[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96160-96161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31632]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2016-0065]


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-2016-0065].
    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 
February 27, 2017. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Questionnaire About Employment or Self-Employment Outside the 
United States--20 CFR 404.401(b)(1), 404.415 & 404.417--0960-0050. When 
a Social Security beneficiary or claimant reports work outside the 
United States (U.S.), SSA uses Form SSA-7163 to determine if foreign 
work deductions are applicable. Specifically, SSA uses Form SSA-7163 to 
determine: (1) Whether work performed by beneficiaries outside the U.S. 
is cause for deductions from their monthly benefits; (2) which of two 
work tests (foreign or regular test) is applicable; and (3) the number 
of months, if any, for SSA-imposed deductions. SSA determines whether 
the annual earnings test applies to all earnings from work covered by 
the Social Security Act (Act), including earnings from covered work 
performed outside the U.S. However, because of the differences in 
foreign currency values, it is administratively impractical to apply 
this test to earnings from non-covered work performed outside the U.S. 
and base it on U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the 45-hour work test 
provides for deductions from the benefits of employees under full 
retirement age who engage in non-covered remunerative activity for more 
than 45 hours in a calendar month. SSA asks beneficiaries working 
outside the U.S. to complete this form annually or every other year 
(depending on the country of residence). Respondents are beneficiaries 
or claimants for Social Security benefits living and working outside 
the U.S.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 96161]]



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                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7163....................................          20,000                1               12            4,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Application for Survivors Benefits--20 CFR 404.611(a) and (c)--
0960-0062. Surviving family members of armed services personnel can 
file for Social Security and veterans' benefits with SSA or at the 
Veterans Administration (VA). Applicants filing for Title II survivors 
benfits at the VA complete Form SSA-24, which the VA forwards to SSA 
for processing. SSA uses the information to determine eligibility for 
benefits. The respondents are survivors of deceased armed services 
personnel who are applying for benefits at the VA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Average burden  Estimated total
           Modality of completion                Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden
                                                respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-24......................................           3,200                1               15              800
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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 30, 2017. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance package by writing to [email protected].
    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 
Act require 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 have 
improved. The respondents are Title II or Title XVI disability 
recipients or their representatives.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

 
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                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of   Average burden   total annual
             Modality of completion                 respondents      response      per 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
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    Dated: December 23, 2016.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-31632 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P