[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 213 (Monday, November 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62510-62513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21587]


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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, faxed or emailed 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,
    E-mail address: [email protected].
    (SSA)
    Social Security Administration, DCBFM,
    Attn: Reports Clearance Officer,
    1333 Annex Building,
    6401 Security Blvd.,
    Baltimore, MD 21235,
    Fax: 410-965-6400,
    E-mail address: [email protected].

    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. Development for Participation in a Vocational Rehabilitation or 
Similar Program--20 CFR 404.316(c), 404.337(c), 404.352(d), 
404.1586(g), 404.1596, 404.1597(a), 404.327, 404.328, and 416.1338(c) 
and (d) 416.1320(d), 416.1331(a)-(b), and 416.1338--0960-0282. SSA 
State Disability Determination Services (DDS) must determine if a 
recipient of disability benefits whose disability has ceased but who is 
enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation program can continue to receive 
SSA benefits. To do this, information is needed about the beneficiary, 
the type of program he/she is enrolled in, and the types of services 
the beneficiary is receiving under the auspices of that program. Form 
SSA-4290 is used to collect this information. The respondents are State 
Employment Networks, Vocational Rehabilitation agencies, or other 
providers of education/job training services.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 750 hours.
    2. State Mental Institution Policy Review Booklet--20 CFR 404.2035, 
404.2065, 416.635, & 416.665--0960-0110. The information collected by 
Form SSA-9584-BK is used by SSA to determine whether an institution's 
policies and practices conform with SSA's regulations in the use of 
benefits and whether the institution is performing other duties and 
responsibilities required of a representative payee. The information 
also provides a basis for conducting an onsite review of the 
institution and is used in the preparation of the subsequent report of 
findings. The respondents are State mental institutions which serve as 
representative payees for Social Security beneficiaries and 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claimants.

[[Page 62511]]

    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 95.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 60 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 95 hours.
    3. RS/DI Quality Review Case Analysis: Sampled Number Holder, 
Auxiliaries/Survivors, Parents, and Stewardship Annual Earnings Test 
Workbook--0960-0189. The information on Forms SSA-2930, SSA-2931 and 
SSA-2932 is used by the SSA to establish a national payment accuracy 
rate for all cases in payment status and to serve as a source of 
information regarding problem areas in the Retirement and Survivors 
Insurance (RSI) and Disability Insurance (DI) programs. The information 
is also used to measure the accuracy rate for newly adjudicated RSI/DI 
cases. SSA uses the information on form SSA-4659 to evaluate and 
determine the effectiveness of the annual earnings test and to use the 
results in developing ongoing improvements in the process.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per       Estimated
                      Form                          respondents      response        response     annual  burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
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SSA-2930........................................           3,000               1              30           1,500
SSA-2931........................................           1,500               1              30             750
SSA-2932........................................             650               1              20             217
SSA-4659........................................             325               1              10              54
    Totals......................................           5,475  ..............  ..............           2,521
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Employee Identification Statement--20 CFR 404.702--0960-0473. 
The information collected by Form SSA-4156 is used in scrambled 
earnings situations when two or more individuals have used the same 
Social Security Number (SSN), or when an employer (or employers) has 
reported earnings for two or more employees under the same SSN. The 
information on the form is used to help identify the individual (and 
the SSN) to whom the earnings belong. The respondents are employers 
involved in erroneous wage reporting.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 4,750.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 792 hours.
    5. Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire-Employer--20 CFR 401 & 
402--0960-0477. The information collected on Form SSA-58 is used by SSA 
to verify the claimant's allegations on Form SSA-150 (OMB No. 0960-
0395). SSA must make a determination regarding whether the modified 
benefit formula is applicable and when to first apply it to a person's 
benefit. This form will be sent to an employer for pension related 
information if the claimant is unable to provide it. The respondents 
are people who are eligible after 1985 for both Social Security 
benefits and a pension based on work not covered by SSA.
    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 Average Burden: 10,000 hours.
    6. Contact with Representative Payee; Contact with Beneficiary--20 
CFR 401 & 402--0960-0639. The Form SSA-L4945 is used to notify the 
representative payee that the case, for which they receive payment, has 
been randomly selected as part of the quality review procedure. The 
SSA-L4947 is used by SSA to notify the beneficiary that their case has 
been randomly selected as part of the quality review procedure. Both 
form letters give information relating to the claims record that should 
be verified and returned by mail in a self-addressed envelope. 
Respondents are a statistically valid sample of all RSI/DI 
beneficiaries in current pay status.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 50 hours.
    7. Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire --20 CFR 404.1615-20, CFR 
404.1512-20 & CFR 404.1588-1599--0960-0395. The purpose of the Windfall 
Elimination Provision (WEP) of the Social Security Act is to remove an 
unintended advantage in the computation of Social Security benefits for 
persons who have substantial pensions from non-covered employment. The 
SSA-150 collects the information needed to determine the correct 
formula to use in computing Social Security benefits. The respondents 
are claimants for Social Security benefits who are entitled to both 
benefits.
    Type of Request: Extension of OMB-approved information collection
    Number of Respondents: 90,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 8 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 12,000 hours.
    8. Disability Determination and Transmittal--20 CFR 404.1615(e), 
416.1015(f)--0960-0437. The information collected on Form SSA-831-C3/U3 
is used by SSA to document the State agency determination as to whether 
an individual who applies for disability benefits is eligible for those 
benefits based on his/her alleged disability. SSA also uses the 
information for program management and evaluation. The respondents are 
State DDS adjudicating Title II and Title XVI disability determinations 
for SSA.
    Type of Request: Extension of OMB-approved information collection
    Number of Respondents: 3,079,916.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Average Burden: 769,979 hours.
    9. Cessation or Continuance of Disability or Blindness 
Determination--20 CFR 404.1615--0960-0443. The information on Form SSA-
832-U3/C3 is used by SSA to document determinations as to whether an 
individual's disability benefits should be terminated or continued on 
the basis of his/her impairment. The respondents are State disability 
determination service employees adjudicating Title XVI Disability 
claims.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 200,753.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 100,376 hours.
    10. Authorization to Disclose Information to Social Security 
Administration--20 CFR 404.1512 & 20

