Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 16, 2025)

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16050-16056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06422]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2025-0012]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request

The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of
information

[[Page 16051]]

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
extensions 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.
(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: ssa.gov">OR.Reports.Clearance@ssa.gov.
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. Please reference Docket ID Number [SSA-2025-0012] 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 June
16, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instrument by
writing to the above email address.

eSignature/Upload Documents--20 CFR 404.704; 404.1512, 416.912, and
422.505--0960-0830

Background

In the digital age, individuals expect to complete transactions
online, including submitting documents and forms to government
agencies. The agency offers several service-specific options for
individuals to submit forms and other documents online (e.g., iClaim,
OMB #0960-0618; iAppeals, OMB Number 0960-0269 & 0960-0622; Electronic
Records Express, OMB #0960-0753; etc.). While these available options
are useful, the agency uses eSignature/Upload Documents [formerly
Upload Documents (eSubmit)] to expand the options for first-party
individuals to securely submit information electronically to SSA to
complete business with the agency and support claims for benefits. The
Social Security Administration (SSA) introduced eSignature/Upload
Documents nationally in April 2024, as a new way for individuals to
securely submit evidence and forms electronically to SSA.
SSA relies heavily on receiving physical forms, proofs, and
evidence from customers and third parties (e.g., appointed
representatives) either in office or via paper mail. SSA estimates that
our offices receive roughly 35-36 million pieces of mail each year and
that it takes about 4 minutes per paper mail parcel for front line
staff to manually open, sort, review, digitize, and assign each piece
of mail manually using our backend intake processing systems. SSA
regulations under 20 CFR 404.704, 404.1512, 416.200, 416.912, and
422.505 set out requirements for the evidence and forms respondents
need to submit and complete to conduct business with the agency. In
addition, Executive Order (E.O.) 14058, Transforming Federal Customer
Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government,
requires SSA to develop a mobile-accessible, online process so that any
individual applying for, or receiving services from, SSA can upload
forms, documentation, evidence, or correspondence associated with their
transaction without the need for service-specific tools or travel to a
field office. To comply with E.O. 14058, SSA created eSignature/Upload
Documents, which allows respondents to upload and submit forms,
documentation, and evidence to SSA electronically through the internet
or a mobile application.

eSignature/Upload Documents

As per the requirements of E.O. 14058, respondents may use the
secure upload portal, eSignature/Upload Documents, to submit documents
and webforms to SSA. As of the March 2024 national rollout, eSignature/
Upload Documents contains 71 forms and allows for the electronic
submission of 79 evidence types. The current process requires an SSA
technician to request forms and evidence from a customer, then send an
email or text to the customer with a link to upload these documents. As
a direct result of SSA Customer Experience (CX) testing and feedback
recommendations, the eSignature/Upload Documents team is enhancing the
tool to include an expansion of forms and evidence types available for
upload including additional PDFs, as well as static and dynamic
webforms. While adding additional PDFs and static webforms increases
the forms and evidence available for customers to upload
electronically, the dynamic webforms modernize the forms for easier
customer completion and submission. Dynamic webforms adapt questions
based on the customer's response, ask questions in plain language, and
are formatted in an easily understood way. Additionally, as a further
result of customer feedback, eSignature/Upload Documents will implement
an enhancement that allows customers to access the Upload Documents
link directly from ssa.gov or their mySSA account without having to
first interact with a SSA technician. Once the link is accessed and the
form selected, the upload process eSignature/Upload Documents includes
an electronic signature functionality allowing respondents to submit
forms requiring a signature. Upon customer completion of a static or
dynamic webform, the respondent includes an eSignature as needed,
submits the form to SSA electronically, and the system generates a
printable PDF for the customer's personal records if the customer
desires it.
eSignature/Upload Documents serves individuals including Title II,
Title XVI, and Title XVIII beneficiaries, as well as individuals who do
not currently receive any benefits from SSA. eSignature/Upload
Documents is limited to first-party individuals, and does not currently
allow third parties, including representative payees, to submit
documents on behalf of others. Technicians contact the respondent, via
email, telephone, or face-to-face interview with SSA, for a business
matter (e.g., filing a claim, performing a redetermination, or updating
their personal information). During the interaction, the SSA technician
requests additional information and offers the opportunity to provide
the information electronically via the eSignature/Upload Documents
portal. The technician then sends a one-time email or text message
containing a link to eSignature/Upload Documents with access
instructions. Customers who request a text message as their preferred
communication method must first provide consent to text messaging. The
electronic submission process is only available within 30 days from the
date of the email or text. If the respondents do not submit the
documents within 10 days, they receive an email or text reminder to
complete their submission.
Once the respondents click on the link to eSignature/Upload
Documents, the system requires them to authenticate using one of SSA's
electronic access options (OMB Control No. 0960-0789),

