[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 109 (Friday, June 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34703-34707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12147]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2020-0024]


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-2020-0024].
    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 4, 2020. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Statement Regarding Marriage--20 CFR 404.726--0960-0017. Section 
216(h)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (Act) directs SSA to apply 
State law to determine an individual's marital relationship. Some state 
laws recognize marriages without a ceremony (i.e., common-law 
marriages). In such cases, SSA provides the same spouse or widow(er) 
benefits to the common-law spouses as it does to ceremonially married 
spouses. To determine common-law spouses, SSA must elicit information 
from blood relatives or other persons who are knowledgeable about the 
alleged common-law relationship. SSA uses Form SSA-753, Statement 
Regarding Marriage, to collect information from third parties to verify 
the applicant's statements about intent; cohabitation; and holding out 
to the public as married, which are the basic tenets of a common-law 
marriage. SSA uses the information to determine if a valid marital 
relationship exists, and if the common-law spouse is entitled to Social 
Security spouse, or widow(er) benefits. The respondents are third 
parties who can confirm or deny the alleged common-law marriage.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                           Average
                                                                      Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Average wait     Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost     time in field     opportunity
                                     respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount           office       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-753..........................          40,000                1                9            6,000         $25.72 *            24 **     $565,840 ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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. Statement of Agricultural Employer (Year Prior to 1988; and 1988 
and later)--20 CFR 404.702, 404.802, 404.1056--0960-0036. If 
agricultural workers believe their employers (1) did not report their 
wages, or (2) reported incorrect wage amounts, SSA will assist them in 
resolving this issue. Specifically, SSA will send Form SSA-1002 or Form 
SSA-1003 to the agricultural employers to collect evidence of wages 
paid. The respondents are agricultural employers whose workers request 
wage verification or correction for their earnings records.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 34704]]



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                                                                                                              Average
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Average wait    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    time in field    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1002................................           7,500               1              30           3,750        * $12.52           ** 24     *** $84,510
SSA-1003................................          25,000               1              30          12,500         * 12.52           ** 24     *** 219,100
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................          32,500  ..............  ..............          16,250  ..............  ..............     *** 303,610
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figures on average Agricultural Workers hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.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.

    3. Questionnaire About Employment or Self-Employment Outside the 
United States--20 CFR 404.401(b)(1), 404.415, & 404.417--0960-0050. 
When a Social Security beneficiary or claimant reports work outside the 
U.S., SSA uses Form SSA-7163 to determine if foreign work deductions 
are applicable. Specifically, SSA uses Form SSA-7163 to determine: (1) 
Whether work performed by beneficiaries outside the U.S. is cause for 
deductions from their monthly benefits; (2) which of two work tests 
(foreign or regular test) is applicable; and (3) the number of months, 
if any, for SSA-imposed deductions. SSA determines whether the annual 
earnings test applies to all earnings from work covered by the Act, 
including earnings from covered work performed outside the U.S. 
However, because of the differences in foreign currency values, it is 
administratively impractical to apply this test to earnings from non-
covered work performed outside the U.S. and base it on U.S. dollars. 
So, the 45-hour work test provides for deductions from the benefits of 
employees under full retirement age who engage in non-covered 
remunerative activity for more than 45 hours in a calendar month. SSA 
asks beneficiaries working outside the U.S. to complete this form 
annually or every other year (depending on the country of residence). 
Respondents are beneficiaries or claimants for Social Security benefits 
who are engaged in work outside the United States.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                           Average
                                                                      Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Average wait     Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost     time in field     opportunity
                                     respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount           office       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7163.........................          20,000                1               60           20,000         $10.22 *            24 **     $286,160 ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average DI hourly wages based on SSA's current FY 2019 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2019%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf).
** 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. Internet Representative Payee Accounting, My Representative 
Payee Accounting, Representative Payee Report-Adult, Representative 
Payee Report-Child, and Representative Payee Report-Organizational 
Representative Payees--20 CFR 404.2035, 404.2065, 416.635, and 
416.665--0960-0068. When SSA determines it is not in an Old-Age, 
Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) or Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) recipient's best interest to receive Social Security 
payments directly, the agency will designate a representative payee for 
the recipient. The representative payee can be: (1) A family member; 
(2) a non-family member who is a private citizen and is acquainted with 
the beneficiary; (3) an organization; (4) a state or local government 
agency; or (5) a business. In the capacity of representative payee, the 
person or organization receives the SSA recipient's payments directly 
and manages these payments. As part of its stewardship mandate, SSA 
must ensure the representative payees are properly using the payments 
they receive for the recipients they represent. The agency annually 
collects the information necessary to make this assessment using Form 
SSA-623, Representative Payee Report-Adult; Form SSA-6230, 
Representative Payee Report-Child; Form SSA-6234, Representative Payee 
Report-Organizational Representative Payees; and through the electronic 
internet applications, internet Representative Payee Accounting (iRPA) 
& My Representative Payee Accounting (MyRPA). The respondents are 
representative payees of OASDI and SSI recipients.
    Type of Request: Revision to an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                              Average
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Average wait    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    time in field    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-623.................................       1,086,152               1              15         271,538        * $10.22           ** 24  *** $7,215,310
SSA-6230................................          97,196               1              15          24,299         * 10.22           ** 24     *** 645,669
SSA-6234................................         497,505               1              15         124,376         * 10.22           ** 24   *** 3,304,923

