Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request

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March 30, 2022

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Social Security Administration

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18456-18460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06700]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2022-0015]

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,
Comments: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Submit your
comments online referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2022-0015].
(SSA), Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports
Clearance Director, 3100 West High Rise, 6401 Security Blvd.,
Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: 410-966-2830, Email address:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#da9588f488bfaab5a8aea9f499b6bfbba8bbb4b9bf9aa9a9bbf4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aee1fc80fccbdec1dcdadd80edc2cbcfdccfc0cdcbeeddddcf80c9c1d8">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
Or you may submit your comments online through <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-
2022-0015].
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 May
31, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments
by writing to the above email address.
1. Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits--20 CFR
404.335-404.338, & 404.603--0960-0004. Section 2029(e) and 202(f) of
the Social Security Act (Act) set forth the requirements for
entitlement to widow(er)'s benefits, including the requirements to file
an application. For SSA to make a formal determination for entitlement
to widow(er)'s benefits, we use Form SSA-10 to determine whether an
applicant meets the statutory and regulatory conditions for entitlement
to widow(er)'s Title II benefits. SSA employees interview individuals
applying for benefits either face-to-face or via telephone, and enter
the information on the paper form or into the Modernized Claims System
(MCS). The respondents are applicants for widow(er)'s benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average time in field Total annual
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated theoretical office or opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice cost (dollars)
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-10 (Paper).......................... 2,116 1 30 1,058 * $27.07 .............. *** $28,640
SSA-10 (MCS)............................ 570,540 1 30 285,270 * 27.07 ** 21 *** 13,127,840
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 572,656 .............. .............. 286,328 .............. .............. *** 13,156,480
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* We based this figure on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000</a>).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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.

2. Request to be Selected as a Payee--20 CFR 404.2010-404.2055, and
416.601-416.665--0960-0014. SSA requires an individual applying to be a
representative payee for a Social Security beneficiary or Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) recipient to complete Form SSA-11-BK, or supply
the same information to a field office

[[Page 18457]]

technician. SSA obtains information from applicant payees regarding
their relationship to the beneficiary, personal qualifications; concern
for the beneficiary's well-being; and intended use of benefits if
appointed as payee. The respondents are individuals, private sector
businesses and institutions, and State and local government
institutions and agencies applying to become representative payees.
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) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals/Households (90%):
Representative Payee System (RPS)................... 1,761,300 1 12 352,260 * $39 ** $13,738,140
Paper Version....................................... 70,452 1 12 14,090 * 39 ** 549,510
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................................... 1,831,752 .............. .............. 366,350 .............. ** 14,287,650
Private Sector (9%):
Representative Payee System (RPS)................... 176,130 1 12 35,226 * 39 ** 1,373,814
Paper Version....................................... 7,045 1 12 1,409 * 39 ** 54,951
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................................... 183,175 .............. .............. 36,635 .............. ** 1,428,765
State/Local/Tribal Government (1%):
Representative Payee System (RPS)................... 19,570 1 12 3,914 * 39 ** 152,646
Paper Version....................................... 350 1 12 70 * 39 ** 2,730
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................................... 19,920 .............. .............. 3,984 .............. ** 155,376
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Totals................................ 2,034,847 .............. .............. 406,969 .............. ** 15,871,791
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* We based these figures by averaging the average hourly wages for Social and Human Service Assistants (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211093.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211093.htm</a>);
average hourly wages for Lawyers (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm</a>); and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of
Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000</a>).
** 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.

3. Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility for
Supplemental Security Income Payment--20 CFR 416.204--0960-0145. SSA
uses Form SSA-8202-BK to conduct low and middle-error profile (LEP/MEP)
telephone, or face-to-face redetermination interviews with SSI
recipients and representative payees, if applicable. SSA conducts LEP
redeterminations interviews on a 6-year cycle, and MEP redeterminations
annually. SSA requires the information we collect during the interview
to determine whether: (1) SSI recipients met, and continue to meet, all
statutory and regulatory requirements for SSI eligibility; and (2) the
SSI recipients received, and are still receiving, the correct payment
amounts. This information includes non-medical eligibility factors such
as income, resources, and living arrangements. To complete Form SSA-
8202-BK, the respondents may need to obtain information from employers
or financial institutions. The respondents are SSI recipients and their
representatives, if applicable.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

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Average wait
Average time in field Total annual
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated theoretical office or opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice cost (dollars)
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-8202-BK............................. 67,698 1 21 23,694 * $10.95 .............. *** $259,449
SSI Claims System....................... 1,764,207 1 20 588,069 * 10.95 ** 21 *** 13,200,674
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 1,831,905 .............. .............. 611,763 .............. .............. *** 13,460,123
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf">https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf</a>).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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.

