Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request

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November 6, 2024

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Social Security Administration

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88105-88108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25782]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2024-0044]

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
(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, Mail Stop 3253 Altmeyer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD
21235, Fax: 833-410-1631, Email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a7e8f589f5c2d7c8d5d3d489e4cbc2c6d5c6c9c4c2e7d4d4c689c0c8d1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e617c007c4b5e415c5a5d006d424b4f5c4f404d4b6e5d5d4f00494158">[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> by clicking on Currently under
Review--Open for Public Comments and choosing to click on one of SSA's
published items. Please reference Docket ID Number [SSA-2024-0044] in
your submitted response.
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
January 6, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection
instruments by writing to the above email address.
1. Integrated Registration Services (IRES) System--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0626. IRES is an internet-based application that replaces the
respondent's handwritten paper-based signature with a user
identification number (User ID) and a password. IRES provides
registration, authentication, and authorization gateway services for
Business-to-Government (B2G) suites of services, including, but not
limited to:

a. Business Services Online (BSO)
[ssquf] Claimant Representative Services
b. Government Services Online (GSO) (OMB #0960-0757)
[ssquf] Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) Services
[ssquf] Secure exchange of information between SSA and third
parties in support of SSA and other federal government-supported
programs
c. Customer Support Application (CSA)
[ssquf] CSA provides customer support service for IRES. CSA allows
users to complete the registration process via a telephone interview
with a Social Security customer service representative.

The IRES System verifies the identity of individuals, businesses,
organizations, entities, and government agencies seeking to use SSA's
secured internet and telephone applications. Individuals need this
verification to electronically request and exchange business data with
SSA. Requestors provide SSA with the information needed to establish
their identities. Once SSA verifies identity, the IRES system issues
the requestor a user identification number and a password to conduct
business with SSA. Respondents are employers; employees; third party
submitters of wage data business entities providing taxpayer
identification information; appointed representatives; representative
payees; and data exchange partners conducting business in support of
SSA programs.
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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IRES Internet Registrations............................. 266,210 1 5 22,184 * $42.82 ** $949,919
IRES Internet Requestors................................ 14,472,710 1 2 482,424 * 42.82 ** 20,657,396
IRES CS (CSA) Registrations............................. 2,216 1 11 406 * 42.82 ** 17,385
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Total............................................... 14,741,136 .............. .............. 505,014 .............. ** 21,624,700
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* We based this figure on an overall average of the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-00000">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-00000</a>); hourly wages for Information and Record Keeping Analysts hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor
Statistics data. (Information and Record Clerks, All Other (<a href="http://bls.gov">bls.gov</a>)); and average hourly wages for paralegals/legal assistants (Paralegals and Legal
Assistants (<a href="http://bls.gov">bls.gov</a>); and lawyers (Lawyers (<a href="http://bls.gov">bls.gov</a>) as posted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
** 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. Notification of a Social Security Number (SSN) to an Employer
for Wage Reporting Purposes--20 CFR 422.103(a)--0960-0778. Individuals
applying for employment must provide an SSN or indicate they have
applied for one. However, when an individual applies for an initial
SSN, there is a delay between the assignment of the number and the
delivery of the SSN card. At an individual's request, SSA uses Form
SSA-132 to send the individual's SSN to an employer. Mailing this
information to the employer: (1) ensures the employer has

[[Page 88106]]

the correct SSN for the individual; (2) allows SSA to receive correct
earnings information for wage reporting purposes; and (3) reduces the
delay in the initial SSN assignment and delivery of the SSN information
directly to the employer. It also enables SSA to verify the employer as
a safeguard for the applicant's personally identifiable information.
The respondents are individuals applying for an initial SSN who ask SSA
to mail confirmation of their application or the SSN to their
employers.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

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 December 6, 2024. Individuals can obtain copies of
these OMB clearance packages by writing to the
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d19e83ff83b4a1bea3a5a2ff92bdb4b0a3b0bfb2b491a2a2b0ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="703f225e2215001f0204035e331c151102111e1315300303115e171f06">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
1. Requests for Self-Employment Information, Employee Information,
and Employer Information--20 CFR 422.120--0960-0508. When SSA cannot
identify Form W-2 wage data for an individual, we place the data in an
earnings suspense file and contact the individual (and certain
instances the employer) to obtain the correct information. If the
respondent furnishes the name and Social Security Number (SSN)
information that agrees with SSA's records, or provides information
that resolves the discrepancy, SSA adds the reported earnings to the
respondent's Social Security record. We use Forms SSA-L2765, SSA-L3365,
and SSA-L4002 for this purpose. The respondents are self-employed
individuals and employees whose name and SSN information do not agree
with their employer's and SSA's records.
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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SSA-L2765 *............................................. 1 1 10 1 ** $31.48 *** $31.48
SSA-L3365 *............................................. 1 1 10 1 ** 31.48 *** 31.48
SSA-L4002 *............................................. 1 1 10 1 ** 31.48 *** 31.48
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Totals.............................................. 1 .............. .............. 3 .............. *** 94.44
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* SSA does not currently send out any of these collections; however, we included 1 hour burden placeholders for each collection, in the event we need to
send these notices out in the near future.
** We based this figure on 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>).
*** 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. Representative Payee Report of Benefits and Dedicated Account--
20 CFR 416.546, 416.635, 416.640, and 416.665--0960-0576. SSA requires
representative payees (RPs) to manage the dedicated account in
accordance with our rules, including using the funds for permitted
expenditures and reporting on the use of funds. When the SSI recipient
requires a dedicated account, SSA notifies the RP to inform them of the
need to open the dedicated account and of the rules for managing a
dedicated account, including the required submission of a written
report accounting for the use of money paid to Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) recipients into the dedicated account. SSA allows the
respondent to submit their own written report, or use Form SSA-6233,
which simplifies the process for the respondents. SSA uses Form SSA-
6233 to: (1) ensure the RPs use the payments for the recipient's
current maintenance and personal needs and properly conserves the
remainder; and (2) confirm the funds paid into the dedicated account
are spent and saved in compliance with the law. Respondents are RPs for
SSI recipients.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

