[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1651-1654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00396]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2017-0069]


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

[[Page 1652]]

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-2017-0069].
    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 
March 13, 2018.
    Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments by 
writing to the above email address.
    1. Certification by Religious Group--20 CFR 404.1075--0960-0093. 
SSA is responsible for determining whether religious groups meet the 
qualifications exempting certain members and sects from payment of 
Self-Employment Contribution Act taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, 
Section 1402(g). SSA sends Form SSA-1458, Certification by Religious 
Group, to a group's authorized spokesperson to complete and verify 
organizational members meet or continue to meet the criteria for 
exemption. The respondents are spokespersons for religious groups or 
sects.
    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-1458....................................             180                1               15               45
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary--20 
CFR 404.503(b)--0960-0101. Section 204(d) of the Social Security Act 
(Act) provides that if an individual dies before payment under Title II 
is complete, SSA will pay the amount due (including the amount of any 
check not negotiated) to individuals meeting specified qualifications. 
When a Social Security payment was due to a deceased beneficiary at the 
time of death, and there is insufficient information in the file to 
identify the individual(s) entitled to the payment or the individual's 
address, SSA asks the surviving spouse; next of kin; or legal 
representative of the estate to complete Form SSA-1724, Claim for 
Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Social Security Recipient. SSA 
collects the information when a surviving child(ren), parent(s), or 
spouse is not already entitled to a monthly benefit on the same 
earnings record, or is not filing for a lump-sum death payment as a 
former spouse. SSA uses the information Form SSA-1724 provides to 
ensure proper payment of an underpayment due to a deceased beneficiary. 
The respondents are applicants for underpayments owed to deceased 
beneficiaries.
    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-1724....................................         250,000                1               10           41,667
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Prohibition of Payment of SSI Benefits to Fugitive Felons and 
Parole/Probation Violators--20 CFR 416.708(o)--0960-0617. Section 
1611(e)(4) of the Act precludes eligibility for Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) payments for certain fugitives and parole or probation 
violators. Regulations at 20 CFR 416.708(o) of the Code of Federal 
Regulations require individuals applying for, or receiving, SSI to 
report to SSA that: (1) They are fleeing to avoid prosecution for a 
crime; (2) they are fleeing to avoid custody or confinement after 
conviction of a crime; or (3) they are violating a condition of 
probation or parole. SSA uses the information we receive to deny 
eligibility, or suspend recipients' SSI payments. The respondents are 
SSI applicants and recipients, or representative payees of SSI 
applicants and recipients, who are reporting their status as a fugitive 
felon or probation or parole violator.
    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSI Claim System Screens....................           1,000                1                1               17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Identifying Information for Possible Direct Payment of 
Authorized Fees--0960-0730. SSA collects information from claimants' 
appointed representatives on Form SSA-1695 to: (1) Process and 
facilitate direct payment of authorized fees; (2) issue a Form 1099-
MISC, if applicable; and (3) establish a link between each claim for 
benefits and the data we collect on the SSA-1699 for our appointed 
representative database. The respondents are attorneys and other 
individuals who represent claimants for benefits before SSA.

[[Page 1653]]

    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                         Average burden  Estimated total
                       Modality of completion                           Number of       Frequency of      Number of       per response    annual burden
                                                                       respondents        response        responses        (minutes)         (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1695...........................................................          10,000               40           40,000               10           66,667
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    II. 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 March 13, 2018. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information--0960-0138. SSA 
must establish and verify wage information for SSI applicants and 
recipients when determining SSI eligibility and payment amounts. SSA 
collects wage data from employers on Form SSA-L4201 to determine 
eligibility and proper payment amounts for SSI applicants and 
recipients. The respondents are employers of SSI applicants and 
recipients.
    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-L4201...................................         133,000                1               30           66,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Request for Review of Hearing Decision/Order--20 CFR 404.967-
404.981, 416.1467-416.1481--0960-0277. Claimants have a statutory right 
under the Act and current regulations to request review of an 
administrative law judge's (ALJ) hearing decision or dismissal of a 
hearing request on Title II and Title XVI claims. Claimants may request 
Appeals Council review by filing a written request using paper Form HA-
520, or the internet application, i520. SSA uses the information we 
collect to establish the claimant filed the request for review within 
the prescribed time, and to ensure the claimant completed the requisite 
steps permitting the Appeals Council review. The Appeals Council then 
uses the information to: (1) Document the claimant's reason(s) for 
disagreeing with the ALJ's decision or dismissal; (2) determine whether 
the claimant has additional evidence to submit; and (3) determine 
whether the claimant has a representative or wants to appoint one. The 
respondents are claimants requesting review of an ALJ's decision or 
dismissal of hearing.
    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-520--Paper...................................         105,000               1              10          17,500
i520--Internet..................................          70,000               1              15          17,500
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         175,000  ..............  ..............          35,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. You Can Make Your Payment by Credit Card--0960-0462. Using 
information from Form SSA-4588 and its electronic application, Form 
SSA-4589, SSA updates individuals' Social Security records to reflect 
payments made on their overpayments. In addition, SSA uses this 
information to process payments through the appropriate credit card 
company. SSA provides the SSA-4588 when we inform an individual that we 
detected an overpayment. Individuals may choose to make a one-time 
payment or recurring monthly payments by completing and submitting the 
SSA-4588. SSA uses the SSA-4589 electronic Intranet application only 
when individuals choose to telephone the Program Service Centers to 
make a one-time payment in lieu of completing Form SSA-4588. An SSA 
debtor contact representative completes the SSA-4589 electronic 
Intranet application. Respondents are old age, survivors, and 
disability insurance (OASDI) beneficiaries and SSI recipients who have 
outstanding overpayments.
    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-4588 (Paper)................................          16,500               1              10           2,750
SSA-4589 (Electronic intranet application)......         258,500               1               5          21,542
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 1654]]

