[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23623-23627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10670]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2019-0020]
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-2019-0020].
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 July
22, 2019. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments
by writing to the above email address.
1. Representative Payee Evaluation Report--20 CFR 404.2065 &
416.665--0960-0069. Sections 205(j) and 1631(a)(2) of the Social
Security Act (Act) state that SSA may authorize payment of Social
Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to a
representative payee on behalf of individuals unable to manage, or
direct the management of, those funds themselves. SSA requires
appointed representative payees to report once each year on how they
used or conserved those funds. When a representative payee fails to
adequately report to SSA as required, SSA conducts a face-to-face
interview with the payee and completes Form SSA-624-F5, Representative
Payee Evaluation Report, to determine the continued suitability of the
representative payee to serve as a payee. In addition to interviewing
the representative payee, we also interview the recipient, and
custodian (if other than the payee), to confirm the information the
payee provides, and to ensure the payee is meeting the recipient's
current needs. The respondents are individuals or organizations serving
as representative payees for individuals receiving Title II
[[Page 23624]]
benefits or Title XVI payments, and who fail to comply with SSA's
statutory annual reporting requirement, and the recipients for whom
they act as payee.
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)
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SSA-624-F5--Individuals......................... 6,956 1 30 3,478
SSA-624-F5--State and Local Government.......... 40 1 30 20
SSA-624-F5--Businesses.......................... 280 1 30 140
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals...................................... 7,276 .............. .............. 3,638
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2. Application for Benefits Under the Italy-U.S. International
Social Security Agreement--20 CFR 404.1925--0960-0445. As per the
November 1, 1978 agreement between the United States and Italian Social
Security agencies, residents of Italy filing an application for U.S.
Social Security benefits directly with one of the Italian Social
Security agencies must complete Form SSA-2528-IT. SSA uses Form SSA-
2528-IT to establish age, relationship, citizenship, marriage, death,
military service, or to evaluate a family bible or other family record
when determining eligibility for U.S. benefits. The Italian Social
Security agencies assist applicants in completing Form SSA-2528-IT, and
then forward the application to SSA for processing. The respondents are
individuals living in Italy who wish to file for U.S. Social Security
benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-2528-IT................................. 300 1 20 100
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3. Agency/Employer Government Pension Offset Questionnaire--20 CFR
404.408(a)--0960-0470. When an individual is concurrently receiving
Social Security spousal, or surviving spousal, benefits, and a
government pension, the individual may have the amount of Social
Security benefits reduced by the government pension amount. This is the
Government Pension Offset (GPO). SSA uses Form SSA-L4163 to collect
accurate pension information from the Federal or State government
agency paying the pension for purposes of applying the pension offset
provision. SSA uses this form only when: (1) The claimant does not have
the information; and (2) the pension-paying agency has not cooperated
with the claimant. Respondents are State government agencies, which
have information SSA needs to determine if the GPO applies, and the
amount of offset.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L4163................................... 2,911 1 3 146
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4. Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)--20 CFR 416.110(e),
416.1180-1182, 416.1225-1227--0960-0559. The SSI program encourages
recipients to return to work. One of the program objectives is to
provide incentives and opportunities that help recipients toward
employment. The PASS provision allows individuals to use available
income or resources (such as business equipment, education, or
specialized training) to enter or re-enter the workforce and become
self-supporting. In turn, SSA does not count the income or resources
recipients use to fund a PASS when determining an individual's SSI
eligibility or payment amount. An SSI recipient who wants to use
available income and resources to obtain education or training to
become self-supporting completes Form SSA-545. SSA uses the information
from the SSA-545 to evaluate the recipient's PASS, and to determine
eligibility under the provisions of the SSI program. The respondents
are SSI recipients who want to develop a return-to-work plan.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-545..................................... 7,000 1 120 14,000
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[[Page 23625]]
5. Complaint Form for Allegations of Discrimination in Programs or
Activities Conducted by the Social Security Administration--0960-0585.
SSA uses Form SSA-437 to investigate and formally resolve complaints of
discrimination based on disability; race; color; national origin
(including limited English language proficiency); sex (including sexual
orientation and gender identity); age; religion; or retaliation for
having participated in a proceeding under this administrative complaint
process in connection with an SSA program or activity. Individuals who
believe SSA discriminated against them on any of the above bases may
file a written complaint of discrimination. SSA uses the information
to: (1) Identify the complaint; (2) identify the alleged discriminatory
act; (3) establish the date of the alleged action; (4) establish the
identity of any individual(s) with information about the alleged
discrimination; and (5) establish other relevant information that would
assist in the investigation and resolution of the complaint.
Respondents are individuals who believe an SSA program or activity, or
SSA employees, contractors or agents, discriminated against them.
Type of Request: Revision on an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-437..................................... 255 1 60 255
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6. Supplemental Security Income Wage Reporting (Telephone and
Mobile)--20 CFR 416.701-732--0960-0715. SSA requires SSI recipients to
report changes which could affect their eligibility for, and the amount
of, their SSI payments, such as changes in income, resources, and
living arrangements. SSA's SSI Telephone Wage Reporting (SSITWR) and
SSI Mobile Wage Reporting (SSIMWR) enable SSI recipients to meet these
requirements via an automated mechanism to report their monthly wages
by telephone and mobile application, instead of contacting their local
field offices. The SSITWR allows callers to report their wages by
speaking their responses through voice recognition technology, or by
keying in responses using a telephone key pad. The SSIMWR allows
recipients to report their wages through the mobile wage reporting
application on their smartphone. SSITWR and SSIMWR systems collect the
same information and send it to SSA over secure channels. To ensure the
security of the information provided, SSITWR and SSIMWR ask respondents
to provide information SSA can compare against our records for
authentication purposes. Once the system authenticates the identity of
the respondents, they can report their wage data. The respondents are
SSI recipients, deemors, or their representative payees.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average Estimated
Number of Frequency of Number of burden per total annual
Modality of completion respondents response responses response burden
(minutes) (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training/Instruction *.......... 103,000 1 103,000 35 60,083
SSITWR.......................... 26,000 12 312,000 5 26,000
SSIMWR.......................... 77,000 12 924,000 3 46,200
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Totals...................... * 103,000 .............. 1,339,000 .............. 132,283
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* Note: The same 103,000 respondents are completing training and a modality of collection, therefore the actual
total number of respondents is still 103,000.
