[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 196 (Thursday, October 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63630-63636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22297]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2020-0053]


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 and one extension 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-2020-0053].
    I. The information collections below are pending at SSA. SSA will 
submit them to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. To be 
sure we consider your comments, we must receive them no later than 
December 7, 2020. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Disability Report-Appeal--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912, 404.916(c), 
416.1416(c), 422.140, 404.1713, 416.1513, 404.1740(b)(4), and 
416.1540(b)(4)--0960-0144. SSA requires disability applicants who wish 
to appeal an unfavorable determination to complete Form SSA-3441-BK; 
the associated Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS) interview; 
or the internet application, i3441. This allows claimants to disclose 
any changes to their disability, or resources, which might influence 
SSA's unfavorable determination. SSA may use the information to: (1) 
Reconsider and review an initial disability determination; (2) review a 
continuing disability; and (3) evaluate a request for a hearing. This 
information assists the State Disability Determination Services (DDS) 
and administrative law judges (ALJ) in preparing for the appeals and 
hearings, and in issuing a determination or decision on an individual's 
entitlement (initial or continuing) to disability benefits. In 
addition, the information we collect on the SSA-3441-BK, or related 
modalities, facilitates SSA's collection of medical information to 
support the applicant's request for reconsideration; request for 
benefits cessation appeal; and request for a hearing before an ALJ. 
Respondents are individuals who appeal denial, reduction, or cessation 
of Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) payments; individuals who wish to request a hearing before an 
ALJ; or their representatives.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            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 cost
                                          respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                          (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3441-BK (Paper Form)..............          22,556               1              45          16,917        * $18.22           ** 24      *** $472,609
Electronic Disability Collect System           208,831               1              45         156,623         * 10.73           ** 24     *** 2,576,863
 (EDCS)--Individuals..................
Electronic Disability Collect System            71,652               1              45          53,739         * 25.72  ..............     *** 1,382,167
 (EDCS)--Representatives..............
i3441 (Internet Application)--                 109,598               1              28          51,146         * 10.73  ..............       *** 548,797
 Individuals..........................
i3441 (Internet Application)--                 656,424               1              28         306,331         * 25.72  ..............     *** 7,878,833
 Representatives......................
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................       1,069,061  ..............  ..............         584,756  ..............  ..............    *** 12,859,269
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average DI hourly wages for single students based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf), and on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm), as well as a combination of those two figures (for the paper form, as we do not collect data on whether the paper forms are filled out
  by individuals or representatives or both).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on our current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that we are 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. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices--20 
CFR 404.452-404.455--0960-0369. SSA developed the Annual Earnings Test 
Direct Mail Follow-up Program to improve beneficiary reporting on work 
and earnings during the year and earnings information at the end of the 
year. SSA may reduce benefits payable under the Social Security Act 
(Act) when an individual has wages or self-employment income exceeding 
the annual exempt amount. SSA identifies beneficiaries likely to 
receive more than the annual exempt amount, and requests more frequent 
estimates of earnings from them. When applicable, SSA also requests a 
future year estimate to reduce overpayments due to earnings. SSA sends 
letters (SSA-L9778, SSA-L9779, SSA-L9781, SSA-L9784, SSA-L9785, and 
SSA-L9790) to beneficiaries requesting earnings information the month 
prior to their attainment of full retirement age. We send each 
beneficiary a tailored letter that includes relevant earnings data from 
SSA records. The Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-up Program 
helps to ensure Social Security payments are correct, and enables us to 
prevent earnings-related overpayments, and avoid erroneous withholding. 
The

[[Page 63631]]

