[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48547-48548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17023]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2022-0043]


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 revision of an OMB-approved information collection.
    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-2022-0043].

(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-
2022-0043].
    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 8, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies of the 
OMB clearance package by writing to [email protected].
    Electronic Protective Filing Tool--20 CFR 404.630, and 20 CFR 
416.340-416.345--0960-0826. The COVID-19 pandemic limited the public's 
access to SSA Field Offices (FOs), requiring SSA to rapidly expand 
online services available to the public. During the time when SSA 
stopped accepting walk-in visitors, the agency noticed a sharp decrease 
in SSI claims from underserved populations who have historically relied 
on in-office appointments and service. SSA uses the term ``People 
facing barriers'' to refer to these vulnerable populations, which 
include low-income individuals (especially those over age 65), the 
homeless, people with limited English proficiency, and disabled 
children.

Background

    Historically, individuals contact SSA by phone, in person, or by 
mail to express interest in filing for benefits. Because same-day 
service to file an application is not always possible, and because some 
individuals prefer to make an appointment, SSA technicians use eLAS 
(OMB No. 0960-0822) to set up appointments and record the protective 
filing date for potential claimants. This process ensures that 
potential claimants do not miss out on possible benefits due to the 
lack of same-day service.
    Protective filing is the precursor to filing an application for 
benefits. Protective filing refers to the date by which SSA receives an 
individual's intent to file for SSI payments, which SSA then uses as 
the application date provided the individual files an application 
within a specific amount of time after that date. Therefore, it is as 
if the application was filed on the day the individual contacted SSA to 
express interest in filing, which may result in additional payments to 
that individual.
    SSA developed an online tool to allow internet users to request an 
appointment to file an application for benefits and to establish a 
protective filing date with SSA. The electronic protective filing tool 
allows individuals to submit information for the appointment request 
using a computing device, such as a personal computer or handheld 
(mobile) device instead of calling SSA by phone or visiting an FO. The 
tool is available on SSA's website to potential claimants, as well as 
those individuals assisting them.

Information the Electronic Protective Filing Tool Collects

    After entering the ePFT from SSA's website, individuals begin on a 
welcome screen that displays a link to the Terms of Service. Next, a 
user sees

[[Page 48548]]

the Privacy Act statement page. The user then provides a response about 
whether they are answering these questions about themselves or about 
another person. To do so, the system presents several options for 
individual to select from the categories of individuals who, under 
current regulations, can establish a protective filing date. The next 
screens ask for basic information about the individual who will be 
claiming benefits or requesting SSI payments. Additionally, the tool 
collects the name, phone number, and email address (optional) of the 
person submitting the information, if that person is different than the 
person who will be filing for SSI.
    Once the ePFT collects the data, it gives the individual the 
opportunity to review the information provided and electronically sign 
and submit the form. The ePFT then transmits the information into eLAS, 
documenting it as an ePFT submission, and establishes a protective 
filing date. If the individual provided an email address(es), the tool 
generates an email confirmation and sends it to the individual who will 
be filing for benefits, and, if applicable, to the individual 
submitting the appointment request on the claimant's behalf.
    Subsequently, eLAS notifies SSA of the pending request, and an SSA 
technician uses the information submitted to schedule an appointment 
and send a notification of the date, time, and type of appointment to 
the individual who will be filing for benefits.
    Members of the public who prefer not to use the online version of 
this IC, or who do not have access to the internet, may continue to 
visit an FO, call SSA's 800 Number (or an FO), or write to SSA to 
establish a protective filing date for an application for benefits.
    The respondents are individuals with an intent to file for SSI (or 
third parties helping these individuals) and who want to request an 
appointment to do so.
    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) *         **
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Respondent Type 1 (ex: Potential Applicants)............          17,000               1               6           1,700        * $28.01      ** $47,617
Respondent Type 2 (ex: Professional Assistors)..........           2,125              10               7           2,479         * 25.94       ** 64,305
Respondent Type 3 (ex: Attorney Representatives)........           2,125               2               7             496         * 72.18       ** 35,801
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................          21,250  ..............  ..............           4,675  ..............      ** 147,723
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* We based these figures 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), on average wages for Community and Social Service Organizations as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes210000.htm), and on average lawyer's hourly salary as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this online tool; rather,
  these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the tool. There is no actual charge to respondents
  to complete the online tool.


    Dated: August 4, 2022.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-17023 Filed 8-8-22; 8:45 am]
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