[[Page 62512]]

CFR 416.912--0960-0623. SSA must obtain sufficient medical evidence to 
make eligibility determinations for Social Security disability benefits 
and SSI payments. For SSA to obtain medical evidence, an applicant must 
authorize his or her medical source(s) to release the information to 
SSA. The applicant may use one of the forms SSA-827, SSA-827-OP1 or 
SSA-827-OP2 to provide consent for the release of information. 
Generally, the State DDS completes the form(s) based on information 
provided by the applicant, and sends the form(s) to the designated 
medical source(s).
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 3,853,928.
    Frequency of Response (Average per case): 4.
    Average Burden Per Response: 13 minutes to complete 4 forms.
    Total Annual Responses: 15,415,712.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 835,018 hours.
    11. Request for Social Security Earnings Information--20 CFR 
404.810 & 401.100--0960-0525. The Social Security Act provides that a 
wage earner, or someone authorized by a wage earner, may request Social 
Security earnings information from SSA using form SSA-7050. SSA uses 
the information collected on the form to verify that the requestor is 
authorized to access the earnings record and to produce the earnings 
statement. The respondents are wage earners and organizations and legal 
representatives authorized by the wage earner.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 60,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 11 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 11,000 hours.
    12. Employer Report of Special Wage Payments--20 CFR 404.428-
404.429--0960-0565. SSA gathers the information on Form SSA-131 to 
prevent earnings-related overpayments to employees, and to avoid 
erroneous withholding of benefits. The respondents are employers who 
provide special wage payment verification.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden of Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Average Burden: 10,000 hours.
    13. Interim Assistance Reimbursement Matching Agreements--20 CFR 
416-525--0960-NEW. SSA enters into Interim Assistance Reimbursement 
(IAR) agreements with states/counties/townships, to submit daily IAR 
reports either manually or electronically to SSA. The interim 
assistance (IA) agency provides the individual general assistance for 
meeting basic needs while an SSI claim is pending or SSI benefits were 
suspended or terminated. The IAR reports are used to reimburse 
participating State or local IA agency from an individual's initial 
retroactive SSI payment for funds it advanced to eligible individuals. 
These reports are compared against SSA's files to identify individuals 
who may become eligible to receive SSI payments, and the SSA record is 
updated to memorialize the agreement. If the claim is approved, SSA 
reimburses the state/county/township IA agency for funds it advanced to 
the eligible individuals. The respondents are State or local IA 
agencies who provide IAR reports either manually or electronically to 
SSA.
    Type of Request: New information collection.

