[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52042-52046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22339]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2018-0055]


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 an extension and 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-2018-0055].
    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 14, 2018. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Pain Report Child--20 CFR 404.1512 and 416.912--0960-0540. 
Before SSA can make a disability determination for a child, we require 
evidence from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants or 
claimants to prove their disability. Form SSA-3371-BK provides 
disability interviewers, and SSI applicants or claimants in self-help 
situations, with a convenient way to record information about 
claimants' pain or other symptoms. The State disability determination 
services adjudicators and administrative law judges then use the 
information from Form SSA-3371-BK to assess the effects of symptoms on 
function for purposes of determining disability under the Social 
Security Act (Act). The respondents are applicants for, or claimants 
of, SSI payments.
    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-3371........................................         250,000               1              15          62,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Internet Request for Replacement of Forms SSA-1099/SSA-1042S--20 
CFR 401.45--0960-0583. Title II beneficiaries use Forms SSA-1099 and 
SSA-1042S, Social Security Benefit Statement, to determine if their 
Social Security benefits are taxable, and the amount they need to 
report to the Internal Revenue Service. In cases where the original 
forms are unavailable (e.g., lost, stolen, mutilated), an individual 
may use SSA's automated telephone application to request a replacement 
SSA-1099 and SSA-1042S. SSA uses the information from the automated 
telephone requests to verify the identity of the requestor and to 
provide replacement copies of the forms. SSA accepts information in 
other ways, however; The automated telephone options reduce requests to 
the National 800 Number Network (N8NN) and visits to local Social 
Security field offices (FO). The respondents are Title II beneficiaries 
who wish to request a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S via telephone.
    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automated Telephone Requestors..................         238,286               1               2           7,943
N8NN............................................         458,442               1               3          22,922
Calls to local FOs..............................         870,811               1               3          43,541
Other (program service centers).................          69,207               1               3           3,460
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 52043]]

 
    Totals......................................       1,636,746  ..............  ..............          77,866
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Protecting the Public and Our Personnel to Ensure Operational 
Effectiveness (RIN 0960-AH35), Regulation 3729I--20 CFR 422.905, 
422.906--0960-0796. SSA published regulations for the process we follow 
when we restrict individuals from receiving in-person services in our 
field offices and provide them, instead, with alternative services. We 
published these rules to create a safer environment for our personnel 
and members of the public who use our facilities, while ensuring we 
continue to serve the American people with as little disruption to our 
operations as possible. Under our regulations at 20 CFR 422.905, an 
individual for whom we restrict access to our facilities has the 
opportunity to appeal our decision within 60 days of the date of the 
restrictive access and alternative service notice. To appeal, 
restricted individuals must submit a written request stating why they 
believe SSA should rescind the restriction and allow them to conduct 
business with us on a face-to-face basis in one of our offices. There 
is no printed form for this request; rather, restricted individuals 
create their own written statement of appeal, and submit it to a sole 
decision-maker in the regional office of the region where the 
restriction originated. The individuals may also provide additional 
documentation to support their appeal. Under 20 CFR 422.906, if the 
individual does not appeal the decision within the 60 days; if we 
restricted the individual prior to the effective date of this 
regulation; or if the appeal results in a denial, the individual has 
another opportunity to request review of the restriction after a three-
year period. To submit this request for review, restricted individuals 
may re-submit a written appeal of the decision. The same criteria apply 
as for the original appeal: (1) It must be in writing; (2) it must go 
to a sole decision-maker in the regional office of the region where the 
restriction originated for review; and (3) it may accompany supporting 
documentation. We make this periodic review available to all restricted 
individuals once every three years. Respondents for this collection are 
individuals appealing their restrictions from in-person services at SSA 
field offices.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
               Regulation section                    Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 CFR 422.905..................................              75               1              15              19
20 CFR 422.906..................................              75               1              20              25
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             150  ..............  ..............              44
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 November 14, 2018. Individuals can obtain copies of 
the OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
    1. Application for Supplemental Security Income--20 CFR 416.207 and 
416.305--416.335, Subpart C--0960-0229. The SSI program provides aged, 
blind, and disabled individuals who have little or no income, with 
funds for food, clothing, and shelter. Individuals complete Form SSA-
8000-BK to apply for SSI. SSA uses the information from Form SSA-8000-
BK, and its electronic Intranet counterpart, the SSI Claim System, to: 
(1) Determine whether SSI claimants meet all statutory and regulatory 
eligibility requirements; and (2) calculate SSI payment amounts. The 
respondents are applicants for SSI or their representative payees.
    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSI Claim System................................       1,212,512               1              35         707,299
SSA-8000 (Paper Form)...........................          20,941               1              41          14,310
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,233,453  ..............  ..............         721,609
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Statement of Household Expenses and Contributions--20 CFR 
416.1130--416.1148--0960-0456. SSA bases eligibility for SSI on the 
needs of the recipient. In part, we assess need by determining the 
amount of income a recipient receives. This income includes in-kind 
support and maintenance in the form of food and shelter owners provide. 
SSA uses Form SSA-8011-F3 to determine whether the claimant or 
recipient receives in-kind support and maintenance. This is necessary 
to determine: (1) The claimant's or recipient's eligibility for SSI, 
and (2) the SSI payment amount. SSA only uses this form in cases where 
SSA needs the householder's (head of household) corroboration of in-
kind support and maintenance. The SSA-8011-F3 provides information, 
which could

