FR Doc E7-9712

[Federal Register: May 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 97)]
[Notices]
[Page 28540-28543]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21my07-87]

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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, 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, approval of existing 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, faxed or e-mailed to the
individuals at the addresses and fax numbers listed below:

(OMB), Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA.
Fax: 202-395-6974. E-mail address: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
(SSA), Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance
Officer, 1333 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235.
Fax: 410-965-6400. E-mail address: OPLM.RCO@ssa.gov.
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. eData Registration/Account Modification--20 CFR 401.45--0960-NEW

Collection Background

Section 5 U.S.C. 552a, (e)(10) of the Privacy Act of 1974 requires
agencies to establish appropriate administrative, technical, and
physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of
records. Also, Section (f)(2) & (3) requires agencies to establish
requirements for identifying an individual who requests a record or
information pertaining to that individual and to establish procedures
for disclosure of personal information. SSA promulgated Privacy Act
rules in the Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart B. Procedures for
verifying identity are at 20 CFR 401.45.

Collection Description

The eData Services Web site allows various external organizations
to submit files to a variety of SSA systems and in some cases receive
return files. The users include State/local government agencies, other
Federal agencies, and some nongovernmental business entities. The SSA
systems that process data transferred via eData include, but are not
limited to, systems responsible for disability processing and benefit
determination or termination. The information collected on form SSA-118
(Government to Government Services Online Web site Registration Form)
to register organizations is used exclusively to maintain the identity
of the requester within eData. The requestor is already a known entity
to a sponsor within SSA. The SSA sponsor completes the registration
forms and the information is submitted to SSA's User Interface Team
(UIT). Once this is completed, SSA provides the requestor

[[Page 28541]]

with their new password, and conducts a walkthrough of the eData
website as necessary. The organization also can make modifications to
their online account (e.g., address change) by completing an online
form, SSA-119 (Government to Government Service Online Web site Account
Modification/Deletion Form).
Type of Request: Collection in use without OMB Control Number.

Totals...................................... 2,500 .............. .............. 625
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2. Certificate of Election for Reduced Widow(er)'s Benefits--20 CFR,
Subpart D, 404.335--0960-NEW

Section 202(q) of the Social Security Act provides for the
authority to reduce benefits under certain conditions when elected by a
beneficiary. However, reduced benefits are not payable to an already
entitled spouse (or divorced spouse) who:
Is at least age 62 and under full retirement age in the
month of the number holder's death; and
Is receiving both reduced spouse's (or divorced spouse's)
benefits and either retirement or disability benefits in the month
before the month of the number holder's death.
In order to elect reduced widow(er) benefits, a beneficiary must
complete form SSA-4111. SSA uses the information collected on Form SSA-
4111 to determine eligibility for and pay a qualified dually entitled
widow(er) (or surviving divorced spouse) reduced benefits. The
respondents are qualified dually entitled widow(er)s (or surviving
divorced spouse) who elect to receive a reduced widow(er) benefit.
Type of Request: Collection in use without OMB Control Number.
Number of Respondents: 30,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 2 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,000 hours.

3. Proof of Age Study--20 CFR 404.715--0960-NEW

Background

Through the information obtained from this study, the Agency hopes
to obtain data that will allow benefit award processes to be
streamlined in anticipation of the significant workload increases as
the ``baby boomers'' (those persons born between 1946 and 1964) attain
retirement age. The information collected will be used to determine the
extent to which a claimant's allegation of date of birth agrees with
the date of birth in SSA's records and to estimate the program costs
associated with using alleged dates of birth as proof of age (POA) to
adjudicate claims without obtaining birth certificates or other
evidence of age or citizenship.

Collection of Information

SSA will mail up to 3,000 appointment letters to a random sample of
number holders (NH) with the expectation of being able to arrange 2,000
one-time telephone interviews. (Some letters will be returned for no
address or there will be no response from the NHs.)
Appointment letters will be sent to the NHs to explain the purpose
of the study; request a phone number; and establish a convenient time
to conduct the phone interview.
The phone interviewers will obtain an alleged date of birth, place
of birth, and parent's names. If the NH's alleged date of birth agrees
with the Numident date of birth, SSA will obtain POA (birth
certificates if available) from the custodians to determine the impact
of using the alleged date as POA. If the alleged date of birth is
materially different than the date of birth on the Numident, POA
evidence will not be obtained from the custodian. If a birth
certificate is obtained a proof code will be annotated to the Numident
to prevent unnecessary development if subsequently a claim is filed on
the account. If the POA development establishes a different date of
birth than the Numident/alleged date of birth, SSA will estimate the
potential error dollars involved. Study data will be compiled and
findings reported to SSA's Executive Staff.
Type of Request: New information collection.
Number of Respondents: 2,000.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,334 hours.

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Average
Number of Frequency of burden per Estimated
Form name respondents response response annual burden
(minutes) (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appointment Letter and Response................. 2,000 1 15 500
SSA-8510 (Authorization to the SSA to Obtain 2,000 1 5 167
Personal Information)..........................
Phone Questionnaire............................. 2,000 1 20 667
Collection of POA Evidence from Record Custodian \1\52 \2\ 15 490
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 6052 .............. .............. 1,824
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 1960 total responses
\2\ Varies.

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.