[[Page 16052]]

ID.me, or Login.gov, and then presents them with the required language
concerning the applicable Terms of Service, the Privacy Act Statement,
the Paperwork Reduction Act Statement, and any identity proofing and
authentication (as per the requirements of those authentication
processes). Once the respondents arrive at the eSignature/Upload
Documents dashboard, the system presents them with the description of
the items SSA requested from them (examples of the documentation SSA
may request includes forms or non-standardized evidence to support
their request [e.g., pay stubs, bank statements, pension award letters,
tax documents, child support payment history, etc.]). Each item SSA
requests from the respondent appears as a request card on their
dashboard.
To fulfill an eSignature/Upload Documents request, the system
guides the respondent through one of three options:
1. Download, complete, save and then upload a PDF, or upload an
evidence document, by dragging or browsing from their device and
uploading the document to the eSignature/Upload Documents system.
2. Complete and submit a static webform with or without additional
uploaded document(s).
3. Complete and submit a dynamic webform with or without additional
uploaded document(s).
Once the respondents finish uploading their forms or documents, the
system will alert them if the attempted file upload does not meet the
file criteria requirements. The respondent then corrects any upload
failures before submitting the documents to SSA.
After either uploading the documents, or completing the static or
dynamic webform questions, the respondent must select the Submit button
to complete the action, and the system will present them with the
confirmation page. This page also presents an option to save or print
the completed PDF. The respondent receives a successful submission
email or text once they have successfully uploaded their document(s) to
SSA. The system notifies the technician through the Technician
Experience Dashboard (TED) when the document is available for review
and consideration.

Commercial Product Alternative Signature (CPAS)

SSA also allows for the submission of certain forms signed using a
commercial signature product. Some of these forms also have electronic
means for submission.
Under the CPAS process, individuals who use a commercial signature
product to submit signed forms will ensure that the product is capable
of generating an audit trail maintaining the following information in a
digital certificate:
(1) confirmation that the document was signed using a commercial
product; (2) signature details (i.e., name of person who signed the
document, date/time document was signed); (3) email and IP address
associated with each signature; (4) whether the document was changed
after signature; and (5) an identifier that connects the audit trail to
the signed document to which it applies. SSA then requires the
individual to maintain the digital certificate for a minimum of three
years from the date they submitted the form and to produce the digital
certificate if the agency requests it. Once the individual uses the
CPAS process SSA allows them to submit the electronically signed forms
using any method currently accepted for wet-signed forms (e.g., by
mail, in person, or via a secured electronic transfer, like Upload
Documents or Electronic Records Express, OMB #0960-0753).
Currently, SSA only accepts CPAS for the Commercial Product
Alternative Signature (CPAS) process as an additional means for
individuals to sign the following eight currently approved agency forms
prior to sending them to SSA:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMB No. Form No. Form title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0960-0059....................... SSA-821-BK; SSA- Work Activity
821-APP. Report--Employee.
0960-0229....................... SSA-8000-BK; iSSI Application for
(Internet Supplemental
modality). Security Income
(SSI).
0960-0444....................... SSA-8001-BK; iSSI Application for
(Internet Supplemental
modality). Security Income
(Deferred or
Abbreviated).
* 0960-0527..................... SSA-1696; SSA-1696- Appointment of
APP. Representative.
0960-0598....................... SSA-820-BK; SSA- Work Activity
821-APP. Report (Self-
Employment).
0960-0618....................... SSA-16; iClaim Application for
(Internet Disability
modality). Insurance
Benefits.
** 0960-0623.................... SSA-827; i827 Authorization to
(Internet Disclose
modality). Information to
the Social
Security
Administration.
* 0960-0810..................... SSA-1693; SSA-1693- Fee Agreement for
APP. Representation
before the Social
Security
Administration.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* While Forms SSA-1696 and SSA-1693 are not, currently, available
through the Upload Documents (eSubmit) Portal, we offer an
electronically signable and submittable PDF version through the Adobe
Sign process. However, we hope to expand the Upload Documents Portal
to include them in the future.
** Note: SSA may require additional verbal attestation for Form SSA-827
when submitted using the CPAS process. However, if the respondent
chooses to submit the SSA-827 through the eSignature/Upload Documents
webform, or the internet i827, SSA will accept it without any
additional attestation.

The specific forms that respondents submit through eSignature/
Upload Documents (or the CPAS process) retain their existing OMB
Control Numbers, reflecting the fact that the eSignature/Upload
Document Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval is for the system we
use to collect form submissions, but not the actual questions on the
forms themselves. While we note the use of eSignature/Upload Documents
reduces the overall burden associated with submitting forms, SSA
continues to document any burden reduction associated with improved
submission within the specific forms' supporting statements.
Respondents are first-party individuals who choose to use the
internet to conduct business with SSA.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

[[Page 16053]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Average wait
Average burden Estimated theoretical time for Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount center cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet-Based Static or Dynamic 115,369 1 5 9,614 * $32.66 ** 21 *** $1,632,771
Webform...............................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average U.S. worker's hourly wages (based on BLS.gov data, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2025 wait times for teleservice centers (approximately 21 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.

