[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 159 (Friday, August 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46897-46900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17857]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2021-0024]


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 extensions 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-2021-0024].

(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-
2021-0024].
    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 
October 19, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Request for Waiver of Overpayment Recovery and Request for 
Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate--20 CFR 404.502, 404.506-404.512, 
416.550-416.558, 416.570-416.571--0960-0037. When Social Security 
beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients receive 
an overpayment, they must return the extra money. These beneficiaries 
and recipients can use Form SSA-632-BK, Request for Waiver of 
Overpayment Recovery, to request a waiver from repaying their 
overpayment. Beneficiaries and recipients can also use Form SSA-634, 
Request for Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate, to request a change to 
the monthly recovery rate of their overpayment. The respondents must 
provide financial information to help the agency determine how much the 
overpaid person can afford to repay each month. The respondents are 
individuals who are overpaid Social Security or SSI payments who are 
requesting: (1) A waiver of recovery of an overpayment, or (2) a lesser 
rate of withholding.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                       Average wait
                                                                                                          Average      time in field
                                         Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    office or for     Total annual
       Modality of completion           respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice    opportunity cost
                                                                         (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers        (dollars)***
                                                                                                        (dollars)*      (minutes)**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-632--Request for Waiver of               400,000               1             120         800,000        * $10.95           ** 21     *** $10,293,000
 Overpayment Recovery (If completing
 entire paper form, including the
 AFI authorization).................
SSA-634--Request for Change in               100,000               1              45          75,000         * 10.95           ** 21       *** 1,204,500
 Overpayment Recovery Rate
 (Completing paper form)............
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........................         500,000  ..............  ..............         875,000  ..............  ..............      *** 11,497,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices and teleservice centers, based on SSA's current management
  information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    2. Statement of Claimant or Other Person--20 CFR 404.702 and 
416.570--0960-0045. SSA uses Form SSA-795, Statement of Claimant or 
Other Person, in special situations where there is no authorized form 
or questionnaire, yet we require a signed statement from the applicant, 
claimant, or other individuals who have knowledge of facts, in 
connection with claims for Social Security benefits or SSI. The 
information we request on the SSA-795 is of sufficient importance that 
we need both a signed statement and a penalty clause. SSA uses this 
information to process, in addition to claims for benefits, issues 
about continuing eligibility; ongoing benefit amounts; use of funds by 
a representative payee; fraud investigation; and other program-related 
matters. The most common respondents are applicants for, or recipients 
of, Social Security or SSI. Respondents also include friends and 
relatives of the involved parties, coworkers, neighbors, or anyone else 
in a position to provide information pertinent to the issue(s).
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 46898]]



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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)*      (minutes)**    (dollars)***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-795 (paper version).................         207,239               1              15          51,810        * $10.95           ** 24  *** $1,475,031
SSA-795 (Person Statement) electronic             24,583               1              15           6,146         * 27.07  ..............     *** 166,372
 version................................
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         231,822  ..............  ..............          57,956  ..............  ..............   *** 1,641,403
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf) and 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#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    3. Claimant's Medications--20 CFR 404.1512 and 416.912--0960-0289. 
In cases where claimants request a hearing after denial of their 
disability claim for Social Security, SSA uses Form HA-4632, Claimant's 
Medications, to request information from the claimant regarding the 
medications they use. This information helps the judge overseeing the 
case to fully investigate: (1) The claimant's medical treatment and (2) 
the effects of the medications on the claimant's medical impairments 
and functional capacity. The judge makes the completed form a part of 
the documentary evidence of record, placing it in the official record 
of the proceedings as an exhibit. The respondents are applicants (or 
their representatives) for Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance 
(OASDI) benefits or SSI payments who request a hearing to contest an 
agency denial of their claim.
    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
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office           Cost
                                                                                                            (dollars)*      (minutes)**    (dollars)***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-46321--PDF/paper version.............          53,200               1              15          13,300        * $10.95           ** 24    *** $378,651
Electronic Records Express Submissions..         136,800               1              15          34,200         * 27.07  ..............     *** 925,794
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         190,000  ..............  ..............          47,500  ..............  ..............   *** 1,304,445
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf) and 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#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 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. Disability Report-Adult--20 CFR 404.1512 and 416.912--0960-0579. 
State Disability Determination Services (DDS) use Form SSA-3368, 
Disabilty Report--Adult, and its electronic versions, to determine if 
adult disability applicants' impairments are severe and, if so, how the 
impairments affect the applicants' ability to work. This determination 
informs whether the DDSs and SSA will find the applicant to be disabled 
and entitled to SSI payments. The respondents are applicants for Title 
II disability benefits or Title XVI SSI payments.
    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
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office           Cost
                                                                                                            (dollars)*      (minutes)**    (dollars)***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3368 (Paper)........................           6,045               1              90           9,068        * $10.95           ** 21    *** $122,465
EDCS 3368 (Intranet)....................       1,263,104               1              90       1,894,656         * 10.95           ** 21  *** 25,587,325
i3368 (Internet)........................         989,361               1              90       1,484,042         * 10.95  ..............  *** 16,250,260
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       2,258,510  ..............  ..............       3,387,766  ..............  ..............  *** 41,960,050
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices and teleservice centers, 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. Request for internet Services and 800# Automated Telephone 
Services Knowledge-Based Authentication (RISA-KBA)--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0596. The Request for internet Services and 800# Automated 
Telephone Services (RISA) Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) is one 
of the authentication methods SSA uses to allow individuals access to 
their personal information through our internet and Automated Telephone 
Services. SSA asks individuals and third parties who seek personal 
information from SSA records, or who register to participate in SSA's 
online business services, to provide certain identifying information. 
As an extra measure of protection, SSA asks requestors who use the 
internet and telephone services to provide additional

