[Federal Register: November 21, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 225)]
[Notices]
[Page 70286-70289]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no02-149]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request
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
effective October 1, 1995, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 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 Office 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 Bldg., 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. Internet Social Security Disability Report-Child--20 CFR
404.1512 and 416.912--0960-NEW. SSA is developing an Internet Social
Security Disability Report--Child. This Internet application, I3820,
will collect information about a child who is applying for disabled
child's benefits. It will solicit the details of the child's condition,
how the condition affects the child's day-to-day life, and his or her
medical treatment sources and/or other medical sources of evidence.
Respondents will provide information on the disabled child by
completing a series of screens on a personal computer. The information
will then be transmitted to SSA electronically. However, until such
time as SSA develops an acceptable electronic signature process and
implements a Disability Determination Services (DDS) electronic
disability process, applicants will also print, sign and mail a text
formatted summary of the answers given on I3820. They will also print,
sign and mail copies of the medical release form (SSA-827). The
information collected on I3820 will be used by the State DDS's to
develop medical evidence and to assess the alleged disability. The
respondents will be applicants for child's disability benefits who opt
to file via the Internet.
Type of Request: New information collection.
Number of Respondents: 52,300.
Frequency of Response: 1
Average Burden Per Response: 2 hours.
Estimated Annual Burden: 104,600 Hours.
[[Page 70287]]
2. Work Activity Report--Employee--0960-0059. Form SSA-821-BK
collects information that determines whether individuals have worked in
employment after becoming disabled and, if so, whether the work is
substantial gainful activity. The data is reviewed and evaluated to
determine if the recipient continues to meet the disability
requirements of the law. The respondents are title II beneficiaries and
title XVI recipients.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 300,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 45 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 225,000 hours.
3. Permanent Residence Under Color of Law--20 CFR 416.1615 and
416.1618-0960-0451. Under Public Law (Pub. L.) 104-193, effective
August 22, 1996, a noncitizen must be a ``qualified alien'' and meet
certain additional requirements in order to be eligible for SSI. This
law also established an exception to the new requirements for certain
``nonqualified aliens'' (i.e., noncitizens who are not qualified
aliens) who were receiving SSI on August 22, 1996. The exception
allowed nonqualified aliens to remain on the rolls until September 30,
1997, at which time benefits would be suspended if the aliens had not
acquired qualified alien status. Pub. L. 105-33 extended the suspension
date to September 30, 1998 and Pub. L. 105-306, enacted October 28,
1998, provided that nonqualified aliens who are receiving SSI on August
22, 1996 would remain eligible after September 30, 1998 as long as
other requirements were met (e.g., income and resources, etc.). SSI
eligibility for this group of aliens, ``grandfathered nonqualified
aliens,'' will continue to be determined based on the rules governing
alien eligibility in effect prior to August 22, 1996, i.e., the PRUCOL
standard. Under this standard, PRUCOL aliens must present evidence of
their status to SSA at the time of application and periodically
thereafter. SSA will verify the validity of the evidence of PRUCOL
aliens with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Based on the
INS response, SSA will determine whether the individual is eligible for
SSI payments. The respondents are alien applicants for and recipients
of SSI payments.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 9,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 750 hours.
4. Instructions for Completion of Federal Assistance Application--
0960-0184.
The information on Form SSA-96 will be used to assist the
Commissioner in selecting grant proposals for funding based on their
technical merits. The information will also assist in evaluating the
soundness of the design of the proposed activities, the possibilities
of obtaining productive results, the adequacy of resources to conduct
the activities and the relationship to other similar activities that
have been or are being conducted. The respondents are State and local
Governments, State-designated protection and advocacy groups, colleges
and universities and profit and nonprofit private organizations.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 200.
Frequency of Response: 8.
Average Burden Per Response: 14 hours.
Estimated Annual Burden: 22,400 hours.
5. Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits--0960-
0398. SSA uses the information on the certificate of election,
collected on form SSA-25, as the spouse's request for reduced benefits
for the month of filing, and for months preceding the month of filing,
as designated by the spouse (but not to exceed 12 months). The spouse
must file a certificate of election with SSA to elect reduced benefits,
if an entitled spouse (age 62-64) no longer has an entitled child in
care. The respondents are individuals or households.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 30,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 2 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,000 hours.
6. Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants
with Deferred Benefits, Schedule SSA--0960-0606. Schedule SSA is a form
filed annually as part of a series of pension plan documents required
by Section 6057 of the IRS Code. Administrators of pension benefit
plans are required to report specific information on future plan
benefits for those participants who left plan coverage during the year.
SSA maintains the information until a claim for Social Security
benefits has been approved. At that time, SSA notifies the beneficiary
of his/her potential eligibility for payments from the private pension
plan. The respondents are administrators of pension benefit plans or
their service providers employed to prepare the Schedule SSA on behalf
of the pension benefit plan. Below are the estimates of the cost and
hour burdens for completing and filing Schedule SSA(s). We have used an
average to estimate the hour burden. However, the burden may be greater
or smaller depending on whether the respondent is a large or small
pension benefit plan and how many Schedule SSA's are filed in a given
year.
Type of request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 88,000.
Frequency of Response: Annually.
Average Burden Per Respondent: 2.5 hours.
Estimated Annual Burden: 220,000 hours.
Estimated Annual Cost Burden for All Respondents: $12,194,400.
7. Internet Report of Continuing Disability Interview--20 CFR
404.1589 and 20 CFR 416.989--0960-NEW.
Background
The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) of 1998 directed
federal agencies to develop electronic service delivery instruments as
an alternative to traditional paper-based methods. As a result, the
Social Security Administration is actively expanding its Internet
services to enable citizens to complete the application process as well
as to process their requests for post-entitlement transactions online.
