[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21817-21820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09063]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2025-0029]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request
The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of
information collection packages requiring clearance by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Public Law 104-13, the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. This notice
includes revisions of OMB-approved information collections.
SSA is soliciting comments on the accuracy of the agency's burden
estimate; the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to
enhance its quality, utility, and clarity; and ways to minimize burden
on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Mail, email, or fax your
comments and recommendations on the information collection(s) to the
OMB Desk Officer and SSA Reports Clearance Officer at the following
addresses or fax numbers.
(OMB) Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA,
(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. Please reference Docket ID Number [SSA-2025-0029] in
your submitted response.
[[Page 21818]]
I. The information collections below are pending at SSA. SSA will
submit them to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. To be
sure we consider your comments, we must receive them no later than July
21, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instrument by
writing to the above email address.
1. Consent for Release of Information and Consent for Disclosure of
Records Protected Under the Privacy Act (Privacy and Disclosure of
Official Records and Information and Availability of Information and
Records to the Public)--20 CFR 401.40(b)&(c), 401.45, 401.55(b),
401.65(a), 401.100; 20 CFR 401.130; and 20 CFR 402-0960-0566.
Within the Privacy and Disclosure of Official Records and
Information regulations, SSA has established methods through which the
public can provide consent for release of records under the Privacy Act
of 1974. The public can also request records accessible through the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We collect the necessary information
for these requests through written correspondence, including the Form
SSA-3288; other writings, including non-SSA forms often used by large
employers, that incorporate SSA's consent requirements; or the Form
SSA-3288-OP1 via a webform application linked on SSA's Privacy Program
website. The Form SSA-3288-OP1 allows an individual to consent to and
authorize SSA to disclose specific types of records that an individual
can alternatively request through other writings and written
correspondence; however, an individual can consent to and authorize SSA
to disclose a broader range of types of records when using other
writings and written correspondence (other than Form SSA-3288-OP1).
Consent for Release of Records
SSA obtains the required consent(s) (with certain exceptions
specified by law) from anyone requesting information in SSA systems of
records about another individual. We will not release information
requested about an individual until we obtain the required consent from
that individual. Under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a (b)),
individuals may give SSA written consent to disclose their personal
information to a third party of their choosing. In addition,
individuals may have multiple needs for the disclosure of their
personal information, such as for qualification for a mortgage or
preemployment screenings. SSA uses the following forms for obtaining
required consent:
(a) Form SSA-3288 (Consent for Release of Information): Form SSA-
3288 is SSA's preferred paper form for requests for disclosure of
information based on the consent of the subject of record. Respondents
can download the SSA-3288 from www.ssa.gov/forms, obtain a copy at a
local SSA field office, or request SSA mail a copy to them directly.
Use of this form ensures compliance with SSA consent regulations at 20
CFR 401.100. SSA also collects consent on other writings, including
non-SSA forms which large employers often use, that incorporate SSA's
consent requirements.
(b) Form SSA-3288-OP1 (Consent for Disclosure of Records Protected
Under the Privacy Act): Form SSA-3288-OP1 complies with the CASES Act,
OMB M-21-04, and SSA consent regulations at 20 CFR 401.100. The CASES
Act directed OMB to develop templates for, among other things,
electronic consents for SSA to disclose records protected by the
Privacy Act of 1974 to third parties. OMB implemented that statutory
directive in M-21-04. SSA developed the SSA-3288-OP1 pursuant to the
CASES Act and M-21-04. The public can access the webform application
that populates Form SSA-3288-OP1 online by selecting the ``Submit an
Electronic Consent to Disclose Records'' link found at www.ssa.gov/privacy. The public can also find the ``Submit an Electronic Consent to
Disclose Records'' page with the link to the SSA-3288-OP1 by typing in
relevant search terms at www.ssa.gov.
The respondents are individuals consenting to, authorizing, and
requesting SSA disclosure of their records protected by the Privacy Act
of 1974 to third parties.
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 per response total annual hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents of response (minutes) burden (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Amendment of Records....................... 100 1 10 17 * $32.66 ** 23 *** $1,796
b. Consent for Release of Information 440,374 1 5 36,698 * 32.66 ** 23 *** 6,711,891
(SSA[dash]3288) +............................
c. Consent for Release of Records (Electronic 1,152 1 10 192 * 32.66 .............. *** 6,271
SSA-3288-OP1) +..............................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................................... 441,626 ........... .............. 36,907 .............. .............. *** 6,719,958
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ The number of respondents for this modality is based on SSA's analytics data for the number of SSA-3288 and SSA-3288-OP1 forms submitted to SSA in
fiscal year (FY) 2024.
* 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.
2. Enterprise Scheduling System (ESS)--0960-0828.
The Enterprise Scheduling System (ESS) allows for both customer
self-scheduling and technician-assisted scheduling through an
electronic scheduling tool. The first ESS release specifically allowed
self-scheduling for enumeration services. However, we are now extending
its current functionality, enabling customers and technicians to:
schedule, reschedule, or cancel enumeration appointments for new or
replacement Social Security cards; and complete Post-Entitlement (PE)
actions, such as changing a Representative Payee, processing non-
receipt of payment, updating an SSI record, or submitting evidence. In
addition, ESS will allow technicians the ability to schedule,
reschedule or cancel PE appointments on behalf of customers.