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Average wait
Average time in field
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated total theoretical office or for
Modality of completion respondents response per response annual burden hourly cost teleservice
(minutes) (hours) amount centers
(dollars) ** (minutes) **
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SSA-6233......................... 68,000 1 20 22,667 $31.48 * 21 ** $1,462,781 ***
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* We based this figure on 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 on averaging both the average FY 2024 wait times for field offices (24 minutes) and teleservice centers (19 minutes), based on
SSA's current management information data.

[[Page 88107]]

*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Supplemental Security Income 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. Social Security Number Verification Services--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0660. Internal Revenue Service regulations require employers to
provide wage and tax data to SSA using Form W-2, or its electronic
equivalent. As part of this process, the employer must furnish the
employee's name and SSN. In addition, the employee's name and SSN must
match SSA's records for SSA to post earnings to the employee's earnings
record, which SSA maintains. SSA offers the Social Security Number
Verification Service (SSNVS), which allows employers to verify the
reported names and SSNs of their employees match those in SSA's
records. SSNVS is a cost-free, voluntary method for employers to verify
employee information via the internet. SSA annotates data an employer
supplies to SSA for verification that does not match SSA's records with
a no match indicator and returns it to the employer. The respondents
are employers who need to verify SSN data using SSA's records.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

4. Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security Record--20 CFR
402.130--0960-0665. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), at 5 U.S.C.
552(a)(3) of the U.S. Code, provides instructions for members of the
public to request records from Federal Agencies. When a member of the
public requests an individual's Social Security record under FOIA, SSA
needs the name and address of the requestor as well as a description of
the requested record to process the request. While SSA respondents may
submit these requests in writing, SSA also allows for the use of Form
SSA-711, Deceased Individual's Social Security Records, for FOIA
requests for a deceased individual's records for genealogical research,
family estate matters, and other reasons. SSA then uses the information
the respondent provides on Form SSA-711, or via an internet request
through SSA's electronic Freedom of Information Act Xpress (FOIAXpress)
website, to: (1) verify the wage earner is deceased; and (2) access the
correct Social Security record. Respondents are members of the public
requesting deceased individuals' Social Security records.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

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Average wait Total
Average time in field annual
Number of Frequency of Number of Average burden Estimated theoretical office or for opportunity
Modality of completion respondents response responses per response total annual hourly cost teleservice cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers (dollars)
(dollars) ** (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Internet Request through 49,800 1 7 5,810 * $31.48 .............. *** $182,899
FOIAXpress..................
SSA-711 (paper).............. 200 1 7 23 * $31.48 ** 21 *** $2,928
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Total.................... 50,000 .............. .............. 5,833 .............. .............. *** $185,827
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* We based this figure on 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 on averaging both the average FY 2024 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. Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting--0960-0771. Sheltered
workshops are private non-profit organizations or institutions that
implement a recognized program of rehabilitation for handicapped
workers or provide such workers with remunerative employment or other
occupational rehabilitating activity of an educational or therapeutic
nature. Sheltered workshops perform a service for their clients by
reporting monthly wages directly to SSA. SSA uses the information these
workshops provide to verify and post monthly wages to SSI recipient's
records. Most workshops report monthly wage totals to their local SSA
office, so we can adjust the client's SSI payment amount in a timely
manner and prevent overpayments. Sheltered workshops are motivated to
report wages voluntarily as a service to their clients. Respondents are
sheltered workshops that report monthly wages for services performed in
the workshop.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

[[Page 88108]]

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Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of Total number of per response annual burden hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents response responses (minutes) (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) ** (minutes) ** ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheltered Workshop Wage Reporting....................... 244 12 2,928 15 732 $23.28 * 24 ** $44,302 ***
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* We based this on average Rehabilitation Counselors hourly salary, as reported in Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Rehabilitation Counselors (<a href="http://bls.gov">bls.gov</a>))
** We based this figure on the average FY 2024 wait times for field offices, 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.

Dated: November 1, 2024.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-25782 Filed 11-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P

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