[[Page 28542]]

1. SSI Monthly Wage Reporting System--20 CFR 416.701-732--0960-0715

Collection Background

SSI recipients are required to report changes in their income,
resources and living arrangements that may affect eligibility or
payment amount. Currently, SSI recipients report changes on Form SSA-
8150, Reporting Events--SSI, or to an SSA teleservice representative
through SSA's toll-free telephone number, or they visit their local
Social Security office.
Wages have, historically, been the source of SSI's highest error
rate largely due to non-reporting by beneficiaries, deemors, and
representative payees. Failure to report changes in wages timely
accounts for approximately $400 million in overpayments each year.
Consequently, SSA is evaluating methods for increasing reporting. SSA
has tested and determined that given an easily accessible automated
format, individuals will increase compliance with reporting
responsibilities. Increased timely reporting has resulted in a decrease
in improper payments. One of the methods tested, described below, is
the SSI Wage Reporting System.

Collection Description

Participants who need to report a change in monthly wages (Comment:
There are other forms of earned income that the phone line does not
support) will call SSA's toll-free telephone number to report the
change. The participants will access SSA's system using knowledge-based
authentication (providing name, SSN and date of birth). Participants
will speak their report (voice recognition technology) and/or key in
the information using the telephone key pad. This automated system will
then directly update our records and issue receipts in compliance with
Section 202 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004.
We are requesting permanent authorization of the existing wage
reporting system to continue providing an alternative, and more
efficient, means by which beneficiaries, their representative payees,
and deemors can report wages via a toll-free telephone number. We
believe this permanent authorization is necessary to effectively
implement national usage of the system and substantially increase the
number of reports received via this collection method. Without
permanent authorization, we are concerned that an interruption in
reporting would prove detrimental to our earlier efforts to recruit and
train reporters, would damage the current regularity of reporting, and
would considerably mitigate SSA's potential to reduce improper payments
resulting from erroneous, or deficient, wage reports. Respondents to
this collection are SSI recipients, deemors and representative payees
of recipients who agree to participate in the program.
Type of Request: Revision of OMB approval.
Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Frequency of Response: 12.
Average Burden Per Response: 4 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 40,000 hours.

2. Cost Reimbursable Research Request--0960-NEW

Background

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for
administering two cash benefit programs, notably the Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and SSI programs. To carry
out this task, SSA maintains a number of files with detailed
information on individuals and their characteristics, such as
demographics, employment, earnings, assets, disability diagnosis,
location, and other information. While designed for SSA to carry out
its administrative tasks, the data files offer great informational
depth to researchers interested in SSA's programs and other research
areas. As a result, SSA provides qualified researchers needing agency
administrative data for a variety of projects.
SSA's data files are governed by strict confidentiality
restrictions and are not publicly accessible. Therefore, SSA has
charged the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics (ORES) as
the primary interface for researchers, either within SSA or outside of
it, who seek access to SSA's program files. To safeguard the
information and the public trust, ORES has established comprehensive
unified application process procedures for obtaining program data for
research use.

The Cost Reimbursable Research Request

To request SSA program data for research, the researcher must
submit a completed research application for SSA's evaluation. In the
application, the requesting researcher must provide required basic
project information and describe the way in which the proposed project
will further SSA's mission to promote the economic security of the
nation's people through its administration of the OASDI programs, and/
or the SSI program. Depending on the type of research data needed, the
requesting researchers may be required to provide SSA with up to 14
prescribed project information elements to properly assess their data
request.
Once the application is reviewed and approved by ORES, a
Reimbursable Conditions of Use Agreement is signed with the requestor
which outlines the conditions and safeguards agreed to for the research
project data exchange. The requestor may use the data for research and
statistical purposes only. This is a reimbursable service and SSA
recovers all expenses incurred in providing this information. The
respondents to this information collection are the qualified
researchers that request SSA administrative data for a variety of
projects. These applicants include but are not limited to Federal and
State government agencies and/or their contractors, private entities,
and colleges/universities.
Type of Request: Collection in use without OMB Control Number.
Number of Respondents: 15.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 240 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 60 hours.
The total average annual cost for all respondents to use this
service is approximately $112,500 or an average of $7,500 to complete a
single request. This cost projection is an estimate of SSA's
administrative and systems costs to analyze and provide the requested
research data. Since this is a reimbursable service, all associated
costs are borne by the requesters.

3. Authorization To Release Medical Report to Physician--20 CFR 401.55
& 401.100--0960-NEW

If the claimant, his or her court appointed representative, or a
parent of a minor child wants the consultative examination (CE) report
sent to the claimant's treating physician, he or she will complete the
information requested on Form SSA-91 and send it to SSA for processing.
SSA will use the information collected to send the CE report to the
authorized physician. Respondents are applicants for disability claims.
Type of Request: Collection in Use Without an OMB Number.
Number of Respondents: 7,922.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 660 hours.

[[Page 28543]]

4. Claimant Travel Reimbursement Request--20 CFR 404.999a-d--0960-NEW

The claimants have the right to be reimbursed for their travel
expenses to and from a consultative examination (CE). In order to be
reimbursed, the claimants must submit an itemized list of what they
spent to travel round trip to the CE. The SSA-104 is sent to the
claimants with the CE appointment notice. If the claimants want to be
reimbursed for their travel expenses, they must complete, sign and
return the SSA-104 to SSA. SSA uses the information collected on this
form to determine the amount of reimbursement. Respondents are
applicants for disability claims.
Type of Request: Collection in Use without an OMB Number.
Number of Respondents: 11,092.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,849 hours.

Dated: May 15, 2007.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-9712 Filed 5-18-07; 8:45 am]

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