respondents are working Social Security beneficiaries with earnings 
over the exempt amount.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                        Average burden     Estimated      theoretical     Total annual
                Modality of completion                     Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost   opportunity cost
                                                          respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount        (dollars) **
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L9778.............................................          42,630               1              10           7,105          $25.72       ** $182,741
SSA-L9779.............................................         158,865               1              10          26,478           25.72        ** 681,014
SSA-L9781.............................................         472,437               1              10          78,740           25.72      ** 2,025,193
SSA-L9784.............................................           1,270               1              10             212           25.72          ** 5,453
SSA-L9785.............................................          15,870               1              10           2,645           25.72         ** 68,029
SSA-L9790.............................................          45,000               1              10           7,500           25.72        ** 192,900
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................................         736,072  ..............  ..............         122,680  ..............      ** 3,155,330
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that we are 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. Request for Social Security Earnings Information--20 CFR 401.100 
and 404.810--0960-0525. The Act permits wage earners, or their 
authorized representatives, to request Social Security earnings 
information from SSA using Form SSA-7050-F4. SSA uses the information 
the respondent provides on Form SSA-7050-F4 to verify the wage earner 
has: (1) Earnings; (2) the right to access the correct Social Security 
Record; and (3) the right to request the earnings statement. If we 
verify all three items, SSA produces an Itemized Statement of Earnings 
(Form SSA-1826) and sends it to the requestor. The agency charges 
respondents for sending them an Itemized Statement of Earnings. 
Respondents are wage earners and their authorized representatives who 
are requesting Itemized Statement of Earnings records.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7050-F4.......................................          66,800                1               11           12,247         * $25.72      ** $314,993
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm).
** 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.

    Cost Burden to Respondents: The agency charges respondents to send 
them an Itemized Statement of Earnings for purposes unrelated to the 
administration of our programs. The chart below shows the costs to the 
respondents for this request:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Total annual
                       Type of respondent                            Number of       Cost per         cost to
                                                                     requests         request       respondent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Certified Copy Respondent...................................          33,400          $92.00      $3,072,800
Certified Copy Respondent.......................................          33,400          122.00       4,074,800
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................  ..............  ..............       7,147,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Disability Case Development Information Collections By State 
Disability Determination Services On Behalf of SSA--20 CFR 404.1503a, 
404.1512, 404.1513, 404.1514, 404.1517, 404.1519; 20 CFR 404.1613, 
404.1614, 404.1624; 20 CFR 416.903a, 416.912, 416.913, 416.914, 
416.917, 416.919 and 20 CFR 416.1013, 416.1014, 416.1024--0960-0555. 
DDSs collect the information necessary to administer the Social 
Security Disability Insurance and SSI programs. They collect medical 
evidence from consultative examination (CE) sources; credential 
information from CE source applicants; and medical evidence of record 
(MER) from claimants' medical sources. In addition, the DDSs collect 
information from claimants regarding medical appointments, pain, 
symptoms, and impairments. The respondents are medical providers, other 
sources of MER, and disability claimants.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

CE Collections

    There are four CE information collections: (a) Medical evidence 
about

[[Page 63632]]

claimants' medical condition(s) that DDS's use to make disability 
determinations when the claimant's own medical sources cannot or will 
not provide the required information, and proof of credentials from CE 
providers; (b) CE appointment letters; (c) CE claimant reports sent to 
claimants' doctors; and (d) One-time CE claimant telehealth call 
script/letter.

(a) Medical Evidence and Credentials From CE Providers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CE Paper Submissions....................................       1,400,000               1              30         700,000        * $40.21  ** $28,147,000
CE Electronic Submissions...............................         296,000               1              10          49,333         * 40.21    ** 1,983,680
CE Credentials..........................................           4,000               1              15           1,000         * 40.21       ** 40,210
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................       1,700,000  ..............  ..............         750,333  ..............   ** 30,170,890
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data
  (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm).

(b) CE Appointment Letters and (c) CE Claimants' Report to Medical 
Providers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) CE Appointment Letters..............................         880,000               1               5          73,333        * $10.73     ** $786,863
(c) CE Claimants' Report to Medical Providers...........         450,000               1               5          37,500         * 10.73      ** 402,375
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................       1,330,000  ..............  ..............         110,833  ..............    ** 1,189,238
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf).

(d) CE Claimant Telehealth CE Call Script/Letter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CE Claimant Telehealth Call Script/Letter.........          10,000                1                5              833         * $10.73        ** $8,938
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf).

MER Collections

    The DDS's collect MER information from the claimant's medical 
sources to determine a claimant's physical or mental status prior to 
making a disability determination.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                        Average burden     Estimated      theoretical     Total annual
                Modality of completion                     Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost   opportunity cost
                                                          respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount        (dollars) **
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Submissions.....................................       3,150,000               1              20       1,050,000        * $40.21    ** $42,220,500
Electronic Submissions................................       9,450,000               1              12       1,890,000         * 40.21     ** 75,996,900
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................................      12,600,000  ..............  ..............       2,940,000  ..............    ** 118,217,400
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data
  (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm).


