[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12068-12072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04165]



[[Page 12068]]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2021-0003]


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 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. Submit your 
comments online referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2021-0003].

(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 https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-
2021-0003].
    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 
April 30, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Certification by Religious Group--20 CFR 404.1075--0960-0093. 
SSA is responsible for determining whether religious groups meet the 
qualifications exempting certain members and sects from payment of 
Self-Employment Contribution Act taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, 
Section 1402(g). SSA sends Form SSA-1458, Certification by Religious 
Group, to a group's authorized spokesperson to complete and verify 
organizational members meet or continue to meet the criteria for 
exemption. The respondents are spokespersons for religious groups or 
sects.
    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) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1458..........................................             142                1               45              107         * $25.72        ** $2,752
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (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. Filing Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act--20 CFR 429.101-
429.110--0960-0667. The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) is the mechanism 
for compensating people who Federal employees injured through negligent 
or wrongful acts that occurred during the performance of those 
employees' official duties. SSA accepts claims filed under the FTCA for 
damages against the United States; loss of property; personal injury; 
or death resulting from an SSA employee's wrongful act or omission. The 
various types of claims included under this information collection 
request require claimants to provide information SSA can use to 
determine whether to make an award, compromise, or settlement under the 
FTCA. The respondents are individuals or entities making a claim under 
the FTCA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                  Regulation citations                       Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                           (dollars) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
429.102; 429.103 \*\....................................               1               1               1               0       ** $25.72          *** $0
429.104(a)..............................................              11               1               5               1        ** 25.72          *** 26
429.104(b)..............................................              43               1               5               4        ** 25.72         *** 103
429.104(c)..............................................               1               1               5               0        ** 25.72           *** 0
429.106(b)..............................................               8               1              10               1        ** 25.72          *** 26
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................              64  ..............  ..............               6  ..............         *** 155
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We are including a one-hour placeholder burden for 20 CFR 429.102 and 429.103, as respondents complete OMB-approved Form SF-95, OMB No. 1105-0008.
  Since the burden for these citations is covered under a separate OMB number, we are not double-counting the burden here.
** We based this figure on the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (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.


[[Page 12069]]

    3. Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 
Costs--20 CFR 418.3101--0960-0696. The Medicare Modernization Act of 
2003 mandated the creation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug 
coverage program and the provision of subsidies for eligible Medicare 
beneficiaries. SSA uses Form SSA-1020, or the internet version, i1020, 
the Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 
Costs, to obtain income and resource information from Medicare 
beneficiaries, and to make a subsidy decision. The respondents are 
Medicare beneficiaries applying for the Part D low-income subsidy.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                            Average
                                                                             Average       Estimated      theoretical    Average wait     Total annual
           Modality of completion                Number of     Frequency    burden per   total annual     hourly cost    time in field  opportunity cost
                                                respondents   of response    response   burden (hours)      amount          office        (dollars) ***
                                                                            (minutes)                     (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1020 (paper applications)...............         448,836            1           30         224,418        * $25.72               0    *** $5,772,031
i1020 (online applications).................         365,871            1           25         152,446           25.72               0     *** 3,920,911
Field Office Interviews.....................          85,873            1           30          42,937         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 1,987,796
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..................................         900,580  ...........  ...........         419,801  ..............  ..............    *** 11,680,738
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* We based this figure on the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (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.

