[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55666-55670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14685]
[[Page 55666]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2024-0025]
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, and one new
collection for OMB-approval.
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, Fax:
202-395-6974
(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, Mail Stop 3253 Altmeyer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD
21235, Fax: 833-410-1631, Email address: [email protected]
Or you may submit your comments online through https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain by clicking on Currently under
Review--Open for Public Comments and choosing to click on one of SSA's
published items. Pleas reference Docket ID Number [SSA-2024-0025] in
your submitted response.
I. The information collection below is pending at SSA. SSA will
submit it 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
September 3, 2024. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection
instruments by writing to the above email address.
1. Social Security Number Verification Services--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0660. Internal Revenue Service regulations require employers to
provide wage and tax data to SSA using Form W-2, or its electronic
equivalent. As part of this process, the employer must furnish the
employee's name and Social Security number (SSN). In addition, the
employee's name and SSN must match SSA's records for SSA to post
earnings to the employee's earnings record, which SSA maintains. SSA
offers the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS), which
allows employers to verify the reported names and SSNs of their
employees match those in SSA's records. SSNVS is a cost-free, voluntary
method for employers to verify employee information via the internet.
SSA annotates data an employer supplies to SSA for verification that
does not match SSA's records with a no match indicator and returns it
to the employer. The respondents are employers who need to verify SSN
data using SSA's records.
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 Number of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response responses (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSNVS............................ 44,891 60 2,663,460 5 221,955 * $43.65 ** $9,688,336
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average hourly wage for Accountants and Auditors, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
2. Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security Record--20 CFR
402.130--0960-0665. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), at 5 U.S.C.
552(a)(3) of the U.S. Code, provides instructions for members of the
public to request records from Federal Agencies. When a member of the
public requests an individual's Social Security record under FOIA, SSA
needs the name and address of the requestor as well as a description of
the requested record to process the request. While SSA respondents may
submit these requests in writing, SSA also allows for the use of Form
SSA-711, Deceased Individual's Social Security Records, for FOIA
requests for a deceased individual's records for genealogical research,
family estate matters, and other reasons. SSA then uses the information
the respondent provides on Form
SSA-711, or via an internet request through SSA's electronic
Freedom of Information Act Xpress (FOIAXpress) website, to: (1) verify
the wage earner is deceased; and (2) access the correct Social Security
record. Respondents are members of the public requesting deceased
individuals' Social Security records.
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 for opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice cost (dollars)
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Request through FOIAXpress..... 49,800 1 7 5,810 * $31.48 .............. *** $182,899
SSA-711 (paper)......................... 200 1 7 23 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 2,928
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................... 50,000 .............. .............. 5,833 .............. .............. *** 185,827
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on 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 averaging both the average FY 2024 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 55667]]
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 August 5, 2024. Individuals can obtain copies of
these OMB clearance packages by writing to the
[email protected].
1. Supportive Housing & Individual Placement and Support (SHIPS)
Study--0960-NEW
Background: Homelessness and unemployment are linked issues, with
rising housing costs often leaving people unable to afford homes when
combined with unemployment. The instability of housing makes finding
employment even more challenging, creating a difficult cycle to break.
While studies have shown that supportive housing programs improve
housing stability, there is no significant evidence that such programs
reliably increase employment among residents. (For the purposes of this
study, we define supportive housing as housing services coupled with
additional services that include case management support. These include
place-based permanent supportive housing, scattered site permanent
supportive housing, and rapid rehousing.) Conversely, Individual
Placement and Support (IPS), a proven method for supporting employment,
has not demonstrated effectiveness in stabilizing housing. SSA is
requesting clearance to collect data for the Supportive Housing and
Individual Placement and Support (SHIPS) study, under the
Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program (ICAP), to determine
whether participation in Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
improves the employment, income, health, and self-sufficiency of people
who are recently homeless and living in supportive housing. ICAP allows
SSA to partner with various non-federal groups and organizations to
advance interventional research connected to the Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs.
SSA awarded Westat a cooperative agreement to conduct SHIPS. In
addition to SSA, Westat is partnering with three subrecipients for this
project: (1) People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), (2) the University
of Southern California (U.S.C.), and (3) the Research Foundation for
Mental Hygiene (RFMH) to implement the SHIPS study.
ICAP SHIPS Study Project Description
The SHIPS study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to
determine whether participation in Individual Placement and Support
(IPS) improves the employment, income, health, and self-sufficiency of
people who are recently homeless and living in supportive housing. The
SHIPS study will mark the first study testing the effectiveness of
implementing IPS in a supportive housing program. SSA hypothesizes that
combining the two most successful evidence-based practices that
separately address homelessness and supported employment will yield a
single intervention that effectively addresses both. The intent of the
SHIPS study is to measure the effectiveness of evidence-based IPS
compared to the services provided by local WorkSource Centers broadly
available to jobseekers in the Los Angeles area, The housing case
managers will refer PATH clients interested in finding employment and
will randomly assign participants to one of two groups:
a. IPS: The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service team
will offer a range of structured services customized to participants'
personal needs, preferences, and challenges related to disabilities
and/or mental health conditions. IPS was specifically designed as a
supported employment model for individuals with serious mental illness
and includes standardized training and fidelity requirements.
