[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15782-15786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06148]


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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 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

[[Page 15783]]

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, OLCA,
Attn: Reports Clearance Director,
3100 West High Rise,
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 May 
20, 2014. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments 
by writing to the above email address.
    1. Request for Waiver of Overpayment Recovery or Change in 
Repayment Notice--20 CFR 404.502--404.513, 404.515, and 20 CFR 
416.550--416.570, 416.572--0960-0037. When Social Security 
beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients receive 
an overpayment, they must return the extra money. These beneficiaries 
and recipients can use Form SSA-632-BK to take one of three actions: 
(1) Request an exemption from repaying, as recovery of the payment 
would cause financial hardship; (2) inform SSA they want to repay the 
overpayment at a monthly rate over a period longer than 36 months; and 
(3) request a different rate of recovery. In the latter two cases, the 
respondents must also provide financial information to help the agency 
determine how much the overpaid person can afford to repay each month. 
Respondents are overpaid beneficiaries or SSI recipients who are 
requesting (1) a waiver of recovery of an overpayment or (2) a lesser 
rate of withholding.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiver of Overpayment (completes entire paper            400,000               1             120         800,000
 form)..........................................
Change in Repayment (completes partial paper             100,000               1              45          75,000
 form)..........................................
Regional Application (New York Debt Management).          44,000               1             120          88,000
Internet Instructions (read only)...............         500,000               1               5          41,667
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,044,000  ..............  ..............       1,004,667
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices--20 
CFR 404.452-404.455--0960-0369. SSA developed the Annual Earnings Test 
Direct Mail Follow-up Program to improve beneficiary reporting on work 
and earnings during the year and earnings information at the end of the 
year. SSA may reduce benefits payable under the Social Security Act 
(Act) when an individual has wages or self-employment income exceeding 
the annual exempt amount. SSA identifies beneficiaries likely to 
receive more than the annual exempt amount, and requests more frequent 
estimates of earnings from them. When applicable, SSA also requests a 
future year estimate to reduce overpayments due to earnings. SSA sends 
letters (SSA-L9778, SSA-L9779, SSA-L9781, SSA-L9784, SSA-L9785, and 
SSA-L9790) to beneficiaries requesting earnings information the month 
prior to their attainment of full retirement age. We send each 
beneficiary a tailored letter that includes relevant earnings data from 
SSA records. The Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-up Program 
helps to ensure Social Security payments are correct, and enables us to 
prevent earnings-related overpayments, and avoid erroneous withholding. 
The respondents are working Social Security beneficiaries with earnings 
over the exempt amount.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L9778.......................................          42,630               1              10           7,105
SSA-L9779.......................................         158,865               1              10          26,478
SSA-L9781.......................................         472,437               1              10          78,740
SSA-L9784.......................................           1,270               1              10             212
SSA-L9785.......................................          15,870               1              10           2,645
SSA-L9790.......................................          45,000               1              10           7,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         736,072  ..............  ..............         122,680
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Questionnaire for Children Claiming SSI Benefits--0960-0499. 
Section 1631(d)(2) of the Act allows SSA to determine the eligibility 
of an applicant's claim for SSI payments. Parents or legal guardians 
seeking to obtain or retain SSI eligibility for their children use Form 
SSA-3881-BK to provide SSA with the addresses of non-medical sources 
such as schools, counselors, agencies, organizations, or therapists who 
have information about a child's functioning. SSA uses this information 
to help determine a child's claim or continuing eligibility for SSI. 
