[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54046-54047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26883]


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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 that will require clearance by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Pub. L. 104-13 
effective October 1, 1995, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 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.
    Written comments and recommendations regarding the information 
collection(s) should be submitted to the OMB Desk Officer and the SSA 
Reports Clearance Officer and at the following addresses:

(OMB), Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10230, 725 17th St., NW., Washington, 
DC 20503
(SSA), Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: SSA Reports 
Clearance Officer, 1-A-21 Operations Bldg., 6401 Security Blvd., 
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

    I. The information collection listed below will be submitted to OMB 
within 60 days from the date of this notice. Therefore, your comments 
should be submitted to SSA within 60 days from the date of this 
publication. You can obtain copies of the collection instrument by 
calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-4145, or by 
writing to him at the address listed above.
    Railroad Employment Questionnaire--0960-0078. The Social Security 
Administration (SSA) uses Form SSA-671 to secure sufficient information 
to effect the required coordination with the Railroad Retirement Board 
for Social Security claims processing. It is completed whenever 
claimants give indications of having been employed in the railroad 
industry. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits, 
who have had railroad employment, or dependents of railroad workers.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 2,500 hours.
    II. The information collection listed below has been submitted to 
OMB for clearance. Your comments on the information collections would 
be most useful if received by OMB and SSA within 30 days from the date 
of this publication. You can obtain a copy of the OMB clearance package 
by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer on (410) 965-4145, or by 
writing to him at the address listed above.
    1. Statement Regarding Students' School Attendance--0960-0113. Form 
SSA-2434 is used by the Social Security Administration to determine 
student entitlement status of the children of coal miners, children of 
their widows or the brothers of deceased miners eligible for Black Lung 
benefits. This form collects information from students about to attain 
age 18, for the express purpose of evaluating their continuing 
eligibility for program benefits under the Federal Mine Safety Act of 
1977. The respondents are entitled black lung children of coal miner's 
or their widow, or the brother of deceased black lung coal miners.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 8 hours.
    2. The Internet Social Security Benefits Application (ISBA)--0960-
0618. One of the requirements for obtaining Social Security benefits is 
the filing of an application so that a determination may be made on the 
applicant's eligibility for monthly benefits. ISBA, which is available 
at the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Internet site, is one 
method that an individual can choose to file an application for 
benefits. In order to make a determination on eligibility for benefits, 
it is necessary to elicit from the applicant information about the date 
and place of birth, current and recent work, receipt of non-covered 
pensions etc. Currently, the ISBA can only be used to apply for 
retirement and spouse's benefits. SSA plans to expand ISBA to encompass 
Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB). SSA has used information collected 
by ISBA to entitle individuals to retirement insurance benefits and/or 
spouse's benefits. The information collected by the expanded ISBA will 
be used to entitle individuals to DIB as well. The respondents are 
applicants for retirement insurance benefits, spouse's benefits and 
disability benefits. Below is an estimate of the public reporting 
burden:

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                                     Number of     Frequency of    Average burden per
         Type of benefit            respondents      response           response        Estimated annual burden
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RIB.............................         130,000               1  20 minutes.........  43,333 hours.
DIB.............................          39,000               1  25-30 minutes......  16,542 hours.
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[[Page 54047]]

 
  Total.........................         169,000  ..............  ...................  59,875 hours.
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    Dated: October 18, 2001.
Frederick W. Brickenkamp,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-26883 Filed 10-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-U