[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37828-37834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15504]


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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 a new information collection, and 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, 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 
September 2, 2014. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Statement of Funds You Provided to Another and Statement of 
Funds You Received--20 CFR 404.1520(b), 404.1571-404.1576, 404.1584-
404.1593 and 416.971-416.976--0960-0059. SSA uses Form SSA-821-BK to 
collect employment information to determine whether applicants or 
recipients worked after becoming disabled and, if so, whether the work 
is substantial gainful activity. SSA's field offices use Form SSA-821-
BK to obtain work information during the initial claims process, the 
continuing disability review process, and for Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) claims involving work issues. SSA's processing centers and 
the Office of Disability and International Operations use the form to 
obtain post-adjudicative work issue from recipients. SSA reviews and 
evaluates the data to determine if the applicant or recipient meets the 
disability requirements of the law. The respondents are Title II and 
Title XVI disability applicants or recipients.
    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-821-BK..................................         300,000                1               30          150,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Coverage of Employees of State and Local Governments--20 CFR 
404, Subpart M--0960-0425. The Code of Federal Regulations at 20 CFR 
404, Subpart M, prescribes the rules for States submitting reports of 
deposits

[[Page 37829]]

and recordkeeping to SSA. These regulations require States (and 
interstate instrumentalities) to provide wage and deposit contribution 
information for pre-1987 periods. Since some States still need to 
satisfy their pending wage report and contribution liability with SSA 
for pre-1987 tax years completely, SSA needs these regulations until we 
can close out all pending items with all States. We also need these 
regulations to provide for collection of this information in the 
future, if necessary. The respondents are State and local governments 
or interstate instrumentalities.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
               Regulation section                    Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404. 1204(a) & (b)..............................              52               1              30              26
404.1215........................................              52               1              60              52
404. 1216(a) & (b)..............................              52               1              60              52
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             156  ..............  ..............             130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Marital Relationship Questionnaire--20 CFR 416.1826--0960-0460. 
SSA uses Form SSA-4178, Marital Relationship Questionnaire, to 
determine if unrelated individuals of the opposite sex who live 
together are misrepresenting themselves as husband and wife. SSA needs 
this information to determine whether we are making correct payments to 
couples and individuals applying for, or currently receiving, SSI 
payments. The respondents are applicants for and recipients of SSI 
payments.
    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
                                                 responses         response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-4178....................................           5,100                1                5              425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 August 1, 2014. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB 
clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. National Beneficiary Survey--0960-NEW. SSA is proposing to 
undertake the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS), a survey intended to 
gather data from SSI recipients and Social Security Disability 
Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries about their characteristics, their well-
being, and other factors that promote or hinder employment. In 
particular, the survey seeks to uncover important information about the 
factors that promote beneficiary self-sufficiency and, conversely, 
factors that impede beneficiary efforts to maintain employment. We will 
use this data to improve the administration and effectiveness of the 
SSDI and SSI programs. These results will be valuable as SSA and other 
policymakers continue efforts to improve programs and services that 
help SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients become more self-sufficient.

Background

    SSDI and SSI programs provide a crucial and necessary safety net 
for working-age people with disabilities. By improving employment 
outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients, SSA supports the 
effort to reduce the reliance of people with disabilities on these 
programs. SSA conducted the prior NBS in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2010, 
and was an important first step in understanding the work interest and 
experiences of SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries, and in gaining 
information about their impairments, health, living arrangements, 
family structure, pre-disability occupation, and use of non-SSA 
programs (e.g., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The 
prior NBS data is available to researchers and the public.

The National Beneficiary Survey (NBS)

    The primary purpose of the new NBS-General Waves is to assess 
beneficiary well-being and interest in work, learn about beneficiary 
work experiences (successful and unsuccessful), and identify factors 
that promote or restrict long-term work success. Information collected 
in the survey includes factors such as health, living arrangements, 
family structure, current occupation, use of non-SSA programs, 
knowledge of SSDI and SSI work incentive programs, obstacles to work, 
and beneficiary interest and motivation to return to work. We propose 
to conduct the first wave of the NBS-General Waves in 2015. We will 
further conduct subsequent rounds in 2017 (round 2) and 2019 (round 3). 
The information we will collect is not available from SSA 
administrative data or other sources. In the NBS-General Waves, the 
sample design is similar to what we used for the prior NBS. Enhancement 
of the prior questionnaire includes additional questions on the factors 
that promote or hinder employment success. We also propose to conduct 
semi-structured qualitative interviews (in 2015 only) to provide SSA an 
in-depth understanding of factors that aid or inhibit individuals in 
their efforts to obtain and retain employment and advance in the 
workplace. We will use the qualitative data to add context and 
understanding when interpreting survey results, and to inform the 
sample and survey design of rounds 2 and 3. Respondents are current 
SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients. Respondent participation in the 
NBS is voluntary and the decision to participate or not has no impact 
on current or future receipt of payments or benefits.
    Type of Request: This is a new information collection request.

