[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 242 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78811-78812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31743]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2015-0073]


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, 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-2015-0073].
    I. The information collection below is pending at SSA. SSA will 
submit it 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 
February 16, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits--20 CFR 
404.335-404.338, & 404.603--0960-0004. Section 2029(e) and 202(f) of 
the Social Security Act set forth the requirements for entitlement to 
widow(er)'s benefits, including the requirements to file an 
application. For SSA to make a formal determination for entitlement to 
widow(er)'s benefits, we use Form SSA-10-BK to determine whether an 
applicant meets the statutory and regulatory conditions for entitlement 
to widow(er)'s Title II benefits. SSA employees interview individuals 
applying for benefits either face-to-face or via telephone and enter 
the information on the paper form or into the Modernized Claims System 
(MCS). The respondents are applicants for widow(er)'s benefits.
    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
                                                     responses       response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
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SSA-10-BK paper version.........................           2,045               1              15             511
SSA-10-BK MCS version...........................         453,509               1              14         105,819
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         455,554  ..............  ..............         106,330
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    II. SSA submitted the information collection below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding the information collection would be 
most useful if OMB and SSA receive them 30 days from the date of this 
publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive them 
no later than January 19, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance package by writing to [email protected].
    Vocational Rehabilitation Provider Claim--20 CFR 404.2108(b), 
404.2117(c)(1)&(2), 404.2101(b)&(c), 404.2121(a), 416.2208(b), 
416.2217(c)(1) & (2), 416.2201(b)&(c), 416.2221(a)--0960-0310. State 
vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies submit Form SSA-199 to SSA to 
obtain reimbursement of costs incurred for providing VR services. SSA 
requires state VR agencies to submit reimbursement claims for the 
following categories: (1) Claiming reimbursement for VR services 
provided; (2) certifying adherence to cost containment policies and 
procedures; and (3) preparing causality statements. The respondents 
mail the paper copy of the SSA-199 to SSA for consideration and 
approval of the claim for reimbursement of costs incurred for SSA 
beneficiaries. For claims certifying adherence to cost containment 
policies and procedures, or for preparing causality statements, State 
VR agencies submit written requests as stipulated in SSA's regulations 
within the Code of Federal Regulations. In most containment policies 
and procedures as well as causality statements prior to determining 
whether to reimburse State VR agencies. SSA uses the information on the 
SSA-199, along with the written documentation, to determine whether, 
and how much, to pay State VR agencies under SSA's VR program. 
Respondents are State VR agencies offering vocational and employment 
services to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
recipients.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
     Modality of completion          Number of     Frequency of      Number of     per response    total annual
                                     responses       response        responses       (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-199 CFR 404.2108 & 416.2208.              80             160        (12,800)              23           4,907
CFR 404.2117 & 416.2217 Written               80               1            (80)              60              80
 requests.......................
CFR 404.2121 & 416.2221 Written               80             2.5           (200)             100             333
 requests.......................
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[[Page 78812]]

 
    Total.......................              80  ..............        (13,080)  ..............           5,320
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    Dated: December 14, 2015.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-31743 Filed 12-16-15; 8:45 am]
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