. Additionally, the questions for PSTAP have already been approved, eliminating testing and review by the Government.

2. Use of the Information

These surveys are completed by Veterans who have separated from the military at specific times from survey deployment. The Cross-Sectional survey is administered to three cohorts each year, one cohort who separated 6-months prior to survey administration, another cohort who separated 12 months, and a final cohort that separated 36 months. The PSTAP Longitudinal survey is administered to Veterans who completed the Cross-Sectional Survey and agreed to participate in an annual longitudinal survey. Each year, a new cohort is added from the previous Cross-Sectional Survey from the 6-month cohort. For the 4306 Survey, a random sampling from four cohorts based on the date of TAP pre-separation counseling completion: 1a) attended TAP pre-separation counseling from October 2019 through September 2020, 1b) attended one year prior to changes to TAP implemented based on recommendations from the 4305 study, 2) attended one year after changes TAP based on the 4305 recommendations, and 3) attended from October 2018 through September 2019. The survey will ask 4306 Study participants for permission to contact them again for future annual surveys.

The stakeholders of the PSTAP Assessment are Veterans, the VA, congressional committees with oversight of Veterans' issues, the Office of Management and Budget, the interagency partners that liaise with Congress and GAO regarding military and Veteran concerns, as well as companies and service providers that address Veterans’ needs (e.g., housing, healthcare, etc.). The interagency partnership was established to coordinate the federal government’s transition programs that support Veterans and the PMWG is the primary subgroup that addresses performance management for TAP.

VA is the primary stakeholder of this study and currently has several staff and contracts in place to deliver and determine the effectiveness of TAP training. Findings and recommendations from the PSTAP Assessment will be used to make informed program-related decisions and facilitate Veterans' access to benefits as they transition into civilian life. The 4306 survey is a Congressionally mandated requirement under Section 4306 of the Public Law 116-315.

There are two surveys in this data collection, a Cross-Sectional and a Longitudinal. Both surveys begin with questions about a Veteran’s experience with TAP and then several sections regarding their lives including employment, education, health, finances and overall life satisfaction. For each survey, all Veterans with valid email addresses are emailed an invitation to participate. Veterans are also sent postcards with information on how to access the survey electronically to complete the survey using a unique ID. After 6 weeks, nonrespondents are also sent, via mail, a survey package prompting them to complete a paper version of the survey and send back to the contractor using a prepaid envelope. The letter of this package also provides the Veterans the information needed to complete the survey online.

Online surveys are collected immediately using the contractor’s online survey tool. Paper surveys are received by the contractor and scanned. These results are combined with the web survey responses to create a final analytical file.

These surveys enable VA to understand and quantify the understanding Veterans have of their benefits and how attendance in TAP training can affect their long-term outcomes over time and will be combined with the Cross-Sectional Survey to provide a very comprehensive holistic profile of Veterans. Results provide VA critical inputs that can be used to assist decision-makers in formulating operational changes in the VA environment to ensure that Veterans are effectively served. Through four years of survey administration, several findings have informed VA on how to improve TAP. Results of the PSTAP can be found here: https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/tap-assessments.asp

As this study is Congressionally mandated, the main audience of the final report are members of Congress. However, similar to the PSTAP, Veterans, the VA, and other agencies such as DoD, DOL, and SBA are stakeholders who will leverage this information to continually improve TAP.

These surveys will continue to aid VA and its interagency partners in understanding the impacts of the changes made to TAP over the years, including changes made as a direct result of the 4305 study. The study will follow Veterans for five years as they transition from military to civilian life and will track outcomes of key indicators of satisfaction such as health, wellness, employment, education, and financial stability.

