Notice2022-17023
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 9, 2022
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48547-48548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17023]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2022-0043]
Agency Information Collection Activities: 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 a revision of an OMB-approved information collection.
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-2022-0043].
(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#4c031e621e293c233e383f620f20292d3e2d222f290c3f3f2d622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e7a8b5c9b5829788959394c9a48b82869586898482a7949486c9808891">[email 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-
2022-0043].
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 September 8, 2022. Individuals can obtain copies of the
OMB clearance package by writing to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ca8598e498afbaa5b8beb9e489a6afabb8aba4a9af8ab9b9abe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="064954285463766974727528456a636774676865634675756728616970">[email protected]</span></a>.
Electronic Protective Filing Tool--20 CFR 404.630, and 20 CFR
416.340-416.345--0960-0826. The COVID-19 pandemic limited the public's
access to SSA Field Offices (FOs), requiring SSA to rapidly expand
online services available to the public. During the time when SSA
stopped accepting walk-in visitors, the agency noticed a sharp decrease
in SSI claims from underserved populations who have historically relied
on in-office appointments and service. SSA uses the term ``People
facing barriers'' to refer to these vulnerable populations, which
include low-income individuals (especially those over age 65), the
homeless, people with limited English proficiency, and disabled
children.
Background
Historically, individuals contact SSA by phone, in person, or by
mail to express interest in filing for benefits. Because same-day
service to file an application is not always possible, and because some
individuals prefer to make an appointment, SSA technicians use eLAS
(OMB No. 0960-0822) to set up appointments and record the protective
filing date for potential claimants. This process ensures that
potential claimants do not miss out on possible benefits due to the
lack of same-day service.
Protective filing is the precursor to filing an application for
benefits. Protective filing refers to the date by which SSA receives an
individual's intent to file for SSI payments, which SSA then uses as
the application date provided the individual files an application
within a specific amount of time after that date. Therefore, it is as
if the application was filed on the day the individual contacted SSA to
express interest in filing, which may result in additional payments to
that individual.
SSA developed an online tool to allow internet users to request an
appointment to file an application for benefits and to establish a
protective filing date with SSA. The electronic protective filing tool
allows individuals to submit information for the appointment request
using a computing device, such as a personal computer or handheld
(mobile) device instead of calling SSA by phone or visiting an FO. The
tool is available on SSA's website to potential claimants, as well as
those individuals assisting them.
Information the Electronic Protective Filing Tool Collects
After entering the ePFT from SSA's website, individuals begin on a
welcome screen that displays a link to the Terms of Service. Next, a
user sees
[[Page 48548]]
the Privacy Act statement page. The user then provides a response about
whether they are answering these questions about themselves or about
another person. To do so, the system presents several options for
individual to select from the categories of individuals who, under
current regulations, can establish a protective filing date. The next
screens ask for basic information about the individual who will be
claiming benefits or requesting SSI payments. Additionally, the tool
collects the name, phone number, and email address (optional) of the
person submitting the information, if that person is different than the
person who will be filing for SSI.
Once the ePFT collects the data, it gives the individual the
opportunity to review the information provided and electronically sign
and submit the form. The ePFT then transmits the information into eLAS,
documenting it as an ePFT submission, and establishes a protective
filing date. If the individual provided an email address(es), the tool
generates an email confirmation and sends it to the individual who will
be filing for benefits, and, if applicable, to the individual
submitting the appointment request on the claimant's behalf.
Subsequently, eLAS notifies SSA of the pending request, and an SSA
technician uses the information submitted to schedule an appointment
and send a notification of the date, time, and type of appointment to
the individual who will be filing for benefits.
Members of the public who prefer not to use the online version of
this IC, or who do not have access to the internet, may continue to
visit an FO, call SSA's 800 Number (or an FO), or write to SSA to
establish a protective filing date for an application for benefits.
The respondents are individuals with an intent to file for SSI (or
third parties helping these individuals) and who want to request an
appointment to do so.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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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) * **
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Respondent Type 1 (ex: Potential Applicants)............ 17,000 1 6 1,700 * $28.01 ** $47,617
Respondent Type 2 (ex: Professional Assistors).......... 2,125 10 7 2,479 * 25.94 ** 64,305
Respondent Type 3 (ex: Attorney Representatives)........ 2,125 2 7 496 * 72.18 ** 35,801
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Totals.............................................. 21,250 .............. .............. 4,675 .............. ** 147,723
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* We based these figures 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>), on average wages for Community and Social Service Organizations as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes210000.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes210000.htm</a>), and on average lawyer's hourly salary as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm</a>).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this online tool; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the tool. There is no actual charge to respondents
to complete the online tool.
Dated: August 4, 2022.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-17023 Filed 8-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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