Components of IPS that differ from those offered by WorkSource Services
include integrated treatment that incorporates vocational and mental
health services; benefits planning; and focus on rapid job search
without extensive training.
b. WorkSource Centers: Under PATH's current housing model, housing
case managers refer PATH clients who express interest in finding
employment to local American Job Centers, known as WorkSource Centers
in Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce
Development Department operates the WorkSource Centers, and follow an
employment services model that varies by WorkSource Center; is not
evidence-based or subject to fidelity monitoring, and is not
necessarily responsive to the individual needs of jobseekers with
disabilities.
The primary goals of the SHIPS study are:
To measure the effects of IPS participation on employment,
income, health, and long-term self-sufficiency measured as a
combination of housing stability, income, and receipt of DI and SSI
benefits.
To describe the study population in order to understand
both the generalizability of the study's findings and the potential
reasons for the observed effects.
To explore the IPS implementation process to understand
barriers and facilitators to high-fidelity IPS implementation in the
supportive housing context.
Grantee researchers and SSA will use the information collected
during this study to (1) assess the short-term and long-term
effectiveness of the proposed intervention to improve employment,
income, and self-sufficiency; (2) understand the implementation
process; (3) provide detailed subgroup-specific data related to the
effect of IPS.
The respondents are residents in supportive housing units operated
by PATH who are unemployed and looking for employment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average time in office Total annual
Number of Frequency of Number of Average burden Estimated theoretical or for opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response responses per response total annual hourly cost teleservice cost (dollars)
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Study enrollees: baseline interview............................. 200 1 200 60 200 * $13.30 ** 24 *** $3,724
Study enrollees: quarterly interviews........................... 200 7 1,400 10 233 * 13.30 ** 21 *** 4,030
Study enrollees: final interview................................ 200 1 200 60 200 * 13.30 ** 21 *** 3,591
PATH Interviews: Staff.......................................... 5 1 5 60 5 * 31.94 ** 24 *** 224
SHIPS Interviews: enrollees..................................... 5 1 5 60 5 * 13.30 ** 24 *** 93
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 55668]]
Totals...................................................... 610 .............. .............. 250 643 .............. .............. *** 11,662
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2024 data (https://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf), and survey researchers (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193022.htm).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2024 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. Partnership Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1080-404.1082--0960-0025.
SSA considers partnership income in determining entitlement to Social
Security benefits. SSA uses information from Form SSA-7104 to determine
several aspects of eligibility for benefits, including the accuracy of
reported partnership earnings; the veracity of a retirement; and lag
earnings where SSA needs this information to determine the status of
the insured. The respondents are applicants for, and recipients of,
Title II Social Security benefits who are reporting partnership
earnings.
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)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7104 (mailed)....................... 2,154 1 30 1.077 * $31.48 .............. *** $33,904
SSA-7104 (completed in or brought to a 2,154 1 30 1,077 * 31.48 ** 24 *** 61,040
field office)..........................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 4308 .............. .............. 2154 .............. .............. *** 94,944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average the U.S. citizen's hourly salary, 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 2024 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. Certification by Religious Group--20 CFR 404.1075--0960-0093.
SSA is responsible for determining whether religious groups meet the
qualifications exempting certain members and sects from payment of
Self-Employment Contribution Act taxes under the Internal Revenue Code,
Section 1402(g). SSA sends Form SSA-1458, Certification by Religious
Group, to a group's authorized spokesperson to complete and verify
organizational members meet or continue to meet the criteria for
exemption. The respondents are spokespersons for religious groups or
sects.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1458.......................................... 142 1 15 35 * $31.48 ** $1,102
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on 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.
4. Medical Source Statement of Ability To Do Work Related
Activities (Physical and Mental)--20 CFR 404.1512-404.1513, 416.912-
416.913, 404.1517, and 416.917--0960-0662. When a claimant appeals a
denied disability claim, SSA may ask the claimant to have a
consultative examination at the agency's expense, if the claimant's
medical sources cannot, or will not, give the agency sufficient
evidence to determine whether the claimant is disabled. The medical
providers who perform these consultative examinations provide a
statement about the claimant's state of disability. Specifically, these
medical source statements determine the work-related capabilities of
these claimants. SSA collects the medical data on the HA-1151 and HA-
1152 to assess the work-related physical and mental capabilities of
claimants who appeal SSA's previous determination on their issue of
disability. The respondents are medical sources who provide reports
based either on existing medical evidence or on consultative
examinations.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 55669]]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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) * ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-1151................................................. 5,000 30 15 37,500 * $49.07 ** $1,840,125
HA-1152................................................. 5,000 30 15 37,500 * 49.07 ** 1,840,125
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................................. 10,000 .............. .............. 75,000 .............. ** 3,680,250
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average medical professionals' salaries, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.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.