3. Use of Information Technology

The PSTAP Assessment is collected using multiple modes. All participants receive a postcard requesting they complete the survey online (accessed at www.VA-PSTAPSurvey.org) using a personal ID. Additionally, all participants with email addresses (roughly 85% of the Cross-Sectional Survey and over 90% on Longitudinal Surveys) on file with VA receive a personalized email and link to the surveys. Participants who enlist in the Longitudinal Study can enter or update their email addresses on an annual basis. Email reminders are also sent to nonrespondents periodically. Nonrespondents to these initial methods are sent a paper survey to complete and send their responses using a business reply mail envelope. The paper survey letter also includes log-in credentials for the web survey. Throughout the survey, several reminders are also sent via email or other electronic methods to nonrespondents. In the latest complete collection, over 80% of responses were received using the online survey form.

The contractor provides a 508 compliant accessible survey to ensure all participants can easily complete the survey. Additionally, the online survey has been optimized for mobile devices and can be accessed from any device with internet access. These methods reduce response burden and increase response rates which allows the contractor to conduct valid data analysis.

All survey procedures used for data collection are in accordance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) requiring agencies to comply by October 21, 2003.

The 4306 Study survey is administered using the same methodology as the PSTAP survey with the new cohorts. This method has been proven to be effective in recruiting Veterans for long-term studies.

4. Non-duplication

The information obtained through this collection is unique and is not already available for use or adaptation from another cleared source.

5. Burden on Small Businesses

This information collection does not impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses or entities.

6. Less Frequent Collection

Without this annual data collection activity, VA will not be able to submit the Congressionally mandated report required by Congress in 2029. There is no replacement for many data items required under the 4306 study and survey data must be collected from each of the cohorts.

Additionally, if VA is unable to proceed with the collection of the data, VA will not be responsive to the recommendation of GAO to Congress to prepare TSMs for transition to civilian life. VA will not have the benefit of receiving feedback on what is important to Service members during TAP or how best to improve their service and how best to serve the needs of our Veterans as they transition into civilian life. The longitudinal collection of data will enable VA to track and document improvements or declines in TAP effectiveness over time. Absent a rigorous and statistically sound survey, VA will only have anecdotal information available to improve its programs. Understanding the long-term outcomes of TSMs is integral to continuing to build an effective and efficient transition program.

7. Paperwork Reduction Act Guidelines

This collection of information does not require collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines delineated in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. Consultation and Public Comments

Part A: PUBLIC NOTICE

A 60-Day Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the collection published on Friday, July 25, 2025. The 60-Day FRN citation is 90 FRN 35381.

1 comment received during the 60-Day comment period.

A 30-Day Federal Register Notice for the collection published on Friday, September 26, 2025. The 30-Day FRN citation is 90 FRN 46466.

Part B: CONSULTATION

VA is a member of the aforementioned PMWG. VA consults regularly with the PMWG to identify new questions, review current survey instruments and identify potential data sources to limit burden. In addition to these continued meetings, the initial surveys draw upon validated batteries of questions such as those from the TVMI, Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys, Lubben Social Network Scale, and Personal Well-Being Inventory. Utilizing these questions helps to boost response rates by using questions that have previously been tested and fielded with success. Permission was sought and obtained by the authors of these studies to use for this survey by VA.

9. Gifts or Payment

No payments or gifts are being offered to respondents as an incentive to participate in the collection.

10. Confidentiality

To participate in the study, each participant receives messaging regarding privacy of their responses. The language includes the following statement:

“All survey responses are, and will remain, confidential (protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. §522a and 38 U.S.C. §5701) and will only be used for statistical purposes.

Your responses will be restricted to authorized researchers directly involved in survey data collection and analysis and are password protected. A few questions deal with information that could be viewed as sensitive. We have taken additional steps to ensure the safety and privacy of your data. Your responses will be combined with all other survey responses so that you cannot be identified in any report.”

A System of Record Notice (SORN) is not required for this collection because records are not retrievable by PII. Additionally, a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is not required for this collection because PII is not being collected electronically.

The contractor maintains records for a minimum of three years, however, data for longitudinal analysis is kept throughout the study to analyze responses and compare from year to year.