[[Page 37830]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
               Administration year                   Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response         (hours)     burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 Cross-Sectional Samples:
    Representative Beneficiary Sample...........           4,000               1             .75           3,000
    Successful Worker Qualitative Interviews....              90               1            1.00              90
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           3,090
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
2017 Cross-Sectional Samples:
    Representative Beneficiary Sample:..........           4,000               1             .75           3,000
    Successful Workers..........................           4,500               1             .92           4,140
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           7,140
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Cross-Sectional Samples:
    Representative Beneficiary Sample...........           4,000               1             .75           3,000
    Successful Workers..........................           3,000               1             .92           2,760
    Longitudinal Samples:
    Successful Workers..........................           2,250               1             .75           1,688
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           7,448
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden................................          26,550  ..............  ..............          17,678
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Marriage Certification--20 CFR 404.725--0960-0009. Sections 
202(b) and 202(c) of the Social Security Act (Act) stipulate that every 
spouse of an individual entitled to Old Age, Survivors, and Disability 
Insurance (OASDI) benefits is entitled to a spouse benefit if the wife 
or husband, in addition to meeting the entitlement requirements, meets 
the relationship criteria in Section 216(h)(1)(A) and (B). SSA uses 
Form SSA-3 to determine if a spouse claimant has the necessary 
relationship to the Social Security number (SSN) holder (i.e., the 
worker) to qualify for the worker's OASDI benefits. The respondents are 
applicants for spouse's OASDI benefits.
    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-3.......................................         180,000                1                5           15,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Statement Regarding Contributions--20 CFR 404.360--404.366 and 
404.736--0960-0020. SSA uses Form SSA-783 to collect information 
regarding a child's current sources of support when determining the 
child's entitlement to Social Security benefits. We request this 
information from adults acting on behalf of the child claimants who can 
provide SSA with any sources of support or substantial contributions 
for the child. These adults inform the claims representative of these 
sources and contributions as part of the initial claims process. If the 
individual capable of providing the information does not accompany the 
child claimant, we mail the SSA-783 to the individual for completion, 
or if the person has access to a computer, we will refer them to SSA's 
Web site where they can download a copy of the form for completion and 
submission. The respondents are individuals providing information about 
a child's sources of support.
    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-783.....................................          30,000                1               17            8,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Farm Arrangement Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1082(c)--0960-0064. 
When self-employed workers submit earnings data to SSA, they cannot 
count rental income from a farm unless they demonstrate ``material 
participation'' in the farm's operation. A material participation 
arrangement means the farm owners must perform a combination of 
physical duties, management decisions, and capital investment in the 
farm they are renting out. SSA uses Form SSA-7157, the Farm Arrangement 
Questionnaire, to document material participation. The respondents are 
workers who are renting farmland to others; are involved in the 
operation of the farm; and want to claim countable income from work 
they perform relating to the farm.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 37831]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7157....................................          38,000                1               30           19,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. Railroad Employment Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1401, 404.1406-
404.1408--0960-0078. Railroad workers, their dependents, or survivors 
can concurrently apply for railroad retirement and Social Security 
benefits at SSA if the number holder, or claimant on the number 
holder's SSN, worked in the railroad industry. SSA uses Form SSA-671 to 
coordinate Social Security claims processing with the Railroad 
Retirement Board and to determine benefit entitlement and amount. The 
respondents are Social Security benefit applicants previously employed 
by a railroad or dependents of railroad workers.
    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-671.....................................         125,000                1                5           10,417
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)--Quality Review Case 
Analysis--0960-0133. To assess the SSI program and ensure the accuracy 
of its payments, SSA conducts legally mandated periodic SSI case 
analysis quality reviews. SSA uses Form SSA-8508 to conduct these 
reviews, collecting information on operating efficiency, the quality of 
underlying policies, and the effect of incorrect payments. SSA also 
uses the data to determine SSI program payment accuracy rate, which is 
a performance measure for the agency's service delivery goals. 
Respondents are recipients of SSI payments selected for quality 
reviews.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-8508-BK (paper interview)...................             225               1              60             225
SSA-8508-BK (electronic version)................           4,275               1              60           4,275
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           4,500  ..............  ..............           4,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    7. Claimant's Work Background--20 CFR 404.1512(a); 404.1520(a)(4); 
404.1565(b); 416.912(a); 416.920(a)(4); 416.965(b)--0960-0300. Sections 
205(a) and 1631(e) of the Act provide the Commissioner of Social 
Security with the authority to establish procedures for determining if 
a claimant is entitled to disability benefits. The administrative law 
judge (ALJ) may ask individuals to provide background information on 
Form HA-4633 about work they performed in the past 15 years. When a 
claimant requests a hearing before an ALJ to establish an entitlement 
to disability benefits, the ALJ may request that the claimant provide a 
work history to assist the ALJ in fully inquiring into statutory issues 
related to the disability. The ALJ uses the information collected from 
the claimants on Form HA-4633 to: (1) Identify the claimant's relevant 
work history; (2) decide if SSA requires expert vocational testimony 
and, if so, have a vocational expert available to testify during the 
hearing; and (3) provide a reference for the ALJ to discuss the 
claimant's work history. The ALJ makes the completed HA-4633 part of 
the documentary evidence of record. The respondents are claimants for 
disability benefits under Title II or Title XVI who requested a hearing 
before an ALJ after SSA denied their application for disability 
payments.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-4633--PDF/paper version......................          20,000               1              15           5,000
Electronic Records Express......................         180,000               1              15          45,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         200,000  ..............  ..............          50,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. Letter to Landlord Requesting Rental Information--20 CFR 
416.1130(b)--0960-0454. SSA uses Form SSA-L5061 to obtain rental 
subsidy information, which enables SSA to determine and verify an 
income value for such subsidies. SSA uses this income value as part of 
determining eligibility for SSI and the correct

