[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35022-35025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15761]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2017-0039]


Agency Information Collection Activities: 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, and one new 
information collection.
    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-2017-0039].
    SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding these 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 August 28, 2017. Individuals can obtain copies of 
the OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. Promoting Opportunity Demonstration--0960-NEW. Section 823 of 
the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 requires SSA to carry out the 
Promoting Opportunity Demonstration (POD) to test a new benefit offset 
formula for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. 
Therefore, SSA is undertaking POD, a demonstration to evaluate the 
affect the new policy will have on SSDI beneficiaries and their 
families in several critical areas: (1) Employment, (2) benefits, (3) 
earnings, and (4) income (earnings plus benefits). Under current law, 
Social Security beneficiaries lose their SSDI benefit if they have 
earnings or work activity above the threshold of Substantial Gainful 
Activity (SGA). The POD evaluation will draw on previous lessons from 
related work incentive experiences, especially SSA's Benefit Offset 
National Demonstration (BOND), 0960-0785, which tested a different 
offset formula. POD tests a different policy than BOND in two important 
ways: (1) A lower threshold at which point the offset is applied--
increasing the likelihood of reducing benefit expenditures relative to 
current law expenditures; and (2) A more immediate adjustment to the 
benefits--to increase the salience and clarity of the offset policy for 
beneficiaries. The POD will test a benefit offset that will reduce 
benefits by $1 for every $2 in participants' earnings above the POD 
threshold, gradually reducing benefits as earnings increase. The POD 
threshold will equal the greater of (1) an inflation-adjusted trial 
work period level ($840 in 2017); or (2) the amount of the 
participant's itemized impairment-related work expenses up to SGA. The 
new rules we will test in POD also simplify work incentives and we 
intend them to promote employment and reduce dependency on benefits.
    The design for POD will include implementation and evaluation 
activities designed to answer seven central research questions:
     What are the impacts of the two POD benefit designs on 
beneficiaries' earnings, SSDI benefits, and total earnings and benefit 
income?
     Is POD attractive to beneficiaries? Do they remain engaged 
over time?
     How were the POD offset policies implemented, and what 
operational, systemic, or contextual factors facilitated or posed 
challenges to administering the offset?
     How successful were POD and SSA in making timely benefit 
adjustments, and what factors affected timeliness positively or 
negatively?
     How do the impacts of the POD offset policies vary with 
beneficiary characteristics?
     What are the costs and benefits of the POD benefit designs 
relative to current law, and what are the implications for the SSDI 
trust fund?
     What are the implications of the POD findings for national 
policy proposals that would include a SSDI benefit offset?
    The public survey data collections have four components--a process 
analysis, a participation analysis, an impact analysis, and a cost-
benefit analysis. The data collections are the primary source for data 
to measure the effects of the benefit offset on SSDI beneficiaries' 
work efforts and earnings. Ultimately, these data will benefit 
researchers, policy analysts, policy makers, SSA, and the state 
vocational rehabilitation agencies in a wide range of program areas. 
There are four targeted outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries under POD: (1) 
Increased employment and earnings; (2) decreased benefits payments; (3) 
increased total income; and (4) impacts on other related outcomes (for 
example, health status and quality of life). Additionally, four 
outcomes of interest for system changes include: (1) Reduction in 
overpayments; (2) enhanced program integrity; (3) stronger culture of 
self-sufficiency; and (4) improved SSDI trust fund balance. Respondents 
are SSDI beneficiaries, who will provide written consent before 
agreeing to participate in the study and before we randomly assign them 
to one of the study treatment groups.
    Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.

    Note: The burden in the chart below differs from the burden SSA 
reported in our last published notice for this collection (April 18, 
2017, at 82 FR 18335). The number of burden hours decreased because 
we removed questions from the information collection, resulting in a 
lower response time and an accompanying decrease in burden hours.


