[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25891-25895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11629]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2019-0023]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed 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-2019-0023].
    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 
August 5, 2019. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Application for Lump Sum Death Payment--20 CFR 404.390-404.392--
0960-0013. SSA uses Form SSA-8 to collect information needed to 
authorize payment of the lump sum death payment (LSDP) to a widow, 
widower, or children as defined in section 202(i) of the Social 
Security Act (Act). Respondents complete the application for this one-
time payment through use of the paper form, or person interview with an 
SSA employee either via telephone, or in person in a field office. For 
all personal interviews (either telephone or in-person), we collect the 
information in our electronic Modernized Claim System (MCS). 
Respondents are applicants for the LSDP.
    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-8--MCS Screens..............................         656,623               1               9          98,493
SSA-8--Paper Form...............................           5,484               1              10             914
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................         662,107  ..............  ..............          99,407
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Report to United States Social Security Administration by Person 
Receiving Benefits for a Child or for an Adult Unable to Handle Funds/
Report to the United States Social Security Administration--0960-0049. 
Section 203(c) of the Act requires the Commissioner of SSA to make 
benefit deductions, and provides for the Commissioner to impose penalty 
deductions on benefits of individuals who fail to make timely reports 
of events, which are cause for deductions. SSA uses Forms SSA-7161-OCR-
SM and SSA-7162-OCR-SM to: (1) Determine continuing entitlement to 
Social Security benefits; (2) correct benefit amounts for beneficiaries 
outside the United States; and (3) monitor the performance of 
representative payees outside the United States. This collection is 
mandatory as an annual (or every other year, depending on the country 
of residence) review for fraud prevention. In addition, the results can 
affect benefits by increasing or decreasing payment amount or by 
causing SSA to suspend or terminate benefits. The respondents are 
individuals living outside the United States who are receiving benefits 
on their own (or on behalf of someone else) under Title II of the Act.
    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-7161-OCR-SM.................................          42,314               1              15          10,579
SSA-7162-OCR-SM.................................         426,448               1               5          35,537
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 25892]]

 
    Totals......................................         468,762  ..............  ..............          46,116
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Waiver of Your Right to Personal Appearance before an 
Administrative Law Judge--20 CFR 404.948(b)(l)(i) and 
416.1448(b)(l)(i)--0960-0284. Applicants for Social Security, Old Age, 
Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) payments have the statutory right to appear in 
person, or through a representative, and present evidence about their 
claims at a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). If 
claimants wish to waive this right to appear before an ALJ, they must 
do so in writing. Form HA-4608 serves as a written waiver for the 
claimant's right to a personal appearance before an ALJ. The ALJ uses 
the information we collect on Form HA-4608 to continue processing the 
case, and makes the completed form a part of the documentary evidence 
of record by placing it in the official record of the proceedings as an 
exhibit. Respondents are applicants or claimants for OASDI and SSI, or 
their representatives, who request to waive their right to appear in 
person before an ALJ.
    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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-4608.....................................          12,000                1                2              400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility, Supplemental 
Security Income Payment(s)--416.204--0960-0416. To determine whether 
SSI recipients (1) have met and continue to meet all statutory and 
regulatory requirements for SSI eligibility, and (2) are receiving the 
correct SSI payment amount, SSA conducts redeterminations of 
disability. Periodic collection of this information using Form SSA-
8203-BK is the only way SSA can make these redeterminations; and 
collect the information as mandatory under the law. We routinely 
collect the information in field offices via personal contact (face-to-
face or telephone interview) using the automated Modernized SSI Claim 
System (MSSICS). The respondents are SSI recipients 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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSSICS..........................................       1,468,220               1              19         464,936
Paper...........................................         135,357               1              20          45,119
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       1,603,577  ..............  ..............         510,055
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. Request for Social Security Statement--20 CFR 404.810--0960-
0466. Section 205(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires the Commissioner of SSA 
to establish and maintain records of wages paid to, and amounts of 
self-employment income derived by, each individual as well as the 
periods in which such wages were paid and such income derived. An 
individual may complete and mail Form SSA-7004 to SSA to obtain a 
Statement of Earnings or Quarters of Coverage. SSA uses the information 
Form SSA-7004 collects to identify respondent's Social Security 
earnings records; extract posted earnings information; calculate 
potential benefit estimates; produce the resulting Social Security 
statements; and mail them to the requesters. The respondents are Social 
Security number holders requesting information about their Social 
Security earnings records and estimates of their potential benefits.
    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-7004....................................          60,026                1                5            5,002
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Function Report--Child (Birth to 1st Birthday, Age 1 to 3rd 
Birthday, Age 3 to 6th Birthday, Age 6 to 12th Birthday, Age 12 to 18th 
Birthday)--20 CFR 416.912 and 416.924a(a)(2)--0960-0542. As part of 
SSA's disability determination process, we use Forms SSA-3375-BK 
through SSA-3379-BK to request information from a child's parent or 
guardian for children applying for SSI. The five different versions of 
the form contain questions about the child's day-to-day functioning 
appropriate to a particular age group; thus, respondents use only one 
version of the form for each child. The adjudicative team (disability 
examiners and medical or psychological consultants) of State

