[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54363-54364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21315]
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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 one extension and 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, 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
November 4, 2013. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection
instruments by writing to the above email address.
1. Continuing Disability Review Report--20 CFR 404.1589, 416.989 --
0960-0072. Sections 221(i), 1614(a)(3)(H)(ii)(I), and 1633(c)(1) of the
Social Security Act (Act) require SSA to periodically review the cases
of individuals who receive disability benefits under title II or title
XVI to determine if the individuals' disabilities continue. SSA uses
Form SSA-454, Continuing Disability Review Report, to complete the
review for continuing disability. SSA considers adults eligible for
payment if they continue to be unable to do substantial gainful
activity because of their impairments, and we consider title XVI
children eligible for payment if they have marked and severe functional
limitations because of their impairments. SSA also uses Form SSA-454 to
obtain information on sources of medical treatment; participation in
vocational rehabilitation programs (if any); attempts to work (if any);
and if individuals believe their conditions have improved. The
respondents are title II or title XVI disability recipients or their
representatives.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average Estimated
Number of Frequency of burden per total annual
Modality of completion respondents response response burden
(minutes) (hours)
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SSA-454-BK (Paper version)...................... 270,500 1 60 270,500
Electronic Disability Collect System............ 270,500 1 60 270,500
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Totals...................................... 541,000 .............. 541,000 498,892
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2. Appointment of Representative--20 CFR 404.1707, 404.1720,
404.1725, 410.684 and 416.1507--0960-0527. Persons claiming rights or
benefits under the Act must notify SSA in writing when they appoint an
individual to represent them in their dealings with SSA. SSA collects
the information on Form SSA-1696-U4 to verify the appointment of such
representatives. The SSA-1696-U4 allows SSA to inform representatives
of items that affect the recipient's claim, and allows claimants to
give permission to their appointed representatives to designate a
person to receive their claims files. Respondents are applicants for or
recipients of Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income
payments who are notifying SSA they have appointed a person to
represent them in their dealings with SSA.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 54364]]
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Average burden Estimated total
Modality of collection Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1696-U4................................. 800,000 1 10 133,333
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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 30 days from the date of this
publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive them
no later than October 3, 2013. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB
clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
1. Travel Expense Reimbursement--20 CFR 404.999(d) and 416.1499--
0960-0434. The Act stipulates that Federal and State agencies reimburse
travel expenses for claimants, their representatives, and all necessary
witnesses for travel exceeding 75 miles to attend medical examinations,
reconsideration interviews, and proceedings before an administrative
law judge. Reimbursement procedures require the claimant to provide (1)
a list of expenses incurred and (2) receipts of such expenses. Federal
and State personnel review the listings and receipts to verify the
amount reimbursable to the requestor. The respondents are claimants for
title II benefits and title XVI payments, their representatives and
witnesses.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404.999(d) & 416.1499....................... 60,000 1 10 10,000
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2. Request for Accommodation in Communication Method--0960-0777.
SSA allows blind or visually impaired Social Security applicants,
beneficiaries, recipients, and representative payees to choose one of
seven alternative methods of communication they want SSA to use when we
send them benefit notices and other related communications. The seven
alternative methods we offer are: (1) Standard print notice by first-
class mail; (2) standard print mail with a follow-up telephone call;
(3) certified mail; (4) Braille; (5) Microsoft Word file on data CD;
(6) large print (18-point font); or (7) audio CD. However, respondents
who want to receive notices from SSA through a communication method
other than the seven methods listed above must explain their request to
us. Those respondents use Form SSA-9000 to: (1) Describe the type of
accommodation they want, (2) disclose their condition necessitating the
need for a different type of accommodation, and (3) explain why none of
the seven methods described above are sufficient for their needs. SSA
uses Form SSA-9000 to determine, based on applicable law and
regulation, whether to grant the respondents' requests for an
accommodation based on their blindness, or other visual impairment. SSA
collects this information electronically through either an in-person
interview or a telephone interview during which the SSA employee keys
in the information on Intranet screens. The respondents are blind or
visually impaired Social Security applicants, beneficiaries,
recipients, and representative payees who ask SSA to send notices and
other communications in an alternative method besides the seven
modalities we currently offer.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated total
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-9000.................................... 1,417 1 20 472
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Dated: August 28, 2013.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Director, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-21315 Filed 8-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P