[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86638-86641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28797]



[[Page 86638]]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2020-0064]


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.

    Comments: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 60-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

(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-2020-0064].
    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 
March 1, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Letter to Employer Requesting Information About Wages Earned By 
Beneficiary--20 CFR 404.1520, 20 CFR 404.1571-404.1576, 20 CFR 
404.1584-404.1593, and 20 CFR 416.971-416.976--0960-0034. Social 
Security disability recipients receive payments based on their 
inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a 
physical or mental condition. If the recipients work, SSA must evaluate 
if they continue to meet the disability requirements of the law. When 
an individual is unable to provide earnings information and SSA does 
not have access to proof of earnings, we use Form SSA-L-725 to request 
monthly earnings information from the recipient's employer. SSA 
employees send the paper from SSA-L725 to the employer to complete, and 
use the earnings data we receive from the employers to determine 
whether the recipient is engaging in SGA, since work above SGA level 
can cause a cessation of disability payments. The respondents are 
businesses that employ Social Security disability recipients.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                              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-L725................................................         170,000               1              40         113,333        * $22.79   ** $2,582,859
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* We based this figure on the average Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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. Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information--20 CFR 416.203 & 
416.1110--0960-0138. SSA must establish and verify wage information for 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants and recipients when 
determining SSI eligibility and payment amounts. SSA collects wage data 
from employers on Form SSA-L4201 to determine eligibility and proper 
payment amounts for SSI applicants and recipients. The respondents are 
employers of SSI applicants and recipients.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                            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) *          ***
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SSA-L4201.........................................         133,000                1               30           66,500         * $22.79    ** $1,515,535
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* We based this figure on the average Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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 Review of Hearing Decision/Order--20 CFR 404.967-
404.981, 416.1467-416.1481--0960-0277. Claimants have a right under 
current regulations to request review of an administrative law judge's 
(ALJ) hearing decision, or dismissal of a hearing request on Title II 
and Title XVI claims. Claimants may request Appeals Council review by 
filing a written request using paper Form HA-520, or the internet 
application, i520. SSA uses the information we collect to establish the 
claimant filed the request for review within the prescribed time, and 
to ensure the claimant completed the requisite steps permitting the 
Appeals Council review. The Appeals Council

[[Page 86639]]

then uses the information to: (1) Document the claimant's reason(s) for 
disagreeing with the ALJ's decision or dismissal; (2) determine whether 
the claimant has additional evidence to submit; and (3) determine 
whether the claimant has a representative or wants to appoint one. The 
respondents are claimants requesting review of an ALJ's decision or 
dismissal of hearing.
    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) **         ***
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HA-520--Paper...........................         105,000               1              10          17,500        * $10.73           ** 24    *** $638,435
i520--Internet..........................          70,000               1              15          17,500         * 10.73  ..............     *** 187,775
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         175,000  ..............  ..............          35,000  ..............  ..............     *** 826,210
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* 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. Social Security Benefits Application--20 CFR 404.310-404.311, 
404.315-404.322, 404.330-404.333, 404.601-404.603, and 404.1501-
404.1512--0960-0618. Title II of the Social Security Act provides 
retirement, survivors, and disability benefits to individuals who meet 
the eligibility criteria and file the appropriate application. This 
collection comprises the various application methods for each type of 
benefits. SSA uses the information we gather through the multiple 
information collection tools in this information collection request to 
determine applicants' eligibility for specific Social Security 
benefits, as well as the amount of the benefits. Individuals filing for 
disability benefits can, and in some instances SSA may require them to, 
file applications under both Title II, Social Security disability 
benefits, and Title XVI, SSI payments. We refer to disability 
applications filed under both titles as ``concurrent applications.'' 
This collection comprises the various application methods for each type 
of benefits. These methods include the following modalities: Paper 
forms (Forms SSA-1, SSA-2, and SSA-16); Modernized Claims System (MCS) 
screens for in-person interview applications; and internet-based iClaim 
application. SSA uses the information we collect through these 
modalities to determine: (1) The applicants' eligibility for the above-
mentioned Social Security benefits and (2) the amount of the benefits. 
The respondents are applicants for retirement, survivors, and 
disability benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act, or 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) **         ***
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                                                                          SSA-1
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Paper version/SSA-1.....................           1,811               1              11             332        * $25.72           ** 24     *** $27,160
Interview/MCS...........................       1,438,058               1              10         239,676         * 25.72           ** 24  *** 20,959,202
Internet/iClaim--Domestic Residence:
First Party.............................       1,422,954               1              15         355,739         * 25.72           ** 24   *** 9,149,607
Third party initiated (complete and               25,255               1              15           6,314         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 162,396
 submit)................................
First party (review and sign)...........          25,255               1               5           2,105         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 54,141
Internet/iClaim--Foreign Residence:
First Party.............................          10,309               1              18           3,093         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 79,552
Third party-initiated (complete and               18,826               1              18           5,648         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 145,267
 submit)................................
First party (review and sign)...........          18,826               1               8           2,510         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 64,557
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       2,961,294  ..............  ..............         615,417  ..............  ..............  *** 30,641,882
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                                                                          SSA-2
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Paper version/SSA-2.....................             972               1              15             243         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 15,792
Interview/MCS...........................         447,610               1              14         104,442         * 25.72           ** 24   *** 7,291,260
iClaim..................................         153,780               1              15          38,445         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 988,805
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         602,362  ..............  ..............         143,130  ..............  ..............   *** 8,295,857
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                                                                         SSA-16
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Paper version/SSA-16....................          40,346               1              20          13,449         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 760,978
Interview/MCS...........................       1,159,121               1              19         367,055         * 25.72           ** 24  *** 21,365,681
Internet/iClaim--Domestic Residence:
First Party.............................         926,750               1              15         231,688         * 25.72           ** 24   *** 5,959,015
Third party initiated (complete and              343,327               1              15          85,832         * 25.72           ** 24   *** 2,207,599
 submit)................................
First party (review and sign)...........         343,327               1               5          28,611         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 735,875
Internet/iClaim--Foreign Residence:
First Party.............................           1,441               1              18             432         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 11,111
Third party-initiated (complete and                  123              18              18              37         * 25.72           ** 24         *** 952
 submit)................................
First party (review and sign)...........             123              18               8              16         * 25.72           ** 24         *** 412
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       2,814,558  ..............  ..............         727,120  ..............  ..............   ** 31,041,623
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[[Page 86640]]

