[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 61 (Friday, March 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16734-16737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6435]


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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 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].

    I. 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. Report to United States Social Security Administration by Person 
Receiving Benefits for a Child or for an Adult Unable to Handle Funds/
Report to the United States Social Security Administration--0960-0049. 
SSA needs the information on Forms SSA-7161-OCR-SM and SSA-7162-OCR-SM 
to: (1) Determine continuing entitlement to Social Security benefits: 
(2) correct benefit amounts for beneficiaries outside the United 
States: and (3) monitor the performance of representative payees 
outside the United States. The respondents are individuals living 
outside the United States who are receiving benefits on their own (or 
for someone else) under Title II of the Social Security Act.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
                   Form Number                       Number of     Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)        (hours)
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SSA-7161-OCR-SM.................................          28,461               1              15           7,115
SSA-7162-OCR-SM.................................         247,136               1               5          20,595
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         275,597  ..............  ..............          27,710
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[[Page 16735]]

    The total estimated annual burden is 27,710 hours.
    2. Questionnaire About Employment or Self-Employment Outside the 
United States--20 CFR 404.401(b)(1), 404.415 & 404.417--0960-0050. SSA 
uses Form SSA-7163 to determine: (1) Whether work performed by 
beneficiaries outside the United States is cause for deductions from 
their monthly benefits; (2) which of two work tests (foreign or regular 
test) is applicable; and (3) the months, if any, for SSA will impose 
deductions. Respondents are beneficiaries living and working outside 
the United States.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 20,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 4,000 hours.
    3. Petition to Obtain Approval of a Fee for Representing a Claimant 
before the Social Security Administration--20 CFR 404.1720, 404.1725, 
416.1520 & 416.1525--0960-0104. Representatives use Form SSA-1560 to 
charge a fee for representing a claimant in proceedings before SSA. A 
representative must file either a fee petition or fee agreement with 
SSA. If the representative files a fee petition (Form SSA-1560) to 
obtain approval of a fee, SSA reviews the information to determine a 
reasonable fee for the representative's services. Respondents are 
attorneys and non-attorneys who are representatives of claimants for 
Social Security benefits.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 34,624.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 17,312 hours.
    4. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices--20 
CFR 404.452-404.455--0960-0369. The Mid-Year Mailer ensures that Social 
Security payments are correct. Beneficiaries under full retirement age 
(FRA) use Forms SSA-L9778, SSA-L9779, and SSA-L9781 to update their 
current year estimate and their estimate for the following year. 
Beneficiaries use Mid-Year Mailer Forms SSA-L9784 and SSA-L9785 to 
request earnings estimates in the year of FRA for the period prior to 
the month of FRA. Beneficiaries will use new Form SSA-L9790 to report 
earnings information at the end of the year. The respondents are 
working Retirement Survivors Insurance beneficiaries with earnings over 
the exempt amount.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 460,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 76,667 hours.
    5. Electronic Benefit Verification Information (BEVE)--20 CFR 
401.40--0960-0595. The electronic proof of income (POI) verification 
Internet service, BEVE, provides beneficiaries the convenience of 
requesting a proof of income statement through the Internet. 
Beneficiaries often require a POI to obtain housing, Food Stamps, or 
other public services. SSA uses the information BEVE collects to 
provide the POI to the beneficiary, after verifying the identity of the 
requestor. The respondents are Social Security Title II, Title XVI, and 
Medicare beneficiaries.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 314,974.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 26,248 hours.
    6. Application for Survivors Benefits--20 CFR 404.611 (a) and (c)--
0960-0062. Surviving family members of armed services personnel can 
file for Social Security and Veterans' benefits at SSA or the Veterans 
Administration (VA). If applicants go to the VA first, they complete 
Form SSA-24, the Application for Survivor's Benefits. The VA then 
forwards Form SSA-24 to SSA for processing. If applicants previously 
filed for benefits at SSA, the Agency disregards this form. The 
respondents are survivors of deceased armed services personnel who are 
applying for benefits at the VA.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 3,200.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 800 hours.
    7. Quarterly Statistical Report on Recipients and Payments under 
State-Administered Assistance Programs for Aged, Blind and Disabled 
(Individuals and Couples) Recipients--20 CFR 416.2010, 20 CFR 
416.2098--0960-0130. States with agreements with SSA under the State 
supplementation provisions of the Social Security Act must provide 
statistical data to SSA. State Disability Determination Services (DDS) 
provide information to SSA on expenditures and caseloads of State-
administered supplements under the Supplemental Security Income 
program. SSA needs the data from this report to: (1) Supplement the 
information it already has about federally-administered programs; (2) 
more fully explain the effect of the public income support programs on 
the needy, aged, blind, and disabled; and (3) monitor State compliance 
with the mandatory pass-along provision. States and other Federal 
agencies use data from this report as well for various purposes. The 
respondents are State DDSs.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 31.
    Frequency of Response: 4.
    Average Burden per Response: 60 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 124 hours.
    8. Employee Work Activity Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1574, 
404.1592--0960-0483. Social Security disability claimants qualify for 
benefits when a verified physical or mental impairment prevents them 
from working. If disability claimants attempt to return to work after 
receiving disability benefits but are unable to continue working, they 
submit Form SSA-3033, the Employee Work Activity Questionnaire, so SSA 
can evaluate the work attempt. SSA also uses this form to evaluate 
unsuccessful subsidy work. Ultimately, SSA uses the form to determine 
applicants' continuing eligibility for disability benefits. The 
respondents are employers of Social Security disability beneficiaries 
who unsuccessfully attempted to return to work.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 15,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3,750 hours.
    9. Medical Permit Parking Application--41 CFR 101-20.104-2--0960-
0624. SSA employees and contractors with a qualifying medical condition 
who park at SSA-owned and -leased facilities may receive a medical 
parking permit. SSA uses three forms as part of this program: SSA-3192, 
the Physician's Report (the applicant's physician completes this to 
verify the medical condition); Form SSA-3193, the Application and 
Statement (the person seeking the permit completes this when first 
applying for the medical parking space); and Form SSA-3194, the Renewal 
Certification (medical parking permit holders complete this to verify 
their continued need for the permit). The respondents are SSA employees 
and contractors seeking

