[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30952-30954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12259]


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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 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 Director, 107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Blvd., 
Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: 410-966-2830, Email address: 
[email protected].
    I. The information collections below are pending at SSA. SSA will 
submit them to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. To be 
sure we consider your comments, we must receive them no later than July 
22, 2013. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments 
by writing to the above email address.
    1. Waiver of Your Right to Personal Appearance before an 
Administrative Law Judge--20 CFR 404.948(b)(l)(i) and 
416.1448(b)(l)(i)--0960-0284. Applicants for Social Security, Old Age, 
Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) payments have the statutory right to appear in 
person (or through a representative) and present evidence about their 
claims at a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). If 
claimants wish to waive this right to appear before an ALJ, they do so 
in writing. Form HA-4608 serves as a written waiver for the claimant's 
right to a personal appearance before an ALJ. The ALJ uses the 
information we collect on Form HA-4608 to continue processing the case, 
and makes the completed form a part of the documentary evidence of 
record by placing it in the official record of the proceedings as an 
exhibit. Respondents are applicants or claimants for OASDI and SSI, or 
their representatives, who request to waive their right to appear in 
person before an ALJ.
    Type of Request: Revision of an approved-OMB information 
collection.

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                                                                                Average  burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of    per  response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-4608.....................................          12,000                1                2              400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Letter to Custodian of Birth Records/Letter to Custodian of 
School Records--20 CFR 404.704, 404.716, 416.802, and 422.107--0960-
0693. When individuals need help in obtaining evidence of their age in 
connection with Social Security number (SSN) card applications and 
claims for benefits, SSA can prepare SSA-L106, Letter to Custodian of 
School Records, or SSA-L706, Letter to Custodian of Birth Records. SSA 
uses the SSA-L706 to determine the existence of primary evidence of age 
of SSN applicants. SSA uses both letters to verify with the issuing 
entity, when necessary, the authenticity of the record submitted by the 
SSN applicant or claimant. The respondents are schools, State and local 
bureaus of vital statistics, and religious entities.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                     Type of         Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
    Modality of completion         respondents      respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L106......................  Private Sector..           1,800               1              10             300
SSA-L106......................  State/Local/               1,800               1              10             300
                                 Tribal
                                 Government.
SSA-L706......................  Private Sector..           1,800               1              10             300
SSA-L706......................  State/Local/               1,800               1              10             300
                                 Tribal
                                 Government.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals....................  ................           7,200  ..............  ..............           1,200
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[[Page 30953]]

    II. SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding the information collections would be 
most useful if OMB and SSA receive them 30 days from the date of this 
publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive them 
no later than June 24, 2013. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB 
clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. Employer Verification of Earnings After Death--20 CFR 404.821 
and 404.822--0960-0472. When SSA records show a wage earner is deceased 
and we receive wage reports from an employer for the wage earner for a 
year subsequent to the year of death, SSA mails the employer Form SSA-
L4112 (Employer Verification of Earnings After Death). SSA uses the 
information Form SSA-L4112 provides to verify wage information 
previously received from the employer is correct for the employee and 
the year in question. The respondents are employers who report wages 
for employees who have died.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Average  burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of    per  response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L4112...................................          50,000                1               10            8,333
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    2. Registration for Appointed Representative Services and Direct 
Payment--0960-0732. SSA uses Form SSA-1699 to register appointed 
representatives of claimants before SSA who:
     Want to register for direct payment of fees;
     Registered for direct payment of fees prior to 10/31/09, 
but need to update their information;
     Registered as appointed representatives on or after 10/31/
09, but need to update their information; or
     Received a notice from SSA instructing them to complete 
this form.
    By registering these individuals, SSA: (1) Authenticates and 
authorizes them to do business with us; (2) allows them to access our 
records for the claimants they represent; (3) facilitates direct 
payment of authorized fees to appointed representatives; and, (4) 
collects the information we need to meet Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 
requirements to issue specific IRS forms if we pay an appointed 
representative in excess of a specific amount ($600). The respondents 
are appointed representatives who use Form SSA-1699 for any of the 
purposes cited in this Notice.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Average  burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of    per  response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1699....................................          52,800                1               20           17,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Statement for Certificate of Election for Reduced Widower(er)'s 
and Surviving Divorced Spouse's Benefits--20 CFR 404.335--0960-0759. 
Section 202(q) of the Social Security Act provides SSA the authority to 
reduce benefits under certain conditions when elected by a title II 
beneficiary. However, reduced benefits are not payable to an already 
entitled spouse (or divorced spouse) who:
     Is at least age 62 and under full retirement age in the 
month of the number holder's death; and
     Is receiving both reduced spouse's (or divorced spouse's) 
benefits and either retirement or disability benefits in the month 
before the month of the number holder's death.
    To elect reduced widow(er) benefits, a recipient completes Form 
SSA-4111. SSA uses the information Form SSA-4111 collects to pay a 
qualified dually entitled widow(er) (or surviving divorced spouse) who 
elects to receive a reduced widow(er) benefit. The respondents are 
qualified dually entitled widow(er)s (or surviving divorced spouse) who 
elect to receive a reduced widow(er) benefit.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                Average  burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of    per  response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-4111....................................          30,000                1                2            1,000
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[[Page 30954]]

    Dated: May 20, 2013.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Director, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-12259 Filed 5-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P