5. Filing Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act--20 CFR 429.101-
429.110--0960-0667. The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) is the mechanism
for compensating people who Federal employees injured through negligent
or wrongful acts that occurred during the performance of those
employees' official duties. SSA accepts claims filed under the FTCA for
damages against the United States; loss of property; personal injury;
or death resulting from an SSA employee's wrongful act or omission. The
various types of claims included under this information collection
request require claimants to provide information SSA can use to
determine whether to make an award, compromise, or settlement under the
FTCA. The respondents are individuals or entities making a claim under
the FTCA.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Total annual
Regulation citations Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
429.102; 429.103 *...................................... 1 1 1 0 ** $31.48 *** $0
429.104(a).............................................. 8 1 60 8 ** 31.48 *** 252
429.104(b).............................................. 30 1 60 30 ** 31.48 *** 944
429.104(c).............................................. 1 1 60 1 ** 31.48 *** 32
429.106(b).............................................. 1 1 60 1 ** 31.48 *** 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................................. 41 .............. .............. 40 .............. *** 1,260
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We are including a one-hour placeholder burden for 20 CFR 429.102 and 429.103, as respondents complete OMB-approved Form SF-95, OMB No. 1105-0008.
Since the burden for these citations is covered under a separate OMB number, we are not double-counting the burden here.
** We based this figure on the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#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. Internet and Telephone Appointment Applications--20 CFR 404.620-
404.630, 416.330-416.340--0960-0822. SSA offers both internet and
Telephone appointment options for applicants or recipients who wish to
request an appointment when they are unable to complete one of SSA's
online or automated telephone applications because they failed the
initial verification checks, or when they state their reading language
preference is other than English.
SSA offers two modalities for scheduling appointments: (1) an
internet-based option (iAppointment), and (2) the Enhanced Leads and
Appointment System (eLAS):
iAppointment: iAppointment is an online process that allows members
of the public an easy-to-use method to schedule an appointment with the
servicing office of their choice. Since the application date can affect
when a claimant's benefit begins, iAppointment establishes a protective
filing date and provides respondents information related to the date by
which they must file their actual application. The iAppointment
application propagates information the applicant already entered onto
any of SSA's internet applications for SSN, name, date of birth, and
gender. However, applicants must provide minimal additional
information: mailing address; telephone number; language preference;
type of appointment (Disability, Retirement, Medicare); and whether
they prefer a telephone interview or in-office appointment.
iAppointment is a customer-centric application. If the available
appointment times do not meet the customer's needs, iAppointment allows
them to enter a different zip code to identify another field office,
which may offer different appointment times. At this time, SSA only
allows domestic first party applicants to use iAppointment. If users
indicate they are filing as third parties, iAppointment provides a
message directing them to call the National 800 Number for assistance.
If a foreign first party user is unable to complete iClaim,
iAppointment directs them to contact a Social Security representative,
and provides a link to SSA's Service Around the World website.
Enhanced Leads and Appointment System (eLAS)--eLAS is an Intranet-
based version of the iAppointment screens for use by SSA technicians
both in the field offices and call centers. eLAS interacts with
iAppointment directly to ensure we always record the same information
whether an individual requests an appointment through our internet
screens, or via telephone. eLAS is a non-public facing system that
allows SSA employees in the field offices, workload support units, and
teleservice centers to use an telephone interview process to schedule
appointments and document an individual's intent to file using a
specific script and asking the same questions to each individual. We
use eLAS with individuals who use our automated telephone system, or
who prefer not to use iAppointment to set up their appointment.
The respondents are individuals who are unable to use our internet
or automated telephone systems because they failed the initial
verification
[[Page 55670]]
checks, or because they state their reading language preference is
other than English.
Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
combined wait
Average burden Estimated Average time in field Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden theoretical office or for opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) cost amount teleservice cost (dollars)
(dollars) * center ***
(minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iAppointment............................ 20,965 1 10 3,494 * $31.48 .............. *** $103,981
eLAS.................................... 7,270,161 1 10 1,211,694 * 31.48 **21 *** 111,786
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 7,291,126 .............. .............. 1,215,188 .............. .............. *** 215,767
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average U.S. worker's hourly wages (based on BLS.gov data, (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the combined average FY 2024 wait times for field offices (approximately 24 minutes per respondent) and teleservice centers
(approximately 17 minutes per respondent), 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: June 28, 2024.
Tasha Harley,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-14685 Filed 7-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P