[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68088-68091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23773]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2016-0047]


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-2016-0047].
    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 
December 2, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Statement of Agricultural Employer (Year Prior to 1988; and 1988 
and later)--20 CFR 404.702, 404.802, 404.1056--0960-0036. If 
agricultural workers believe their employers (1) did not report their 
wages, or (2) reported incorrect wage amounts, SSA will assist them in 
resolving this issue. Specifically, SSA will send Forms SSA-1002-F3 or 
SSA-1003-F3 to the agricultural employers to collect evidence of wages 
paid. The respondents are agricultural employers whose workers request 
wage verification or correction for their earnings records.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
             Modality of completion                 respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1002........................................           7,500               1              30           3,750
SSA-1003........................................          25,000               1              30          12,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          32,500  ..............  ..............          16,250
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    2. Continuing Disability Review Report--20 CFR 404.1589, 416.989--
0960-0072. Sections 221(i), 1614(a)(3)(H)(ii)(I) and 1633(c)(1) of the 
Social Security Act (Act) requires SSA to periodically review the cases 
of individuals who receive benefits under Title II or Title XVI, based 
on disability, to determine if disability continues. SSA uses Form SSA-
454, Continuing Disability Review Report, to complete the review for 
continued disability. SSA considers adults eligible for payment if they 
continue to be unable to do substantial gainful activity because of 
their impairments; and we consider Title XVI children eligible for 
payment if they have marked and severe functional limitations due to 
their impairments. SSA also uses Form SSA-454 to obtain information on 
sources of medical treatment, participation in vocational 
rehabilitation programs (if any); attempts to work (if any); and the 
opinions of individuals regarding whether their conditions improved. 
The respondents are Title II or Title XVI disability recipients or 
their representatives.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 68089]]



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                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
             Modality of completion                 respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-454-BK (Paper version)......................         270,500               1              60         270,500
Electronic Disability Collect System............         270,500               1              60         270,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         541,000  ..............  ..............         541,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Request for Reconsideration--20 CFR 404.907-404.921, 416.1407-
416.1421, 408.1009, and 418.1325--0960-0760. The Consent Based Social 
Security Number Verification (CBSV) process is a fee-based automated 
Social Security number (SSN) verification service available to private 
businesses and other requesting parties. To use the system, private 
businesses and requesting parties must register with SSA and obtain 
valid consent from SSN holders prior to verification. We collect the 
information to verify if the submitted name and SSN match the 
information in SSA records. After completing a registration process and 
paying the fee, the requesting party can use the CBSV process to submit 
a file containing the names of number holders who gave valid consent, 
along with each number holder's accompanying SSN and date of birth (if 
available) to obtain real-time results using a web service application 
or SSA's Business Services Online (BSO) application. SSA matches the 
information against the SSA master file of SSNs, using SSN, name, date 
of birth, and gender code (if available). The requesting party 
retrieves the results file from SSA, which indicates only a match or no 
match for each SSN submitted.
    Under the CBSV process, the requesting party does not submit the 
consent forms of the number holders to SSA. SSA requires each 
requesting party to retain a valid consent form for each SSN 
verification request. The requesting party retains the consent forms in 
either electronic or paper format.
    SSA added a strong audit component to ensure the integrity of the 
CBSV process. At the discretion of the agency, we require audits 
(called ``compliance reviews'') with the requesting party paying all 
audit costs. Independent certified public accounts (CPAs) conduct these 
reviews to ensure compliance with all the terms and conditions of the 
party's agreement with SSA, including a review of the consent forms. 
CPAs conduct the reviews at the requesting party's place of business to 
ensure the integrity of the process. In addition, SSA reserves the 
right to perform unannounced onsite inspections of the entire process, 
including review of the technical systems that maintain the data and 
transaction records. The respondents to the CBSV collection are the 
participating companies; members of the public who consent to the SSN 
verification; and CPAs who provide compliance review services.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

Time Burden

                                             Participating Companies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
                   Requirement                      respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration process for new participating                   *13               1             120              26
 companies......................................
Creation of file with SSN holder identification               90           **251              60          22,590
 data; maintaining required documentation/forms.
Using the system to upload request file, check                90             251               5           1,883
 status, and download results file..............
Storing Consent Forms...........................              90             251              60          22,590
Activities related to compliance review.........              90             251              60          22,590
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             373  ..............  ..............          69,679
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* One-time registration process/approximately 13 new participating companies per year.
** Please note there are 251 Federal business days per year on which a requesting party could submit a file.


                     Participating Companies Who Opt for External Testing Environment (ETE)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
                   Requirement                      respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETE Registration Process (includes reviewing and              20               1             180              60
 completing ETE User Agreement).................
Web Service Transactions........................              20               1              50              17
Reporting Issues Encountered on Web service                   20               1              50              17
 testing (e.g., reports on application's
 reliability)...................................
Reporting changes in users' status (e.g.,                     20               1              60              20
 termination or changes in users' employment
 status; changes in duties of authorized users).
Cancellation of Agreement.......................              20               1              30              10
Dispute Resolution..............................              20               1             120              40
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 68090]]

 
    Total.......................................             120  ..............  ..............             164
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                                        People Whose SSNs SSA Will Verify
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual
                   Requirement                      respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading and signing authorization for SSA to           2,800,000               1               3         140,000
 release SSN verification.......................
Responding to CPA re-contact....................           5,750               1               5             479
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................       2,805,750  ..............  ..............         140,479
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    There is one CPA respondent conducting compliance reviews and 
preparing written reports of findings. The average burden per response 
is 4,800 minutes for a total burden of 7,200 hours annually.