[[Page 37832]]

amount of SSI payable to the claimant. SSA bases an individual's 
eligibility for SSI payments, in part, on the amount of countable 
income the individual receives. Income includes in-kind support and 
maintenance in the form of room or rent, such as a subsidized rental 
arrangement. SSA requires claimants to assist in obtaining this 
information to prevent a delay or overpayment with their SSI payments. 
We collect this information only if the SSI applicant or recipient is 
the parent or child of the landlord (respondent). For most respondents, 
we collect this information once per year or less, via telephone or 
face-to-face personal interview. The claims representative records the 
information in our Modernized SSI Claims System (MSSICS), and we 
require verbal attestation in lieu of a wet signature. However, if the 
claims representative is unable to contact the respondent via the 
telephone or face-to-face, we print and mail a paper form to the 
respondent for completion. The respondent completes, signs, and returns 
the form to the claims representative. Upon receipt, the claims 
representative documents the information in MSSICS or, for non-MSSICS 
cases, faxes the form into the appropriate electronic folder and shreds 
the paper form. The respondents are landlords who are related to the 
SSI beneficiaries as a parent or child.
    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-L5061...................................          72,000                1               10           12,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)--20 CFR 416.110(e), 
416.1180-1182, 416.1225-1227--0960-0559. The SSI program encourages 
recipients to return to work. One of the program objectives is to 
provide incentives and opportunities that help recipients toward 
employment. The PASS provision allows individuals to use available 
income or resources (such as business equipment, education, or 
specialized training) to enter or re-enter the workforce and become 
self-supporting.
    In turn, SSA does not count the income or resources recipients use 
to fund a PASS when determining an individual's SSI eligibility or 
payment amount. An SSI recipient who wants to use available income and 
resources to obtain education or training to become self-supporting 
completes the SSA-545. SSA uses the information from the SSA-545 to 
evaluate the recipient's PASS, and to determine eligibility under the 
provisions of the SSI program. The respondents are SSI recipients who 
are blind or disabled and want to develop a return-to-work plan.
    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-545.....................................           7,000                1              120           14,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. State Death Match Collections--20 CFR 404.301, 404.310-404.311, 
404.316, 404.330-404.341, 404.350-404.352, 404.371; 416.912--0960-0700. 
SSA uses the State Death Match Collections to ensure the accuracy of 
payment files by detecting unreported or inaccurate deaths of 
beneficiaries. Under the Act, entitlement to retirement, disability, 
wife's, husband's, or parent's benefits terminate when the beneficiary 
dies. The States furnish death certificate information to SSA via the 
manual registration process or the Electronic Death Registration 
Process (EDR). Both death match processes are automated electronic 
transfers between the States and SSA. The respondents are the States' 
bureaus of vital statistics.