[[Page 25893]]

disability determination services offices collect the information on 
the appropriate version of this form (in conjunction with medical and 
other evidence) to form a complete picture of the children's ability to 
function and their impairment-related limitations. The adjudicative 
team uses the completed profile to determine: (1) If each child's 
impairment(s) results in marked and severe functional limitations; and 
(2) whether each child is disabled. The respondents are parents and 
guardians of child applicants for SSI.
    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-3375; SSA-3376; SSA-3377; SSA-3378; SSA-         579,000                1               20          193,000
 3379.......................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    7. Private Printing and Modification of Prescribed Application and 
Other Forms--20 CFR 422.527--0960-0663. 20 CFR 422.527 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations requires a person, institution, or organization 
(third-party entities) to obtain approval from SSA prior to 
reproducing, duplicating, or privately printing any application or 
other form the agency owns. To obtain SSA's approval, entities must 
make their requests in writing using their company letterhead, 
providing the required information set forth in the regulation. SSA 
uses the information to: (1) Ensure requests comply with the law and 
regulations, and (2) process requests from third-party entities who 
want to reproduce, duplicate, or privately print any SSA application or 
other SSA form. SSA employees review the requests and provide approval 
via email or mail to the third-party entities. The respondents are 
third-party entities who submit a request to SSA to reproduce, 
duplicate, or privately print an SSA-owned form.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                         Average burden  Estimated total
                         Regulation section                             Number of       Frequency of      Number of       per response    annual burden
                                                                       respondents        response        responses        (minutes)         (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 CFR 422.527.....................................................              10               15              150               10               25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. Letter to Custodian of Birth Records/Letter to Custodian of 
School Records--20 CFR 404.704, 404.716, 416.802, and 422.107--0960-
0693. When individuals need help in obtaining evidence of their age in 
connection with Social Security number (SSN) card applications and 
claims for benefits, SSA can prepare the SSA-L106, Letter to Custodian 
of School Records, or SSA-L706, Letter to Custodian of Birth Records. 
SSA uses the SSA-L706 to determine the existence of primary evidence of 
age for SSN applicants. SSA uses both letters to verify with the 
issuing entity, when necessary, the authenticity of the record 
submitted by the SSN applicant or claimant. The respondents are 
schools, State and local bureaus of vital statistics, and religious 
entities.
    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-L106--Private Sector........................              18               1              10               3
SSA-L106--State/Local/Tribal Government.........              14               1              10               2
SSA-L706--Private Sector........................             429               1              10              72
SSA-L706--State/Local/Tribal Government.........             426               1              10              71
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             887  ..............  ..............             148
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. Government-to-Government Services Online Website Registration 
Form; Government-to-Government Services Online Website Account 
Modification/Deletion Form--20 CFR 401.45--0960-0757. The Government-
to-Government Services Online (GSO) Website allows various external 
organizations to submit files to a variety of SSA systems and, in some 
cases, receive files in return. The SSA systems that process data 
transferred via GSO include, but are not limited to, systems 
responsible for disability processing and benefit determination or 
termination. SSA uses the information on Form SSA-159, Government-to-
Government Online Website Registration Form, to register the requestor 
to use the GSO Website. Once we receive the SSA-159, SSA provides the 
user with account information and conducts a walkthrough of the GSO 
Website as necessary. Established organizations may submit Form SSA-159 
to register additional users as well. The established requesting 
organizations can also complete Form SSA-160, Government-to-Government 
Online Website Account Modification/Deletion Form, to modify their 
online accounts (e.g., address change). Respondents are State and local 
government agencies, and some private sector business entities.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 25894]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden     Estimated