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 May 16, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of these
OMB clearance packages by writing to the ssa.gov">OR.Reports.Clearance@ssa.gov.
1. Statement of Claimant or Other Person--20 CFR 404.702 & 416.570-
0960-0045. SSA uses Form SSA-795 in special situations where there is
no authorized form or questionnaire, yet we require a signed statement
from the applicant, claimant, or other individuals who have knowledge
of facts, in connection with claims for Social Security benefits or
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The information we request on the
SSA-795 is of sufficient importance that we need both a signed
statement and a penalty clause. SSA uses this information to process,
in addition to claims for benefits, issues about continuing
eligibility; ongoing benefit amounts; use of funds by a representative
payee; fraud investigation; and a myriad of other program-related
matters. The most common respondents are applicants for Social
Security, SSI, or recipients of these programs. However, respondents
also include friends and relatives of the involved parties, coworkers,
neighbors, or anyone else in a position to provide information
pertinent to the issue(s).
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 telephone cost (dollars)
(minutes) (hours) amount wait time ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-795 Paper......................... 154,318 1 15 38,580 * $13.30 ** 23 *** $1,299,876
SSA-795 (SSI CCE interviews).......... 22,516 1 15 5,629 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 425,295
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals............................ 176,834 .............. .............. 44,209 .............. .............. *** 1,725,171
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf) and on the average
U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
** We based these figures on both the average FY 2025 wait times for field offices (23 minutes) and teleservice centers (21 minutes), 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 for Reconsideration--Disability Cessation--20 CFR
404.909, 404.1597(b), 416.995, & 416.1409--0960-0349. When SSA
determines that claimants' disabilities medically improved, ceased; or
are no longer sufficiently disabling, these claimants may ask SSA to
reconsider that determination. SSA uses Form SSA-789 to arrange for a
hearing or prepare a decision based on the evidence of record.
Specifically, claimants or their representatives use Form SSA-789 to:
(1) ask SSA to reconsider a determination, (2) indicate if they wish to
appear at a disability hearing, (3) submit any additional information
or evidence for use in the reconsidered determination, and (4) indicate
if they will need an interpreter for the hearing. The respondents are
disability claimants for Social Security benefits or SSI payments who
wish to appeal an unfavorable disability cessation determination.
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-789.......................... 72,796 1 10 12,133 * $13.30 ** 23 *** $532,505
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2025 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.

[[Page 16054]]

3. Travel Expense Reimbursement--20 CFR 404.999(d) and 416.1499--
0960-0434. The Social Security Act (Act) provides for travel expense
reimbursement from Federal and State agencies for claimant travel
incidental to medical examinations, and to parties, their
representatives, and all reasonably necessary witnesses for travel
exceeding 75 miles to attend medical examinations, reconsideration
interviews and proceedings before an administrative law judge.
Reimbursement procedures require the claimant to provide: (1) a list of
expenses incurred; and (2) receipts of such expenses. Federal and state
personnel review the listings and receipts to verify the reimbursable
amount to the requestor. The respondents are claimants for Title II
benefits and Title XVI payments, their representatives, and witnesses.
Type of Request: Extension 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) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404.999(d) & 416.1499............................. 60,000 1 10 10,000 * $29.63 ** $296,300
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf), and
the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
** 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. Permanent Residence in the United States Under Color of Law
(PRUCOL)--20 CFR 416.1615 and 416.1618--0960-0451. Under 20 CFR
416.1415 and 416.1618 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Code), SSA
requires claimants or recipients to submit evidence of their alien
status when they apply for SSI payments, and periodically thereafter as
part of the eligibility determination process for SSI. When SSA cannot
verify evidence of alien status through the regular claimant interview
process, SSA verifies the validity of the evidence of PRUCOL for
grandfathered nonqualified aliens with the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) using the DHS Systemic Alien Verification for
Entitlements (SAVE) program. SSA determines if the individual qualifies
for PRUCOL status based on the SAVE program response. SSA does not
maintain any forms or applications for respondents to use, rather, the
regulations listed in 20 CFR 416.1615 and 416.1618 specify the
information respondents need to submit to SSA to show evidence of
PRUCOL. Without this information, SSA is unable to determine whether
the PRUCOL individual is eligible for SSI payments. Respondents are
qualified and unqualified aliens who apply for SSI payments under
PRUCOL.
Type of Request: Extension 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) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal Interview............... 1,049 1 5 87 * $31.48 ** 23 ** $15,971
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2025 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.