[[Page 34705]]

 
iRPA+...................................         290,253               1              15          72,563         * 10.22  ..............     *** 741,594
myRPA+..................................          70,021               1              15          17,505         * 10.22  ..............     *** 178,901
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       2,041,127  ..............  ..............         510,281  ..............  ..............  *** 12,086,397
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+ All forms (SSA-623, SSA-6230, & SSA-6234) can also be accessed via the internet platforms, iRPA and myRPA.
* We based these figures on average DI hourly wages based on SSA's current FY 2019 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2019%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf).
** 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. Student Reporting Form--20 CFR 404.352(b)(2), 404.367, 404.368, 
404.415, 404.434, & 422.135--0960--0088. To qualify for Social Security 
Title II student benefits, student beneficiaries must be in full-time 
attendance status at an educational institution. In addition, SSA 
requires these beneficiaries to report events that may cause a 
reduction, termination, or suspension of their benefits. SSA collects 
such information on Forms SSA-1383 and SSA-1383-FC to determine if the 
changes or events the student beneficiaries report will affect their 
continuing entitlement to SSA benefits. SSA also uses the SSA-1383 and 
SSA-1383-FC to calculate the correct benefit amounts for student 
beneficiaries. The respondents are Social Security Title II student 
beneficiaries.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                              Average
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Average wait    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    time in field    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1383................................          75,000               1               6           7,500         * $7.25           ** 24    *** $271,875
SSA-1383-FC.............................             805               1               6              81          * 7.25           ** 24       *** 2,922
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................          75,805  ..............  ..............           7,581  ..............  ..............     *** 274,797
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the Federal minimum hourly wage, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/minimum-wage/2019/home.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.

    6. Advanced Notice of Termination of Child's Benefits & Student's 
Statement Regarding School Attendance--20 CFR 404.350-404.352, 404.367-
404.368--0960-0105. SSA collects information on Forms SSA-1372-BK and 
SSA-1372-BK-FC to determine whether children of an insured worker meet 
the eligibility requirements for student benefits. The data we collect 
allows SSA to determine student entitlement, and assess whether to 
terminate benefits. SSA uses the SSA-1372-BK for domestic student 
claimants and the SSA-1372-BK-FC for student claimants living and 
attending school outside the United States. The respondents are student 
claimants or beneficiaries for Social Security benefits, their 
respective schools and, in some cases, their representative payees.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                              Average
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Average wait    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    time in field    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals/Households (SSA-1372-BK)....         233,179               1               8          31,091         * $7.50           ** 24    *** $932,723
State/Local/Tribal Government (SSA-1372-         233,179               1               3          11,659         * 47.54           ** 24   *** 4,988,420
 BK)....................................
Individuals/Households (SSA-1372-BK-FC).             746               1               8              99          * 7.50           ** 24       *** 2,978
State/Local/Tribal Government (SSA-1372-             746               1               3              37         * 47.54           ** 24      *** 15,926
 BK-FC).................................
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 34706]]

