[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7521-7523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02657]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2015-0002]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed 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 and an extension 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].

    Or you may submit your comments online through www.regulations.gov, 
referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2015-0002].
    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 
April 13, 2015. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Certification by Religious Group--20 CFR 404.1075--0960-0093. 
SSA is responsible for determining whether religious groups meet the 
qualifications exempting certain members and sects from payment of 
Self-Employment Contribution Act taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, 
section 1402(g). SSA sends Form SSA-1458, Certification by Religious 
Group, to a group's authorized spokesperson to complete and to verify 
that organizational members meet or continue to meet the criteria for 
exemption. The respondents are spokespersons for religious groups or 
sects.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                Average  burden     Estimated
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of    per  response     total annual
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)      burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1458....................................             180                1               15               45
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    2. Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary--20 
CFR 404.503(b)--0960-0101. When a Social Security payment was due to a 
deceased beneficiary at the time of death, and there is insufficient 
information in the file to identify the person(s) entitled to the 
payment or the person's address, SSA asks the surviving spouse, next of 
kin, or legal representative of the estate to complete Form SSA-1724, 
Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Social Security 
Recipient. SSA collects the information when a surviving widow(er) is 
not already entitled to a monthly benefit on the same earnings record, 
or is not filing for a lump-sum death payment as a former spouse. SSA 
uses the information from Form SSA-1724 to ensure proper payment of an 
underpayment due a deceased beneficiary. The respondents are applicants 
for underpayments owed to deceased beneficiaries.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 7522]]



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                                                                                Average  burden     Estimated
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of    per  response     total annual
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)      burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1724....................................         250,000                1               10           41,667
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    3. Request for Reconsideration--Disability Cessation--20 CFR 
404.909, 416.1409--0960-0349. When SSA determines that claimants' 
disabilities ceased or are no longer sufficiently disabling, these 
claimants may ask SSA to reconsider that determination. SSA uses Form 
SSA-789-U4 to arrange for a hearing or to prepare a decision based on 
the evidence of record. Specifically, claimants or their 
representatives use Form SSA-789-U4 to: (1) Ask SSA to reconsider a 
determination; (2) indicate if they wish to appear at a disability 
hearing; (3) submit any additional information or evidence for use in 
the reconsidered determination; and (4) indicate if they will need an 
interpreter for the hearing. The respondents are applicants or 
claimants for Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) payments.
    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
                                                 responses         response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-789-U4..................................          30,000                1               13            6,500
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    4. Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits--20 CFR 
404.421--0960-0398. SSA cannot pay reduced Social Security benefits to 
an already entitled spouse unless the spouse elects to receive reduced 
benefits and is (1) at least age 62, but under full retirement age; and 
(2) no longer is caring for a child. In this situation, spouses who 
decide to elect reduced benefits must file Form SSA-25, Certificate of 
Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits. SSA uses the information to pay 
qualified spouses who elect to receive reduced benefits. Respondents 
are entitled spouses seeking reduced Social Security benefits.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
            Collection instrument                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-25......................................          30,000                1                2            1,000
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    5. Prohibition of Payment of SSI Benefits to Fugitive Felons and 
Parole/Probation Violators--20 CFR 416.708(o)--0960-0617. Section 
1611(e)(4) of the Social Security Act precludes eligibility for SSI 
payments for certain fugitives and probation/parole violators. 
Regulations at 20 CFR 416.708(o) require individuals applying for or 
receiving SSI to report to SSA that (1) they are fleeing to avoid 
prosecution for a crime; (2) they are fleeing to avoid custody or 
confinement after conviction of a crime; or (3) they are violating a 
condition of probation or parole. SSA uses the information we receive 
to deny eligibility, or suspend recipients' SSI payments. The 
respondents are SSI applicants and recipients, or representative payees 
of SSI applicants and recipients, who are reporting their status as a 
fugitive felon or probation/parole violator.
    Type of Request: Extension 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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modernized SSI Claims System................           1,000                1                1               17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Identifying Information for Possible Direct Payment of 
Authorized Fees--0960-0730. SSA collects information from claimants' 
appointed representatives on Form SSA-1695 to: (1) Process and 
facilitate direct payment of authorized fees; (2) issue a Form 1099-
MISC, if applicable; and (3) establish a link between each claim for 
benefits and the data we collect on the SSA-1699 for our appointed 
representative database. The respondents are attorneys and other 
individuals who represent claimants for benefits before SSA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information 
collection.

[[Page 7523]]



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                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1695....................................          10,000               40               10           66,667
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    7. Request for Business Entity Taxpayer Information--0960-0731. Law 
firms or other business entities must complete Form SSA-1694, Request 
for Business Entity Taxpayer Information, if they wish to serve as 
appointed representatives and receive direct payment of fees from SSA. 
SSA uses the information to issue a Form 1099-MISC. SSA also uses the 
information to allow business entities to designate individuals to 
serve as entity administrators authorized to perform certain 
administrative duties on their behalf, such as providing bank account 
information, maintaining entity information, and updating individual 
affiliations. Respondents are law firms or other business entities with 
attorneys or other qualified individuals as partners or employees who 
represent claimants before SSA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1694--Paper Version.........................           1,000               1              10             167
SSA-1694--Business Services Online Submission...           1,000               1              10             167
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           2,000  ..............  ..............             334
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    8. Request to Pay Civil Monetary Penalty by Installment Agreement--
20 CFR 498--0960-0776. When SSA imposes a civil monetary penalty (CMP) 
on individuals for various fraudulent conduct related to SSA-
administrated programs, those individuals may request to pay the CMP 
through benefit withholding, or an installment agreement. To negotiate 
a monthly payment amount, fair to both the individual and the agency, 
SSA needs financial information from the individual. The agency uses 
Form SSA-640 to obtain the information necessary to determine a monthly 
installment repayment rate for individuals owing a CMP. The respondents 
are recipients of Social Security benefits and non-entitled individuals 
who must repay a CMP to the agency and choose to do so using an 
installment plan.
    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-640.....................................             400                1              120              800
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    Dated: February 5, 2015.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-02657 Filed 2-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P