11. Sensitive Questions

Both surveys contain minimal topics of a sensitive nature. The majority of the questions are attitudinal measures about TAP training and topics such as the Veteran’s current financial situation and health status are minimally invasive and discussed more below. The survey instrument does not contain questions that require more careful human subject review such as surveying groups that require special protections.

Mental and physical health are important long-term outcomes to measure for Veterans. While measuring these topics could raise issues related to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other protections for respondents, the questions used do not ask about a specific health condition. This approach was intentional because it is not designed to measure the incidence or prevalence of any given condition but will instead measure if Veterans are experiencing any type of health condition.

12. Respondent Burden and its Labor Costs

Part A: ESTIMATION OF RESPONDENT BURDEN

1. Collection Instrument(s)

PSTAP / 4306 Cross-Sectional Survey

1. Number of Respondents: 15,164

2. Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1

3. Number of Total Annual Responses: 15,164

4. Response Time: 18.5 minutes

5. Respondent Burden Hours: 4,676 hours

2. Collection Instrument(s)

PSTAP / 4306 Longitudinal Survey

1. Number of Respondents: 15,911

2. Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1

3. Number of Total Annual Responses: 15,911

4. Response Time: 18.5 minutes

5. Respondent Burden Hours: 4,906 hours

3. Total Submission Burden (Summation or average based on collection)

   1. Total Number of Respondents: 31,075

   2. Total Number of Annual Responses: 31,075

   3. Total Respondent Burden Hours: 9,582 hours

Part B: LABOR COST OF RESPONDENT BURDEN

(P): OMB believes that everyone’s time is worth money. In this section, we’re determining that if the respondent was working at their job, how much would they make in the time it takes them to respond to the collection instrument?

If respondents are salaried, and not hourly wage-earners, approximate the hourly wage as best as possible. For a good estimate, divide respondent salary by 52 weeks, then divide again by 40 hours to come up with a respondent hourly wage.

1. Collection Instrument(s)

PSTAP / 4306 Cross-Sectional Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 15,164

2. Response Time: 9.25 minutes

3. Respondent Hourly Wage: $31.24

4. Labor Burden per Response: $9.63

5. Total Labor Burden: $146,029

2. Collection Instrument(s)

PSTAP / 4306 Longitudinal Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 15,911

2. Response Time: 9.25 minutes

3. Respondent Hourly Wage: $31.24

4. Labor Burden per Response: $9.63

5. Total Labor Burden: $153,223

3. Overall Labor Burden

   1. Total Number of Annual Responses: 31,075

   2. Total Labor Burden: $299,252

The Respondent hourly wage was determined by using the BLS’ average hourly wage of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t24.htm] for June 2025. Given that the PSTAP and 4306 surveys are administered to all Veterans who separated during specific timeframes, it is difficult to narrow down wages further.

13. Respondent Costs Other Than Burden Hour Costs

There are no annualized costs to respondents other than the labor burden costs addressed in Section 12 of this document to complete this collection.

14. Cost to the Federal Government

Part A: LABOR COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1. Collection Instrument(s)

PSTAP / 4306 Cross-Sectional Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 15,164

2. Processing Time per Response: .086 hours (5.16 minutes)

3. Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses : $41

4. Cost to Process Each Response: $3.53

5. Total Cost to Process Responses: $53,529

2. Collection Instrument(s)

PSTAP / 4306 Longitudinal Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 15,911

2. Processing Time per Response: .086 hours (5.16 minutes)

3. Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses : $41

4. Cost to Process Each Response: $3.53

5. Total Cost to Process Responses: $56,166

3. Overall Labor Burden to the Federal Government

   1. Total Number of Annual Responses: 31,075

   2. Total Labor Burden: $109,695

Part B: OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS

1. Cost Categories

   1. Equipment: $0

   2. Printing: $77,000

   3. Postage: $71,000

   4. Software Purchases: $24,000

   5. Licensing Costs: $15,000

   6. Other: $

2. Total Operational and Maintenance Cost: $187,000

Part C: TOTAL COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1. Total Labor Cost to the Federal Government: $109,695

2. Total Operational and Maintenance Costs: $187,000

3. Total Cost to the Federal Government: $296,695

15. Reasons for Change in Burden: The burden has increased since the previous approval due to the inclusion of additional respondents as part of the 4306 aspect of the study. This increase is mitigated by population adjustments for the Cross-Sectional Survey as the number of participants has decreased year over year. Additionally, response rates have stabilized from previous administrations of the survey, which allows the contractor to more accurately predict the number of responses.

