The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of information collection packages that will require clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Pub. L. 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. The information collection packages that may be included in this notice are for new information collections, revisions to OMB-approved information collections, and extensions (no change) 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 on ways to minimize burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written comments and recommendations regarding the information collection(s) should be submitted to the OMB Desk Officer and the SSA Reports Clearance Officer. The information can be mailed and/or faxed to the individuals at the addresses and fax numbers listed below:
(OMB)—Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New Executive Building, Room 10235, 725 17th St., NW., Washington, DC 20503, Fax: 202-395-6974.
(SSA)—Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance Officer, 1338 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: 410-965-6400.
I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA and will be submitted to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. Therefore, your comments should be submitted to SSA within 60 days from the date of this publication. You can obtain copies of the collection instruments by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454 or by writing to the address listed above.
1. Letter to Custodian of Birth Records/Letter to Custodian of School Records—20 CFR 404.704, 404.716, 416.802, and 422.107—0960-NEW. The information collected on forms SSA-L-706 and SSA-L-106 is used by SSA to assist a claimant in obtaining evidence necessary to establish age. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits.
Type of Request: Form in use without OMB Number.
Number of Respondents: 7,200.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,200 hours.
2. Medical Report (General)—20 CFR 404.1512-404.1515 and 416.912-416.915—0960-0052. The information collected on form SSA-3826-F4 is used by SSA to determine a claimant's physical status prior to making a disability determination. This information is also placed in the claimant's disability claims folder to provide written medical evidence which is used in the disability determination decision. The respondents are physicians, hospitals, directors, and medical records librarians.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 750,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 375,000 hours.
3. Certificate of Coverage Request Form—0960-0554. The United States (U.S.) has Social Security agreements with 20 countries. These agreements eliminate double Social Security coverage and taxation where a period of work would be subject to coverage and taxes in both countries. The individual agreements contain rules for determining the country under whose laws the period of work will be covered and to whose system taxes will be paid. The agreements further provide that upon the request of the worker or employer, the country under whose system the period of work is covered will issue a certificate of coverage. The certificate serves as proof of exemption from coverage and taxation under the system of the other country. The information collected is needed to determine if a period of work is covered by the U.S. system under an agreement and to issue a certificate of coverage. The respondents are workers and employers wishing to establish an exemption from foreign Social Security taxes.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 46,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 23,000 hours.
4. Representative Payee Report—20 CFR 404.265, 416.665—0960-NEW. The information collected on Form SSA-6234 is sent to all organizational representative payees (i.e. institutions, agencies) to determine whether the payments received on behalf of the beneficiaries have been used for their current maintenance and personal needs; to ensure that the payee continues to be concerned about the beneficiary's welfare; and to ascertain if the beneficiary is being charged a fee appropriately and how much the fee is. The respondents are all organizational representative payees for beneficiaries receiving Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
Type of Request: New information collection.
Number of Respondents: 750,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 187,500 hours.
5. Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire—20 CFR 404.1095—0960-0061. Section 211(a) of the Social Security Act requires the existence of a trade or business as a prerequisite for determining whether an individual or partnership may have “net earnings from self-employment.” Form SSA-7156 elicits the information necessary to determine the existence of an agricultural trade or business and subsequent covered earnings for Social Security entitlement purposes. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits, whose entitlement depends on whether the worker has covered earnings from self-employment as a farmer.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 47,500.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 7,917 hours.
6. Child-Care Dropout Questionnaire—20 CFR 404.211(e)(4)—0960-0474. The information collected on Form SSA-4162 is used by SSA to determine whether an individual qualifies for child care exclusion in computing the individual's disability benefit amount. The respondents are applicants for disability benefits.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 2,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 167 hours.
7. Appointment of Representation—20 CFR 404.1707, 410.684, and 416.1507—0960-0527. The information collected by SSA on form SSA-1696-U4 is used to verify the applicant's appointment of a representative. It allows SSA to inform the representative of items which affect the applicant's claim. The affected public consists of applicants who notify SSA that they have appointed a person to represent them in their dealings with SSA when claiming a right to benefits.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 551,520.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 91,920 hours.
II. The information collections listed below have been submitted to OMB for clearance. Your comments on the information collections would be most useful if received by OMB and SSA within 30 days from the date of this publication. You can obtain a copy of the OMB clearance packages by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by writing to the address listed above.
