[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63837-63839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22277]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2016-0044]


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-2016-0044].
    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 
November 15, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Request for Corrections of Earnings Record--20 CFR 404.820 and 
20 CFR 422.125--0960-0029. Individuals alleging inaccurate earnings 
records in SSA's files use paper Form SSA-7008, or a personal interview 
during which SSA employees key their answers into our electronic 
Earnings Modernization Item Correction system, to provide the 
information SSA needs to check earnings posted, and, as necessary, 
initiate development to resolve any inaccuracies. The respondents are 
individuals who request correction of earnings posted to their Social 
Security earnings record.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 63838]]



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                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minute)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper form......................................          37,500               1              10           6,250
In-person or telephone interview................         337,500               1              10          56,250
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................         375,000  ..............  ..............          62,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Employer Reports of Special Wage Payments--20 CFR 404.428-
404.429-0960-0565. SSA collects information on the SSA-131 to prevent 
earnings-related overpayments, and to avoid erroneous withholding of 
benefits. SSA field offices and program service centers also use Form 
SSA-131 for awards and post-entitlement events requiring special wage 
payment verification from employers. While we need this information to 
ensure the correct payment of benefits, we do not require employers to 
respond. The respondents are large and small businesses that make 
special wage payments to retirees
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minute)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Version: SSA-131 (without # 6)............         105,000               1              20          35,000
Paper Version: SSA-131 (# 6 only)...............           1,050               1               2              35
Electronic Version: Business Services Online                  26  ..............               5               2
 Special Wage Payments..........................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         106,076  ..............  ..............          35,037
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 October 17, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance package by writing to [email protected].
    Certificate of Coverage Request--20 CFR 404.1913--0960-0554. The 
United States maintains agreements with 27 foreign countries to 
eliminate double Social Security coverage and taxation where, except 
for the provisions of the agreement, a worker would be subject to 
coverage and taxes in both countries. These agreements contain rules 
for determining the country under whose laws the worker's period of 
employment is covered, and to which country the worker will pay taxes. 
The agreements further dictate that, upon the request of the worker or 
employer, the country under whose system the period of work is covered 
will issue a certificate of coverage. The certificate serves as proof 
of exemption from coverage and taxation under the system of the other 
country. The information we collect assists us in determining a 
worker's coverage and in issuing a U.S. certificate of coverage as 
appropriate. Per our agreements, we ask a set number of questions to 
the workers and employers prior to issuing a certificate of coverage; 
however, our agreements with Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden 
require us to ask more questions in those countries. Respondents are 
workers and employers wishing to establish exemption from foreign 
Social Security taxes.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    annual burden
                                                    respondents      response        (minute)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requests via Letter--Individuals (minus Denmark,           6,272               1              40           4,181
 Netherlands, Norway, Poland & Sweden)..........
Requests via Internet--Individuals (minus                  9,407               1              40           6,271
 Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland & Sweden).
Requests via Letter--Individuals in Denmark,                 280               1              44             205
 Netherlands, Norway, & Sweden..................
Requests via Letter--Individuals in Poland......              16               1              41              11
Requests via Internet--Individuals in Denmark,               421               1              44             309
 Netherlands, Norway, & Sweden..................
Requests via Internet--Individuals in Poland....              23               1              41              16
Requests via Letter--Employers (minus Denmark,            25,087               1              40          16,725
 Netherlands, Norway, Poland & Sweden)..........
Requests via Internet--Employers (minus Denmark,          37,632               1              40          25,088
 Netherlands, Norway, Poland, & Sweden).........
Requests via Letter--Employers in Denmark,                 1,121               1              44             822
 Netherlands, Norway, & Sweden..................
Requests via Letter--Employers in Poland........              62               1              41              42
Requests via Internet--Employers in Denmark,               1,680               1              44           1,232
 Netherlands, Norway, & Sweden..................
Requests via Internet--Employers in Poland......              93               1              41              64
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          82,094  ..............  ..............          54,966
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[[Page 63839]]

    Dated: September 13, 2016.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-22277 Filed 9-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P