[[Page 16736]]

medical parking permits and their physicians. Note: Because SSA 
employees are federal workers and are PRA-exempt, the burden below is 
only for SSA contractors and physicians (of both SSA employees and 
contractors).
    Type of Request: Revision to an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)        (hours)
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SSA-3192........................................              75               1              90             113
SSA-3193........................................              75               1              30              38
SSA-3194........................................              10               1               5               1
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             160  ..............  ..............             152
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    The total estimated annual burden is 152 hours.
    10. Medicare Part D Subsidies Regulations--20 CFR 418--0960-0702. 
The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement, and Modernization Act of 
2003 (MMA) established the Medicare Part D program for voluntary 
prescription drug coverage of premium, deductible, and co-payment costs 
for certain low-income individuals. The MMA also mandated the provision 
of subsidies for those individuals who qualify for the program and who 
meet eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, and/or co-
payment costs. This law required SSA to make eligibility 
redeterminations and to provide a process for appealing SSA's 
determinations. Regulation sections 418.325(c), 418.3645, 418.3665(a), 
and 418.3670 contain public reporting requirements not approved by OMB. 
This ICR is for these four sections. Respondents are applicants for the 
Medicare Part D subsidies who request an administrative review hearing.
    Type of Request: Revision to an existing OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
                     Section                       Annual number   Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                  of respondents     response        (minutes)        (hours)
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Sec.   418.3625(c)..............................           2,500               1               5             208
Sec.   418.3645.................................              10               1              20               3
Sec.   418.3665(a)..............................           1,000               1               5              83
Sec.   418.3670.................................               5               1              10               1
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................           3,515  ..............  ..............             295
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    The total estimated annual burden is 295 hours.
    II. SSA has submitted the information collections listed below. 
Your comments on the information collections will be most useful if OMB 
and SSA receive them within 30 days from the date of this publication. 
You can request a copy of the information collections by e-mail, 
[email protected], fax 410-965-6400, or by calling the SSA Reports 
Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454.
    Electronic Death Registration (EDR)--20 CFR 404.301; 404.310-311; 
404.316; 404.330-341; 404.350-352; and 404.371; 416.912--0960-0700. SSA 
contracts with the States to obtain death certificate information to 
compare with SSA's payment files. This comparison ensures the accuracy 
of our payment files by enabling SSA to detect unreported or inaccurate 
beneficiary death dates. This is necessary because entitlement to 
retirement, disability, wife's, husband's or parent's benefits under 
the provisions of the Social Security Act terminates when the 
beneficiary dies. The respondents are State governments.
    Correction: The first and second Federal Register Notices for this 
information collection reported incorrect burden information. We are 
publishing this correction Notice to show the correct burden 
information.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                   Average cost      Estimated
           Collection format               Number of     Frequency of responses     per record      annual cost
                                          respondents                                 request         burden
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State Death Match--Manual Process.....              31  50,000 per State........           $0.74    * $1,147,000
State Death Match--Electronic Death                 22  50,000 per State........           $2.65     * 2,915,000
 Registration (EDR).
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................              53  ........................  ..............       4,062,000
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    Estimated Annual Cost for all respondents:
    * Please note that both of these data matching processes are 
entirely electronic and there is no hourly burden for the respondent to 
provide this information.
    The cost burdens are based on the four cost components incurred by 
the respondents:

--software;
--hardware;
--average annual salaries of database management personnel; and
--average annual salaries of support personnel.


[[Page 16737]]


    Dated: March 24, 2008.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-6435 Filed 3-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P