[[Page 52044]]

affect SSI eligibility and payment amount. The claim specialist 
collects the information on Form SSA-8011-F3 through telephone contact 
with the respondent, or through face-to-face interviews. The claims 
specialist records the information in our electronic SSI Claims System. 
When we use this procedure we do not use a paper Form SSA-8011-F3, and 
we do not need a wet signature, rather we require verbal attestation. 
However, when we use a paper form, we ensure the appropriate person, 
i.e., the householder signs the form, and then the claims specialist 
documents the information in the SSI Claims System; faxes the form into 
the appropriate electronic folder; and shreds the form. Respondents are 
householders of homes in which an SSI applicant or recipient resides.
    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-8011-F3 (Paper Version).....................           8,233               1              15           2,058
SSA-8011-F3 (SSI Claims System).................         417,025               1              15         104,256
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         425,258  ..............  ..............         106,314
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Integrated Registration Services (IRES) System--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0626. The IRES System verifies the identity of individuals, 
businesses, organizations, entities, and government agencies seeking to 
use SSA's secured internet and telephone applications. Individuals need 
this verification to electronically request and exchange business data 
with SSA. Requestors provide SSA with the information needed to 
establish their identities. Once SSA verifies identity, the IRES system 
issues the requestor a user identification number and a password to 
conduct business with SSA. Respondents are employers; employees; third 
party submitters of wage data business entities providing taxpayer 
identification information; appointed representatives; representative 
payees; and data exchange partners conducting business in support of 
SSA programs.
    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IRES Internet Registrations.....................         611,296               1               5          50,941
IRES Internet Requestors........................      15,692,525               1               2         523,084
IRES CS (CSA) Registrations.....................          20,621               1              11           3,781
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................      16,324,442  ..............  ..............         577,806
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Credit Card Payment Form--0960-0648. SSA uses Form SSA-1414 to 
process: (1) Credit card payments from former employees and vendors 
with outstanding debts to the agency; (2) advance payments for 
reimbursable agreements; and (3) credit card payments for all Freedom 
of Information Act (FOIA) requests requiring payment. The respondents 
are former employees and vendors who have outstanding debts to the 
agency; entities who have reimbursable agreements with SSA; and 
individuals who request information through FOIA.
    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-1414........................................           6,000               1               2             200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. Request for Reinstatement (Title II)--20 CFR 404.1592b--
404.1592f--0960-0742. SSA allows certain previously entitled disability 
beneficiaries to request expedited reinstatement (EXR) of benefits 
under Title II of the Act when their medical condition no longer 
permits them to perform substantial gainful activity. SSA uses Form 
SSA-371 to obtain: (1) A signed statement from individuals requesting 
an EXR of their Title II disability benefits; and (2) proof the 
requestors meet the EXR requirements. SSA maintains the form in the 
disability folder of the applicant to demonstrate the requestors' 
awareness of the EXR requirements, and their choice to request EXR. 
Respondents are applicants for EXR of Title II disability benefits.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 52045]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-371.........................................          10,000               1               2             333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Important Information About Your Appeal, Waiver Rights, and 
Repayment Options--20 CFR 404.502-521--0960-0779. When SSA overpays 
beneficiaries, the agency informs them of the following rights: (1) The 
right to reconsideration of the overpayment determination; (2) the 
right to request a waiver of recovery and the automatic scheduling of a 
personal conference if SSA cannot approve a request for waiver; and (3) 
the availability of a different rate of withholding when SSA proposes 
the full withholding rate. SSA uses Form SSA-3105, Important 
Information About Your Appeal, Waiver Rights, and Repayment Options, to 
explain these rights to overpaid individuals and allow them to notify 
SSA of their decision(s) regarding these rights. The respondents are 
overpaid current, or former, beneficiaries requesting a waiver of 
recovery for the overpayment; reconsideration of the fact of the 
overpayment; or a lesser rate of withholding of the overpayment.
    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-3105 Paper form.............................         500,000               1              15         125,000
Debt Management System..........................         200,000               1              15          50,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         700,000  ..............  ..............         175,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    7. Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI (PROMISE) Evaluation--0960-
0799.