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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
              Collection instrument                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                    respondent       response         (hours)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim assistance reporting....................             300             250               1          75,000
Model Agreement.................................              10               1              12             120
    Total.......................................             310  ..............  ..............          75,120
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    14. Social Security Statement Survey--0960-NEW.

Background

    As per 42 U.S.C. 1320b-13, SSA is required to provide benefits and 
earnings statements to Social Security numberholders age 25 and over 
who earn wages. This document, which is provided annually, is called 
the Social Security Statement. In response to a recommendation from the 
General Accountability Office (GAO), SSA has begun a systematic and 
regular evaluation of customer satisfaction with the Statement.

Description of Proposed Surveys

    Taking the evaluation process one step further, we are now planning 
to conduct a national survey to monitor and improve customer 
satisfaction with the messages in the 2007 Statement. The 2007 
Statement contains new WEP/Government Pension Offset (GPO) language as 
mandated by law. There are two versions of the WEP/GPO language in the 
Statement to accommodate different groups of wage-earners: those who 
have an earnings history with both covered and non-covered earnings 
under Social Security and those who have only earnings covered under 
Social Security. Each group will receive a Statement with WEP/GPO 
language specific to them and will be surveyed to determine their 
satisfaction. Information obtained through this evaluation will help 
SSA improve the Statement as a communications product that meets SSA's 
goals and assures that the public is aware of, understands, and can act 
upon the information the Statement provides in a timely way. The 
respondents are two groups of wage earners: those who have an earnings 
history with both covered and non-covered earnings under Social 
Security, and those who have only earnings covered under Social 
Security.

Burden Information

    Type of Request: New information collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per       Estimated
                                                    respondents      response        response      Annual Burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recipients with covered and non-covered earnings             600               1              10             100
 history........................................

[[Page 62513]]

 
Recipients with covered earnings only...........             600               1              10             100
    Total.......................................            1200  ..............             200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting--0960-NEW.

Collection Background

    Section 1612(1)(C) of the Social Security Act (the Act) and 42 
U.S.C. 1382a define remuneration received for services performed in a 
sheltered workshop as earned income for the SSI program. The amount of 
monthly wages determines an individual's SSI benefit amount.

Collection Description

    SSA has maintained a working relationship with sheltered workshops 
since the inception of the SSI program. Most workshops report monthly 
wage totals to the local SSA office so that the client's SSI check is 
adjusted timely and overpayments are prevented. While participation of 
the workshop is strictly voluntary, they are highly motivated to report 
the wages because it provides a service to their clients. Sheltered 
Workshop reporting reduces the number of overpayments to SSI 
recipients. Processing these wage reports electronically reduces the 
cost of administering the program. SSA uses the information collected 
to verify and post monthly wages to the SSI recipient's record. 
Respondents are sheltered workshops that report monthly wages for 
services performed in the workshop.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Response: 12.
    Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,000 hours.
    2. Request for Waiver of Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) 
Overpayment Recovery or Change in Repayment Rate--20 CFR 408.900-
408.950, 408.923(b), 408.931(b), 408.932(c), (d) and (e), 408.941(b) 
and 408.942--0960-0698. Title VIII allows the payment of a monthly 
benefit by the Commissioner of Social Security to a qualified World War 
II veteran who resides outside the United States. When an overpayment 
in SVB occurs, the beneficiary can use this form to request waiver of 
recovery of the overpayment or a change in the repayment rate. The SSA-
2032-BK will be used to obtain the information necessary to determine 
whether the provisions of the Act regarding waiver of recovery of the 
overpayment are met. The information on the form is needed to determine 
a repayment rate if repayment cannot be waived. The respondents are 
beneficiaries who have overpayments on their Title VIII record and wish 
to file a claim for waiver of recovery or change in repayment rate.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 39.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 120 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 78 hours.

    Dated: October 29, 2007.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-21587 Filed 11-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P