[[Page 46899]]

identifying information unique to those individuals so SSA can 
authenticate their identities before releasing personal information. 
The respondents are current beneficiaries who are requesting personal 
information from SSA, and individuals and third parties who are 
registering for SSA's online business services.
    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) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Requestors.....................................       2,921,795               1               3         146,090        * $27.07   ** $3,954,656
Telephone Requestors....................................       1,157,833               1               4          77,189         * 27.07    ** 2,089,506
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................       4,079,628  ..............  ..............         223,279  ..............    ** 6,044,162
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure 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#00-0000).
** 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. Testimony by Employees and the Production of Records and 
Information in Legal Proceedings--20 CFR 403.100-403.155--0960-0619. 
SSA's regulations establish policies and procedures for an individual, 
organization, or government entity to request official agency 
information, records, or testimony of an agency employee in a legal 
proceeding when the agency is not a party. The request, which 
respondents submit in writing, must: (1) Fully set out the nature and 
relevance of the sought testimony; (2) explain why the information is 
not available by other means; (3) explain why it is in SSA's interest 
to provide the testimony; and (4) provide the date, time, and place for 
the testimony. Respondents are individuals or entities who request 
testimony from SSA employees in connection with a legal proceeding.
    Type of Request: Extension 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) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 CFR 403.100-403.155............................             100                1               60              100         * $27.07        ** $2,707
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure 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#00-0000).
** 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. Certification of Prisoner Identity Information--20 CFR 422.107--
0960-0688. Inmates of Federal, State, or local prisons may need a 
Social Security card as verification of their Social Security number 
for school or work programs, or as proof of employment eligibility upon 
release from incarceration. Before SSA can issue a replacement Social 
Security card, applicants must show SSA proof of their identity. People 
who are in prison for an extended period typically do not have current 
identity documents. Therefore, under written agreement with the 
correctional institution, SSA allows prison officials to verify the 
identity of certain incarcerated U.S. citizens who need replacement 
Social Security cards. Prison officials provide SSA information from 
the official prison files, sent on correctional facility letterhead. 
SSA uses this information to establish the applicant's identity in the 
replacement Social Security card process. The respondents are prison 
officials who certify the identity of prisoners applying for 
replacement Social Security cards.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information 
Collection

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of      Number of       per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                     respondents        response        responses        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verification of Prisoner Identity           1,000              200          200,000                3           10,000         * $28.80      ** $288,000
 Statements......................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics
  data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211092.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 collection below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding this information collection 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 September 20, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of this 
OMB clearance package by writing to [email protected].
    Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain 
Account Records from a Financial Institution

[[Page 46900]]

and Request for Records (Medicare)--20 CFR 418.3420--0960-0729. The 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 
(MMA) established the Medicare Part D program for voluntary 
prescription drug coverage of premium, deductible, and copayment costs 
for individuals with limited income and resources. The MMA mandates 
that the Government provide subsidies for those individuals who qualify 
for the program, and who meet eligibility criteria for help with 
premium, deductible, or co-payment costs. SSA uses the SSA-4640, 
Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Account 
Records from a Financial Institution and Request for Records 
(Medicare), to determine if subsidy applicants or recipients qualify, 
or continue to qualify, for the subsidy. SSA uses Form SSA-4640 to: (1) 
Obtain the individual's consent to verify balances of financial 
institution (FI) accounts; and (2) obtain verification of such balances 
from the FI. Respondents are Medicare Part D program subsidy applicants 
or claimants, and their financial institutions.
    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) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medicare Part D Subsidy Applicants......................           5,000               1               1              83        * $10.95         ** $909
Financial Institutions..................................           5,000               1               4             333         * 37.56       ** 12,507
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................          10,000  ..............  ..............             416  ..............       ** 13,416
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf), and the
  average Business and Financial operations occupations, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes130000.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: August 17, 2021.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-17857 Filed 8-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P