[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33282-33288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11685]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2022-0024]


Agency Information Collection Activities: 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 a new collection and 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-2022-0024].

(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-2022-0024].

    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 within 30 days from the date 
of this publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must 
receive them no later than July 1, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies 
of these OMB clearance packages by writing to 
[email protected].
    1. Disability Perception Survey (DPS)--0960-NEW.

Background

    The Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Social Security 
Disability Insurance (SSDI) program provides crucial financial support 
to individuals unable to work due to a medical condition. Having access 
to and understanding information about SSDI among working adults is an 
important factor in connecting people with benefits. The purpose of the 
survey is to understand the type of information working adults 
currently have about the SSDI program to improve projections of 
disability applications and incidence.
    SSA is requesting clearance to administer the Disability Perception 
Survey (DPS) to a sample of working age adult SSDI program recipients, 
and those who may qualify for this benefit, to capture attitudes and 
perceptions about SSDI among working-age adults in the general 
population, and to determine what roles those factors ultimately play 
in an individual's decision to apply to the program.
    The DPS evaluation will consist of two parts: (1) The DPS 
administered to working-age adults (18 to 64 years of age) SSDI program 
recipients, and those who may qualify for SSDI benefits; and (2) links 
of the survey data, including the individuals' social security numbers, 
to individuals' administrative records for research purpose. SSA will 
use the data the DPS collects to learn about the average American SSDI 
adult recipient's knowledge and understanding of the SSDI program and 
about who qualifies for these benefits. Section 1110(a) of the Social 
Security Act (Act) gives the Commissioner of Social Security 
authorization to help

[[Page 33283]]

fund research or demonstration projects relating to the prevention and 
reduction of dependency. SSA contracted with NORC at the University of 
Chicago to conduct the DPS data collection.

DPS Project Description

    The DPS will focus on a series of multiple-choice, open-ended, and 
vignette-style questions across five topic areas:
     General knowledge about the SSDI program, including 
perspectives on the causes of disability, eligibility requirements, the 
likelihood of receiving benefits, and the documentation required to 
apply for the program;
     Perceptions about the impact of work-limiting impairments 
including how and to what degree people with disabilities participate 
in the workforce, their work outcomes, use of services, barriers to 
work, and knowledge about SSA programs designed to help beneficiaries 
find and keep jobs;
     Thoughts about SSDI based on personal experience or 
associations with SSDI beneficiaries and others, the likelihood of 
receiving benefits due to changes in one's personal health status, the 
impact of reduced financial resources, and factors considered when 
deciding whether to apply for SSDI;
     Opinions and reactions to how impairments described in 
brief vignettes of work-limiting and disabling experiences may affect 
current or future employment; and
     The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment or 
participation in SSDI or other safety net programs.
    The DPS is targeting 5,011 completed interviews among 18-64 year 
old adults across the U.S. population.

Recruitment

    NORC will sample respondents for the study through NORC's 
AmeriSpeak sampling frame. AmeriSpeak uses a multi-stage probability 
sample that fully represents the U.S. household population. NORC uses a 
two-stage process for AmeriSpeak panel recruitment:
     Initial recruitment: NORC will invite panelists to 
participate in the DPS by email and or SMS text, with an invitation 
through the AmeriSpeak member web portal, which alerts panelist there 
is a survey available to them. The participant will receive an email 
with the survey URL which allows them to log into AmeriSpeak. NORC will 
also invite panelists who previously indicated their preference for 
responding to surveys by telephone. For those who request a telephone 
survey, NORC's telephone interviewers will call the respondent and ask 
them to participate in the survey, if the respondent wants to 
participate NORC will conduct the survey.
     Non-response follow-ups: NORC will sample a portion of 
non-responders and follow-up with a face-to face recruitment of the 
sampled non-responders. Non-response follow-up reduces non-response 
bias significantly by improving the representativeness of the 
AmeriSpeak Panel with respect to certain hard-to-reach segments of the 
population underrepresented by recruitment relying only on mail and 
telephone.
    Eligibility criteria include those ages 18-64 years old who 
understand English or Spanish, and who have the ability to provide 
informed consent as well as a Social Security Number.
    Participants in the DPS will receive the Informed Consent as part 
of the first screens of the survey. If NORC conducts the survey by 
telephone, the interviewer will review the main points on the consent 
with the participant. The Informed Consent, whether online or read by 
the interviewer, will include:
     The purpose of the survey and the primary topics addressed 
in the survey questions;
     The information that the respondents may withdraw at any 
time;
     The voluntary nature of the study;
     A statement that the information collected is completely 
confidential and will not be used by SSA for the purposes of 
determining eligibility for benefits, nor for purposes other than 
research or program evaluation;
     The approximate time it will take to complete the survey;
     The incentive amount for participation, and how the 
respondent will receive their incentive;
     Information on who to call if they have questions about 
their rights as a survey participants;
    If the respondents give their informed consent, but cannot provide 
their SSN, the survey will end, and the respondent will not continue 
further. Survey participants will receive $20 as reimbursement for 
completing the DPS.
    Following the emailing of the survey URL, NORC will follow up 10 
times over the course of a 32-week field period to remind respondents 
to complete the survey. NORC will send the participants reminder 
scripts both by email and text messages to complete the survey. NORC 
will also send reminders by mail, via a reminder letter and postcard. 
The respondents are working adults (age 18-64) SSDI program recipients, 
and those who may qualify for SSDI benefits for SSDI benefits.
    Type of Request: Request for a new 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) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DPS (Web version).......................................           4,259               1              17           1,207        * $11.70      ** $14,122
DPS (Phone version).....................................             752               1              17             213         * 11.70        ** 2,492
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................           5,011  ..............  ..............           1,420  ..............          16,614
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2022 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2022factsheet.pdf).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
  respondents to complete the application.