 
                                                                       Grand Total
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    Total...............................       6,378,214  ..............  ..............       1,485,667  ..............  ..............  *** 69,979,362
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* We based this figure on the average hourly wage for all occupations in May 2019 as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** 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. Authorization to Disclose Information to SSA--20 CFR 404.1512 
and 416.912, 45 CFR parts 160 and 164--0960-0623. Sections 223(d)(5)(A) 
and 1614(a)(3)(H)(i) of the Act require claimants to provide medical 
and other evidence the Commissioner of Social Security may require to 
prove they are disabled. SSA must obtain sufficient evidence to make 
eligibility determinations for Title II and Title XVI payments. The 
applicants use Form SSA-827, or the internet counterpart, i827, to 
provide consent for the release of medical records, education records, 
and other information related to their ability to perform tasks. Once 
the applicant completes Form SSA-827, or the i827, SSA or the State DDS 
sends the form to the designated source(s) to obtain pertinent records. 
The respondents are applicants for Title II and Title XVI disability 
payments.
    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 cost
                                         respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                         (dollars) *    (minutes) **
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SSA-827 with electronic signature           2,354,946               1               9         353,242        * $10.73           ** 24        $13,897,711
 (eAuthorization)....................
SSA-827 with wet signature (paper           3,408,106               1              10         568,018         * 10.73           ** 24     *** 20,722,424
 version)............................
iClaims with electronic signature....         404,690               1               9          60,704         * 10.73  ..............        *** 651,354
iAppeals with electronic signature...         176,202               1               9          26,430         * 10.73  ..............        *** 283,594
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals...........................       6,343,944  ..............  ..............       1,008,394  ..............  ..............     *** 35,555,083
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* 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.

    6. State Death Match Collections--20 CFR 404.301, 404.310-404.311, 
404.316, 404.330-404.341, 404.350-404.352, 404.371, and 416.912--0960-
0700. SSA uses the State Death Match Collections to ensure the accuracy 
of payment files by detecting unreported or inaccurate reports of death 
of beneficiaries. Under the Act, entitlement to retirement, disability, 
wife's, husband's, or parent's benefits terminate when the beneficiary 
dies. The states furnish death certificate information to SSA via the 
manual registration process or the Electronic Death Registration 
Process (EDR). Both death match processes are electronic transfers 
between the states and SSA. The respondents are the states' bureaus of 
vital statistics.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                           Average cost      Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of      Number of      per record     total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                            respondents      response        responses        request     burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                           (dollars) **         ***
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State Death Match CyberFusion/GSO: Non-               39          68,621       2,676,219           $0.88      $2,355,072       ** $21.09  *** $1,447,217
 EDR Records from EDR sites.............
State Death Match CyberFusion/GSO: Non-                5         187,570         937,850            0.88         825,308        ** 21.09   *** 3,955,851
 EDR sites..............................
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total: Non-EDR......................              44  ..............  ..............  ..............       3,180,380  ..............       5,403,068
State Death Match--EDR..................              48       2,573,956     123,549,888            2.05     253,277,270        ** 21.09  *** 54,284,732
States Expected to Become--State Death                 5          62,600         313,000            3.17         992,210        ** 21.09   *** 1,320,234
 Match--EDR Within the Next 3 Years.....
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals: EDR and Expected EDR........              53  ..............  ..............  ..............     254,269,480  ..............  *** 55,604,966
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Grand Totals....................              97  ..............  ..............  ..............     257,449,860  ..............  *** 61,008,034
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* Please note that both of these data matching processes are electronic and there is only a cost burden, and no hourly burden for the respondent to
  provide this information.
** We based this figure on the average State BVSs hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434199.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.



[[Page 86641]]

    Dated: December 22, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-28797 Filed 12-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P