[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19563-19566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07183]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2020-0015]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request
The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of
information collection packages requiring clearance by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Public Law 104-13, the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. This notice
includes revisions of OMB-approved information collections.
SSA is soliciting comments on the accuracy of the agency's burden
estimate; the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to
enhance its quality, utility, and clarity; and ways to minimize burden
on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Mail, email, or fax your
comments and recommendations on the information collection(s) to the
OMB Desk Officer and SSA Reports Clearance Officer at the following
addresses or fax numbers.
(OMB) Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, Fax:
202-395-6974, Email address: [email protected].
(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, 3100 West High Rise, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD
21235, Fax: 410-966-2830, Email address: [email protected].
Or you may submit your comments online through www.regulations.gov,
referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2020-0015].
I. The information collection below is pending at SSA. SSA will
submit it to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. To be
sure we consider your comments, we must receive them no later than June
8, 2020. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instrument by
writing to the above email address.
Authorization to Obtain Earnings Data From the Social Security
Administration--0960-0602. On occasion, public and private
organizations and agencies need to obtain detailed earnings information
about specific Social Security number (SSN) holding wage earners for
business purposes (e.g. pension funds, State agencies, etc.).
Respondents use Form SSA-581 to identify the SSN holder whose
information they are requesting, and provide authorization from the SSN
holder, when applicable. SSA uses the information provided on Form SSA-
581 to: (1) Identify the wage earner; (2) establish the period of
earnings information requested; (3) verify the wage earner authorized
SSA to release this information to the requesting party; and (4)
produce the Itemized Statement of Earnings (SSA-1826). The respondents
are private businesses, state or local agencies, and other federal
agencies. Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
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SSA-581........................................... 24,000 1 2 800 * $30.29 ** $24,232
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* We based this figure on average Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists hourly wage data from the BLS website. Since most respondents are
from the private sector, and wages for private sector are comparable to those of the state and local governments, we did not differentiate between the
two.
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
II. SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for
clearance. Your comments regarding these information collections would
be most useful if OMB and SSA receive them 30 days from the date of
this publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive
them no later than May 7, 2020. Individuals can obtain copies of the
OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
1. Request for Corrections of Earnings Record--20 CFR 404.820 and
20 CFR 422.125--0960-0029. Individuals alleging inaccurate earnings
records in SSA's files use paper Form SSA-7008, or a personal interview
during which SSA employees key their answers into our electronic
Earnings Modernization Item Correction system, to provide the
information SSA needs to check
[[Page 19564]]
earnings posted, and, as necessary, initiate development to resolve any
inaccuracies. The respondents are individuals who request correction of
earnings posted to their Social Security earnings record.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average Total annual
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual Average wait opportunity
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity time in field cost for wait
respondents response response burden amount cost office time
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) * (dollars) ** (minutes) *** (dollars) **
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SSA-7008........................................................ 28,734 1 28 13,409 * $22.50 ** $301,702 *** 24 ** $540
In-person or telephone interview................................ 337,500 1 10 56,250 * 22.50 ** 1,265,625 *** 24 ** 540
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Totals...................................................... 366,234 .............. .............. 69,659 .............. ** 1,567,328 .............. ** 1,080
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* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for
the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.
*** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
2. Application for a Social Security Number Card, the Social
Security Number Application Process (SSNAP), and internet SSN
Replacement Card (iSSNRC) Application--20 CFR 422.103-422.110-0960-
0066. SSA collects information on the SS-5 (used in the United States)
and SS-5-FS (used outside the United States) to issue original or
replacement Social Security cards. SSA also enters the application data
into the SSNAP application when issuing a card via telephone or in
person. In addition, hospitals collect the same information on SSA's
behalf for newborn children through the Enumeration-at-Birth process.
In this process, parents of newborns provide hospital birth
registration clerks with information required to register these
newborns. Hospitals send this information to State Bureaus of Vital
Statistics (BVS), and they send the information to SSA's National
Computer Center. SSA then uploads the data to the SSA mainframe along
with all other enumeration data, and we assign the newborn a Social
Security number (SSN) and issue a Social Security card. Respondents can
also use these modalities to request a change in their SSN records. In
addition, the iSSNRC internet application collects information similar
to the paper SS-5 for no-change replacement SSN cards for adult U.S.
citizens. The iSSNRC modality allows certain applicants for SSN
replacement cards to complete the internet application and submit the
required evidence online rather than completing a paper Form SS-5.
Finally, the new Online Social Security Number Application Process
(oSSNAP) collects information similar to the paper SS-5 for no change,
with the exception of name change, replacement SSN cards for U.S
Citizens (adult and minor children). oSSNAP will allow certain
applicants for SSN replacement cards to start the application process
on-line, receive a list of evidentiary documents, and then submit the
application data to SSA for further processing by SSA employees.
