[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4857-4858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1598]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: 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 revisions 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 burden 
on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Mail, email, or fax your 
comments and recommendations on the information collection(s) to the 
OMB Desk Officer and SSA Reports Clearance Officer at the following 
addresses or fax numbers.

(OMB), Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, 
Fax: (202) 395-6974, Email address: [email protected].
(SSA), Social Security Administration, DCRDP, Attn: Reports Clearance 
Officer, 107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 
21235, Fax: (410) 966-2830, Email address: [email protected].

    SSA submitted the information collection below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding the information collection would be 
most useful if OMB and SSA receive them within 30 days from the date of 
this publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive 
them no later than March 1, 2012. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance package by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 
(410) 965-8783 or by writing to the above email address.
    1. Disability Report-Appeal--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912, 404.916(c), 
416.1416(c), 405 Subpart C, 422.140--0960-0144. SSA requires disability 
claimants who are appealing an unfavorable disability determination to 
complete the SSA-3441-BK, the associated Electronic Disability Collect 
System (EDCS) interview, or the Internet application, i3441. This 
allows claimants to disclose any changes to their disability or 
resources that might influence SSA's unfavorable determination. We may 
use the information to: (1) Reconsider and review an initial disability 
determination; (2) review a continuing disability; and (3) evaluate a 
request for a hearing. This information assists the State Disability 
Determination Services and administrative law judges (ALJ) in preparing 
for the appeals and hearings, and issuing a determination or decision 
on an individual's entitlement (initial or continuing) to disability 
benefits. Respondents are individuals who appeal denial, reduction, or 
cessation of Social Security disability income Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) payments, or who are requesting a hearing before an ALJ.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Average burden     Estimated
         Collection method             Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                      respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3441-BK.......................           5,604               1              45           4,203
EDCS Interview....................         662,090               1              45         496,568
i3441 (Internet)..................         605,268               1              28         282,458
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals........................       1,272,962  ..............  ..............         783,229
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge--20 CFR 404.929, 
404.933, 416.1429, 404.1433, 418.1350, and 42 CFR 405.722--0960-0269. 
When SSA denies applicants' or beneficiaries' requests for new or 
continuing benefits, those applicants or beneficiaries are entitled to 
request a hearing to appeal the decision. To request a hearing, 
individuals use Form HA-501, the associated Modernized Claims System 
(MCS) or Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims System (MSSICS) 
interview, or the Internet application (i501). SSA uses the information 
to determine if the individual filed the request within the prescribed 
time; is the proper party; and has taken the steps necessary to obtain 
the right to a hearing. SSA also uses the information to determine the 
individual's reason(s) for disagreeing with SSA's prior determinations 
in the case; if the individual has additional evidence to submit; if 
the individual wants an oral hearing or a decision on-the-record; and 
whether the individual has (or wants to appoint) a representative. The 
respondents are Social Security benefit applicants and recipients who 
want to appeal SSA's denial of their request for new or continued 
benefits and Medicare Part B recipients who must pay the Medicare Part 
B Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
                Collection method                    Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-501; MCS or MSSICS Interview.................          25,953               1              10           4,326
i501 (Internet iAppeals)........................         643,516               1               5          53,626
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         669,469  ..............  ..............          57,952
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 4858]]

    3. Request for Reconsideration--20 CFR 404.907-404.921, 416.1407-
416.1421, 408.1009, and 418.1325--0960-0622. Individuals use the SSA-
561-U2, the associated MCS interview, or the Internet application 
(i561) to initiate a request for reconsideration of a denied claim. SSA 
uses the information to document the request and to determine an 
individual's eligibility or entitlement to Social Security benefits 
(title II), SSI payments (title XVI), Special Veterans Benefits (title 
VIII), Medicare (title XVIII), and for initial determinations regarding 
Medicare Part B income-related premium subsidy reductions. The 
respondents are individuals filing for reconsideration.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
                Collection method                    Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-561 and MCS Interview.......................         550,370               1               8          73,383
i561 (Internet iAppeals)........................         911,330               1               5          75,944
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,461,700  ..............  ..............         149,327
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: January 23, 2012.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Officer, Center for Reports Clearance, Social 
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-1598 Filed 1-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P