[[Page 21819]]
Customers use ESS to schedule an appointment to obtain a new SSN or
a replacement Social Security card or for assistance with a PE action.
ESS offers customers the following services:
Appointment scheduling.
Electronic communication.
Workload evaluation/planning/management.
Research.
Regulatory Mandated/Compliance.
General purpose statistics.
ESS facilitates both customer self-scheduling and technician
scheduling, allowing SSA to collect essential information from
customers, including their name, Social Security number, zip code,
telephone number, and email address. Additionally, customers have the
option to consent to electronic messaging or to opt out, as well as
specify their preferred method of communication (email or text),
language preference, preferred service office, and appointment day and
time preferences. SSA uses this information to schedule in-office,
phone, or video appointments for processing enumeration and PE actions.
Customers scheduling their PE appointments through a technician have
the option to create a one-time passcode, enabling them to securely
update their appointment online. The technician will document this one-
time passcode along with the customer's other appointment preferences.
Customers begin the process by accessing SSA.gov and engaging an
online questionnaire to determine the nature of their business. If
applications are available for customers to self-serve, the system
routes them to those applications to complete their business. If not,
customers are given the option to self-schedule an appointment through
ESS. If the customer moves forward, the system directs them to create a
credential using Login.gov or ID.me. Once they complete credentialing,
customers access ESS to complete required screens and fields to select
a date and time for an appointment with an SSA field office (FO) to
provide the proofs necessary to obtain a replacement or original SSN
card or complete a PE action. Upon completing the required screens and
fields, the system presents customers with a screen to review and
submit all of the data they input regarding the requested appointment.
If the customer enters everything accurately, the system allows the
customer to confirm their information and schedules their appointment.
If customers encounter issues with ESS, they may contact SSA by
phone to have an FO or Telephone Service Center technician schedule
their appointment. Technicians follow existing processes and policies
to identify the caller as a legitimate customer, and converse with the
customer to determine the nature of their business and if they require
an appointment. If the technician determines the customer needs an
appointment, the technician accesses ESS and completes the required
screens and fields for the enumeration or PE appointment. Once the
technician completes the ESS screens, the technician can review all of
the information the customer provided with the customer. If the
customer indicates it is correct the technician submits and schedules
the appointment.
We conduct this information collection each time a customer
accesses the online tool or contacts SSA by phone to schedule an
appointment. The respondents are individuals looking to schedule their
own SSA visit using ESS.
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 cost
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) center (minutes) (dollars) **
* **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESS--Internet................. 3,000,000....... 1 5 250,000......... * $22.98........ ................ *** $5,745,000
ESS--Technician............... 150,000......... 1 3 7,500........... * 22.98......... ** 22........... *** 1,436,250
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................... 3,150,000....... .............. .............. 257,500......... ................ ................ *** 7,181,250
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2025 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).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2025 wait times for field offices and teleservice centers, based on SSA's current management
information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
II. SSA submitted the information 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 June 20, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of this OMB
clearance package by writing to the [email protected].
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)--Quality Review Case Analysis--
0960-0133.
To assess the SSI program and ensure the accuracy of its payments,
SSA conducts legally mandated periodic SSI case analysis quality
reviews. SSA uses Form SSA-8508-BK to conduct these reviews, collecting
information on operating efficiency; the quality of underlying
policies; and the effect of incorrect payments. SSA also uses the data
to determine SSI program payment accuracy rates, which are a service
delivery goals. SSA selects a stratified random sample of recipients
each month who received payments during the sample period to conduct
these reviews. The SSA reviewer then reviews the selected case files
prior to preparing an initial letter contacting the respondent to set
up an interview. The initial letter informs the respondent of the
review and includes a checklist with any requested documentation for
the phone-based interview. During the interview, the SSA reviewer
redevelops and verifies all non-medical factors of eligibility and
payment amount, asks the sampled individuals questions related to the
status of eligibility factors during the review period, then requests
the respondent mail in any necessary documentation (listed on the
initial letter). During the interview, the SSA reviewer documents
responses on the electronic SSA-8508-BK (or e8508), a stand-alone Excel
application that resides in the reviewer's government-issued personal
computer. If the system is not accessible for some reason, the reviewer
uses the paper SSA-8508-BK instead. The respondents are recipients of
SSI payments selected for the quality reviews
[[Page 21820]]
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-8508-BK (paper interview)........................... 215 1 60 215 * $13.30 ** $2,860
e8508 (electronic interview)............................ 4,085 1 60 4,085 * 13.30 ** 54,331
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................................. 4,300 .............. .............. 4,300 .............. ** $57,191
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.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.
Dated: May 15, 2025.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2025-09063 Filed 5-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P