[[Page 63633]]

Pain/Other Symptoms/Impairment Information From Claimants

    The DDS's use information about pain/symptoms to determine how 
pain/symptoms affect the claimant's ability to do work-related 
activities prior to making a disability determination.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pain/Other Symptoms/Impairment Information........       2,100,000                1               20          700,000         * $18.23   ** $12,761,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm).

Grand Total

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals........................................      17,740,000   ...............  ...............       4,501,999   ...............    $162,347,466
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** 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. Work History Report--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912, 404.1560, 
404.1565, 416.960 and 416.965--0960-0578. Under certain circumstances, 
SSA asks individuals applying for disability about work they have 
performed in the past. Applicants use Form SSA-3369, Work History 
Report, to provide detailed information about jobs held prior to 
becoming unable to work. State Disability Determination Services (DDS) 
evaluate the information, together with medical evidence, to determine 
eligibility for disability payments. Respondents are disability 
applicants and third parties assisting applicants.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            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 cost
                                          respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                          (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3369 (Paper form).................       1,553,900               1              60       1,553,900        * $18.23           ** 24   *** $39,658,636
SSA-3369 (EDCS).......................          38,049               1              60          38,049         * 18.23           ** 24       *** 971,094
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................       1,591,949  ..............  ..............       1,591,949  ..............  ..............    *** 40,629,730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, 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.

    6. Teacher Questionnaire and Request for Administrative 
Information--20 CFR 404.1513, 416.913, and 416.924a(a)--0960-0646. When 
determining the effects of a child's impairment(s), SSA obtains 
information about the child's functioning from teachers; parents; and 
others who observe the child on a daily basis. SSA obtains results of 
formal testing, teacher reports, therapy progress notes, individualized 
education programs, and other records of a child's educational aptitude 
and achievements using Forms SSA-5665-BK and SSA-5666. The respondents 
are parents, teachers, and other education personnel.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-5665-BK (electronic)................................         246,539               1              40         164,359        * $26.14   ** $4,296,344
SSA-5666 (electronic)...................................          91,186               1              30          45,593         * 26.14    ** 1,191,801
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................         337,725  ..............  ..............         209,952  ..............    ** 5,488,145
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Elementary and Secondary School worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes250000.htm).

[[Page 63634]]

 
** 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. Electronic Records Express--20 CFR 404.1512 and 416.912--0960-
0753. Electronic Records Express (ERE) is a Web-based SSA program which 
allows medical and educational providers to electronically submit 
disability claimant data to SSA. Both medical providers and other third 
parties with connections to disability applicants or recipients (e.g., 
teachers and school administrators for child disability applicants) use 
this system once they complete the registration process. SSA employees 
and State agency employees request the medical and educational records 
collected through the ERE website. The agency uses the information 
collected through ERE to make a determination on an Application for 
Benefits. We also use the ERE website to order and receive consultative 
examinations when we are unable to collect enough medical records to 
determine disability findings. The respondents are medical providers 
who evaluate or treat disability claimants or recipients, and other 
third parties with connections to disability applicants or recipients 
(e.g., Teachers and school administrators for child disability 
applicants), who voluntarily choose to use ERE for submitting 
information.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERE...............................................       6,183,548                1               10        1,030,591         * $33.18   ** $34,195,009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm),
  and Elementary and Secondary School worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes250000.htm).
** 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. Medicare Part D Subsidies Regulations--20 CFR 418.3625(c), 
418.3645, 418.3665(a), and 418.3670--0960-0702. The Medicare 
Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 
established the Medicare Part D program for voluntary prescription drug 
coverage of premium, deductible, and co-payment costs for certain low-
income individuals. The MMA also mandated the provision of subsidies 
for those individuals who qualify for the program and who meet 
eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, or co-payment 
costs. This law requires SSA to make eligibility determinations, and to 
provide a process for appealing SSA's determinations. Regulation 
sections 418.3625(c), 418.3645, 418.3665(a), and 418.3670 contain 
public reporting requirements pertaining to administrative review 
hearings. Respondents are applicants for the Medicare Part D subsidies 
who request an administrative review hearing.
    Type of Request: Revision of an existing OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                           (dollars) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
418.3625(c).............................................             110               1               5               9       ** $10.73         *** $97
418.3645................................................              10               1               5               1        ** 10.73          *** 11
418.3665(a).............................................             215               1               5              18        ** 10.73         *** 193
418.3670 *..............................................               0               1              10               0  ..............  ..............
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................             335  ..............  ..............              28  ..............         *** 301
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Regulation section 418.3670 could be used at any time; however, we currently have no data showing usage over the past three years.
** We based this figure on average DI payments (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf).
*** 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. Request for Medical Treatment in an SSA Employee Health 
Facility: Patient Self-Administered or Staff Administered Care--0960-
0772. SSA operates onsite Employee Health Clinics (EHC) in eight 
different States. These clinics provide health care for all SSA 
employees including treatments of personal medical conditions when 
authorized through a physician. Form SSA-5072 is the employee's 
personal physician's order form. The information we collect on Form 
SSA-5072 gives the nurses the guidance they need by law to perform 
certain medical procedures and to administer prescription medications 
such as allergy immunotherapy. In addition, the information allows the 
SSA medical officer to determine whether the treatment can be 
administered safely and appropriately in the SSA EHCs. Respondents are 
physicians of SSA employees who need to have medical treatment in an 
SSA EHC.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 63635]]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of      Number of     per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                            respondents      response        responses       (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-5072 Annually.......................              25               1              25               5               2        * $96.85         ** $194
SSA-5072 Bi-Annually....................              75               2             150               5              13         * 96.85        ** 1,259
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................             100  ..............  ..............  ..............              15  ..............        ** 1,453
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average physician's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291216.htm).
** 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.