Applicants will need to visit a local SSA office to complete the
application process. The respondents for this collection are applicants
for original and replacement Social Security cards, or individuals who
wish to change information in their SSN records, who use any of the
modalities described above.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average Total annual
Average burden Estimated theoretical Total annual Average wait opportunity
Application scenario Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost opportunity time in field cost for wait
respondents response (minutes) burden amount cost office time
(hours) (dollars) * (dollars) ** (minutes) *** (dollars) **
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Respondents who do not have to provide parents' SSNs............ 7,380,000 1 8.5 1,107,000 * $22.50 ** $24,907,500 *** 24 ** $540
Adult U.S. Citizens requesting a replacement card with no 1,350,000 1 5 112,500 * 22.50 ** 2,531,250 *** 24 ** 540
changes through the iSSNRC modality............................
Adult U.S. Citizens providing information to receive a 3,500,000 1 5 291,667 * 22.50 ** 6,562,508 *** 24 ** 540
replacement card through the oSSNAP modality+..................
Respondents whom we ask to provide parents' SSNs (when applying 190,000 1 9 28,500 *22.50 ** 641,250 *** 24 ** 540
for original SSN cards for children under age 12)..............
Applicants age 12 or older who need to answer additional 910,000 1 10 151,667 * 22.50 ** 3,412,508 *** 24 ** 540
questions so SSA can determine whether we previously assigned
an SSN.........................................................
[[Page 19565]]
Applicants asking for a replacement SSN card beyond the 7,250 1 60 7,250 * 22.50 ** 163,125 *** 24 ** 540
allowable limits (i.e., who must provide additional
documentation to accompany the application)....................
Authorization to SSA to obtain personal information cover letter 500 1 15 125 * 22.50 ** 2,813 *** 24 ** 540
Authorization to SSA to obtain personal information follow-up 500 1 15 125 * 22.50 ** 2,813 *** 24 ** 540
cover letter...................................................
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Totals.......................................................... 13,338,250 .............. .............. 1,698,834 .............. ** 38,223,767 .............. ** 4,320
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* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages (based on BLS.gov data).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for
the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.
*** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
+ The number of respondents for this modality is an estimate based on google analytics data for the SS-5 form downloads from SSA.Gov.
3. Petition for Authorization to Charge and Collect a Fee for
Services Before the Social Security Administration--20 CFR 404.1720-
404.1730; 20 CFR 416.1520-416.1530--0960-0104. A Social Security
claimant's representative, whether an attorney or a non-attorney, uses
Form SSA-1560 to petition SSA for authorization to charge and collect a
fee for their services as a representative. In addition, the
representatives indicate on the form if they have been disbarred or
suspended from a court or bar to which they were previously admitted to
practice as an attorney; or if they have been disqualified from
appearing before a Federal program or agency. SSA must authorize a fee
to the representative, if the representative requests to be paid from
the expected past-due benefits of the claimant. The representative
submits the SSA-1560 after a claim decision, or any time when the
representation is terminated, to request authorization to charge and
collect a fee under the fee petition process. Since this information is
mandated by regulation, the form is mandatory for the representative to
obtain authorization to charge and collect a fee. SSA collects the
information on a claim-by-claim basis, if the individual
representatives decide to use this option to receive authorization of a
fee, and representatives must submit the documentation once per claim.
SSA employees then evaluate and process the request for authorization
of a fee. The respondents are representatives who use this form to
request a fee via the fee petition process.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
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SSA-1560.......................................... 24,153 1 30 12,077 * $72.21 $** 872,080
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* We based this figure on average lawyer's salary (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
4. Development of Participation in a Vocational Rehabilitation or
Similar Program--20 CFR 404.316(c), 404.337(c), 404.352(d),
404.1586(g), 404.1596, 404.1597(a), 404.327, 404.328, 416.1321(d),
416.1331(a)-(b), and 416.1338, 416.1402--0960-0282. State Disability
Determination Services (DDS) determine if Social Security disability
payment recipients whose disability ceased and who participate in
vocational rehabilitation programs may continue to receive disability
payments. To do this, DDSs need information about the recipients; the
types of program participation; and the services they receive under the
rehabilitation program. SSA uses Form SSA-4290 to collect this
information. The respondents are State employment networks, vocational
rehabilitation agencies, or other providers of educational or job
training services.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 19566]]
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Average Total annual
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual Average wait opportunity
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity time in field cost for wait
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars) office time (dollars)
(dollars) * ** (minutes) *** **
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SSA-4290-F5............................................. 3,000 1 15 750 * $17.22 ** $12,915 *** 24 ** $413
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* We based this figure on average Social and Human Service Assistant's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for
the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.
*** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
Dated: April 1, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer,Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-07183 Filed 4-6-20; 8:45 am]
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