Background

    The Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI (PROMISE) demonstration 
pursues positive outcomes for children with disabilities who receive 
SSI and their families by reducing dependency on SSI. The Department of 
Education (ED) awarded six cooperative agreements to states to improve 
the provision and coordination of services and support for children 
with disabilities who receive SSI and their families to achieve 
improved education and employment outcomes. ED awarded PROMISE funds to 
five single-state projects, and to one six-state consortium.\1\ With 
support from ED, the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS), SSA is evaluating the six PROMISE 
projects. SSA contracted with Mathematica Policy Research to conduct 
the evaluation. Under PROMISE, targeted outcomes for youth include an 
enhanced sense of self determination; achievement of secondary and 
post-secondary educational credentials; an attainment of early work 
experiences culminating with competitive employment in an integrated 
setting; and long-term reduction in reliance on SSI. Outcomes of 
interest for families include heightened expectations for and support 
of the long-term self-sufficiency of their youth; parent or guardian 
attainment of education and training credentials; and increases in 
earnings and total income. To achieve these outcomes, we expect the 
PROMISE projects to make better use of existing resources by improving 
service coordination among multiple state and local agencies and 
programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The six-state consortium project goes by the name Achieving 
Success by Promoting Readiness for Education and Employment (ASPIRE) 
rather than by PROMISE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ED, SSA, DOL, and HHS intend the PROMISE projects to address key 
limitations in the existing service system for youth with disabilities. 
By intervening early in the lives of these young people, at ages 14-16, 
the projects engage the youth and their families well before critical 
decisions regarding the age 18 redetermination are upon them. We expect 
the required partnerships among the various state and Federal agencies 
that serve youth with disabilities to result in improved integration of 
services and fewer dropped handoffs as youth move from one agency to 
another. By requiring the programs to engage and serve families and 
provide youth with paid work experiences, the initiative is mandating 
the adoption of critical best practices in promoting the independence 
of youth with disabilities.

