[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64327-64330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18322]


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

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, 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. Statement of Household Expenses and Contributions--20 CFR 
416.1130-416.1148--0960-0456. SSA needs the information about household 
expenses and contributions, which is collected on Form SSA-8011-F3, to 
determine whether the claimant or beneficiary receives in-kind support 
and maintenance. This is necessary to determine the claimant's or 
beneficiary's eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 
the amount of benefits payable.

[[Page 64328]]

This form is not used for all claims and posteligibility 
determinations; rather, it is used only when it is necessary to 
document in-kind support and maintenance and only in cases where the 
householder's corroboration is needed. Respondents are SSI applicants 
and/or beneficiaries.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 400,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 100,000 hours.
    2. Representative Payee Report of Benefits and Dedicated Account--
20 CFR 416.546, 416.635, 416.640, 416.665--0960-0576. The Social 
Security Act provides for representative payees (RPs) to submit a 
written report accounting for the use of money paid to Supplemental SSI 
beneficiaries, and that RPs must establish and maintain a dedicated 
account for these payments. The SSA-6233 is used to ensure that the RP 
is using the benefits received for the beneficiary's current 
maintenance and personal needs, and the expenditures of funds from the 
dedicated account are in compliance with the law. Respondents are 
representative payees for SSI beneficiaries.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 10,000 hours.
    3. Request for Reinstatement (Title II)--20 CFR 404.1592b--
404.1592f--0960-NEW. Form SSA-371 is used by former beneficiaries for 
Title II benefits who wish to request Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) of 
their Title II disability benefits. SSA uses the SSA-371 to obtain a 
signed statement from the individual stating a request for EXR and to 
verify that the applicant meets the EXR requirements. The form will be 
maintained in the disability folder of the applicant to demonstrate 
that the individual was aware of the EXR requirements and chose to 
request EXR. Respondents are applicants for EXR of Title II disability 
benefits.
    Type of Request: Existing Information Collection in Use Without an 
OMB Number.
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 333 hours.
    4. Request for Reinstatement (Title XVI)--20 CFR 416.999--
416.999d--0960-NEW. Form SSA-372 is used by former SSI claimants who 
wish to request Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) of their Title XVI 
disability payments. SSA uses the SSA-372 to obtain a signed statement 
from the individual stating a request for EXR and to verify that the 
requestor meets the EXR requirements. The form will be maintained in 
the disability folder of the applicant to demonstrate that the 
individual was aware of the EXR requirements and chose to request EXR. 
Respondents are applicants for EXR of Title XVI SSI payments.
    Type of Request: Existing Information Collection in Use Without an 
OMB Number.
    Number of Respondents: 2,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 67 hours.
    5. Non-Attorney Representative Demonstration Project Application--
0960-0669. Section 303 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 
(SSPA) provides for a 5-year demonstration project to be conducted by 
SSA under which the direct payment of SSA-approved fees is extended to 
certain non-attorney claimant representatives. Under the SSPA, to be 
eligible for direct payment of fees, a non-attorney representative must 
fulfill the following statutory requirements: (1) Possess a bachelors 
degree or have equivalent qualifications derived from training and work 
experience; (2) pass an examination that tests knowledge of the 
relevant provisions of the Social Security Act; (3) secure professional 
liability insurance or equivalent insurance; (4) pass a criminal 
background check (information on these 4 requirements will be collected 
during initial reporting); (5) demonstrate completion of relevant 
continuing education courses (this information will be collected under 
the Continuing Education (CE) reporting), and (6) complete an annual 
Affirmations Worksheet to verify the participant's continued 
eligibility to participate in the demonstration project.
    SSA collects this information through the services of a private 
contractor and uses it to determine if a non-attorney representative 
has met and continues to meet the statutory requirements to be eligible 
for direct payment of fees for his or her claimant representation 
services. The respondents are non-attorney representatives who apply 
for direct payment of fees.
    Type of Request: Revision of an existing information collection.

Application Reporting

    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 60 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 500 hours.

CE Reporting

    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 150 hours.

