[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29441-29443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11917]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
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 and one extension 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, DCRDP, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, 107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD
21235, Fax: 410-966-2830, Email address: [email protected].
I. The information collections below are pending at SSA. SSA will
submit them 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 July
16, 2012. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments
by writing to the above email address.
1. Disability Report-Adult--20 CFR 404.1512 and 416.912--0960-0579.
State Disability Determination Services (DDS) use the SSA-3368 and its
electronic versions to determine if adult disability applicants'
impairments are severe and, if so, how the impairments affect the
applicants' ability to work. This determination dictates whether the
DDSs and SSA will find the applicant to be disabled and entitled to
Supplement Security Income (SSI) payments. The respondents are
applicants for title II disability benefits or title XVI SSI payments.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 29442]]
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Average
Number of Frequency of burden per Estimated
Collection method respondents response response annual burden
(minutes) (hours)
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SSA-3368 (paper)................................ 29,072 1 60 29,072
Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS)..... 2,853,426 1 60 2,853,426
I3368 (Internet)................................ 421,226 1 90 631,839
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Totals...................................... 3,303,724 .............. .............. 3,514,337
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2. Social Security Number Verification Services--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0660. Internal Revenue Service regulations require employers to
provide wage and tax data to SSA using Form W-2 or its electronic
equivalent. As part of this process, the employer must furnish the
employee's name and Social Security number (SSN). In addition, the
employee's name and SSN must match SSA's records for SSA to post
earnings to the employee's earnings record, which SSA maintains. SSA
offers the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS), which
allows employers to verify the reported names and SSNs of their
employees match those in SSA's records. SSNVS is a cost-free method for
employers to verify employee information either through the Internet or
via telephone. The respondents are employers who need to verify SSN
data using SSA's records.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average Estimated
Number of Frequency of Number of burden per total annual
Collection method respondents response responses response burden
(minutes) (hours)
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SSNVS........................... 200,000 60 (12,000,000) 5 1,000,000
SSNVS Telephone................. 50,000 2 (100,000) 10 16,667
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Totals...................... 250,000 .............. (12,100,000) .............. 1,016,667
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3. Electronic Records Express (Third Parties)--20 CFR 404.1700-
404.1715--0960-0767. Electronic Records Express (ERE) is an online
system that enables medical providers and various third-party
representatives to download and submit disability claimant information
electronically to SSA as part of the disability application process. To
ensure only authorized people access ERE, SSA requires third parties to
complete a unique registration process if they wish to use this system.
This Information Collection Request (ICRSs) includes the third-party
registration process; the burden for submitting evidence to SSA is part
of other, various ICRs. The respondents are third-party representatives
of disability applicants or recipients who want to use ERE to
electronically access clients' disability files online and submit
information to SSA.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Collection method Number of Frequency of Number of per response total annual
respondents response responses (minutes) burden (hours)
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ERE................................................................ 9,000 283 2,547,000 1 42,450
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II. SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for
clearance. Your comments regarding the information collections would be
most useful if OMB and SSA receive them within 30 days from the date of
this publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive
them no later than June 18, 2012. Individuals can obtain copies of the
OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
1. Request for Withdrawal of Application--20 CFR 404.640--0960-
0015. Form SSA-521 documents the information SSA needs to process the
withdrawal of an application for benefits. A paper SSA-521 is the
preferred instrument for executing a withdrawal request; however, any
written request for withdrawal signed by the claimant or a proper
applicant on the claimant's behalf will suffice. Individuals who wish
to withdraw their applications for benefits complete Form SSA-521, or
sign the completed form for each request to withdraw. SSA uses the
information from Form SSA-521 to process the request for withdrawal.
The respondents are applicants for Retirement, Survivors, Disability,
and Health Insurance benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Collection method Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
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SSA-521..................................... 39,000 1 5 3,250
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[[Page 29443]]
2. Testimony by Employees and the Production of Records and
Information in Legal Proceedings--20 CFR 403.100-403.155--0960-0619.
Regulations at 20 CFR 403.100-403.155 of the Code of Federal
Regulations establish SSA's policies and procedures for an individual,
organization, or government entity to request official agency
information, records, or testimony of an agency employee in a legal
proceeding where the agency is not a party. The request, which
respondents submit in writing to the Commissioner, must (1) fully set
out the nature and relevance of the sought testimony; (2) explain why
the information is not available by other means; (3) explain why it is
in SSA's interest to provide the testimony; and (4) provide the date,
time, and place for the testimony. Respondents are individuals or
entities who request testimony from SSA employees in connection with a
legal proceeding.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Collection method Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
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20 CFR 403.100-403.155...................... 100 1 60 100
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Dated: May 11, 2012.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Director, Office of Regulations and Reports
Clearance, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-11917 Filed 5-16-12; 8:45 am]
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