[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26776-26778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09580]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2020-0022]


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-2020-0022].
    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 
6, 2020. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments by 
writing to the above email address.
    1. Application for Survivor's Benefits--20 CFR 404.611(a) and (c)--
0960-0062. Surviving family members of armed services personnel can 
file for Social Security and veterans' benefits with SSA, or at the 
Veterans Administration (VA). Applicants filing for Title II survivor 
benefits at the VA complete Form SSA-24, which the VA forwards to SSA 
for processing. SSA uses the information to determine eligibility for 
benefits. The respondents are survivors of deceased armed services 
personnel who are applying for benefits at the VA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                   Average                  Total annual
                                                                                       Average      Estimated    theoretical  Average wait   opportunity
                Modality of completion                    Number of   Frequency of   burden per   total annual   hourly cost     time in        cost
                                                         respondents    response      response       burden        amount     field office    (dollars)
                                                                                      (minutes)      (hours)     (dollars) *  (minutes) **       ***
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SSA-8060-U3...........................................        3,200             1            15           800      * $22.50         ** 24   *** $75,533
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* We based this figures on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm.
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    2. Railroad Employment Questionnaire--20CFR 404.1401, and 404.1406-
404.1408--0960-0078. Railroad workers, their dependents, or survivors 
can concurrently apply for railroad retirement and Social Security 
benefits at SSA if the number holder, or claimant on the number 
holder's Social Security Number, worked in the railroad industry. SSA 
uses Form SSA-671 to coordinate Social Security claims processing with 
the Railroad Retirement Board, and to determine benefit entitlement and 
amount. The respondents are Social Security benefit applicants 
previously employed by a railroad, or dependents of railroad workers.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                   Average                  Total annual
                                                                                       Average      Estimated    theoretical  Average wait   opportunity
                Modality of completion                    Number of   Frequency of   burden per   total annual   hourly cost     time in        cost
                                                         respondents    response      response       burden        amount     field office    (dollars)
                                                                                      (minutes)      (hours)     (dollars) *  (minutes) **       ***
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SSA-671...............................................      125,000             1             5        10,417      * $22.50         ** 24   *** $234,923
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* We based these figures on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434199.htm.
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.


[[Page 26777]]

    3. State Mental Institution Policy Review Booklet--20 CFR 404.2035, 
404.2065, 416.635, & 416.665--0960-0110. SSA uses Form SSA-9584-BK: (1) 
To determine if the policies and practices of a state mental 
institution acting as a representative payee for SSA beneficiaries 
conform to SSA's regulations in the use of benefits; (2) to confirm 
institutions are performing other duties and responsibilities required 
of representative payees; and (3) as the basis for conducting onsite 
reviews of the institutions and preparing subsequent reports of 
findings. The respondents are state mental institutions serving as 
representative payees for Social Security beneficiaries and 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                   Average                  Total annual
                                                                                       Average      Estimated    theoretical  Average wait   opportunity
                Modality of completion                    Number of   Frequency of   burden per   total annual   hourly cost     time in        cost
                                                         respondents    response      response       burden        amount     field office    (dollars)
                                                                                      (minutes)      (hours)     (dollars) *  (minutes) **       ***
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SSA-9584..............................................           68             1            60            68      * $15.00         ** 24    *** $1,380
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* We based this figure on average Personal Care and Service Workers hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes390000.htm.
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    4. Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire-Employer--20 CFR 401 & 
402--0960-0477. Sections 215(a)(7) and 215(d)(3) of the Social Security 
Act requires SSA to use a modified benefit formula to compute Social 
Security retirement or disability benefits for persons first eligible 
(after 1985) for both a Social Security benefit and a pension or 
annuity, based on employment not covered by Social Security. This 
method is the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). SSA makes a 
determination regarding whether the WEP is applicable, and when to 
apply it to a person's benefit. SSA uses Form SSA-58 to verify the 
claimant's allegations on Form SSA-150 (OMB #0906-0395, Modified 
Benefits Formula Questionnaire). SSA also uses Form SSA-58 to determine 
if the modified benefit formula is applicable and when to apply it to a 
person's benefits. SSA sends Form SSA-58 to an employer for pension 
related information, if the claimant is unable to provide it. The 
respondents are employers of people who are eligible after 1985 for 
both Social Security benefits and a pension based on work not covered 
by SSA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                   Average                  Total annual
                                                                                       Average      Estimated    theoretical  Average wait   opportunity
                Modality of completion                    Number of   Frequency of   burden per   total annual   hourly cost     time in        cost
                                                         respondents    response      response       burden        amount     field office    (dollars)
                                                                                      (minutes)      (hours)     (dollars) *  (minutes) **       ***
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SSA-58................................................       26,925             1             3         1,346      * $20.39         ** 24   *** $27,934
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*We based this figure on average Information and Records clerk's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434199.htm.
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    5. Disability Update Report--20 CFR 404.1589-404.1595 and 416.988-
416.996--0960-0511. As part of our statutory requirements, SSA 
periodically uses Form SSA-455, the Disability Update Report, to 
evaluate current Title II disability beneficiaries' and Title XVI 
disability payment recipients' continued eligibility for Social 
Security disability payments. Specifically, SSA uses the form to 
determine if: (1) There is enough evidence to warrant referring the 
respondent for a full medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR); (2) 
the respondent's impairments are still present and indicative of no 
medical improvement, precluding the need for a CDR; or (3) the 
respondent has unresolved work-related issues. SSA mails Form SSA-455 
to specific disability recipients, whom we select as possibly 
qualifying for the CDR process. SSA pre-fills the form with data 
specific to the disability recipient, except for the sections we ask 
the recipients to complete. When SSA receives the completed form, we 
scan it into SSA's system. This allows us to gather the information 
electronically, and enables SSA to process the returned forms through 
automated decision logic to decide the proper course of action to take. 
The respondents are recipients of Title II and Title XVI Social 
Security disability payments.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                             Average
                                                                                 Average      Estimated    theoretical  Average wait     Total annual
             Modality of completion                 Number of   Frequency of   burden per   total annual   hourly cost     time in     opportunity cost
                                                   respondents    response      response       burden        amount     field office     (dollars) ***
                                                                                (minutes)      (hours)     (dollars) *  (minutes) **
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SSA-455.........................................    1,300,000             1            15       325,000      * $10.22         ** 24      *** $3,321,745
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* We based this figure on average DI payments, as reported in SSA's disability insurance payment data.
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.