The respondents are applicants who appeal SSI childhood disability 
decisions or recipients undergoing a continuing disability review.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 15784]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appeals Cases...................................          65,000               1              30          32,500
Disability Review Cases.........................          45,000               1              30          22,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         110,000  ..............  ..............          55,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Social Security Administration Eligible Non-Attorney 
Representative--20 CFR 404.1717, 404.1745--404.1799, 416.1517, and 
416.1545--416.1599--0960-0699. Section 3 of the Social Security 
Disability Applicants Access to Professional Representation Act (PRA) 
of 2010, Public Law 111-142, permanently extends the direct payment 
provision of Section 303 of the Social Security Protection Act (SSPA) 
of 2004, Public Law 108-203. The PRA permits SSA to extend direct 
payment of approved fees from claimants' past-due benefits to certain 
non-attorney representatives. Prior to the enactment of the SSPA and 
PRA, only attorneys could receive direct payment of SSA-approved fees. 
Under the PRA, non-attorneys must meet certain prerequisites to be 
eligible for direct payment of fees. These prerequisites include: (1) A 
bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education, 
or four years of relevant professional experience and a high school 
diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate; (2) passing 
a written examination administered by SSA testing the knowledge of 
relevant provisions of the Act under Titles II and XVI; (3) securing 
and maintaining continuous professional liability insurance, or 
equivalent, to protect claimants from malpractice; (4) passing a 
criminal background check; (5) demonstrating ongoing completion of 
continuing education courses. The PRA requires SSA to collect the 
information needed to determine if applicants have satisfied these 
prerequisites.
    SSA uses the information we collect on Form SSA-1691 to determine 
whether an applicant has fulfilled the statutory prerequisites and 
regulatory requirements as listed above. To verify this information, we 
also request the five required items listed above from each new 
applicant, and we request items 3 and 5 from all non-
attorney representatives (new and existing) on a yearly basis. Every 
year, SSA evaluates the applications, conducts verification 
investigations, and issues recommendations regarding applicants' 
eligibility to sit for the examination and eligibility to receive 
direct payment. The respondents are non-attorneys who want to receive 
direct payment of their fees for representational services before SSA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Respondents--paper SSA-1691.................             200               1              45             150
New Respondents--Examination....................             200               1             120             400
New Respondents--Submission of Proof of                      200               1              10              33
 Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Qualification..
New and Existing Respondents--Continuing                     710               1              20             237
 Education Submission via email, mail, or fax of
 Training Courses...............................
New and Existing Respondents--Proof of                       672               1              10             112
 Continuous Professional or Business Liability
 Insurance Coverage (Electronic--scan and email)
New and Existing Respondents--Proof of                        38               1              15              10
 Continuous Professional or Business Liability
 Insurance Coverage (Paper--copy and mail)......
New and Existing Respondents--Written Protests..              45               1              45              34
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           2,065  ..............  ..............             976
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 April 21, 2014. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB 
clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. 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 with SSA or at the 
Veterans Administration (VA). If applicants file for Title II survivor 
benefits at the VA, they complete Form SSA-24, which is then forwarded 
to SSA for processing. SSA uses the information to determine 
eligibility for benefits. The respondents are survivors of deceased 
armed services personnel who are applying for benefits at the VA.
    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-24................................           3,200                1               15                    800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 15785]]