16. Publication of Results

The PSTAP produces reports annually and can be found here (https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/tap-assessments.asp). These reports are released to the public to show Veterans how their responses and feelings to TAP have helped improve the program. It also allows outside stakeholders to see what recommendations have been submitted to VA. Below, VA provides our procedures for analyzing data and a timeline for report development and publication.

Tabulation and Publication

• Scan Survey and Monitor Response Rates

During the fielding period, VA’s Contractor will scan surveys and examine the data file continuously to ensure the accuracy of the data. During the scanning process, the Contractor will inspect and remove duplicates.

The Contractor will host a password-protected website (www.va-PSTAPsurvey.org) that will provide response rates from the Web-based and paper surveys. Throughout the fielding period, the Contractor will update data monthly at minimum and provide VA’s leadership with passwords to access the site at any time.

• Clean and Analyze Survey Data

The Contractor will clean raw data files by examining responses for inaccuracies and correcting inaccuracies prior to analyses (e.g., non-applicable responses to question items that the respondent should have skipped given the responses to prior questions, invalid responses, etc.). The Contractor will create an analysis file by combining and harmonizing data from the web survey and mail survey. The analysis file will include a flag to indicate the survey mode (web or mail).

Prior to analysis, the Contractor, in consultation with VA, will consider recoding categories and up-coding open-ended responses in to existing or new categories for reporting purposes. The Contractor will then analyze the data and create reports for VA. The analyses will provide an accessible summary of responses designed to inform VA’s leadership of the outcomes for TSMs.

The analyses will consist of frequencies, cross-tabulations, regressions, and variable means. The Contractor compares responses to those provided on previous surveys, and will create derived variables indicating change over time as appropriate. All statistics include the weighted standard error when applicable.

• Create Disposition Reports

Disposition reports that include total surveys mailed, number of completes, and the number and percent of refusals are provided by the Contractor on an electronic dashboard.

• Reporting

The results of the contractor’s analysis result in two reports covering the findings from the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies separately. Each report includes an executive summary of key findings along with more in-depth analysis of the survey data. For the longitudinal study, the focus is on identifying trends in long-term outcomes for Veterans of different groups based on their demographic characteristics, use of VA programs, attendance in TAP, and other factors. Each report also includes a methodology section that outlines the overall project and provides details on data collection, response rates, and analytical methodologies.

In addition to the two reports focusing on survey responses, a summary report is also developed annually. This report provides a high-level synopsis of the key findings of each report.

TIMELINE

The project timeline will be based largely on the date of approval for this OMB package. Below is a table of deliverables and projected dates.

Task	Start Date	End Date
Survey Administration	June 1, 2026	September 1, 2026
Data Cleaning	September 1, 2026	September 15, 2026
Data Weighting	September 18, 2026	September 22, 2026
PSTAP Open-Ended Comments Report	September 18, 2026	September 29, 2026
PSTAP Draft Report	October 2, 2026	November 30, 2026
4306 Study Draft Report	October 2, 2026	October 30, 2026
PSTAP Action Planning	November 1, 2026	November 30, 2026
PSTAP Final Report	December 4, 2026	December 15, 2026
PSTAP Internal review and publication	January 1, 2027	April 30, 2027
4306 Study Final Annual Report	November 1, 2029	November 30, 2029

17. Non-Display of OMB Expiration Date

We are not seeking approval to omit the display of the expiration date of the OMB approval on the collection instrument.

18. Exceptions to “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Submissions”

We are not requesting any exemptions to the provisions stated in 5 CFR 1320.9.