1. Certificate of Responsibility for Welfare and Care of Child Not in Applicant's Custody— 20 CFR 404.330 and 404.339—0960-0019. SSA uses the information collected on form SSA-781 to decide if “in care” requirements are met by non-custodial parent(s), who are filing for benefits based on having a child in care. The respondents are non-custodial wage earners whose entitlement to benefits depends upon having an entitled child in care.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 14,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 2,333 hours.
2. Response to Notice of Revised Determination—20 CFR 404.913-404.914 and 992(b), 416.1413-416.1414 and 1492—0960-0347. Form SSA-765 is used by claimants to request a disability hearing and/or to submit additional evidence before a revised reconsideration determination is issued. The respondents are claimants who file for a disability hearing in response to a notice of revised determination for disability insurance and/or SSI under Titles II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVI (SSI).
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 1,925.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 963 hours.
3. Notice Regarding Substitution of Party Upon Death of Claimant—Reconsideration of Disability Cessation—20 CFR 404.907-404.921 and 416.1407-416.1421—0960-0351. SSA uses form SSA-770 to obtain information from substitute parties regarding their intention to pursue the appeals process for an individual who has died. The respondents are such parties.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 1,200.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 200 hours.
4. Disability Hearing Officer's Decision—20 CFR 404.917 and 416.1417—0960-0441. The Social Security Act requires that SSA provide an evidentiary hearing at the reconsideration level of appeal for claimants who have received an initial or revised determination that a disability did not exist or has ceased. Based on the hearing, the disability hearing officer (DHO) completes form SSA-1207 and all applicable supplementary forms (which vary depending on the type of claim). The DHO uses the information in documenting and preparing the disability decision. The form will aid the DHO in addressing the crucial elements of the case in a sequential and logical fashion. The respondents are DHOs in the State Disability Determination Services (DDS).
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 65,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 45 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 48,750 hours.
5. Information about Joint Checking/Savings Account—20 CFR 416.1201 and 416.1208—0960-0461. Form SSA-2574 is used to collect information from the claimant and the other account holder(s) when a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicant/recipient objects to the assumption that he/she owns all or part of the funds in a joint account bearing his or her name. These statements of ownership are required to determine whether the account is a resource of the SSI claimant. The respondents are applicants for and recipients of SSI payments and individuals who are joint owners of financial accounts with SSI applicants.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 200,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 7 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 23,333 hours.
6. Beneficiary Contact Report—20 CFR 404.703 and 404.705—0960-0502. SSA uses the information collected by form SSA-1588-OCR-SM to ensure that eligibility for benefits continues after entitlement. SSA asks parents information about their marital status and children in-care to detect overpayments and to avoid continuing payment to those who are no longer entitled. The respondents are recipients of survivor mother/father Title II (OASDI) benefits.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 133,400.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 11,117 hours.
7. Earnings Record Information—20 CFR 404.801-404.803 and 404.821-404.822—0960-0505. The information collected by form SSA-L3231-C1 is used to ensure that the proper person is credited for working when earnings are reported for a minor under age seven years. The respondents are businesses reporting earnings for children under age 7.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 20,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 3,333 hours.
8. Internet Direct Deposit Application—31 CFR part 210—0960-0634. SSA uses Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) enrollment information received from beneficiaries to facilitate DD/EFT of their Social Security benefits with a financial institution. Respondents are Social Security beneficiaries who use the Internet to enroll in DD/EFT.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 9,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,500 hours.
9. Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration—20 CFR Subpart O, 404.1512 and Subpart I, 416.912—0960-0623. SSA must obtain sufficient medical evidence to make eligibility determinations for the Social Security disability benefits and SSI payments. For SSA to obtain medical evidence, an applicant must authorize his or her medical source(s) to release the information to SSA. The applicant may use form SSA-827 to provide consent for release of information. Generally, the State DDS completes the form(s) based on information provided by the applicant, and sends the form(s) to the designated medical source(s). The respondents are applicants for Social Security disability benefits and SSI payments.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 3,853,928.
Frequency of Response: 4.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 2,569,285 hours.
Dated: April 20, 2004.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-9511 Filed 4-28-04; 8:45 am]
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