    2. RS/DI Quality Review Case Analysis: Sampled Number Holder, 
Auxiliaries/Survivors, Parents, and Stewardship Annual Earnings Test 
Workbook--0960-0189. Section 205(a) of the Act authorizes the 
Commissioner of SSA to conduct the quality review process, which 
entails collecting information related to the accuracy of payments made 
under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (OASDI). 
Sections 228(a)(3), 1614(a)(1)(B), and 1836(2) of the Act require a 
determination of the citizenship or alien status of the beneficiary; 
this is only one item that we might question as part of the Annual 
Quality review. SSA uses Forms SSA-2930, SSA-2931, and SSA-2932 to 
establish a national payment accuracy rate for all cases in payment 
status, and to serve as a source of information regarding problem areas 
in the Retirement Survivors Insurance (RSI) and Disability Insurance 
(DI) programs. We also use the information to measure the accuracy rate 
for newly adjudicated RSI or DI cases. SSA uses Form SSA-4659 to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the annual earnings test and uses the 
results in developing ongoing improvements in the process. About 
twenty-five percent of respondents will have in-person reviews and 
receive one of the following appointment letters: (1) SSA-L8550-U3 
(Appointment Letter--Sample Individual); (2) SSA-L8551-U3 (Appointment 
Letter--Sample Family); or (3) the SSA-L8552-U3 (Appointment Letter--
Rep Payee). Seventy-five percent of respondents will receive a notice 
for a telephone review using the SSA-L8553-U3 (Beneficiary Telephone 
Contact) or the SSA-L8554-U3 (Rep Payee Telephone Contact). To help the 
beneficiary prepare for the interview, we include three forms with each 
notice: (1) SSA-85 (Information Needed to Review Your Social Security 
Claim) lists the information the beneficiary will need to gather for 
the interview; (2) SSA-2935 (Authorization to the Social Security 
Administration to Obtain Personal Information) verifies the 
beneficiary's correct payment amount, if necessary; and (3) SSA-8552 
(Interview Confirmation) confirms or reschedules the interview if 
necessary. The respondents are a statistically valid sample of all 
OASDI beneficiaries in current pay status or their representative 
payees.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency  of    burden per     total annual
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-2930........................................           1,500               1              30             750
SSA-2931........................................             850               1              30             425
SSA-4659........................................             325               1              10              54
SSA-L8550-U3....................................             385               1               5              32
SSA-L8551-U3....................................              95               1               5               8
SSA-L8552-U3....................................              35               1               5               3
SSA-L8553-U3....................................           4,490               1               5             374
SSA-L8554-U3....................................             670               1               5              56
SSA-8552........................................           2,350               1               5             196
SSA-85..........................................           3,850               1               5             321
SSA-2935........................................           2,350               1               5             196
SSA-820/821 (also saved under OMB Numbers                    400               1              15             100
 0960[dash]0598 & 0960-0059.....................
SSA-8510 (also saved under OMB No.                           800               1               5              67
 0960[dash]0707.................................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          18,100  ..............  ..............           2,582
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Appeal of Determination for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug 
Plan Costs--0960-0695. Pub.L. 108-173, the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), established the 
Medicare Part D program for voluntary prescription drug coverage for 
certain low-income individuals. The MMA stipulates the provision of 
subsidies for individuals who are eligible for the program and who meet 
eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, and/or co-
payment costs. SSA uses Form SSA-1021, Appeal of Determination for Help 
with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, to obtain information from 
individuals who appeal SSA's decisions regarding eligibility or 
continuing eligibility for a Medicare Part D subsidy. The respondents 
are applicants who are appealing SSA's eligibility or continuing 
eligibility decisions.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency  of    burden per     total annual
             Modality of  collection                respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1021........................................           2,330               1              10             388
(Paper form)....................................
SSA-1021 (Internet-Medicare Application                   14,008               1              10           2,335
 Processing System).............................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          16,338  ..............  ..............           2,773
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting--0960-0771. Sheltered 
workshops are non-profit organizations or institutions that implement a 
recognized program of rehabilitation for handicapped workers, or 
provide such workers with remunerative employment or other occupational 
rehabilitating activity of an educational or therapeutic nature. 
Sheltered workshops perform a service for their clients by reporting 
monthly wages directly to SSA. SSA

[[Page 15786]]

uses the information these workshops provide to verify and post monthly 
wages to the SSI recipient's record. Most workshops report monthly wage 
totals to their local SSA office so we can adjust the client's SSI 
payment amount in a timely manner and prevent overpayments. Sheltered 
workshops are motivated to report wages voluntarily as a service to 
their clients. Respondents are sheltered workshops that report monthly 
wages for services performed in the workshop.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Average  burden     Estimated
                       Modality of completion                           Number of      Frequency  of      Number of      per  response     total annual
                                                                       respondents        response        responses        (minutes)     burden  (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting..................................             800               12            9,600               15            2,400
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: March 18, 2014.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Director, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-06148 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P