Project Description

    SSA is requesting clearance for the collection of data needed to 
implement and evaluate PROMISE. The evaluation provides empirical 
evidence on the impact of the intervention for youth and their families 
in several critical areas, including: (1) Improved educational 
attainment; (2) increased employment skills, experience, and earnings; 
and (3) long-term reduction in use of public benefits. We base the 
PROMISE evaluation on a rigorous design that entails the random 
assignment of approximately 2,000 youth in each of the six projects to 
treatment or control groups (12,000 total). The PROMISE projects 
provide enhanced services for youth in the treatment groups; whereas 
youth in the control groups are eligible only for those services 
already available in their communities independent of the 
interventions.
    The evaluation assesses the effect of PROMISE services on 
educational attainment, employment, earnings, and reduced receipt of 
disability payments. The three components of this evaluation include:
     The process analysis, which documents program models, 
assesses the relationships among the partner organizations, documents 
whether the grantees implemented the programs as planned, identifies 
features of the programs that may account for their impacts on youth 
and families, and identifies lessons for future programs with similar 
objectives.
     The impact analysis, which determines whether youth and 
families in the treatment groups receive more services than their 
counterparts in the control groups. It also determines whether 
treatment group members have better results than control group

[[Page 52046]]

members with respect to the targeted outcomes noted above.
     The cost-benefit analysis, which assesses whether the 
benefits of PROMISE, including increases in employment and reductions 
in benefit receipt, are large enough to justify its costs. We conduct 
this assessment from a range of perspectives, including those of the 
participants, state and Federal governments, SSA, and society as a 
whole.
    SSA planned several data collection efforts for the evaluation. 
These include: (1) Follow-up interviews with youth and their parent or 
guardian 18 months and 5 years (60 months) after enrollment; (2) phone 
and in-person interviews with local program administrators, program 
supervisors, and service delivery staff at two points in time over the 
course of the demonstration; (3) two rounds of focus groups with 
participating youth in the treatment group; (4) two rounds of focus 
groups with parents or guardians of participating youth; (5) staff 
activity logs which provide data on aspects of service delivery; and 
(6) collection of administrative data.
    At this time, SSA requests clearance for the 5-year (60-month) 
survey interviews. The respondents are the youth and their parents 
participating in the PROMISE demonstration.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved Information 
Collection.

                                           Time Burden on Respondents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        2019: 60-Month Survey Interviews
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parent Interview--telephone (using electronic              1,095               1              32             584
 assisted capturing)............................
Youth Interview--telephone (using electronic               1,110               1              38             703
 assisted capturing)............................
Parent Interview--Self-Administered                           22               1              18               7
 Questionnaire..................................
Youth Interview--Self-Administered Questionnaire              23               1              18               7
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           2,250  ..............  ..............           1,301
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        2020: 60-Month Survey Interviews
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parent Interview--telephone (using electronic              5,127               1              32           2,734
 assisted capturing)............................
Youth Interview--telephone (using electronic               5,169               1              38           3,274
 assisted capturing)............................
Parent Interview--Self-Administered                          105               1              18              32
 Questionnaire..................................
Youth Interview--Self-Administered Questionnaire             105               1              18              32
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          10,506  ..............  ..............           6,072
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        2021: 60-Month Survey Interviews
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parent Interview--telephone (using electronic              2,656               1              32           1,417
 assisted capturing)............................
Youth Interview--telephone (using electronic               2,671               1              38           1,692
 assisted capturing)............................
Parent Interview--Self-Administered                           54               1              18              16
 Questionnaire..................................
Youth Interview--Self-Administered Questionnaire              55               1              18              17
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           5,436  ..............  ..............           3,142
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Grand Totals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parent Interview--telephone (using electronic              8,878               1              32           4,735
 assisted capturing)............................
Youth Interview--telephone (using electronic               8,950               1              38           5,669
 assisted capturing)............................
Parent Interview--Self-Administered                          181               1              18              55
 Questionnaire..................................
Youth Interview--Self-Administered Questionnaire             183               1              18              56
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          18,192  ..............  ..............          10,515
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: October 10, 2018.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-22339 Filed 10-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P