Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and 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

December 6, 2024

Issuing agencies

Social Security Administration

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 235 (Friday, December 6, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 97155-97158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28509]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2024-0052]

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 extensions and 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,

[[Page 97156]]

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#6a253844380f1a05181e194429060f0b180b04090f2a19190b440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93dcc1bdc1f6e3fce1e7e0bdd0fff6f2e1f2fdf0f6d3e0e0f2bdf4fce5">[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-2024-0052] in
your submitted response.
I. The information collection below is pending at SSA. SSA will
submit it 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
February 4, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection
instrument by writing to the above email address.
Coverage of Employees of State and Local Governments--20 CFR 404--
0960-0425. The Code of Federal Regulations at 20 CFR 404, Subpart M,
prescribes the rules for States submitting reports of deposits and
recordkeeping to SSA. SSA requires States (and interstate
instrumentalities) to provide wage and deposit contribution information
for pre-1987 periods. Not all states have completely satisfied their
pending wage report and contribution liability with SSA for pre-1987
tax years. SSA needs these regulations until all pending items with all
states are closed out, and to provide for collection of this
information in the future, if necessary. The respondents are State and
local governments or interstate instrumentalities.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information
Collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden theoretical Total annual
Regulation section Number of Frequency of per response Total annual hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404. 1204 (a) & (b)..................................... 52 1 30 26 $32.39 ** $842
404.1215................................................ 52 1 60 52 * 32.39 ** 1,684
404. 1216 (a) & (b)..................................... 52 1 60 52 * 32.39 ** 1,684
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................................. 156 .............. .............. 130 .............. ** 4,210
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average State Government hourly wages (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999200.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999200.htm</a>), and the average
Local Government hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999300.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999300.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.

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 January 6, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of
these OMB clearance packages by writing to the
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3fce19de1d6c3dcc1c7c09df0dfd6d2c1d2ddd0d6f3c0c0d29dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f001d611d2a3f203d3b3c610c232a2e3d2e212c2a0f3c3c2e61282039">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
1. Work Activity Report--Employee--20 CFR 404.1520(b), 404.1571-
404.1576, 404.1584-404.1593, and 416.971-404.976--0960-0059. SSA uses
Form SSA-821-BK to collect recipient employment information to
determine whether recipients worked after becoming disabled and, if so,
whether the work is substantial gainful activity. In addition, SSA uses
the SSA-821-BK and SSA-821-APP to obtain work information during the
initial claims process, the continuing disability review process, post-
adjudicative work issue actions, and for Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) claims involving work issues. SSA reviews and evaluates the data
to determine if the applicant or recipient meets the disability
requirements of the law. The respondents are applicants or recipients
of Title II Social Security Disability, and Title XVI SSI applicants.
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 for Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-821-BK In Office................ 64,330 1 30 32,165 * $13.30 ** 24 *** $770,030
SSA-821-BK Phone.................... 128,660 1 30 64,330 * 13.30 ** 19 *** 1,397,458
SSA-821-BK Returned Via Mail........ 192,990 1 40 128,660 * 13.30 .............. *** 1,710,380
SSA-821-BK Electronic............... 25,320 1 45 18,990 * 13.30 .............. *** 252,567
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................... 411,300 .............. .............. 244,145 .............. .............. *** 4,130,435
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average of both DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2024 data (<a href="https://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf">https://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf</a>),
and 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 the average FY 2024 wait times for field offices (24 minutes) and teleservice centers (19 minutes), 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 97157]]

2. Claimant's Medication--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912--0960-0289. To
receive Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, the relevant State
Disability Determination Service (DDS) or field office (FO) must first
adjudicate claimants' applications. If the DDS or FO denies an initial
application, the claimants may request for reconsideration of the
initial denial. At that time, the claimants may submit addition
documentation to further justify their claims. If the DDS denies the
claim at the reconsideration level, the claimant may then request a
hearing before a judge. Before the hearing, SSA allows the claimant to
submit additional evidence to support their claim. In addition, since
judges must obtain information from the claimant to update and complete
their medical record and to verify the accuracy of the information, SSA
also sends the claimant Form HA-4632, Claimant's Medications, to
request information from the claimant regarding the current medications
they use. This information helps the judge overseeing the case to fully
investigate: (1) the claimant's medical treatment and (2) the effects
of the medications on the claimant's medical impairments and functional
capacity. The judge makes the completed form a part of the documentary
evidence of record, placing it in the official record of the
proceedings as an exhibit. The respondents are applicants (or their
representatives) for OASDI or SSI payments who request a hearing to
contest an agency denial of their claim.
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 for Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-46321--PDF/paper version......... 51,000 1 20 17,000 * $13.30 ** 21 *** $463,505
Electronic Records Express 249,000 1 20 83,000 * 31.48 .............. *** 2,612,840
Submissions........................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................... 300,000 .............. .............. 100,000 .............. .............. *** 3,076,345
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current data (<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf">https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf</a>) and 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">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.