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                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of     Frequency of      Number of      burden per     Total annual
     Modality of completion         respondents      response        responses       response         burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Informed Consent Form...........          16,500               1          16,500              10           2,750

[[Page 35023]]

 
Baseline Survey.................          16,500               1          16,500              20           5,500
12-Month Follow Up Survey.......           6,000               1           6,000              28           2,800
24-Month Follow Up Survey.......          12,000               1          12,000              23           4,600
Interviews with Site Staff......              40               4             160              66             176
Onsite Audit of Sample of Case                 8               2              16              20               5
 Files..........................
Semi-Structured Interviews with              144               1             144              60             144
 Treatment Group Subjects.......
Monthly Earnings and Impairment-           1,820              12          21,840              10           3,640
 Related Expenses Reporting Form
 (paper)........................
Monthly Earnings and Impairment-             780              12           9,360               5             780
 Related Expenses Reporting Form
 (Internet).....................
End of Year Reporting Form                   945               1             945              15             236
 (paper)........................
End of Year Reporting Form                   405               1             405              10              68
 (Internet).....................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................          55,142  ..............          83,870  ..............          20,699
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. SSI Notice of Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR)--0960-0546. 
Section 1631(g) of the Social Security Act (Act) authorizes SSA to 
reimburse an IAR agency from an individual's retroactive Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) payment for assistance the IAR agency gave the 
individual for meeting basic needs while an SSI claim was pending or 
SSI payments were suspended or terminated. The State or local agency 
needs an IAR agreement with SSA to participate in the IAR program. The 
individual receiving the IAR payment signs an authorization form with 
an IAR agency to allow SSA to repay the IAR agency for funds paid in 
advance prior to SSA's determination on the individual's claim. The 
authorization represents the individual's intent to file for SSI, if 
they did not file an application prior to SSA receiving the 
authorization. Agencies who wish to enter into an IAR agreement with 
SSA need to meet the following requirements:
     Reporting Requirements--Each IAR agency agrees to:
    [cir] (a) Notify SSA of receipt of an authorization for initial 
claims or cases they are appealing, and (b) submit a copy of that 
authorization either through a manual or electronic process;
    [cir] (c) inform SSA of the amount of reimbursement;
    [cir] (d) submit a written request for dispute resolution on a 
determination;
    [cir] (e) notify SSA of interim assistance paid (using the SSA-8125 
or the SSA-L8125-F6);
    [cir] (f) inform SSA of any deceased claimants who participate in 
the IAR program and;
    [cir] (g) review and sign an agreement with SSA.
     Recordkeeping Requirements (h & i)--The IAR agencies agree 
to retain all notices, agreement, authorizations, and accounting forms 
for the period defined in the IAR agreement for the purposes of SSA 
verifying transactions covered under the agreement.
     Third Party Disclosure Requirements (j)--Each 
participating IAR agency agrees to send written notices from the IAR 
agency to the recipient regarding payment amounts and appeal rights.
     Periodic Review of Agency Accounting Process (k-m)--The 
IAR agency makes the IAR accounting records of paid cases available for 
SSA review and verification. SSA conducts reviews either onsite or 
through the mail of the authorization forms, notices to the claimant 
and accounting forms. Upon completion of the review, SSA provides a 
written report of findings to the IAR agency director.
    The respondents are State IAR officers.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Estimated
                                   Number of      Frequency of       Number of    Average burden   total annual
    Modality of completion        respondents       response         responses     per response       burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Reporting Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) State notification of                   11  Once per SSI              97,330               1           1,622
 receipt of authorization                        claimant.
 (Electronic Process).
(b) State submission of copy                27  Once per SSI              68,405               3           3,420
 of authorization (Manual                        claimant.
 Process).
(c) State submission of amount              38  Once per SSI             101,352               8          13,514
 of IA paid to recipients                        claimant.
 (using eIAR).
(d) State request for                    (\1\)  As needed.......               2              30               1
 determination--dispute
 resolution.
(e) State computation of                    38  Once per SSI               1,524              30             762
 reimbursement due form SSA                      claimant.
 using paper Form SSA-L8125-F6.
(f) State notification to SSA               20  As needed when                40              15              10
 of deceased claimant.                           SSI claimant
                                                 dies while
                                                 claim is
                                                 pending.
(g) State reviewing/signing of              38  Once during life              38          \2\ 12             456
 IAR Agreement.                                  of the IAR
                                                 agreement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 35024]]

