[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 130 (Friday, July 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38681-38683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10668]


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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 Public Law 
104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. 
The information collection packages that may be included in this notice 
are for new information collections, approval of existing 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 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. The information can be mailed and/or faxed to the individuals 
at the addresses and fax numbers listed below:

(OMB), Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, 
Fax: 202-395-6974.
(SSA), Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1333 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, 
Fax: 410-965-6400.

    I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA and 
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 
instruments by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-
0454 or by writing to the address listed above.
    1. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices--20 
CFR 404.452-404.455--0960-0369. The Mid-Year Mailer (MYM) is used to 
ensure that Retirement and Survivors Insurance (RSI) payments are 
correct. Beneficiaries under full retirement age (FRA) use Forms SSA-
L9778, L9779, and L9781 to update their current year estimate and their 
estimate for the following year. MYM Forms SSA-L9784 and L9785 are 
designed to request earnings estimates in the year of FRA for the 
period prior to the month of FRA. Only one individually tailored form 
is sent per respondent. Respondents are RSI beneficiaries with earnings 
over the exempt amount.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 225,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.

[[Page 38682]]

    Estimated Annual Burden: 37,500 hours.
    2. Internet Request for Replacement of Forms SSA-1099/SSA-1042S--20 
CFR 401.45--0960-0583. The information collected will be used by SSA to 
verify identity and to provide replacement copies of Forms SSA-1099/
SSA-1042S needed to prepare Federal tax returns. This internet option 
to request a replacement SSA-1099/SSA-1042S will eliminate the need for 
a phone call to the national 800 number or a visit to a local field 
office. The respondents are beneficiaries who are requesting a 
replacement SSA-1099/SSA-1042S.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 21,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 1.5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 525 hours.
    II. The information collections listed below have 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 
packages by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, 
or by writing to the address listed above.
    1. Statement of Self-Employment Income--20 CFR 404.101, 404.110, 
404.1096(a)-(d), 404.610-404.611, 422.505--0960-0046. SSA uses the 
information on Form SSA-766 to expedite the payment of benefits to an 
individual who is self-employed and who is establishing insured status 
in the current year. Respondents are self-employed individuals who may 
be eligible for Social Security benefits.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 417 hours.
    2. Certification by Religious Group--20 CFR 404.1075--0960-0093. 
Form SSA-1458 is used to determine if the religious group meets the 
qualifications set out in Section 1402(g) of the Internal Revenue Code 
which permits members of certain religious groups and sects to be 
exempt from payment of Self-Employment Contribution Act taxes. The 
respondents are spokespersons for religious groups or sects.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 180.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 45 hours.
    3. Request for Internet Services--Authentication; Automated 
Telephone Speech Technology--Knowledge-Based Authentication--20 CFR 
401.45--0960-0596. Individuals and third parties who request personal 
information from SSA records, or register with SSA in order to 
participate in SSA's online business services, are asked to provide 
certain identifying information to verify their identity. As an extra 
measure of protection, SSA asks requestors who use the Internet and 
telephone services to provide additional identifying information unique 
to those services so that SSA can authenticate their identities before 
releasing personal information. The respondents are current 
beneficiaries who are requesting personal information from SSA and/or 
individuals or third parties who are registering for SSA's online 
business services.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                          Number of      Frequency of      Average  burden per
                Forms                    respondents       response             response           Burden hours
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Internet Requestors..................       2,076,138               1   1\1/2\ minutes..........          51,903
Telephone Requestors.................      20,889,488               1   1\1/2\ minutes..........         522,237
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    Totals...........................      22,965,626  ...............  ........................         574,140
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    Estimated Annual Burden: 574,140 hours.
    4. Request for Reconsideration--20 CFR 404.907-404.921, 416.1407-
416.1421, 408.1009--0960-0622. The information collected on Form SSA-
561-U2 is used by SSA to document and initiate the reconsideration 
process for determining entitlement to Social Security benefits (Title 
II), Supplemental Security Income payments (Title XVI), Special 
Veterans Benefits (Title VIII), Medicare (Title XVIII) and of initial 
determinations regarding Medicare Part B income-related premium subsidy 
reductions. The respondents are individuals filing for reconsideration.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 1,461,700.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 8 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 194,893 hours.
    5. Integration Registration Services (IRES) System--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0626. The IRES System registers and authenticates businesses, 
employers and third parties with SSA, and issues them Personal 
Identification Numbers (PIN). These PINs will be used in the place of 
handwritten signatures on forms, when using SSA's Business Services 
Online. Respondents are employers and third party submitters of wage 
data, business entities providing tax payer identification information 
and other electronic records, and data exchange partners conducting 
business in support of SSA programs.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 460,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 15,333 hours.
    6. Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security Record--20 CFR 
402.130--0960-0665. The SSA-711 is used to process requests from the 
public for a microprint of the SS-5, Application for Social Security 
Card, for a deceased individual. Respondents are members of the public 
who are requesting deceased individuals' Social Security records.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 5,833 hours.
    7. Medical Consultant's Review of Mental Residual Functional 
Capacity Assessment--20 CFR 404.1520a, 404.1640, 404.1643, 404.1645, 
416.920a--0960-0678. Form SSA-392-SUP is used by SSA's regional review 
component to facilitate the medical/psychological consultant's review 
of the Mental Residual Functional Capacity Form, SSA-4734-SUP. The SSA-
392-