             Modality of completion                  Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual
                                                    respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-159.........................................           1,151               1              15             288
SSA-160.........................................             410               1              15             103
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           1,561  ..............  ..............             391
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. Application Status--20 CFR 401.45--0960-0763. Application 
Status provides users with the capability to check the status of their 
pending Social Security claims via the National 800 Number Automated 
Telephone Service. Users need their SSN and a confirmation number to 
access this information. SSA systems determine the type of claim(s) the 
caller filed based upon the information provided. Subsequently, the 
automated telephone system provides callers with the option to choose 
the claim for which they wish to obtain status. If the caller applied 
for multiple claims, the automated system allows the caller to select 
only one claim at a time. Once callers select the claim(s) they are 
calling about, an automated voice advises them of the status of their 
claim. The respondents are current Social Security claimants who wish 
to check on the status of their claims. 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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application Status--Automated Telephone              248,485                1                3           12,424
 System.....................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    11. Statement for Determining Continuing Entitlement for Special 
Veterans Benefits (SVB)--0960-0782. Title VIII of the Act provides for 
the payment of Special Veterans benefits (SVB) to certain World War II 
veterans who reside outside of the United States. SSA regularly reviews 
individuals' claims for SVB to determine their continued eligibility 
and correct payment amounts. Individuals living outside the United 
States receiving SVB must report to SSA any changes that may affect 
their benefits. These include changes such as: (1) A change in mailing 
address or residence; (2) an increase or decrease in a pension, 
annuity, or other recurring benefit; (3) a return or visit to the 
United States for a calendar month or longer; or (4) an inability to 
manage benefits. SSA uses Form SSA-2010, to collect this information. 
Beneficiaries under age 90 receive notification of their benefit review 
along with the form every two years, and beneficiaries age 90 or older 
have face-face interviews with the Foreign Service Post every year who 
assist them in completing this form. Currently, the average respondent 
is over age 90, and very few respondents are under age 90. Respondents 
are beneficiaries living outside the United States collecting SVB.
    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-2010....................................             382                1               20              127
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. Evidence From Excluded Medical Sources of Evidence--20 CFR 
404.1503b and 416.903b--0960-0803. Pursuant to its broad authority to 
regulate under sections 205(a), 702(a)(5), and 1631(d)(1) of the Act, 
SSA implemented section 223(d)(5)(C), as amended, through regulations 
at 20 CFR 404.1503b and 416.903b. These regulations require excluded 
medical sources to self-report their excluded status in writing each 
time they submit evidence related to a claim for benefits under Titles 
II or XVI of the Act. Excluded medical sources' duty to self-report 
their excluded status apply to evidence they submit to SSA directly or 
through a representative, claimant, or other individual or entity. The 
respondents for this collection are medical sources that: (1) Meet one 
of the exclusionary categories set forth in section 223(d)(5)(C)(i) of 
the Act, as amended; and (2) furnish evidence related to a claim for 
benefits under Titles II or XVI of the Act. Type of Request: Revision 
of an OMB-approved information collection.

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                                                                                                                         Average burden  Estimated total
                       Regulation section(s)                            Number of       Frequency of      Number of       per response    annual burden
                                                                       respondents        response        responses        (minutes)         (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404.1503b(c), 416.903b(c)..........................................              50               60            3,000               20            1,000
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[[Page 25895]]

    Dated: May 30, 2019.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-11629 Filed 6-3-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P