7. Technical Updates to Applicability of the Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) Reduced Benefit Rate for Individuals Residing in Medical
Treatment Facilities--20 CFR 416.708(k)--0960-0758. Section
1611(e)(1)(A) of the Act specifies residents of public institutions are
ineligible for SSI. However, Sections 1611(e)(1)(B) and (G) of the Act
list certain exceptions to this provision, making it necessary for SSA
to collect information about SSI recipients who enter or leave a
medical treatment facility or other public or private institution.
SSA's regulation 20 CFR 416.708(k) establishes the reporting guidelines
that implement this legislative requirement. SSA uses this information
collection to determine SSI eligibility or the benefit amount for SSI
recipients who enter or leave institutions. SSA personnel collect this
information directly from SSI recipients, or from someone reporting on
their behalf. An SSI recipient who enters an institution may be unable
to report; therefore, a family member sometimes makes this report on
behalf of the recipient. When contacting SSA, the recipient, or family
member of the recipient, provides the name of the institution, the date
of admission, and the expected date of discharge. The respondents are
SSI recipients who enter or leave an institution, or individuals
reporting on their behalf.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Updates Statement................. 34,200 1 7 3,990
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[[Page 23626]]
8. Waiver of Supplemental Security Income Payment Continuation--20
CFR 416.1400-416.1422--0960-0783. SSI recipients who wish to
discontinue their SSI payments while awaiting a determination on their
appeal complete Form SSA-263-U2, Waiver of Supplemental Security Income
Payment Continuation, to inform SSA of this decision. SSA collects the
information to determine whether the SSI recipient meets the provisions
of The Social Security Act regarding waiver of payment continuation and
as proof respondents no longer want their payments to continue.
Respondents are recipients of SSI payments who wish to discontinue
receipt of payment while awaiting a determination on their appeal.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-263-U2.................................. 3,000 1 5 250
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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 June 21, 2019. Individuals can obtain copies of the
OMB clearance packages by writing to [email protected].
1. Supplemental Statement Regarding Farming Activities of Person
Living Outside the U.S.A.--0960-0103. When a beneficiary or claimant
reports farm work from outside the United States, SSA documents this
work on Form SSA-7163A-F4. Specifically, SSA uses the form to determine
if we should apply foreign work deductions to the recipient's Title II
benefits. We collect the information either annually or every other
year, depending on the respondent's country of residence. Respondents
are Social Security recipients engaged in farming activities outside
the United States.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7163A-F4................................ 1,000 1 60 1,000
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2. Information About Joint Checking/Savings Account--20 CFR
416.1201 and 416.1208--0960-0461. SSA considers a person's resources
when evaluating eligibility for SSI. Generally, we consider funds in
checking and savings accounts as resources owned by the individuals
whose names appear on the account. However, individuals applying for
SSI may rebut this assumption of ownership in a joint account by
submitting certain evidence to establish the funds do not belong to
them. SSA uses Form SSA-2574 to collect information from SSI applicants
and recipients who object to the assumption that they own all or part
of the funds in a joint checking or savings account bearing their
names. SSA collects information about the account from both the SSI
applicant or recipient and the other account holder(s). After receiving
the completed form, SSA determines if we should consider the account to
be a resource for the SSI applicant and recipient. The respondents are
applicants and recipients of SSI, and individuals who list themselves
as joint owners of financial accounts with SSI applicants or
recipients.
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-2574--Paper version......................... 50,000 1 7 5,833
Intranet version (SSI Claims System)............ 150,000 1 7 17,500
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Totals...................................... 200,000 .............. .............. 23,333
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3. Employer Verification of Earnings After Death--20 CFR 404.821
and 404.822--0960-0472. When SSA records show a wage earner is
deceased, and we receive wage reports from an employer for the wage
earner for a year subsequent to the year of death, SSA mails the
employer Form SSA-L4112 (Employer Verification of Earnings After
Death). SSA uses the information Form SSA-L4112 provides to verify wage
information previously received from the employer is correct for the
employee and the year in question. The respondents are employers who
report wages for employees who died.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 23627]]
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L4112................................... 54,998 1 10 9,166
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4. Certificate of Election for Reduced Widow(er)s and Surviving
Divorced Spouse's Benefits--20 CFR 404.335--0960-0759. Section 202(q)
of the Act provides SSA the authority to reduce benefits under certain
conditions when elected by a Title II beneficiary. However, reduced
benefits are not payable to an already entitled spouse (or divorced
spouse) who:
Is at least age 62 and under full retirement age in the
month of the number holder's death; and
Is receiving both reduced spouse's (or divorced spouse's)
benefits and either retirement or disability benefits in the month
before the month of the number holder's death.
To elect reduced widow(er) benefits, a recipient completes Form
SSA-4111. SSA uses the information collected to pay a qualified dually
entitled widow(er) (or surviving divorced spouse) who elects to receive
a reduced widow(er) benefit. The respondents are qualified dually
entitled widow(er)s (or surviving divorced spouse) who elect to receive
a reduced widow(er) benefit.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden Estimated
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-4111.................................... 30,000 1 2 1,000
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Dated: May 17, 2019.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-10670 Filed 5-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P