 
                                           Recordkeeping Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(h) Maintenance of                          38  One form per SSI     \3\ 165,735               3           8,287
 authorization forms.                            claimant.
(i) Maintenance of accounting               38  One form per SSI         101,352               3           5,068
 forms and notices.                              claimant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Third Party Disclosure Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(j) Written notice from State               38  Once per SSI             101,352               7          11,824
 to recipient regarding amount                   claimant.
 of payment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Periodic Review of Agency Accounting Process
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(k) Retrieve and consolidate                12  One set of forms              12               3              36
 authorization and accounting                    per SSI
 forms.                                          claimant for
                                                 review by SSA
                                                 once every 2 to
                                                 3 years.
(l) Participate in periodic                 12  For review by                 12              16             192
 review.                                         SSA once every
                                                 2 to 3 years.
(m) Correct administrative and               6  To correct                     6               4              24
 accounting discrepancies.                       errors
                                                 discovered by
                                                 SSA in periodic
                                                 review.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Total Administrative Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals....................              38  ................         639,160  ..............          45,216
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Average of about 2 States per year.
\2\ Hours.
\3\ Includes both denied and approved SSI claims.

    3. A Social Security Benefits Application--20 CFR 404.310-404.311, 
404.315-404.322, 404.330-404.333, 404.601-404.603, and 404.1501-
404.1512--0960-0618. Title II of the Social Security Act provides 
retirement, survivors, and disability benefits to members of the public 
who meet the required eligibility criteria and file the appropriate 
application. This collection comprises the various application methods 
for each type of benefits. SSA uses the information we gather through 
the multiple information collection tools in this information 
collection request to determine applicants' eligibility for specific 
Social Security benefits, as well as the amount of the benefits. 
Individuals filing for disability benefits can, and in some instances 
SSA may require them to, file applications under both Title II, Social 
Security disability benefits, and Title XVI, SSI payments. We refer to 
disability applications filed under both titles as ``concurrent 
applications.'' This collection comprises the various application 
methods for each type of benefits. These methods include the following 
modalities: Paper forms (Forms SSA-1, SSA-2, and SSA-16); Modernized 
Claims System (MCS) screens for in-person interview applications; and 
Internet-based iClaim and iAppointment applications. SSA uses the 
information we collect through these modalities to determine: (1) The 
applicants' eligibility for the above-mentioned Social Security 
benefits and (2) the amount of the benefits. The respondents are 
applicants for retirement, survivors, and disability benefits under 
Title II of the Act.
    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper version/SSA-1.............................           1,811               1              11             332
Interview/MCS...................................       1,438,058               1              10         239,676
Medicare Only SSA-1 Paper form (abbreviate).....             173               1               7              20
Medicare Only--Interview/MCS....................         204,380               1               7          23,844
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,644,422  ..............  ..............         263,872
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      SSA-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper version/SSA-2.............................             972               1              15             243
Interview/MCS...................................         447,610               1              14         104,442
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         448,582  ..............  ..............         104,685
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     SSA-16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper version/SSA-16............................          40,346               1              20          13,449

[[Page 35025]]

 
Interview/MCS...................................       1,159,121               1              19         367,055
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,199,467  ..............  ..............         380,504
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     iClaim
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iClaim 3rd Party................................         350,519               1              15          87,630
iClaim Applicant after 3rd Party Completion.....         350,519               1               5          29,210
First Party iClaim--Domestic Applicant..........       2,283,301               1              15         570,825
First Party iClaim--Foreign Applicant...........          11,373               1              18           3,412
Medicare-only iClaim............................         797,709               1              10         132,952
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       3,793,421  ..............  ..............         824,029
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         iAppointment Burden Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iAppointment....................................          17,621               1              10           2,937
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Grand Total.............................       7,103,513  ..............  ..............       1,576,027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: July 21, 2017.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-15761 Filed 7-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P