[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 61 (Friday, March 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16734-16737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6435]
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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 (Pub. L.)
104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995.
This notice includes new information collections, revisions to OMB-
approved information collections and extensions (no change) 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 the
burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology. Mail, e-mail or
fax your comments and recommendations on the information collection(s)
to the OMB Desk Officer and the SSA Reports Clearance Officer to the
addresses or fax numbers listed below.
(OMB): Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA,
Fax: 202-395-6974, E-mail address: [email protected].
(SSA): Social Security Administration, DCBFM, Attn: Reports Clearance
Officer, 1333 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235,
Fax: 410-965-6400, E-mail address: [email protected].
I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA. SSA
will submit them to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice.
Therefore, submit your comments to SSA within 60 days from the date of
this publication. You can obtain copies of the collection instruments
by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454 or by
writing to the address listed above.
1. Report to United States Social Security Administration by Person
Receiving Benefits for a Child or for an Adult Unable to Handle Funds/
Report to the United States Social Security Administration--0960-0049.
SSA needs the information on Forms SSA-7161-OCR-SM and SSA-7162-OCR-SM
to: (1) Determine continuing entitlement to Social Security benefits:
(2) correct benefit amounts for beneficiaries outside the United
States: and (3) monitor the performance of representative payees
outside the United States. The respondents are individuals living
outside the United States who are receiving benefits on their own (or
for someone else) under Title II of the Social Security Act.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Form Number Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
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SSA-7161-OCR-SM................................. 28,461 1 15 7,115
SSA-7162-OCR-SM................................. 247,136 1 5 20,595
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Totals...................................... 275,597 .............. .............. 27,710
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[[Page 16735]]
The total estimated annual burden is 27,710 hours.
2. Questionnaire About Employment or Self-Employment Outside the
United States--20 CFR 404.401(b)(1), 404.415 & 404.417--0960-0050. SSA
uses Form SSA-7163 to determine: (1) Whether work performed by
beneficiaries outside the United States is cause for deductions from
their monthly benefits; (2) which of two work tests (foreign or regular
test) is applicable; and (3) the months, if any, for SSA will impose
deductions. Respondents are beneficiaries living and working outside
the United States.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 20,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 12 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 4,000 hours.
3. Petition to Obtain Approval of a Fee for Representing a Claimant
before the Social Security Administration--20 CFR 404.1720, 404.1725,
416.1520 & 416.1525--0960-0104. Representatives use Form SSA-1560 to
charge a fee for representing a claimant in proceedings before SSA. A
representative must file either a fee petition or fee agreement with
SSA. If the representative files a fee petition (Form SSA-1560) to
obtain approval of a fee, SSA reviews the information to determine a
reasonable fee for the representative's services. Respondents are
attorneys and non-attorneys who are representatives of claimants for
Social Security benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 34,624.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 17,312 hours.
4. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices--20
CFR 404.452-404.455--0960-0369. The Mid-Year Mailer ensures that Social
Security payments are correct. Beneficiaries under full retirement age
(FRA) use Forms SSA-L9778, SSA-L9779, and SSA-L9781 to update their
current year estimate and their estimate for the following year.
Beneficiaries use Mid-Year Mailer Forms SSA-L9784 and SSA-L9785 to
request earnings estimates in the year of FRA for the period prior to
the month of FRA. Beneficiaries will use new Form SSA-L9790 to report
earnings information at the end of the year. The respondents are
working Retirement Survivors Insurance beneficiaries with earnings over
the exempt amount.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 460,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 76,667 hours.
5. Electronic Benefit Verification Information (BEVE)--20 CFR
401.40--0960-0595. The electronic proof of income (POI) verification
Internet service, BEVE, provides beneficiaries the convenience of
requesting a proof of income statement through the Internet.
Beneficiaries often require a POI to obtain housing, Food Stamps, or
other public services. SSA uses the information BEVE collects to
provide the POI to the beneficiary, after verifying the identity of the
requestor. The respondents are Social Security Title II, Title XVI, and
Medicare beneficiaries.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 314,974.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 26,248 hours.
6. Application for Survivors Benefits--20 CFR 404.611 (a) and (c)--
0960-0062. Surviving family members of armed services personnel can
file for Social Security and Veterans' benefits at SSA or the Veterans
Administration (VA). If applicants go to the VA first, they complete
Form SSA-24, the Application for Survivor's Benefits. The VA then
forwards Form SSA-24 to SSA for processing. If applicants previously
filed for benefits at SSA, the Agency disregards this form. The
respondents are survivors of deceased armed services personnel who are
applying for benefits at the VA.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 3,200.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 800 hours.
7. Quarterly Statistical Report on Recipients and Payments under
State-Administered Assistance Programs for Aged, Blind and Disabled
(Individuals and Couples) Recipients--20 CFR 416.2010, 20 CFR
416.2098--0960-0130. States with agreements with SSA under the State
supplementation provisions of the Social Security Act must provide
statistical data to SSA. State Disability Determination Services (DDS)
provide information to SSA on expenditures and caseloads of State-
administered supplements under the Supplemental Security Income
program. SSA needs the data from this report to: (1) Supplement the
information it already has about federally-administered programs; (2)
more fully explain the effect of the public income support programs on
the needy, aged, blind, and disabled; and (3) monitor State compliance
with the mandatory pass-along provision. States and other Federal
agencies use data from this report as well for various purposes. The
respondents are State DDSs.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 31.