4. Application for Supplemental Security Income--20 CFR 416.305-
416.335, Subpart C--0960-0444. SSA uses Form SSA-8001-BK to determine
an applicant's eligibility for SSI and SSI payment amounts. SSA
employees also collect this information during interviews with members
of the public who wish to file for SSI. SSA uses the

[[Page 18458]]

information for two purposes: (1) To formally deny SSI for nonmedical
reasons when information the applicant provides results in
ineligibility; or (2) to establish a disability claim, but defer the
complete development of non-medical issues until SSA approves the
disability. The respondents are applicants for SSI payments.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average time in field
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated theoretical office or Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSI Claims System..................... 800,963 1 20 266,988 * $19.01 ** 21 *** $10,404,648
iClaim and SSI Claims System.......... 129,736 1 20 43,245 * 19.01 ** 21 *** 1,685,294
SSA-8001-BK (Paper Version)........... 31,776 1 20 10,592 * 19.01 ** 21 *** 412,783
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals............................ 962,475 .............. .............. 320,825 .............. .............. *** 12,502,725
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* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf">https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf</a>), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm</a>).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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.

5. Employer Verification of Records for Children Under Age 7--20
CFR 404.801-404.803, and 404.821-404.822--0960-0505. To ensure we
credit the correct person with the reported earnings, SSA verifies wage
reports for children under age seven with the children's employers
before posting to the earnings record. SSA uses form SSA-L3231, Request
for Employer Information for this purpose. SSA technicians mail the
form to the employer(s) and request they complete it and mail it back
to the appropriate processing center. The respondents are employers who
report earnings for children under age seven.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

6. Wage Reports and Pension Information--20 CFR 422.122(b)--0960-
0547. Pension plan administrators annually file plan information with
the Internal Revenue Service, which then forwards the information to
SSA. SSA maintains and organizes this information by plan number, plan
participant's name, and Social Security number. Per Section 1131(a) of
the Act, pension plan participants are entitled to request this
information from SSA. The Wage Reports and Pension Information
regulation, 20 CFR 422.122(b) of the Code of Federal Regulations,
stipulates that before SSA disseminates this information, the requestor
must first submit a written request with identifying information to
SSA. The respondents are requestors of pension plan information.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

[[Page 18459]]

7. Centenarian and Medicare Non-Utilization Project Development
Worksheets: Face-to-Face Interview and Telephone Interview--20 CFR
416.204(b) and 422.135--0960-0780. SSA conducts interviews with
centenary Title II beneficiaries and Title XVI recipients, and Medicare
Non-Utilization Project (MNUP) beneficiaries age 90 and older to: (1)
Assess if the beneficiaries are still living; (2) prevent fraud through
identity misrepresentation; and (3) evaluate the well-being of the
recipients to determine if they need a representative payee, or a
change in representative payee. SSA field office personnel obtain the
information through one-time, in-person interviews with the
centenarians and MNUP beneficiaries, who are those Title II
beneficiaries ages 90-99, who show non-utilization of Medicare benefits
for an extended period and the absence of private insurance, health
maintenance organization, or nursing home, which are all indicators
that an individual may be deceased. If the centenarians and MNUP
beneficiaries have representatives or caregivers, SSA personnel invite
them to the interviews. During these interviews, SSA employees make
overall observations of the centenarians, MNUP beneficiaries, and their
representative payees (if applicable). The interviewer uses the
appropriate Development Worksheet as a guide for the interview, in
addition to documenting findings during the interview. SSA conducts the
interviews either over the telephone or through a face-to-face
discussion with the respondents either in a field office, or at the
Centenarian or MNUP beneficiary's residence. Respondents are MNUP and
Centenarian beneficiaries, and their representative payees, or their
caregivers.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average time in field Total annual
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated theoretical office or opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice cost (dollars)
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers ****
(dollars) ** (minutes) ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centenarian Project--Title XVI Only *... 194 1 15 49 ** $27.07 *** 21 **** $3,167
MNUP--All Title II Responses............ 4,210 1 15 1,053 ** 27.07 *** 21 **** 68,406
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 4,404 .............. .............. 1,102 .............. .............. **** 71,573
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Some cases are T2 rollovers from prior Centenarian workloads.
** We based this figure on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000</a>).
*** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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 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 April 29, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies of
these OMB clearance packages by writing to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f7b8a5d9a5928798858384d9b49b92968596999492b7848496d9909881"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a352854281f0a15080e095439161f1b081b14191f3a09091b541d150c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1082(c) & 404.1095--
0960-0061. SSA collects the information on Form SSA-7156 on a voluntary
and as-needed basis to determine the existence of an agriculture trade
or business which may affect the monthly benefit, or insured status, of
the applicant. SSA requires the existence of a trade or business before
determining if an individual or partnership has net earnings from self-
employment. When an applicant indicates self-employment as a farmer,
SSA uses the SSA-7165 to obtain the information we need to determine
the existence of an agricultural trade or business, and subsequent
covered earnings for Social Security entitlement purposes. As part of
the application process, we conduct a personal interview, either face-
to-face or via telephone, and document the interview using Form SSA-
7165. We also allow applicants to complete a fillable version of the
form available on our website, which they can complete, print, and
sign. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits whose
entitlement depends on whether the worker received covered earnings
from self-employment as a farmer.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

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Average wait
Average time in field Total annual
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated total theoretical office or opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response per response annual burden hourly cost teleservice cost (dollars)
(minutes) (hours) amount centers ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7156......................... 1,000 1 10 167 * $14.49 ** 21 *** $7,491
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* We based this figure on average Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse salaries, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data
(<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes452092.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes452092.htm</a>).
** We based this figure by averaging the average FY 2022 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.

[[Page 18460]]

Dated: March 25, 2022.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-06700 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P

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