3. Questionnaire for Children Claiming SSI Benefits--20 CFR
416.912(a)--0960-0499. Sections 1614 and 1631 of the Act allow SSA to
determine the eligibility of an applicant's claim for SSI payments.
Parents or legal guardians seeking to obtain or retain SSI eligibility
for their children use Form SSA-3881-BK to provide SSA with the
addresses of nonmedical sources such as schools, counselors, agencies,
organizations, or therapists who would have information about a child's
functioning. SSA uses this information to help determine a child's
claim or continuing eligibility for SSI. The respondents are the
parents, guardians, or other caretakers of: (1) applicants who appeal
SSI childhood disability decisions; or (2) recipients undergoing a
continuing disability review.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost time in field opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount office (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3881-BK (Paper Version)......... 98,307 1 30 49,154 * $31.48 ** 24 *** $2,785,256
SSA-3881-BK (Intranet Version)...... 52,936 1 30 26,468 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 1,416,474
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................... 151,243 .............. .............. 75,622 .............. .............. *** 4,201,730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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 the average FY 2024 wait times for field offices and hearings office, as well as by 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.

4. Waiver of Right to Appear--Disability Hearing--20 CFR 404.913-
404.914, 404.916(b)(5), 416.1413-416.1414, 416.1416(b)(5)--0960-0534.
Claimants for Social Security disability payments or their
representatives can use Form SSA-773-U4 to waive their right to appear
at a disability hearing. The disability hearing officer uses the signed
form as a basis for not holding a hearing, and for preparing a written
decision on the claimant's request for disability payments based solely
on the evidence of record. The respondents are disability claimants for
Social Security benefits or SSI payments, or their representatives, who
wish to waive their right to appear at a disability hearing.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.

[[Page 97158]]

5. Function Report--Child (Birth to 1st Birthday, Age 1 to 3rd
Birthday, Age 3 to 6th Birthday, Age 6 to 12th Birthday, Age 12 to 18th
Birthday)--20 CFR 416.912 and 416.924a(a)(2)--0960-0542. As part of
SSA's disability determination process, we use Forms SSA-3375-BK
through SSA-3379-BK to request information from a child's parent or
guardian for children applying for SSI. The five different versions of
the form contain questions about the child's day-to-day functioning
appropriate to a particular age group; thus, respondents use only one
version of the form for each child. The adjudicative team (disability
examiners and medical or psychological consultants) of State disability
determination services offices collect the information on the
appropriate version of this form (in conjunction with medical and other
evidence) to form a complete picture of the children's ability to
function and their impairment-related limitations. The adjudicative
team uses the completed profile to determine: (1) if each child's
impairment(s) results in marked and severe functional limitations; and
(2) whether each child is disabled. The respondents are parents and
guardians of child applicants for SSI.
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 for Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount centers (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3375............................ 26,864 1 20 8,955 * $31.48 ** 21 *** $577,878
SSA-3376............................ 53,347 1 20 17,782 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 1,147,540
SSA-3377............................ 108,745 1 20 36,248 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 2,339,247
SSA-3378............................ 193,800 1 20 64,600 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 4,168,896
SSA-3379............................ 142,006 1 20 47,335 * 31.48 ** 21 *** 3,054,725
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.......................... 524,762 .............. .............. 174,921 .............. .............. *** 11,288,286
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm</a>).
** We based this figure on averaging 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.

Dated: December 2, 2024.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-28509 Filed 12-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P

</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>

View on FederalRegister.gov →Plain-text source

Indexed from Federal Register on December 6, 2024.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.