[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 56 (Friday, March 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15252-15253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5716]


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

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: 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 
(Pub. L.) 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective 
October 1, 1995. The information collection packages included in this 
notice are for new information collections and revisions to 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 ways to minimize the 
burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Submit written 
comments and recommendations regarding the information collection(s) to 
the SSA Reports Clearance Officer. Mail, fax or e-mail the information 
to the address and fax number listed below: (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].
    The information collections listed below are pending at SSA. SSA 
will submit them to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. 
Therefore, submit your comments 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. Social Security Benefits Application (Internet, Retirement 
Survivor & Disability)--20 CFR 404.310-.311, 404.315-.322, 
404.330-.333, 404.601.-.603, 404.1501-.1512, Subpart D, Subpart G & 
Subpart P--0960-0618. Members of the public seeking Social Security 
benefits must first file an application for the desired type of 
payment. The Internet Social Security Benefits Application (ISBA) is an 
online system that allows members of the public to apply electronically 
for Retirement Insurance Benefits, Disability Insurance Benefits, and 
Spouse's Insurance Benefits. This information collection includes the: 
(1) ISBA; (2) paper forms (forms SSA-1, SSA-2, and SSA-16) for these 
various benefits; and (3) Modernized Claims System for these benefits, 
which allows SSA field office employees to enter information in an 
application system during interviews with applicants in a direct input 
process. For each part of this information collection, applicants are 
asked only those questions that are relevant to the specific type of 
benefit they are seeking. This information collection request (ICR) is 
for changes we are making to the ISBA application, including: (1) the 
addition of new race/ethnicity questions; (2) the ability for third 
parties to complete applications in ISBA; and (3) redesign changes that 
will make the application less time-consuming. The respondents are 
applicants for Retirement, Disability, or Spouse's Insurance Benefits 
or their third-party representatives.
    Type of Request: Revision to an OMB-approved information 
collection.

                                             ISBA Burden Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden
                    Form type                        Number of     Frequency of    per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISBA 3rd Party..................................          28,118               1               5           7,030
ISBA Applicant after 3rd Party Completion.......          28,118               1               5           2,343
First Party ISBA................................         541,851               1              15         135,463
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         598,087  ..............  ..............         144,836
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                             Paper Forms/Accompanying MCS Screens Burden Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden
                Collection method                    Number of     Frequency of    per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      SSA-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCS.............................................         172,200               1              11          31,750
MCS/Signature Proxy.............................       1,549,800               1              10         258,300
Paper...........................................          21,000               1              11           3,850
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,743,000  ..............  ..............         293,900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      SSA-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCS.............................................          36,860               1              15           9,215
MCS/Signature Proxy.............................         331,740               1              14          77,406
Paper...........................................           3,800               1              15             950
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 15253]]

 
    Totals......................................         372,400  ..............  ..............          87,571
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     SSA-16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCS.............................................         218,657               1              20          72,886
MCS/Signature Proxy.............................       1,967,913               1              19         623,172
Paper...........................................          24,161               1              20           8,054
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       2,210,732  ..............  ..............         704,112
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Race/Ethnicity Collection System--0960-NEW. Currently, SSA has 
no reliable, statistically valid means of capturing race/ethnicity data 
in our core business process. While SSA collects some race/ethnicity 
data on Form SS-5 (OMB No. 0960-0066), the Application for Social 
Security Card, SSA does not receive the data through other means of 
enumerating individuals, such as the Enumeration at Birth and 
Enumeration at Entry processes. Moreover, SSA does not collect it 
during the disability application process. Adding race/ethnicity to 
SSA's benefits applications will give us data we can use to ensure the 
benefits decision process is being conducted in a fair manner.
    This ICR is for the Race/Ethnicity questions. Note that OMB 
established the categories of racial/ethnic choices and the 
descriptions we use. We modified our proposed instructions and 
explanations to the public based on feedback we received during public 
focus groups (conducted under the aegis of OMB No. 0960-0765). The 
respondents are Title II and Title XVI claimants.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 7,870,538.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden Per Response: 3 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 393,527.

    Dated: March 17, 2008.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-5716 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P