[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18456-18460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06700]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2022-0015]


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-2022-0015].
    (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-
2022-0015].
    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 May 
31, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments 
by writing to the above email address.
    1. Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits--20 CFR 
404.335-404.338, & 404.603--0960-0004. Section 2029(e) and 202(f) of 
the Social Security Act (Act) set forth the requirements for 
entitlement to widow(er)'s benefits, including the requirements to file 
an application. For SSA to make a formal determination for entitlement 
to widow(er)'s benefits, we use Form SSA-10 to determine whether an 
applicant meets the statutory and regulatory conditions for entitlement 
to widow(er)'s Title II benefits. SSA employees interview individuals 
applying for benefits either face-to-face or via telephone, and enter 
the information on the paper form or into the Modernized Claims System 
(MCS). The respondents are applicants for widow(er)'s benefits.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                                                              Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of completion             respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                             (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers           ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-10 (Paper)..........................           2,116               1              30           1,058        * $27.07  ..............     *** $28,640
SSA-10 (MCS)............................         570,540               1              30         285,270         * 27.07           ** 21  *** 13,127,840
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         572,656  ..............  ..............         286,328  ..............  ..............  *** 13,156,480
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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. Request to be Selected as a Payee--20 CFR 404.2010-404.2055, and 
416.601-416.665--0960-0014. SSA requires an individual applying to be a 
representative payee for a Social Security beneficiary or Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) recipient to complete Form SSA-11-BK, or supply 
the same information to a field office

[[Page 18457]]

technician. SSA obtains information from applicant payees regarding 
their relationship to the beneficiary, personal qualifications; concern 
for the beneficiary's well-being; and intended use of benefits if 
appointed as payee. The respondents are individuals, private sector 
businesses and institutions, and State and local government 
institutions and agencies applying to become representative payees.
    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) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals/Households (90%):
    Representative Payee System (RPS)...................       1,761,300               1              12         352,260           * $39  ** $13,738,140
    Paper Version.......................................          70,452               1              12          14,090            * 39      ** 549,510
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..........................................       1,831,752  ..............  ..............         366,350  ..............   ** 14,287,650
Private Sector (9%):
    Representative Payee System (RPS)...................         176,130               1              12          35,226            * 39    ** 1,373,814
    Paper Version.......................................           7,045               1              12           1,409            * 39       ** 54,951
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..........................................         183,175  ..............  ..............          36,635  ..............    ** 1,428,765
State/Local/Tribal Government (1%):
    Representative Payee System (RPS)...................          19,570               1              12           3,914            * 39      ** 152,646
    Paper Version.......................................             350               1              12              70            * 39        ** 2,730
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..........................................          19,920  ..............  ..............           3,984  ..............      ** 155,376
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Grand Totals................................       2,034,847  ..............  ..............         406,969  ..............   ** 15,871,791
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures by averaging the average hourly wages for Social and Human Service Assistants (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211093.htm);
  average hourly wages for Lawyers (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm); 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#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.

    3. Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility for 
Supplemental Security Income Payment--20 CFR 416.204--0960-0145. SSA 
uses Form SSA-8202-BK to conduct low and middle-error profile (LEP/MEP) 
telephone, or face-to-face redetermination interviews with SSI 
recipients and representative payees, if applicable. SSA conducts LEP 
redeterminations interviews on a 6-year cycle, and MEP redeterminations 
annually. SSA requires the information we collect during the interview 
to determine whether: (1) SSI recipients met, and continue to meet, all 
statutory and regulatory requirements for SSI eligibility; and (2) the 
SSI recipients received, and are still receiving, the correct payment 
amounts. This information includes non-medical eligibility factors such 
as income, resources, and living arrangements. To complete Form SSA-
8202-BK, the respondents may need to obtain information from employers 
or financial institutions. The respondents are SSI recipients and their 
representatives, if applicable.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                                                              Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of completion             respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                             (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers           ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-8202-BK.............................          67,698               1              21          23,694        * $10.95  ..............    *** $259,449
SSI Claims System.......................       1,764,207               1              20         588,069         * 10.95           ** 21  *** 13,200,674
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       1,831,905  ..............  ..............         611,763  ..............  ..............  *** 13,460,123
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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 by averaging the average FY 2022 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.

    4. Application for Supplemental Security Income--20 CFR 416.305-
416.335, Subpart C--0960-0444. SSA uses Form SSA-8001-BK to determine 
an applicant's eligibility for SSI and SSI payment amounts. SSA 
employees also collect this information during interviews with members 
of the public who wish to file for SSI. SSA uses the

