[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22698-22700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08869]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2016-0012]


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-2016-0012].
    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 June 
17, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instrument by 
writing to the above email address.
    Statement for Determining Continuing Entitlement for Special 
Veterans Benefits (SVB)--0960-0782. SSA regularly reviews individuals' 
claims for Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) to determine their continued 
eligibility and correct payment amounts. Individuals living outside the 
United States receiving SVB must report to SSA any changes that may 
affect their benefits, such as: (1) A change in mailing address or 
residence; (2) an increase or decrease in a pension, annuity, or other 
recurring benefit; (3) a return or visit to the United States for a 
calendar month or longer; or (4) an inability to manage benefits. SSA 
uses Form SSA-2010, to collect this information. Respondents are 
beneficiaries living outside the United States collecting SVB.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                Average  burden  Estimated total
           Modality of collection                Number of       Frequency of    per  response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-2010....................................           1,799                1               20              600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 May 18, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB 
clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility, Supplemental 
Security Income Payment(s)--20 CFR 416.204--0960-0416. SSA conducts 
disability redeterminatons to determine if Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) recipients (1) met and continue to meet all statutory and 
regulatory requirements for SSI eligibility and (2) are receiving the 
correct SSI payment amount. SSA makes these redeterminations through 
periodic use of Form SSA-8203-BK. SSA conducts

[[Page 22699]]

this legally mandated information collection in field offices via 
personal contact (face-to-face or telephone interview) using the 
automated Modernized SSI Claim System (MSSICS). The respondents are SSI 
recipients 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 collection                 respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSSICS..........................................         801,789               1              20         267,263
MSSICS/Signature Proxy..........................         666,431               1              19         211,036
Paper...........................................         135,357               1              20          45,119
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,603,577  ..............  ..............         523,418
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    2. Information About Joint Checking/Savings Account--20 CFR 
416.1201 and 416.1208--0960-0461. SSA considers a person's resources 
when evaluating eligibility for SSI. Generally, we consider funds in 
checking and savings accounts as resources owned by the individuals 
whose names appear on the account. However, individuals applying for 
SSI may rebut this assumption of ownership in a joint account by 
submitting certain evidence to establish the funds do not belong to 
them. SSA uses Form SSA-2574 to collect information from SSI applicants 
and recipients who object to the assumption that they own all or part 
of the funds in a joint checking or savings account bearing their 
names. SSA collects information about the account from both the SSI 
applicant or recipient and the other account holder(s). After receiving 
the completed form, SSA determines if we should consider the account to 
be a resource for the SSI applicant and recipient. The respondents are 
applicants and recipients of SSI, and individuals who list themselves 
as joint owners of financial accounts with SSI applicants or 
recipients.
    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-2574--Paper version.........................          50,000               1               7           5,833
Intranet version (MSSICS).......................         150,000               1               7          17,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         200,000  ..............  ..............          23,333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. 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 Form 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 want to develop a return-to-work plan.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
           Modality of collection                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-545.....................................           7,000                1              120           14,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. 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 want to use Form SSA-1699 for any of 
the purposes cited in this Notice.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 22700]]



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                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
           Modality of collection                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1699....................................          16,000                1               20            5,333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. Certificate of Election for Reduced Widow(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 collected 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 collection                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-4111....................................          30,000                1                2            1,000
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    Dated: April 13, 2016.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-08869 Filed 4-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P