[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 117 (Friday, June 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37812-37813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15120]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and 
Comment Request

    In compliance with Public Law 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, SSA is providing notice of its information collections that 
require submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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 on ways to minimize burden on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    I. The information collections listed below will be submitted to 
OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. Therefore, comments 
and recommendations regarding the information collections would be most 
useful if received by the Agency within 60 days from the date of this 
publication. Comments should be directed to the SSA Reports Clearance 
Officer at the address listed at the end of this publication. You can 
obtain a copy of the collection instruments by calling the SSA Reports 
Clearance Officer on (410) 965-4145, or by writing to him at the 
address listed at the end of this publication.
    1. Subpart T--State Supplementation Provisions; Agreement; 
Payments, 20 CFR 416.2099--0960-0240. Section 1618 of the Social 
Security Act contains pass-along provisions of the Social Security 
amendments. These provisions require States that supplement the Federal 
SSI benefits pass along Federal cost-of-living increases to individuals 
who are eligible for State supplementary payments. If a State fails to 
keep payments at the required level, it becomes ineligible for Medicaid 
reimbursement under title XIX of the Social Security Act. Regulation at 
20 CFR 416.2099 requires the States to report mandatory minimum and 
optional supplementary payment data to SSA. The information is used to 
determine compliance with the law and regulations. The respondents are 
States that supplement Federal SSI payments.
    Number of respondents: 26.
    Number of Response: 15 states report quarterly, 11 states report 
annually.
    Average burden per response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 71 hours.
    2. Application for Search of Census Records for Proof of Age-0960-
0097. The information collected on Form SSA-1535-U3 is required to 
provide the Census Bureau with sufficient

[[Page 37813]]

identifying information, which will allow an accurate search of census 
records to establish proof of age for an individual applying for Social 
Security Benefits. It is used for individuals who must establish age as 
a factor of entitlement. The respondents are individuals applying for 
Social Security Benefits.
    Number of respondents: 18,000.
    Number of Response: 1.
    Average burden per response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3,600.
    3. Psychiatric Review Technique--0960-0413. The information 
collected on Form SSA-2506 is needed by SSA to facilitate the 
adjudication of claims involving mental impairments. The information is 
used to identify the need for additional evidence in the determination 
of impairment severity; to consider aspects of mental impairment 
relevant to the individual's ability to work; and to organize and 
present the findings in a clear, concise manner. The respondents are 
State DDS's administering titles II and XVI disability programs.
    Number of Respondents: 1,005,804.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 251,451 hours.
    4. Integrated Registration for Employers and Submitters (IRES)-
0960-NEW. The IRES authentication system is a free service designed to 
allow employers to access SSA's electronic wage reporting services, and 
to replace the use of a handwritten signature with an electronic 
signature. Employer representatives will use an IRES generated PIN and 
password as their electronic signature. IRES was designed to be more 
efficient, reducing the costs to both employers and SSA, and will 
facilitate the filing of wage data electronically.
    SSA's paramount interest in the development of IRES was to ensure 
that the new electronic method of identifying wage report submitters 
provides the same security features as the current paper-based method. 
Security features will include message integrity, originator 
authentication, non-repudiation and confidentiality. The PIN and 
password will be issued to an individual designated by the employer 
after SSA authenticates the company and contact information provided by 
the individual.
    SSA plans to use the IRES in conjunction with SSA's wage reporting 
processes. It will be used as the gateway for electronic wage reporting 
and the Online Employee Verification Service. It will also be used when 
SSA implements additional electronic services such as electronic 
notices and error information. The PIN will also be used in the AWR 
diskette process to replace the signature on IRS paper form 6559. SSA 
has received approval from IRS to use an alternative signature.
    Respondents to IRES will be Employers and Submitters who utilize 
SSA's electronic wage reporting and Online Employee Verification 
Services.
    Number of respondents: 250,000.
    Number of Response: 1.
    Average burden per response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 8333 hours.
    II. The information collections listed below have been submitted to 
OMB for clearance. Written comments and recommendations on the 
information collections would be most useful if received within 30 days 
from the date of this publication. Comments should be directed to the 
SSA Reports Clearance Officer and the OMB Desk Officer at the addresses 
listed at the end of this publication. You can obtain a copy of the OMB 
clearance packages by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer on 
(410) 965-4145, or by writing to him.
    1. Request for Reconsideration-0960-NEW. The information collected 
on Form SSA-561 is used by SSA to initiate the reconsideration process 
for determining entitlement of individuals to Social Security benefits 
under (title II), Supplemental Security Income payments (title XVI), 
Special Veterans Benefits (title VIII) and Medicare benefits (title 
XVIII). The respondents are individuals filing for such 
reconsideration.
    Number of respondents: 1,455,000.
    Number of Response: 1.
    Average burden per response: 8 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 194,000.
(SSA Address)
Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Frederick W. Brickenkamp, 
1-A-21 Operations Bldg., 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235.
(OMB Address)
Office of Management and Budget, OIRA, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10230, 725 17th St., NW, Washington, 
D.C. 20503.

    Dated: June 9, 2000.
Frederick W. Brickenkamp,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-15120 Filed 6-15-00; 8:45 am]
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