    Note:  This is a correction notice: SSA published the incorrect 
burden information for this collection at 79 FR 17632 on March 28, 
2014. We are correcting this error here.

    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Average cost      Estimated
     Modality of completion          Number of     Frequency of      Number of      per record     total annual
                                    respondents      response        responses        request     burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Death Match-Manual Process               9          50,000         450,000            $.84        $378,000
States Expected to Become--State               7          50,000         350,000            3.01       1,053,500
 Death Match-EDR Within the Next
 3 Years........................
State Death Match-EDR...........              37          50,000       1,850,000            3.01       5,568,500
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................              53  ..............       2,650,000  ..............     * 7,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Please note that both of these data matching processes are electronic and there is no hourly burden for the
  respondent to provide this information.


[[Page 37833]]

    11. Help America Vote Act--0960-0706. House Rule 3295, the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002, mandates that States verify the identities of 
newly registered voters. When newly registered voters do not have 
driver's licenses or State-issued ID cards, they must supply the last 
four digits of their SSN to their local State election agencies for 
verification. The election agencies forward this information to their 
State Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), who inputs the data into the 
American Association of MVAs, a central consolidation system that 
routes the voter data to SSA's Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) 
system. Once SSA's HAVV system confirms the identity of the voter, the 
information returns along the same route in reverse until it reaches 
the State election agency. The official respondents for this collection 
are the State MVAs.

    Note:  This is a correction notice: SSA published the incorrect 
burden information for this collection at 78 FR 22752 on 04/23/14. 
We are correcting this error here.

    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAVV........................................       2,352,204                1                2           78,407
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. Social Security's Public Credentialing and Authentication 
Process--20 CFR 401.45 and 402--0960-0789.

Background

    Authentication is the foundation for secure, online transactions. 
Identity authentication is the process of determining, with confidence, 
that someone is who he or she claims to be during a remote, automated 
session. It comprises three distinct factors: something you know, 
something you have, and something you are. Single-factor authentication 
uses one of the factors, and multi-factor authentication uses two or 
more of the factors.

SSA's Public Credentialing and Authentication Process

    SSA offers consistent authentication across SSA's secured online 
services. We allow our users to request and maintain only one User ID, 
consisting of a self-selected username and password, to access multiple 
Social Security electronic services. Designed in accordance with the 
OMB Memorandum M-04-04 and the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-63, this process provides the 
means of authenticating users of our secured electronic services and 
streamlines access to those services. SSA's public credentialing and 
authentication process:
     Issues a single User ID to anyone who wants to do business 
with the agency;
     Offers authentication options that meet the changing needs 
of the public;
     Partners with an external data service provider to help us 
verify the identity of our online customers;
     Complies with relevant standards;
     Offers access to some of SSA's heaviest, but more 
sensitive, workloads online while providing a high level of confidence 
in the identity of the person requesting access to these services;
     Offers an in-person process for those who are 
uncomfortable with or unable to use the Internet process;
     Balances security with ease of use; and
     Provides a user-friendly way for the public to conduct 
extended business with us online instead of visiting local servicing 
offices or requesting information over the phone. Individuals have 
real-time access to their Social Security information in a safe and 
secure web environment.

Public Credentialing and Authentication Process Features

    We collect and maintain the users' personally identifiable 
information (PII) in our Central Repository of Electronic 
Authentication Data Master File Privacy Act system of records that we 
published in the Federal Register (75 FR 79065). The PII may include 
the users' name, address, date of birth, SSN, phone number, and other 
types of identity information [e.g., address information of persons 
from the W-2 and Schedule Self Employed forms we receive electronically 
for our programmatic purposes as permitted by 26 U.S.C. 6103(l)(1)(A)]. 
We may also collect knowledge-based authentication data, which is 
information users establish with us or that we already maintain in our 
existing Privacy Act systems of records.
    We retain the data necessary to administer and maintain our e-
Authentication infrastructure. This includes management and profile 
information, such as blocked accounts, failed access data, effective 
date of passwords, and other data that allows us to evaluate the 
system's effectiveness. The data we maintain also may include archived 
transaction data and historical data.
    We use the information from this collection to identity proof and 
authenticate our users online and to allow them access to their 
personal information from our records. We also use this information to 
provide second factor authentication. We are committed to expanding and 
improving this process so we can grant access to additional online 
services in the future.
    Offering online services is not only an important part of meeting 
SSA's goals, but is vital to good public service. In increasing 
numbers, the public expects to conduct complex business over the 
Internet. Ensuring that SSA's online services are both secure and user 
friendly is our priority.
    With the limited data we have, it is difficult for SSA to meet the 
OMB and NIST authentication guidelines for identity proofing the 
public. Therefore, we awarded a competitively bid contract to an 
external data service provider, Experian, to help us verify the 
identity of our online customers. We use this External Data Service 
(EDS), in addition to our other authentication methods, to help us 
prove, or verify, the identity of our customers when they are 
completing online or electronic transactions with us.