    2. 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 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

[[Page 33284]]

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        Estimated        Average     time  in field   Total  annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual     theoretical    office or for    opportunity
         Modality of  completion            respondents      response        response         burden        hourly cost     teleservice        cost
                                                                             (minutes)        (hours)         amount          centers      (dollars) ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-10 (Paper)..........................           2,116               1              30           1,058         * 28.01  ..............      *** 29,635
SSA-10 (MCS)............................         570,540               1              30         285,270         * 28.01           ** 21  *** 13,583,702
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         572,656  ..............  ..............         286,328  ..............  ..............  *** 13,613,337
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** 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.

    3. Request to be Selected as a Payee--20 CFR 404.2010-404.2055, 
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 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.

                                                              Individuals/Households (90%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                                                              Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of collection             respondents      response      per response    annual burden    hourly cost     teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                             (minutes)        (hours)         amount          centers           ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative Payee System (RPS).......       1,761,300               1              12         352,260            * 39           ** 21  *** 37,779,885
Paper Version...........................          70,452               1              12          14,090            * 39  ..............     *** 549,510
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................       1,831,752  ..............  ..............         366,350  ..............  ..............  *** 38,329,395
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                   Private Sector (9%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                                                              Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of   Average burden   Total annual     theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of collection             respondents      response      per response   burden (hours)    hourly cost     teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                             (minutes)                        amount          centers           ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative Payee System (RPS).......         176,130               1              12          35,226            * 39           ** 21   *** 3,778,008
Paper Version...........................           7,045               1              12           1,409            * 39  ..............      *** 54,951
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................         183,175  ..............  ..............          36,635  ..............  ..............   *** 3,832,959
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                           State/Local/Tribal Government (1%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                                                              Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of   Average burden   Total annual     theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of collection             respondents      response      per response   burden (hours)    hourly cost     teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                             (minutes)                        amount          centers           ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative Payee System (RPS).......          19,570               1              12           3,914            * 39           ** 21     *** 419,796

[[Page 33285]]

 
Paper Version...........................             350               1              12              70            * 39  ..............       *** 2,730
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................          19,920               1              12           3,984            * 39  ..............     *** 422,526
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Grand Total.....................       2,034,847  ..............  ..............         406,969  ..............  ..............  *** 42,584,880
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** 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. 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         * 11.70  ..............     *** 277,220
SSI Claims System.......................       1,764,207               1              20         588,069         * 11.70           ** 21  *** 14,104,830
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       1,831,905  ..............  ..............         611,763  ..............  ..............   ***14,382,050
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2022 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2022factsheet.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.

    5. 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 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        Estimated        Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual     theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of completion             respondents      response        response         burden        hourly cost     teleservice        cost
                                                                             (minutes)        (hours)         amount          centers      (dollars) ***
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSI Claims System.......................         800,963               1              20         266,988         * 19.86           ** 21  *** 10,869,875
iClaim and SSI Claims System............         129,736               1              20          43,245         * 19.86           ** 21   *** 1,760,649

[[Page 33286]]

 
SSA-8001-BK (Paper Version).............          31,776               1              20          10,592         * 19.86           ** 21     *** 431,240
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         962,475  ..............  ..............         320,825  ..............  ..............  *** 13,061,764
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2022 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2022factsheet.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.

    6. Employer Verification of Records for Children Under Age 7--20 
CFR 404.801-404.803, 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          * 28.01        ** 21,624
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** 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. 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          * 28.01            ** 19       *** 13,277
 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).
** 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.

    8. 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

[[Page 33287]]

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        Estimated        Average      time in field   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual     theoretical      office or      opportunity
         Modality of completion             respondents      response        response         burden        hourly cost     teleservice        cost
                                                                             (minutes)        (hours)         amount          centers     (dollars) ****
                                                                                                           (dollars) **    (minutes) ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centenarian Project--Title XVI Only *...             194               1              15              49        ** 28.01          *** 21      **** 3,277
MNUP--All Title II Responses............           4,210               1              15           1,053        ** 28.01          *** 21     **** 70,781
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................           4,404  ..............  ..............           1,102  ..............  ..............     **** 74,058
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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
*** 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.