Annual Reaffirmations Worksheet

    Number of Respondents: 450.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 75 hours.
    Total burden hours for all collection activities--725 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. Employment Relationship Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1007--0960-
0040. Form SSA-7160-F4 is used in developing the question of employer-
employee relationships, except where the worker is an officer of a 
corporation. This form gathers the information needed for developing 
the employment relationship, and determining whether a beneficiary is 
self-employed or an employee. Respondents are beneficiaries questioning 
their status as employees and employers.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 16,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 6,667 hours
    2. Vocational Rehabilitation Provider Claim--20 CFR 404.2108(b), 
404.2117(c)(1)&(2), 404.2101(b)&(c), 404.2121(a), 416.2208(b), 
416.2217(c)(1)&(2), 416.2201(b)&(c), 416.2221(a)--0960-0310. The Social 
Security Administration (SSA) refers certain disability beneficiaries 
to State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies. The State VR agencies 
use the SSA-199 to make claims for reimbursement of the costs incurred 
from providing VR services for the beneficiaries. The information 
collected on the SSA-199 is

[[Page 64329]]

used by SSA to determine whether or not, and how much, to pay the State 
VR agencies under SSA's VR program. Respondents are State VR agencies 
who offer Vocational and Employment services for SSA beneficiaries.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 80.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
Type of response (as explained     Number of      Frequency of         Total        burden per       Estimated
            below)                respondents       response         responses       response      annual burden
                                                                                     (minutes)         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. (404.2108 and 416.2208)....              80  160 each/year...          12,800              23           4,907
b. (404.2117 and 416.2217)....              80  1 per year......              80              60              80
c. (404.2121 and 416.2221)....              80  2-3 per year....             200             100             333
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................              80  ................          13,080  ..............           5,320
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Burden: 5,320 hours.
    3. Pilot Program for Participating in Administrative Law Judge 
Hearings by Using Privately Owned Video Teleconferencing (VTC) 
Equipment--20 CFR 404.936(c) & 416.1436(c)--0960-NEW.

Background

    On February 3, 2003, the Commissioner of Social Security published 
a final rule allowing SSA to conduct hearings before administrative law 
judges (ALJs) at which a party or parties to the hearing and/or a 
witness or witnesses may appear before the ALJ by video 
teleconferencing (68 FR No. 22 , 5210). In that final rule we noted 
that dialing into SSA's VTC network from private facilities, such as 
facilities owned by a law firm, could be possible at a future date. 
Appearances by video teleconference are also central to the rules for 
the new disability determination process (final rule published March 
31, 2006 71 FR No. 62, 16423). Pursuant to these rules, SSA is now 
preparing to pilot a program wherein private representatives and their 
clients may appear at ALJ hearings using privately owned video 
equipment.

The VTC Activity

    SSA plans to expand its Video Teleconferencing program of 
Administrative Law Judge hearings by allowing these hearings to be 
conducted from private representative sites that have been certified by 
the agency. Representatives who are interested in participating in the 
pilot program or the permanent program will need to provide some basic 
information about their location, the area they serve and their 
expected workload. Because private video sites are being used, the 
pilot guidelines provide for site inspections, certain on-the-record 
certifications and other claimant safeguards to help ensure that no 
claimants are disadvantaged by participating in their hearing from a 
private site. Respondents to this collection will be the claimant's 
representatives who elect to participate in the pilot. The pilot is 
structured to begin with 10 private video sites expanding to 30 private 
sites after a six-month evaluation period. There will be a second 
evaluation period after the 30 sites have operated for a six-month 
period. SSA will then make final decisions regarding operating 
procedures for a permanent program.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection.
    Total Burden Hours for all Collections: 717 burden hours (shown 
below).

                                                     Phase-I
                                             [10 sites for 6 months]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per       Estimated
               Collection activity                  respondents      response        response      annual burden
                                                                                     (minutes)         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expression of Interest/Initial Contact..........             100               1              15              25
Certifications Made in the Opening Statement of               10             100              10             167
 the Hearing....................................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             110  ..............  ..............             192
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                    Phase-II
                                             [30 sites for 6 months]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per       Estimated
               Collection activity                  respondents      response        response      annual burden
                                                                                     (minutes)         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expression of Interest/Initial Contact..........             100               1              15              25
Certifications Made in the Opening Statement of               30             100              10             500
 the Hearing....................................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             130  ..............  ..............             525
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated first year cost burden for all respondents to 
participate in the Privately Owned VTC Equipment pilot is--$450,000. 
This cost figure represents the agency's estimated for respondents to 
purchase and maintain video conferencing equipment, a FAX machine and a 
document camera as well

[[Page 64330]]

as the cost of an ISDN line or other data connection to the public 
network.

    Dated: October 26, 2006.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-18322 Filed 10-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P