Social Security's Authentication Strategy

    We remain committed to enhancing our online services using 
authentication processes that balance usability and security. We will 
continue to research and develop new authentication tools while 
monitoring the emerging threats.
    The following are key components of our authentication strategy:

[[Page 37834]]

     Enrollment and Identity Verification--We collect 
identifying data and use SSA and EDS records to verify an individual's 
identity. Individuals have the option of obtaining an enhanced, 
stronger, User ID by providing certain financial information (e.g., 
Medicare wages, self-employed earnings, direct deposit amount, or the 
last eight digits of a credit card number) for verification. We also 
ask individuals to answer out-of-wallet questions so we can further 
verify their identities. Individuals who are unable to complete the 
process online can present identification at a field office to obtain a 
User ID.
     Establishing the User Profile--The individual self-selects 
a username and password, both of which can be of variable length and 
alphanumeric. We provide a password strength indicator to help the 
individual select a strong password. We also ask the individual to 
choose challenge questions for use in restoring a lost or forgotten 
username or password.
     Enhancing the User ID--If an individual opts to enhance or 
upgrade the User IDs, we mail a one-time-use upgrade code to the 
individual's verified residential address. When the individual receives 
the upgrade code in the mail, he or she can enter this code online to 
enhance the security of the account. At this time, we also ask the 
individual to enter a cell phone number. We send an initial text 
message to that number and require the individual to confirm its 
receipt. We send a text message to that number each time the individual 
signs in, subsequently.
     Login and Use--Standard authentication provides an 
individual with a User ID for access to most online applications. 
Enhanced authentication uses the standard User ID along with a one-time 
code sent to the individual's cell phone, via text message, to create a 
more secure session, and to grant access to certain sensitive Social 
Security services. An individual who forgets the password can reset it 
automatically without contacting SSA. The enrollment process is a one-
time only activity for the respondents. After the respondents enroll 
and choose their User ID (Username & Password), they have to sign in 
with their User ID every time they want to access Social Security's 
secured online services.
    SSA requires the individuals to agree to the ``Terms of Service'' 
detailed on our Web site before we allow them to begin the enrollment 
process. The ``Terms of Service'' inform the individuals what we will 
and will not do with their personal information and the privacy and 
security protections we provide on all data we collect. These terms 
also detail the consequences of misusing this service.
    To verify the individual's identity, we ask the individual to give 
us minimal personal information, which may include:
    [cir] Name;
    [cir] SSN;
    [cir] Date of Birth;
    [cir] Address--mailing and residential;
    [cir] Telephone number;
    [cir] Email address;
    [cir] Financial information;
    [cir] Cell phone number; and
    [cir] Selecting and answering password reset questions.
    We send a subset of this information to the EDS, who then generates 
a series of out-of-wallet questions back to the individual. The 
individual must answer all or most of the questions correctly before 
continuing in the process. The exact questions generated are unique to 
each individual.
    This collection of information, or a subset of it, is mandatory for 
respondents who want to do business with SSA via the Internet. We 
collect this information via the Internet, on SSA's public-facing Web 
site. We also offer an in-person identification verification process 
for individuals who cannot, or are not willing, to register online. For 
this process, the individual must go to a local SSA field office and 
provide identifying information. We do not ask for financial 
information with the in-person process.
    We only collect the identity verification information one time, 
when the individual registers for a credential. We ask for the User ID 
(username and password) every time an individual signs in to our 
automated services. If individuals opt for the enhanced or upgraded 
account, they also receive a text message on their cell phones (this 
serves as the second factor for authentication) each time they sign in.
    The respondents are individuals who choose to use the Internet or 
Automated Telephone Response System to conduct business with SSA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Requestors.............................      38,251,877               1               8       5,100,250
In-Person (Intranet) Requestors.................       1,370,633               1               8         182,751
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................      39,622,510  ..............  ..............       5,283,001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: June 27, 2014.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Director, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-15504 Filed 7-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P