5. Internet Request for Replacement of Forms SSA-1099/SSA-1042S--20
CFR 401.45-0960-0583. Title II beneficiaries use Forms SSA-1099 and
SSA-1042S, Social Security Benefit Statement, to determine if their
Social Security benefits are taxable, and the amount they need to
report to the Internal Revenue Service. In cases where the original
forms are unavailable (e.g., lost, stolen, mutilated), an individual
may use SSA's automated telephone application to request a replacement
SSA-1099 and SSA-1042. SSA uses the information from the automated
telephone requests to verify the identity of the requestor and to
provide replacement copies of the forms. SSA accepts information in
other ways, however; The automated telephone options reduce requests to
the National 800 Number Network (N8NN) and visits to local Social
Security field offices (FO). The respondents are title II beneficiaries
who wish to request a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S via telephone.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Average wait
Average Estimated theoretical time for Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity
respondents response response burden amount centers cost
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) * (minutes) ** (dollars) ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automated Telephone Requests............ 316,000 1 6 31,600 * $32.66 ** 21 *** $4,664,252
N8NN.................................... 497,778 1 3 24,889 * 32.66 ** 21 *** 5,690,091

[[Page 16055]]

Calls to local field offices............ 848,444 1 3 42,422 * 32.66 ** 21 *** 1,870,438
Other (program service centers)......... 41,640 1 3 2,082 * 32.66 ** 21 *** 91,807
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 1,419,462 .............. .............. 100,993 .............. .............. *** 12,316,588
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2025 wait times for SSA 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. Protecting the Public and Our Personnel To Ensure Operational
Effectiveness (RIN 0960-AH35), Regulation 3729I--20 CFR 422.905 and
422.906--0960-0796. SSA published regulations for the process we follow
when we restrict individuals from receiving in-person services in our
field offices and provide them, instead, with alternative services. We
published these rules to create a safer environment for our personnel
and members of the public who use our facilities, while ensuring we
continue to serve the American people with as little disruption to our
operations as possible. Under our regulations at 20 CFR 422.905 of the
Code, an individual for whom we restrict access to our facilities has
the opportunity to appeal our decision within 60 days of the date of
the restrictive access and alternative service notice. To appeal,
restricted individuals must submit a written request via mail stating
why they believe SSA should rescind the restriction and allow them to
conduct business with us on a face-to-face basis in one of our offices.
There is no printed form for this request; rather, restricted
individuals create their own written statement of appeal and submit it
to a sole decision-maker in the regional office of the region where the
restriction originated. The individuals may also provide additional
documentation to support their appeal. Under 20 CFR 422.906 of the
Code, if the individual does not appeal the decision within the 60
days, if we restricted the individual prior to the effective date of
this regulation, or if the appeal results in a denial, the individual
has another opportunity to request review of the restriction after a
three-year period. To submit this request for review, restricted
individuals may re-submit a written appeal of the decision. The same
criteria apply as for the original appeal: (1) it must be in writing;
(2) it must be sent to a sole decision-maker in the regional office of
the region where the restriction originated for review; and (3) it may
accompany supporting documentation. We make this periodic review
available to all restricted individuals once every three years.
Respondents for this collection are individuals appealing their
restrictions from in-person services at SSA field offices.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual
Regulation section Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response response burden amount (dollars) **
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 CFR 422.905...................................... 75 1 15 19 * $22.98 ** $437
20 CFR 422.906...................................... 75 1 20 25 * 22.98 ** 575
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................................... 150 .............. .............. 44 .............. ** 1,012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf), and
the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on claimants 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. Social Security Administration Health IT Partner Program
Assessment--Participating Facilities and Available Content Form--20 CFR
404.1614 and 416.1014--0960-0798. The Health Information Technology for
Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act promotes the adoption and
meaningful use of health information technology (IT), particularly in
the context of working with government agencies. Similarly, Section
3004 of the Public Health Service Act requires health care providers or
health insurance issuers with government contracts to implement,
acquire, or upgrade their health IT systems and products to meet
adopted standards and implementation specifications. To support
expansion of SSA's health IT initiative as defined under HITECH, SSA
developed Form SSA-680, the Health IT Partner Program Assessment--
participating Facilities and Available Content Form. The SSA-680 allows
healthcare providers to provide the information that SSA needs to
determine their ability to exchange health information with us
electronically. We evaluate potential partners (i.e., healthcare
providers and organizations) on: (1) the accessibility of health
information they possess; and (2) the content value of their electronic
health records' systems for our disability adjudication processes. SSA

[[Page 16056]]

reviews the completeness of organizations' SSA-680 responses as one
part of our careful analysis of their readiness to enter a health IT
partnership with us. The respondents are healthcare providers and
organizations exchanging information with the agency.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

Dated: April 10, 2025.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2025-06422 Filed 4-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P