 
    Totals......................................         275,000  ..............  ..............          24,292
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire--Foreign Pension--0960-
0561. SSA uses Form SSA-308 to determine exactly how much (if any) of a 
foreign pension we can use to reduce the amount of Title II Social 
Security retirement or disability benefits under the modified benefit 
formula. In addition, SSA agreed to pay the full amount of all 
reductions or refund the full amount of all sums that SSA made to, or 
collected from, the Class member's of Social Security OASDI benefits 
payments (OASDI Benefits), due to the application of the Windfall 
Elimination Provision to those OASDI Benefits based on the receipt of 
Old Age Benefits from the National Institute of Israel, per the 
Greenberg, et al. v. Colvin case settlement. The respondents are 
applicants for Title II Social Security retirement or disability 
benefits who have foreign pensions.
    Correction Notice: SSA is updating the burden information for this 
collection, so it differs from the information we published at 82 FR 
52088, on 11/9/17.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden  per      Estimated
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response        response      total annual
                                                                                     (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-308.........................................           2,426               1              10             404
Greenberg Cases.................................             283               1              60             283
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           2,709  ..............  ..............             687
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. Request to Show Cause for Failure to Appear--20 CFR 404.938, 20 
CFR 416.1438, and 20 CFR 404.957(a)(ii)--0960-0794. When claimants who 
requested a hearing before an ALJ fail to appear at their scheduled 
hearing, the ALJ may reschedule the hearing if the claimants establish 
good cause for missing the hearings. To establish good cause, 
following: (1) SSA did not properly notify the claimant of the hearing, 
or (2) an unexpected event occurred without sufficient time for the 
claimant to request a postponement. The claimants can use paper Form 
HA-L90 or HA-L90-OP1 to provide their reason for not appearing at their 
scheduled hearings; or the claimants' representatives can use 
Electronic Records Express (ERE), OMB Control No. 0960-0753, internet 
screens to submit the HA-L90 online. SSA uses the HA-L90 for new cases, 
and the HA-L90-OP1 for redeterminations cases. We need two versions of 
the paper form, as the ALJ follows different procedures when 
determining the good cause on redetermination cases (cases that have a 
prior decision and evidence on file), than they do for new cases (where 
we have no evidence on file). The ERE modality automatically adjusts 
for redetermination cases, so we only need one version of the internet 
screens. If the ALJ determines the claimants established good cause for 
failure to appear at the hearing, the ALJ will schedule a supplemental 
hearing; if not, the ALJ will make a claims eligibility determination 
based on the claimants' evidence of record. Respondents are claimants, 
or their representatives, seeking to establish good cause for failure 
to appear at a scheduled hearing before an ALJ.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                     Number of     Frequency of   Average burden   total  annual
             Modality of  completion                respondents      response      per response       burden
                                                                                     (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-L90..........................................          39,500               1              10           6,583
HA-L90-OP1......................................             500               1              10              83
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          40,000  ..............  ..............           6,666
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    * We do not account for the Electronic Records Express internet 
screens here as we account for them under OMB Control No. 0960-0753.

    Dated: January 8, 2018.
Naomi R. Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-00396 Filed 1-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P