[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62525-62526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29532]



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[[Page 62526]]


SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Employer Based Claims Filing

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration's Reinventing Government 
Phase II initiatives include a proposal to establish a controlled 
employer-based claims-taking process. The goal of this proposal is to 
make it easy for retiring employees to file for Social Security 
retirement benefits through their employer. The purpose of this notice 
is to solicit from the business community expressions of interest in 
participating in the pilot phase of this claims-taking process. This 
expression of interest pertains to the pilot phase only. Upon 
completion of the pilot, participants will be given the opportunity to 
decide on future participation. Expressions of interest should include 
a brief description of the employer's existing retirement process, 
including specifics such as the number of retirements processed each 
year, the degree of company assistance to retiring employees during the 
retirement process and how the gathering of Social Security retirement 
information could be incorporated into this existing process.

DATES: To be sure your expressions of interest are considered, we must 
receive them no later than January 22, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest or other comments should be 
submitted in writing to the Commissioner of Social Security, P.O. Box 
1585, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, sent by telefax to (410) 966-2830, 
sent by E-mail to ``[email protected],'' or delivered to the Division 
of Regulations and Rulings, Social Security Administration, 3-B-1 
Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 
21235, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on regular business days. 
Comments may be inspected during these same hours by making 
arrangements with the contact person shown below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Steeley, Social Insurance 
Specialist, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, MD 21235, telephone (410) 965-8976.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Clinton administration's Reinventing 
Government Phase II initiatives, announced on April 12, 1995, include a 
proposal to provide workers with an alternate way to file their Social 
Security retirement applications. Currently, workers can apply for 
Social Security via the mail, telephone or by visiting one of our 1,300 
field offices. Under this proposal, workers would have the additional 
option of filing for their Social Security retirement benefits through 
their company's personnel office.
    The benefits of this proposal will be explored within a pilot 
phase. Participation in the pilot will involve a commitment to continue 
participation for the planned 6 to 12 month duration of the pilot. Upon 
completion of the pilot, involved businesses will be given an 
opportunity to express their interest in continuing with or removing 
themselves from further participation in this claims-taking process 
based on their assessment of the benefits of the process.
    The pilot of this cooperative claims-taking process will be 
conducted through use of paper forms and applications. SSA plans to use 
an abbreviated application that would minimize the information 
gathering process for the employer. Information gathering for each 
retiring employee by the employer will include about 20 short-answer 
questions. If the basic information gathered by the employer reveals 
complexities that require further exploration, SSA will develop these 
issues during later evidence gathering phases of the application 
process.
    This proposal focuses on service to SSA customers. SSA believes the 
opportunity for a worker to file for Social Security benefits at the 
same time that the worker completes his/her employer retirement 
paperwork provides a convenient ``one stop'' service for the worker. 
Additionally, because the intent is to work towards establishing at 
some time in the future an electronic transfer of such information to 
us, we envision that we will eventually be able to provide an employer 
and worker with the actual amount of the worker's retirement benefit 
without any significant delay after submission of the employee's 
application. This contemplated electronic transfer would facilitate 
final settlement of the pension amount payable to the worker in 
situations involving companies that have integrated pension plans in 
which a worker's pension amount relates to his/her Social Security 
benefit.
    SSA does not envision the employer as the conduit for reporting by 
the worker after completion of the initial Social Security application 
process by the worker. SSA will remain the focal point for such later 
reporting activities.

    Dated: November 21, 1995.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security
[FR Doc. 95-29532 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P