One of the initiatives in this process is the development of the
Internet version of the current paper-based form entitled Report of
Continuing Disability Interview, SSA-454-BK, which is used by the
agency in the continuing disability review (CDR) process.
The Collection
SSA will use the Internet Report of Continuing Disability Interview
(I454) to collect information from individuals receiving disability
benefits or their representatives. The information collected will be
used to determine whether a person who receives Social Security
benefits and/or SSI, based on disability or blindness continues to be
disabled. The report will update the record of the disabled individual,
providing information on recent medical treatment, vocational and
educational experiences, work activity and evaluations of the potential
for return to work. On the basis of the responses, additional medical
and other evidence is developed to assist SSA in determining whether
their disability continues or has ended, and if so when
[[Page 70288]]
the disability ended. Respondents to I454 are disabled individuals
scheduled for CDRs.
Type of request: New information collection.
Number of Respondents: 85,200.
Frequency of Response: 1 per respondent.
Average Burden Per Response: 120 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 170,400 hours.
8. Integrated Registration for Employers and Submitters (IRES)--
0960-0626.
The IRES authentication system is a free service designed to allow
employers to access SSA's electronic wage reporting services, and to
replace the use of a handwritten signature with an electronic
signature. Employer representatives use an IRES generated PIN and
password as their electronic signature. IRES was designed to be more
efficient, reducing the costs to both employers and SSA, and will
facilitate the filing of wage data electronically. SSA's paramount
interest in the development of IRES was to ensure that the new
electronic method of identifying wage report submitters provides the
same security features as the current paper-based method. Security
features include message integrity, originator authentication, non-
repudiation and confidentiality. The PIN and password will be issued to
an individual designated by the employer after SSA authenticates the
company and contact information provided by the individual. SSA uses
the IRES in conjunction with SSA's wage reporting processes. It is used
as the gateway for electronic wage reporting and the online employee
verification service. IRES will also be used when SSA implements
additional electronic services such as electronic notices and error
information, and to authenticate representatives of organizational
representative payees in a limited Proof of Concept study. Also, the
PIN will be used in the Annual Wage Reporting diskette process to
replace the signature on IRS paper form 6559. SSA has received approval
from IRS to use an alternative signature. Respondents to IRES will be
Employers and Submitters who utilize SSA's electronic wage reporting
and online employee verification services.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 250,040.
Number of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 2 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 8,335 hours.
9. Report of New Information in Disability Cases--20 CFR 404.460,
404.468, 404.408 & 404.1588--0960-0071. The information collected on
Form SSA-612 is used to update the disability records of respondents,
based on changes reported. The form is used to gather information on a
number of topics that can affect the beneficiary's or the applicant's
entitlement to disability benefits. This includes, but is not limited
to, information about a return to work, improvement in the medical
condition, workers' compensation settlements or representative payee
issues. The respondents are applicants for and recipients of Title II
disability benefits.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 27,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 2,250 hours.
10. Vocational Rehabilitation ``301'' Program Development--20 CFR,
404.408, 404.460 & 404.468, Subpart E and 20 CFR, 404.1588, Subpart P--
0960-0282. SSA uses Form SSA-4290 to collect information to determine
whether an individual, whose disability or blindness has ceased, is
eligible for continued benefit payments because of participation in an
approved program of vocational rehabilitation services, employment
services or other support services. The respondents are State
vocational rehabilitation agencies, other public or private providers
of vocational rehabilitation services and employment services or other
support services.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 8,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 2,000 hours.
11. Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility for
Supplemental Security Income Payments--Adult, Form SSA-3988-TEST;
Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility for Supplemental
Security Income Payments--Child, Form SSA-3989-TEST--20 CFR Subpart B--
416.204--0960-0643.
Background
The Social Security Act mandates periodic redeterminations of the
non-medical factors that relate to the SSI recipients' continuing
eligibility for SSI payments. Recent SSA studies have indicated that as
many as two-thirds of all scheduled redeterminations completed, with
the assistance of a SSA employee, did not result in any change in
circumstances that affected payment. Therefore, SSA is planning to
increase the number of respondents and revise the test methodology of
the currently approved test forms. The expansion of the test is needed
to further validate whether the test redetermination process actually
results in significant operational savings and a decrease in recipient
inconvenience, while still timely obtaining the accurate data needed to
determine continuing eligibility through the process.
The Collection
A test of forms SSA-3988-TEST and SSA-3989-TEST will be used to
determine whether SSI recipients have met and continue to meet all
statutory and regulatory non-medical requirements for SSI eligibility,
and whether they have been and are still receiving the correct payment
amount. The SSA-3988-TEST and SSA-3989-TEST are designed as self-help
forms that will be mailed to recipients or to their representative
payees for completion and return to SSA. The objectives of the expanded
test are to determine the public's ability to understand and accurately
complete the test forms. The respondents are recipients of SSI benefits
or their representatives. In addition, SSA wants to determine the
public's ability to understand and accurately complete a supplemental
SSA-3988, which will be directed to a sample of beneficiaries that
continue to receive Medicaid, but whose earnings from work are too high
to allow payment of SSI benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average burden
Respondents Frequency of per response Estimated annual
response (min.) burden (hours)
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SSA-3988-TEST........................... 46,500 1 20 15,500
SSA-3988-SUP-TEST2...................... 2,000 1 21 700
[[Page 70289]]
SSA-3989-TEST........................... 8,500 1 20 2,833
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Total burden........................ ................ ................ ................ 19,033
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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.
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 one of the forms SSA-827, SSA-827 OP1 or
SSA-827 OP2 to provide consent for the 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: November 15, 2002.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-29570 Filed 11-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P