[[Page 18458]]

information for two purposes: (1) To formally deny SSI for nonmedical 
reasons when information the applicant provides results in 
ineligibility; or (2) to establish a disability claim, but defer the 
complete development of non-medical issues until SSA approves the 
disability. The respondents are applicants for SSI payments.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                         Average wait
                                                                                                            Average      time in field
                                           Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical      office or      Total annual
        Modality of completion            respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice   opportunity cost
                                                                           (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers       (dollars) ***
                                                                                                          (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSI Claims System.....................         800,963               1              20         266,988        * $19.01           ** 21   *** $10,404,648
iClaim and SSI Claims System..........         129,736               1              20          43,245         * 19.01           ** 21     *** 1,685,294
SSA-8001-BK (Paper Version)...........          31,776               1              20          10,592         * 19.01           ** 21       *** 412,783
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................         962,475  ..............  ..............         320,825  ..............  ..............    *** 12,502,725
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.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 by averaging the average FY 2022 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. Employer Verification of Records for Children Under Age 7--20 
CFR 404.801-404.803, and 404.821-404.822--0960-0505. To ensure we 
credit the correct person with the reported earnings, SSA verifies wage 
reports for children under age seven with the children's employers 
before posting to the earnings record. SSA uses form SSA-L3231, Request 
for Employer Information for this purpose. SSA technicians mail the 
form to the employer(s) and request they complete it and mail it back 
to the appropriate processing center. The respondents are employers who 
report earnings for children under age seven.
    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-L3231.........................................           4,633                1               10              772         * $27.07       ** $20,898
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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. Wage Reports and Pension Information--20 CFR 422.122(b)--0960-
0547. Pension plan administrators annually file plan information with 
the Internal Revenue Service, which then forwards the information to 
SSA. SSA maintains and organizes this information by plan number, plan 
participant's name, and Social Security number. Per Section 1131(a) of 
the Act, pension plan participants are entitled to request this 
information from SSA. The Wage Reports and Pension Information 
regulation, 20 CFR 422.122(b) of the Code of Federal Regulations, 
stipulates that before SSA disseminates this information, the requestor 
must first submit a written request with identifying information to 
SSA. The respondents are requestors of pension plan information.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Average        Average wait
                                                                      Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical        time for       Total annual
      Modality of completion          Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      teleservice      opportunity
                                     respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount          centers       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requests for Pension Plan                     580                1               30              290         * $27.07            ** 19       *** 12,831
 Information.....................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2022 wait times for 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.


[[Page 18459]]

    7. Centenarian and Medicare Non-Utilization Project Development 
Worksheets: Face-to-Face Interview and Telephone Interview--20 CFR 
416.204(b) and 422.135--0960-0780. SSA conducts interviews with 
centenary Title II beneficiaries and Title XVI recipients, and Medicare 
Non-Utilization Project (MNUP) beneficiaries age 90 and older to: (1) 
Assess if the beneficiaries are still living; (2) prevent fraud through 
identity misrepresentation; and (3) evaluate the well-being of the 
recipients to determine if they need a representative payee, or a 
change in representative payee. SSA field office personnel obtain the 
information through one-time, in-person interviews with the 
centenarians and MNUP beneficiaries, who are those Title II 
beneficiaries ages 90-99, who show non-utilization of Medicare benefits 
for an extended period and the absence of private insurance, health 
maintenance organization, or nursing home, which are all indicators 
that an individual may be deceased. If the centenarians and MNUP 
beneficiaries have representatives or caregivers, SSA personnel invite 
them to the interviews. During these interviews, SSA employees make 
overall observations of the centenarians, MNUP beneficiaries, and their 
representative payees (if applicable). The interviewer uses the 
appropriate Development Worksheet as a guide for the interview, in 
addition to documenting findings during the interview. SSA conducts the 
interviews either over the telephone or through a face-to-face 
discussion with the respondents either in a field office, or at the 
Centenarian or MNUP beneficiary's residence. Respondents are MNUP and 
Centenarian beneficiaries, and their representative payees, or their 
caregivers.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                                                              Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of completion             respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                             (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers          ****
                                                                                                           (dollars) **    (minutes) ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centenarian Project--Title XVI Only *...             194               1              15              49       ** $27.07          *** 21     **** $3,167
MNUP--All Title II Responses............           4,210               1              15           1,053        ** 27.07          *** 21     **** 68,406
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................           4,404  ..............  ..............           1,102  ..............  ..............     **** 71,573
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Some cases are T2 rollovers from prior Centenarian workloads.
** 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).
*** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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.

    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 April 29, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies of 
these OMB clearance packages by writing to 
[email protected].
    Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1082(c) & 404.1095--
0960-0061. SSA collects the information on Form SSA-7156 on a voluntary 
and as-needed basis to determine the existence of an agriculture trade 
or business which may affect the monthly benefit, or insured status, of 
the applicant. SSA requires the existence of a trade or business before 
determining if an individual or partnership has net earnings from self-
employment. When an applicant indicates self-employment as a farmer, 
SSA uses the SSA-7165 to obtain the information we need to determine 
the existence of an agricultural trade or business, and subsequent 
covered earnings for Social Security entitlement purposes. As part of 
the application process, we conduct a personal interview, either face-
to-face or via telephone, and document the interview using Form SSA-
7165. We also allow applicants to complete a fillable version of the 
form available on our website, which they can complete, print, and 
sign. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits whose 
entitlement depends on whether the worker received covered earnings 
from self-employment as a farmer.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Average wait
                                                                                                           Average       time in field     Total annual
                                      Number of       Frequency of    Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical       office or       opportunity
      Modality of completion         respondents        response       per response    annual burden     hourly cost      teleservice     cost (dollars)
                                                                        (minutes)         (hours)           amount          centers            ***
                                                                                                         (dollars) *      (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7156.........................           1,000                1               10              167         * $14.49            ** 21       *** $7,491
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse salaries, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data
  (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes452092.htm).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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.



[[Page 18460]]

    Dated: March 25, 2022.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-06700 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P