[[Page 26778]]

    6. Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain 
Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers--0960-0807. 
Section 824 of the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2015, Public Law 114-
74, authorizes SSA to enter into information exchanges with payroll 
data providers for the purposes of improving program administration and 
preventing improper payments in the Social Security Disability 
Insurance (SSDI) and SSI programs. SSA uses Form SSA-8240, 
``Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage 
and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers,'' to secure the 
authorization needed from the relevant members of the public to obtain 
their wage and employment information from payroll data providers. 
Ultimately, SSA uses this wage and employment information to help 
determine program eligibility and payment amounts.
    The public completes Form SSA-8240 using the following modalities: 
A paper form; the internet; and an in-office or telephone interview, 
during which an SSA employee documents the wage and employment 
information authorization information on one of SSA's internal systems 
(the Modernized Claims System (MCS); the SSI Claims System; eWork; or 
iMain). The individual's authorization remains effective until one of 
the following four events occurs:
     SSA makes a final adverse decision on the application for 
benefits, and the applicant has filed no other claims or appeals under 
the Title for which SSA obtained the authorization;
     the individual's eligibility for payments ends, and the 
individual has not filed other claims or appeals under the Title for 
which SSA obtained the authorization;
     the individual revokes the authorization verbally or in 
writing; or
     the deeming relationship ends (for SSI purposes only).
    SSA requests authorization on an as-needed basis as part of the 
following processes: (a) SSDI and SSI initial claims; (b) SSI 
redeterminations; and (c) SSDI Work Continuing Disability Reviews. The 
respondents are individuals who file for, or are currently receiving, 
SSDI or SSI payments, and any person whose income and resources SSA 
counts when determining an individual's SSI eligibility or payment 
amount.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                     Average     Estimated     Average     wait time
                                                          Number of    Frequency    burden per     total     theoretical    in field      Total annual
                 Modality of completion                  respondents  of response    response      annual    hourly cost     office     opportunity cost
                                                                                    (minutes)      burden       amount     (minutes)     (dollars) ***
                                                                                                  (hours)    (dollars) *       **
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SSA-8240 (paper).......................................      150,000            1            6       15,000     * $10.22        ** 24       *** $153,545
Web Title II & Title XVI Electronic (MCS, MSSICS, and      3,492,903            1            2      116,430        10.22            0      *** 1,189,915
 eWork)................................................
Internet...............................................      467,883            1            2       15,596      * 10.22            0        *** 159,391
                                                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals.............................................    4,110,786  ...........  ...........      147,026  ...........  ...........      *** 1,502,851
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* We based this figure on average DI payments, as reported in SSA's disability insurance payment data.
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    7. myWageReport--20 CFR 404.1520(b), 404.1571-1576, & 404.1584-
1593--0960-0808. The myWageReport application enables SSDI 
beneficiaries and representative payees to report earnings 
electronically. It generates a receipt for the beneficiary and/or 
representative payee, thus providing confirmation that SSA received the 
earnings report. SSA screens the information submitted through the 
myWageReport application and determines if we need additional 
employment information. If so, agency personnel reach out to 
beneficiaries or their representative payees and use Form SSA-821, Work 
Activity Report (0960-0059), to collect the additional required 
information. The respondents for this collection are SSDI recipients or 
their representative payees.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                         Average
                                                             Average      Estimated    theoretical  Total annual
   Modality of completion       Number of   Frequency of   burden per   total annual   hourly cost   opportunity
                               respondents    response      response       burden        amount         cost
                                                            (minutes)      (hours)     (dollars) *  (dollars) **
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
myWageReport................       88,000             1             7        10,267      * $10.22   ** $104,929
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* We based this figure on average DI payments, as reported in SSA's disability insurance payment data.
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to
  complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents
  will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.


    Dated: April 30, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-09580 Filed 5-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P