    9. COVID-19 Symptoms Screener for In-Person Hearings, and VIPr 
Mobile Application and Telephone Screener for Office visits--20 CFR 
404.929, 404.933, 416.1429, 416.1433, 418.1350, 422.103-422.110, and 
422.203--0960-0824.

Background

    During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, SSA conducted its services 
almost exclusively online or by telephone, to protect the health of 
both the public and our employees. We took these measures in accordance 
with relevant Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 pandemic guidance, 
and to comply with existing Occupational Safety and Health Act 
provisions regarding workplace safety.
    We have resumed in-person hearings, as well as in-person field 
office visits. We use the current CDC-suggested COVID-19 screening 
symptoms questionnaire for people coming in for in-person vists. The 
questionnaire for in-office visits is available via telephone, SSA 
mobile application (VIPr App), or kiosk. We require satisfactory 
answers to the screening questions, i.e., demonstrating that field 
office visitors did not demonstrate symptoms of COVID-19 and had not 
been exposed to someone with COVID-19, for the appointment to proceed. 
If the individuals answered yes to any of the COVID screening 
questions, we offer them the option of completing their interview via 
video teleconferencing or using our online options, or we offer to 
reschedule their in-person interview for a later date.

Information Collection Description

    Because of COVID-19 health and safety considerations, we plan to 
continue requiring all members of the public entering an SSA field 
office for a visit, or a hearing office to participate in an in-person 
hearing, to complete a brief screener questionnaire designed to 
identify COVID-19 symptoms.
    For individuals visiting a hearings office, we provide a link to 
the screener questionnaire in the mailed notice of scheduled hearings. 
People participating in a hearing can complete and submit the 
questionnaire online within 24 hours before the start of the hearing. 
If hearings participants do not wish to use the internet, they can call 
the hearings office where the hearing is scheduled and complete the 
questionnaire over the phone.
    Similarly, we will give field office visitors the option of 
completing the screener questionnaire either via telephone or through 
SSA's mobile application, VIPr, prior to entering the building. As part 
of our pre-screening questions prior to scheduling an appointment, we 
will remind potential visitors of our telephone and internet options, 
will explain our mask requirement policy, and will administer a brief 
screener questionnaire designed to identify COVID-19 symptoms. For 
those members of the public who do not schedule an appointment, we have 
a poster in our field office windows visible from the outside 
instructing visitors about the need to complete the screening 
questionnaire and about our masking policies.
    Regardless of whether an individual schedules an appointment or 
visits a field office without prior scheduling, we will continue to 
request satisfactory completion of the screener in advance of entering 
the building as a prerequisite for entering the field office.
    SSA's screener questionnaire asks questions relating to personal 
experience of any COVID symptoms; exposure to someone diagnosed with 
COVID; or travel by means other than land travel, such as car, bus, 
ferry, or train. SSA uses the screener responses to determine if the 
participant is ``cleared'' or ``not cleared'' to enter an SSA field or 
hearing office. If participants answer ``no'' to all questions, they 
are ``cleared'' to participate. If they answer ``yes'' to any part of 
the screener, they will be considered ``not cleared.'' Individuals who 
are not cleared may request SSA to reschedule their visit at least 14 
days after the COVID-19 symptoms first presented, or 14 days after they 
tested positive for COVID-19.

[[Page 33288]]

Alternatives to Completing the Information Collection

    Although we will continue to require completion of the screener 
questionnaire for any in-person hearing or field office visit, we do 
not require this screener questionnaire for other modalities of appeals 
hearings, or field office services. One may choose an online video 
hearing or telephone hearing as an alternative to an in-person hearing, 
just as we also have online and telephone services for field office 
transactions. Claimants may obtain Social Security payments regardless 
of the hearing method they choose, and field office visitors may submit 
their documentation using our internet services, telephone requests, or 
by mailing their documentation to SSA.
    The respondents are beneficiaries or applicants requesting an in-
person hearing, or members of the public entering a field office.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average wait
                                                                              Average        Estimated        Average     time in office   Total annual
                                             Number of     Frequency of     burden per     total annual     theoretical       or for        opportunity
         Modality of completion             respondents      response        response         burden        hourly cost     teleservice        cost
                                                                             (minutes)        (hours)         amount          centers     (dollars) ****
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVID Screener Questionnaire............         359,160               1              10          59,860         * 19.86           ** 10  **** 2,377,639
VIPr Mobile App.........................          16,554               1               5           1,380         * 28.01          *** 21    **** 200,944
Telephone Screener......................         661,554               1              10         110,259         * 28.01          *** 21  **** 9,573,902
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       1,037,268  ..............  ..............         171,499  ..............  ..............            ****
                                                                                                                                              12,152,485
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based the Covid Screener Questionnaire figure on averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2022 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2022factsheet.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 the VIPr Mobile App and Telephone Screener 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).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2022 wait times for hearing offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** We based this figure on 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.


    Dated: May 25, 2022.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-11685 Filed 5-31-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P