[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16087-16089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5983]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request

    The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of 
information collection packages requiring 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. 
This notice includes new 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 ways to minimize the 
burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Mail, e-mail, or 
fax your comments and recommendations on the information collection(s) 
to the OMB Desk Officer and the SSA Reports Clearance Officer to the 
addresses or 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].
    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. Authorization to Obtain Earnings Data from the Social Security 
Administration--0960-0602. A wage earner or an organization may request

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detailed earnings information from SSA. SSA collects the information on 
the SSA-581 to identify the earnings record, verify authorized access 
to the earnings record, and produce an itemized statement for release 
to the proper party. The respondents are various private/public 
organizations/agencies needing detailed earnings information.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 33,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,100 hours.
    2. Statement Regarding the Inferred Death of an Individual by 
Reason of Continued and Unexplained Absence--20 CFR 404.720 & 404.721--
0960-0002. Section 202(d)-(i) of the Social Security Act provides for 
the payment of various monthly survivor benefits and a lump sum death 
payment to certain survivors upon the death of an individual who dies 
fully or currently insured. In the event a person has been absent from 
his or her residence and has not been heard from for at least 7 years, 
SSA will presume he or she is deceased. SSA collects information on 
Form SSA-723-F4 to determine if SSA may presume a missing wage earner 
is deceased and, if so, to establish a date of presumed death. The 
respondents are persons having knowledge about the disappearance of a 
wage earner.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,500 hours.
    3. Railroad Employment Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1401, 404.1406-
404.1408--0960-0078. SSA uses the data on the SSA-671 to secure 
sufficient information to effect the required coordination with the 
Railroad Retirement Board for Social Security claims processing. SSA 
obtains data whenever claimants give indications of employment in the 
railroad industry. The respondents are applicants for Social Security 
benefits employed by a railroad or dependents of railroad workers.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 125,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 10,417 hours.
    4. Government Pension Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.408a--0960-0160. 
The Social Security Act and regulations provide an individual receiving 
spousal benefits and concurrently receiving a Government pension based 
on his or her own earnings not covered by Social Security may have the 
amount of the Social Security benefit reduced by two-thirds the amount 
of the Government pension. SSA uses the information on the SSA-3885 to 
determine whether the individual's Social Security benefit is subject 
to reduction, the amount of the reduction, the effective date of the 
reduction, and whether one of the exceptions in 20 CFR 404.408a 
applies. The respondents are individuals receiving spousal benefits and 
a Government pension.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 12.5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 6,250 hours.
    5. Teacher Questionnaire and Request for Administrative Information 
--20 CFR 416.1103(f)--0960-0646. SSA must consider all relevant 
evidence when determining a child's disability under Title XVI of the 
Social Security Act. When determining the effects of a child's (or 
other individual's) impairment(s), SSA must obtain information about 
the child's functioning. Using Forms SSA-5665 and SSA-5666, SSA obtains 
formal testing results, teacher reports, therapy progress notes, 
individualized education program information and other records of a 
child's educational aptitude and achievement. The respondents are 
parents, teachers and other education personnel.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 618,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 45 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 463,500 hours.
    6. Statement of Income and Resources--20 CFR 416.207, 146.301--
416.310, 416.704, and 416.708--0960-0124. SSA collects information 
about income and resources on form SSA-8010-BK in Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) claims and redeterminations. SSA uses the information to 
make initial or continuing eligibility determinations for SSI 
claimants/recipients who are subject to deeming. The respondents are 
persons whose income and resources may be deemed (considered available) 
to applicants or beneficiaries of SSI benefits.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 341,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 26 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 147,767 hours.
    7. Application for Supplemental Security Income--20 CFR 416.207 and 
416.305--416.335, Subpart C--0960-0229. SSA has prescribed the Form 
SSA-8000 as the application for SSI payments. SSA uses the information 
gathered on the SSA-8000 to determine whether claimants meet all 
statutory and regulatory requirements for SSI eligibility and to 
determine the amount of such benefits. The respondents are applicants 
for SSI payments.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 1,281,620.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 36 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 768,972 hours.
    8. Medicare Modernization Act Outreach Mailer--20 CFR 418--0960-
NEW. To: (1) promote awareness of the Medicare Part D subsidy program; 
and (2) encourage potentially eligible Medicare beneficiaries to 
complete Form SSA-1020 (OMB No. 0960-0696, the Application for Help 
with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs), SSA plans to use a new 
outreach brochure including a mailer. Pharmacies, doctors' offices, and 
medical clinics will display and distribute copies of the brochure 
incorporating a mailer to encourage eligible Medicare beneficiaries to 
request and complete Form SSA-1020. The brochure will include an insert 
beneficiaries complete to request Form SSA-1020 from SSA. SSA will make 
follow-up phone calls to beneficiaries who use the mailer to request an 
SSA-1020 but do not submit it to the Agency. The respondents are 
Medicare beneficiaries who: (1) are potentially eligible for Part D 
subsidy benefits; and (2) request a copy of Form SSA-1020 using the 
brochure insert.
    Type of Request: New information collection.

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                                                                              Average burden
                                          Number of         Frequency of       per response     Estimated annual
                                         respondents          response          (minutes)       burden  (hours)
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Mailer Insert.......................             75,000                  1                  1              1,250
Follow-Up Phone Calls...............             30,000                  1                  1                500
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    Totals..........................            105,000  .................  .................              1,750
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    Dated: March 19, 2008.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-5983 Filed 3-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P