[[Page 38683]]

SUP records the reviewing medical/psychological consultant's assessment 
of the SSA-4734-SUP prepared by the adjudicating component and also 
records whether the reviewer agrees or disagrees with the manner in 
which the SSA-4734-SUP was completed. The SSA-392-SUP is required for 
each SSA-4734-SUP form completed. The respondents are the 256 medical/
psychological consultants responsible for reviewing the SSA-4734-SUP.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Responses: 45,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 9,000 hours.
    8. Request for Business Entity Taxpayer Information--0960-NEW. The 
SSA-1694 will be used to collect information from law firms or other 
business entities that have partners or employees to whom SSA pays fees 
that have been authorized as compensation for the representation of 
claimants before SSA. SSA will collect the name of the firms and/or 
business entities, as well as their addresses and Employer 
Identification Numbers (EIN) to keep a record on file for tax purposes. 
This information will be used to meet any requirement for issuance of a 
Form 1099-MISC. The respondents are law firms or other business 
entities that have partners or employees that are attorneys or other 
qualified individuals who represent claimants before SSA.
    Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 167 hours.
    9. Identifying Information for Possible Direct Payment of 
Authorized Fees--0960-NEW. The SSA-1695 will be used to collect 
information from appointed representatives that will facilitate the 
direct payment of authorized fees related to the representation of 
claimants for benefits before SSA and to issue a Form 1099-MISC, as 
required. The information will also be used to establish a link between 
each claim for benefits and the data that will be collected on the SSA-
1699 and stored on an Appointed Representative Database. Respondents 
are attorneys and other individuals who represent claimants for 
benefits before SSA.
    Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Frequency of Response: 25.
    Number of Responses: 250,000
    Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 41,667 hours.
    10. Request for Appointed Representative's Direct Payment 
Information--0960-NEW. The SSA-1699 will be used to collect information 
from appointed representatives in order to facilitate the direct 
payment of authorized fees, including the possible use of direct 
deposit to a financial institution. SSA will also use the information 
provided to meet any requirement to issue a Form 1099-MISC when SSA has 
paid the representative aggregate fees of $600 or more in a taxable 
year. Business affiliation information will be used to determine if a 
Form 1099-MISC should be issued to a firm in those situations where the 
representative is associated with a firm as an employee or partner. 
Since the SSA-1699 is used as a registration form for the Appointed 
Representative Database, representatives will only need to fill it out 
once, unless they need to make a change to any of their information. 
This form is used in conjunction with the SSA-1695, which links the 
Appointed Representative Database with the individual claims the 
representatives handle. Respondents are attorneys or non-attorneys 
eligible for direct payment (i.e., have met certain prerequisites 
established by law).
    Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3,333 hours.
    11. SSI Monthly Wage Reporting Phase 2 Pilot--20 CFR 416.701-732--
0960-0715. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients are required 
to report changes in their income, resources and living arrangements 
that may affect eligibility or payment amount. Currently, SSI 
recipients report changes on Form SSA-8150, Reporting Events--SSI, or 
to an SSA teleservice representative through SSA's toll-free telephone 
number, or they visit their local Social Security office. The SSI wage 
reporting program area has the highest error rate largely due to non-
reporting, which accounts for approximately $500 million in 
overpayments each year. Consequently, SSA is evaluating methods for 
increasing reporting. SSA is conducting a pilot to test an additional 
method for individuals to report wages for the SSI program. We are 
testing to determine if, given an easily accessible automated format, 
individuals will increase compliance with reporting responsibilities. 
Increased timely reporting could result in a decrease in improper 
payments. SSA will also be testing the use of knowledge-based 
authentication to determine if this is an effective method of accessing 
SSA's system. Lastly, SSA will test recent system enhancements and 
additional systems enhancements expected in May 2006 that will make 
reporting easier.
    During the pilot, participants who need to report a change in 
earned income will call an SSA toll-free telephone number to report the 
change. The participants will access SSA's system using knowledge-based 
authentication (providing name, SSN and date of birth). Participants 
will either speak their report (voice recognition technology) or key in 
the information using the telephone key pad. SSA will issue receipts to 
participants who report wages using this method. Respondents to this 
collection are SSI recipients, deemors and representative payees of 
recipients who agree to participate in the pilot.
    Type of Request: Extension of OMB approval.
    Number of Respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Response: 7.
    Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 350 hours.

    Dated: June 30, 2006.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-10668 Filed 7-6-06; 8:45 am]
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