    II. SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding these information collections would 
be most useful if OMB and SSA receive them 30 days from the date of 
this publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive 
them no later than November 9, 2020. Individuals can obtain copies of 
these OMB clearance packages by writing to 
[email protected].
    1. Online Request for Correction of Earnings Record--0960-NEW. We 
are offering an alternative to the paper process of requesting a 
correction to an earnings record, and launching a new service that 
enables our users to make these same requests electronically via the 
online my Social Security portal. Information collected from the public 
will not exceed that which SSA requests through the paper Form SSA-
7008, OMB No. 0960-0029, Request for Correction of Earnings Record. The 
information we collect includes items which support an earnings 
correction action, such as employer names, addresses, wage amounts, and 
pertinent details about the nature of employment. The respondents are 
authorized, authenticated individuals accessing the earnings correction 
process from their personal account using the my Social Security 
portal.
    Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online Request for Correction of Earnings Record..          76,047                1               15           19,012         * $25.72      ** $488,989
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm).
** 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 Death by Funeral Director--20 CFR 404.715 and 
404.720--0960-0142. When an SSA-insured worker dies, the funeral 
director or funeral home responsible for the worker's burial or 
cremation completes Form SSA-721 and sends it to SSA. SSA uses this 
information for three purposes: (1) To establish proof of death for the 
insured worker; (2) to determine if the insured individual was 
receiving any pre-death benefits SSA needs to terminate; and (3) to 
ascertain which surviving family member is eligible for the lump-sum 
death payment or for other death benefits. The respondents are funeral 
directors who handled death arrangements for the insured individuals.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-721...........................................         544,233                1                4           36,282         * $28.06    ** $1,018,073
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average funeral arranger's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm).
*** 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. Medicaid Use Report--20 CFR 416.268--0960-0267. Section 20 CFR 
416.268 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires SSA to determine 
eligibility for: (1) Special SSI cash payments and, (2) special SSI 
eligibility status for a person who works despite a disabling 
condition. Section 20 CFR 416.268 also provides that, to qualify for 
special SSI eligibility status, an individual must establish that 
termination of eligibility for benefits under Title XIX of the Act 
would seriously inhibit the ability to continue employment. SSA 
employees collect the information this regulation requires from 
respondents during a personal interview. We then use this information 
to determine if an individual is entitled to special Title XVI SSI 
payments and, consequently, to Medicaid. The respondents are SSI 
recipients for whom SSA has stopped payments based on earnings.

[[Page 63636]]

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           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) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 CFR 416.268...................          60.000                1                3            3,000         * $10.73            ** 24     *** $289,710
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%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. Public Information Campaign--0960-0544. Periodically, SSA sends 
various public information materials, including public service 
announcements; news releases; and educational tapes, to public 
broadcasting systems so they can inform the public about various 
programs and activities SSA conducts. SSA frequently sends follow-up 
business reply cards for these public information materials to obtain 
suggestions for improving them. The respondents are broadcast sources.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radio.............................................           5,000                2                1              167         * $25.76        ** $4,302
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figures on average Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockey's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm).
** 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: October 5, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-22297 Filed 10-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P