 
    Total...............................         467,850  ..............  ..............          42,886  ..............  ..............   *** 5,940,047
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average DI hourly wages for single students based on SSA's current FY 2019 data (https://www.ssa.gov/ legislation/
  2019%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf), and the BLS.gov data for School Worker's hourly wages (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.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.

    7. Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire--0960-0395. SSA collects 
information on Form SSA-150 to determine which formula to use in 
computing the Social Security benefit for someone who receives a 
pension from employment not covered by Social Security. The Windfall 
Elimination Provision (WEP) requires use of a benefit formula replacing 
a smaller percentage of a worker's pre-retirement earnings. However, 
the resulting amount cannot show a difference in the benefit computed 
using the modified and regular formulas greater than one-half the 
amount of the pension received in the first month an individual is 
entitled to both the pension and the Social Security benefit. The SSA-
150 collects the information needed to make the necessary benefit 
computations. SSA requires the respondents to furnish the information 
on Form SSA-150 so we can calculate their benefits using the data they 
supply. SSA calculates the benefits of applicants who do not respond to 
this questionnaire using the full WEP reduction. SSA employees collect 
this information once from applicants at the time they file their 
claim. The respondents are applicants for old-age and disability 
benefits.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                           Average
                                                                      Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Average wait     Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost     time in field     opportunity
                                     respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount           office       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-150..........................          21,540                1                8            2,872         $10.22 *            24 **         $117,407
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2019 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2019%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf).
** 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.

    8. Employee Work Activity Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1574(a)--0960-
0483. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries and SSI 
recipients qualify for payments when a verified physical or mental 
impairment prevents them from working. If disability claimants attempt 
to return to work after receiving payments, but are unable to continue 
working, they submit Form SSA-3033, Employee Work Activity 
Questionnaire, so SSA can evaluate their work attempt. SSA also uses 
this form to evaluate unsuccessful subsidy work and determine 
applicants' continuing eligibility for disability payments. The 
respondents are employers of SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who 
unsuccessfully attempted to return to work.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                           Average
                                                                      Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Average wait     Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost     time in field     opportunity
                                     respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount           office       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3033.........................          15,000                1               15            3,750         $59.15 *            24 **     $576,712 ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average general and operations manager's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes111021.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.

    9. Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting--0960-0771. Sheltered 
workshops are private non-profit organizations, or institutions, that 
implement a recognized program of rehabilitation for handicapped 
workers, or provide such workers with remunerative employment, or other 
occupational rehabilitating activity of an educational or therapeutic 
nature. Sheltered workshops perform a service for their clients by 
reporting monthly wages directly to SSA. SSA uses the information these 
workshops provide to verify and post monthly wages to SSI recipient's 
records. Most workshops report monthly wage totals to their local SSA 
office so we can adjust the client's

[[Page 34707]]

SSI payment amount in a timely manner, and prevent overpayments. 
Sheltered workshops are motivated to report wages voluntarily as a 
service to their clients. Respondents are sheltered workshops that 
report monthly wages for services performed in the workshop.

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                                                                                                           Average
                                                                      Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Average wait     Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost     time in field     opportunity
                                     respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount           office       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting             800               12            9,600               15            2,400         $19.31 *            24 **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** We based this figure on average Rehabilitation Counselors hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211015.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.

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

    Dated: June 1, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-12147 Filed 6-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P