Cost Burden

    The public cost burden is dependent upon the number of companies 
and transactions. SSA based the cost estimates below upon 90 
participating companies submitting a total 2.8 million transactions per 
year.
    One-Time Per Company Registration Fee--$5,000.
    Estimated Per SSN Transaction Fee--$1.40.\i\
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    \i\ The annual costs associated with the transaction to each 
company are dependent upon the number of SSN transactions SSA 
submits by the company on a yearly basis. For example, if a company 
submits 1 million requests to SSA for the year, its total 
transaction cost for the year would be $1.40 x 1,000,000, or 
$1,400,000. Periodically, SSA will calculate our costs to provide 
CBSV services and adjust the fees as needed. SSA notifies companies 
in writing and via Federal Register Notice of any changes and 
companies have the opportunity to cancel the agreement or continue 
service using the new transaction fee.
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    Estimated Per Company Cost to Store Consent Forms--$300.
    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 November 2, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge--20 CFR 404.929, 
404.933, 416.1429, 404.1433, 418.1350, and 42 CFR 405.722--0960-0269. 
When SSA denies applicants' or beneficiaries' requests for new or 
continuing benefits, the Social Security Act entitles those applicants 
or beneficiaries to request a hearing to appeal the decision. To 
request a hearing, individuals complete Form HA-501, the associated 
Modernized Claims System (MCS) or Modernized Supplemental Security 
Income Claims System (MSSICS) interview, or the Internet application 
(i501). SSA uses the information to determine if the individual: (1) 
Filed the request within the prescribed time; (2) is the proper party; 
and (3) took the steps necessary to obtain the right to a hearing. SSA 
also uses the information to determine: (1) The individual's reason(s) 
for disagreeing with SSA's prior determinations in the case; (2) if the 
individual has additional evidence to submit; (3) if the individual 
wants an oral hearing or a decision on the record; and (4) whether the 
individual has (or wants to appoint) a representative. The respondents 
are Social Security benefit applicants and recipients who want to 
appeal SSA's denial of their request for new or continued benefits, and 
Medicare Part B recipients who must pay the Medicare Part B Income-
Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.
    This is a correction notice: SSA published the incorrect burden 
information for this collection at 81 FR 47845, on 7/22/49. We are 
correcting this error here.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                      Average        Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden  per    total annual
             Modality of completion                 respondents      response        response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-501; Modernized Claims System (MCS);                   10,953               1              10           1,826
 Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims
 System (MSSICS)................................
I501 (Internet iAppeals)........................         658,516               1               5          54,876
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         669,469  ..............  ..............          56,702
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Request for Reconsideration--20 CFR 404.907-404.921, 416.1407-
416.1421, 408.1009, and 418.1325--0960-0622. Individuals use Form SSA-
561-U2, the associated MCS interview, or the Internet application 
(i561) to

[[Page 68091]]

initiate a request for reconsideration of a denied claim. SSA uses the 
information to document the request and to determine an individual's 
eligibility or entitlement to Social Security benefits (Title II); SSI 
payments (Title XVI); Special Veterans Benefits (Title VIII); Medicare 
(Title XVIII); and for initial determinations regarding Medicare Part B 
income-related premium subsidy reductions. The respondents are 
individuals filing for reconsideration of a denied claim.
    This is a correction notice: SSA published the incorrect burden 
information for this collection at 81 FR 47845, on 7/22/49. We are 
correcting this error here.
    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-561 and Modernized Claims System (MCS)......         330,370               1               8          40,049
I561 (Internet iAppeals)........................       1,161,300               1               5          96,775
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,491,670  ..............  ..............         136,824
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Request for Accommodation in Communication Method--0960-0777. 
SSA allows disabled or impaired Social Security applicants, 
beneficiaries, recipients, and representative payees to choose one of 
seven alternative methods of communication they want SSA to use when we 
send them benefit notices and other related communications. The seven 
alternative methods we offer are: (1) Standard print notice by first-
class mail; (2) standard print mail with a follow-up telephone call; 
(3) certified mail; (4) Braille; (5) Microsoft Word file on data CD; 
(6) large print (18-point font); or (7) audio CD. However, respondents 
who want to receive notices from SSA through a communication method 
other than the seven methods listed above must explain their request to 
us. Those respondents use Form SSA-9000 to: (1) Describe the type of 
accommodation they want; (2) disclose their condition necessitating the 
need for a different type of accommodation; and (3) explain why none of 
the seven methods described above are sufficient for their needs. SSA 
uses Form SSA-9000 to determine, based on applicable law and 
regulation, whether to grant the respondents' requests for an 
accommodation based on their impairment or disability. SSA collects 
this information electronically through either an in-person interview 
or a telephone interview during which the SSA employee keys in the 
information on our iAccommodate Intranet screens. The respondents are 
disabled or impaired Social Security applicants, beneficiaries, 
recipients, and representative payees who ask SSA to send notices and 
other communications in an alternative method besides the seven 
modalities we currently offer.
    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-9000/iAccommodate.......................           5,000                1               20            1,667
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    Dated: September 28, 2016.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-23773 Filed 9-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P