[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 20569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10229]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed 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 Public Law 
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 SSA Reports Clearance Officer 
at the following addresses: (SSA), Social Security Administration, 
DCFAM, Attn: SSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1-A-21 Operations Bldg., 
6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235.
    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 a copy of the collection instrument by 
calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by 
writing to her at the address listed above.

Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS)--0960-New.

Background

    Under IRS regulation, employers are obligated to provide wage and 
tax data to the Social Security Administration (SSA) using form W-2, 
Wage and Tax Statement or its electronic equivalent. As part of this 
process, the employer must furnish the employee's name and their Social 
Security Number (SSN). This information must match SSA's records in 
order for the employee's wage and tax data to be properly posted to 
their Earnings Record. Information that is incorrectly provided to the 
agency must be corrected by the employer using an amended reporting 
form, which is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process for both 
SSA and the employer. Therefore, to help ensure that employers provide 
accurate name and SSN information, SSA plans to offer a free and secure 
Internet service for employers, SSNVS, that will allow them to perform 
advance verification of their employees' name and SSN information 
against SSA records.

SSNVS Collection

    SSA will use the information collected through the SSNVS to verify 
that employee name and SSN information, provided by employers, matches 
SSA records. SSA will respond to the employer informing them only of 
matches and mismatches of submitted information. SSA plans to conduct a 
pilot with a limited number of test employers followed by national 
implementation. Respondents are employers who provide wage and tax data 
to SSA and have elected to participate in the pilot and the future 
national service.

Pilot Burden Hours Estimate

    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Response: 10.
    Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 83 hours.

National Implementation Burden Hours Estimate

    Number of Respondents: 1,000,000.
    Frequency of Response: 10.
    Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 833,333 hours.

    Please note: SSA estimates that each respondent will access the 
SSNVS an average of 10 times annually.


    Dated: April 22, 2002.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-10229 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P