Frequency of Response: 4.
Average Burden per Response: 60 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 124 hours.
8. Employee Work Activity Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1574,
404.1592--0960-0483. Social Security disability claimants qualify for
benefits when a verified physical or mental impairment prevents them
from working. If disability claimants attempt to return to work after
receiving disability benefits but are unable to continue working, they
submit Form SSA-3033, the Employee Work Activity Questionnaire, so SSA
can evaluate the work attempt. SSA also uses this form to evaluate
unsuccessful subsidy work. Ultimately, SSA uses the form to determine
applicants' continuing eligibility for disability benefits. The
respondents are employers of Social Security disability beneficiaries
who unsuccessfully attempted to return to work.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 15,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 3,750 hours.
9. Medical Permit Parking Application--41 CFR 101-20.104-2--0960-
0624. SSA employees and contractors with a qualifying medical condition
who park at SSA-owned and -leased facilities may receive a medical
parking permit. SSA uses three forms as part of this program: SSA-3192,
the Physician's Report (the applicant's physician completes this to
verify the medical condition); Form SSA-3193, the Application and
Statement (the person seeking the permit completes this when first
applying for the medical parking space); and Form SSA-3194, the Renewal
Certification (medical parking permit holders complete this to verify
their continued need for the permit). The respondents are SSA employees
and contractors seeking
[[Page 16736]]
medical parking permits and their physicians. Note: Because SSA
employees are federal workers and are PRA-exempt, the burden below is
only for SSA contractors and physicians (of both SSA employees and
contractors).
Type of Request: Revision to an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Number of Frequency of per response annual burden
respondents response (minutes) (hours)
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SSA-3192........................................ 75 1 90 113
SSA-3193........................................ 75 1 30 38
SSA-3194........................................ 10 1 5 1
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Totals...................................... 160 .............. .............. 152
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The total estimated annual burden is 152 hours.
10. Medicare Part D Subsidies Regulations--20 CFR 418--0960-0702.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement, and Modernization Act of
2003 (MMA) established the Medicare Part D program for voluntary
prescription drug coverage of premium, deductible, and co-payment costs
for certain low-income individuals. The MMA also mandated the provision
of subsidies for those individuals who qualify for the program and who
meet eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, and/or co-
payment costs. This law required SSA to make eligibility
redeterminations and to provide a process for appealing SSA's
determinations. Regulation sections 418.325(c), 418.3645, 418.3665(a),
and 418.3670 contain public reporting requirements not approved by OMB.
This ICR is for these four sections. Respondents are applicants for the
Medicare Part D subsidies who request an administrative review hearing.
Type of Request: Revision to an existing OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Section Annual number Frequency of per response annual burden
of respondents response (minutes) (hours)
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Sec. 418.3625(c).............................. 2,500 1 5 208
Sec. 418.3645................................. 10 1 20 3
Sec. 418.3665(a).............................. 1,000 1 5 83
Sec. 418.3670................................. 5 1 10 1
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Total....................................... 3,515 .............. .............. 295
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The total estimated annual burden is 295 hours.
II. SSA has submitted the information collections listed below.
Your comments on the information collections will be most useful if OMB
and SSA receive them within 30 days from the date of this publication.
You can request a copy of the information collections by e-mail,
[email protected], fax 410-965-6400, or by calling the SSA Reports
Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454.
Electronic Death Registration (EDR)--20 CFR 404.301; 404.310-311;
404.316; 404.330-341; 404.350-352; and 404.371; 416.912--0960-0700. SSA
contracts with the States to obtain death certificate information to
compare with SSA's payment files. This comparison ensures the accuracy
of our payment files by enabling SSA to detect unreported or inaccurate
beneficiary death dates. This is necessary because entitlement to
retirement, disability, wife's, husband's or parent's benefits under
the provisions of the Social Security Act terminates when the
beneficiary dies. The respondents are State governments.
Correction: The first and second Federal Register Notices for this
information collection reported incorrect burden information. We are
publishing this correction Notice to show the correct burden
information.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average cost Estimated
Collection format Number of Frequency of responses per record annual cost
respondents request burden
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State Death Match--Manual Process..... 31 50,000 per State........ $0.74 * $1,147,000
State Death Match--Electronic Death 22 50,000 per State........ $2.65 * 2,915,000
Registration (EDR).
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Totals............................ 53 ........................ .............. 4,062,000
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Estimated Annual Cost for all respondents:
* Please note that both of these data matching processes are
entirely electronic and there is no hourly burden for the respondent to
provide this information.
The cost burdens are based on the four cost components incurred by
the respondents:
--software;
--hardware;
--average annual salaries of database management personnel; and
--average annual salaries of support personnel.
[[Page 16737]]
Dated: March 24, 2008.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-6435 Filed 3-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P