    4. Rules of Conduct and Standards of Responsibility for Appointed 
Representatives--20 CFR 404.1740(b)(5), 404.1740(b)(6), 404.1740(b)(9), 
416.1540(b)(5), 416.1540(b)(6), and 416.1540(b)(9)--0960-0804. Section 
205(a) of the Social Security Act (Act) authorizes SSA's Commissioner 
to make rules and regulations and to establish procedures which are 
necessary or appropriate. Section 1631(d)(1) of the Act incorporates 
section 205(a) and applies it to Title XVI of the Act. Additionally, 
sections 206(a) and 1631(d)(2) of the Act provide that the Commissioner 
has the authority to establish rules and regulations governing the 
recognition of individuals who represent claimants before the 
Commissioner. Individuals appointed to represent claimants before SSA 
must report to SSA in writing whenever one of the following situations 
in our revised regulations occurs:
     20 CFR 404.1740(b)(5) and 416.1540(b)(5)--These sections 
require representatives to disclose to SSA in writing, at the time a 
medical or vocational opinion is submitted to SSA, or as soon as the 
representative is aware of the submission to us, if the 
representative's employee or any individual contracting with the 
representative drafted, prepared, or issued a medical or vocational 
opinion about a claimant's disability, or if the representative 
referred or suggested that the claimant seek an examination from, 
treatment by, or the assistance of the individual providing opinion 
evidence;
     20 CFR 404.1740(b)(6) and 416.1540(b)(6)--These sections 
require representatives to disclose to SSA immediately if the 
representative discovers that his or her services are or were used by 
the claimant to commit fraud against SSA;
     20 CFR 404.1740(b)(7) and 416.1540(b)(7)--These sections 
require representatives to disclose to SSA whether the representative 
is or has been disbarred or suspended from any bar or court to which he 
or she was previously admitted to practice, including instances in 
which a bar or court took administrative action to disbar or suspend 
the representative in lieu of disciplinary proceedings; If the 
disbarment or suspension occurs after the appointment of the 
representative, the representative will immediately disclose the 
disbarment or suspension to SSA;
     20 CFR 404.1740(b)(8) and 416.1540(b)(8)--These sections 
require representatives to disclose to SSA whether the representative 
is or has been disqualified from participating in or appearing before 
any Federal program or agency, including instances in which a Federal 
program or agency took administrative action to disqualify the 
representative in lieu of disciplinary proceedings. If the 
disqualification occurs after the appointment of the representative, 
the representative will immediately disclose the disqualification to 
SSA; and
     20 CFR 404.1740(b)(9) and 416.1540(b)(9)--These sections 
require representatives to disclose to SSA whether the representative 
has been removed from practice or suspended by a professional licensing 
authority for reasons that reflect on the representative's character, 
integrity, judgment, reliability, or fitness to serve as a fiduciary. 
If the removal or suspension occurs after the appointment of the 
representative, the representative will immediately disclose the 
removal or suspension to SSA.
    A representative's obligation to report these events is ongoing, 
and SSA requires representatives to report any time one or more of 
these events occurs. We consider this information essential to ensure 
the integrity of our administrative process and to safeguard the rights 
of all claimants. SSA requires representatives to notify SSA in 
writing, but there is no prescribed format for these reports. The 
respondents are individuals appointed to represent claimants before 
SSA.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 12070]]



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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) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404.1740(b)(5)/416.1540(b)(5)...........................          43,600               1               5           3,633       * $26.45*      ** $96,093
404.1740(b)(6)/416.1540(b)(6)...........................               2               1               5               0         * 69.86            ** 0
404.1740(b)(7)/416.1540(b)(7)...........................              50               1               5               4         * 69.86          ** 279
404.1740(b)(8)/416.1540(b)(8)...........................              10               1               5               1         * 69.86           ** 70
404.170(b)(9)/416.1540(b)(9)............................              10               1               5               1         * 69.86           ** 70
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................          43,672  ..............  ..............           3,639  ..............       ** 96,512
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* We based these figures on average hourly wages for paralegals/legal assistants and lawyers as posted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (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.

    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 March 31, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of 
these OMB clearance packages by writing to 
[email protected].
    1. Letter to Employer Requesting Information About Wages Earned By 
Beneficiary--20 CFR 404.1520, 404.1571-404.1576, 404.1584-404.1593, and 
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-L725 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 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-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 the 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. 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 a judge's 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 then uses the information to: (1) Document 
the claimant's reason(s) for disagreeing with the judge'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 a judge'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) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-520--Paper...........................          37,900               1              10           6,317        * $10.95           ** 24    *** $235,173
i520--Internet..........................         113,700               1              15          28,425         * 10.95  ..............     *** 311,254
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         151,600  ..............  ..............          34,742  ..............  ..............     *** 546,427
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* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.

[[Page 12071]]

 
*** 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. Authorization to Disclose Information to SSA--20 CFR 404.1512 
and 416.912, 45 CFR 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       Estimated      theoretical    Average wait     Total annual
           Modality of completion                Number of     Frequency    burden per   total annual     hourly cost    time in field  opportunity cost
                                                respondents   of response    response   burden (hours)      amount          office        (dollars) ***
                                                                            (minutes)                     (dollars) *    (minutes) **
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SSA-827 with electronic signature (EDCS &          4,189,270            1            9         628,391        * $10.95  ..............    *** $6,880,881
 eAuthorization)............................
SSA-827 with wet signature (paper version)..       1,055,807            1           10         175,968         * 10.95           ** 24     *** 6,551,286
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..................................       5,245,077  ...........  ...........         804,359  ..............  ..............    *** 13,432,167
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* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.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. 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 deaths 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 automated 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     per record     total annual     hourly cost   opportunity cost
                                                          respondents      response         request     burden (hours)      amount        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                                         (dollars) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Death Match[dash]CyberFusion/GSO: Non-EDR                     39          68,621           $0.88      $2,355,072       ** $21.09    *** $1,447,217
 Records from EDR sites...............................
State Death Match[dash]CyberFusion/GSO: Non-EDR sites.               5         187,570            0.88         825,308        ** 21.09     *** 3,955,851
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total: Non-EDR....................................              44  ..............  ..............       3,180,380  ..............         5,403,068
State Death Match-EDR.................................              48       2,573,956            2.05     253,277,270        ** 21.09    *** 54,284,732
States Expected to Become--State Death Match-EDR                     5          62,600            3.17         992,210        ** 21.09     *** 1,320,234
 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 12072]]

    Dated: February 24, 2021.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-04165 Filed 2-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P