Notice2026-05600
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
March 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13915-13926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05600]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2026-0133]
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.
[[Page 13916]]
(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#a4ebf68af6c1d4cbd6d0d78ae7c8c1c5d6c5cac7c1e4d7d7c58ac3cbd2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="19564b374b7c69766b6d6a375a757c786b78777a7c596a6a78377e766f">[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> 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-2026-0133] 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 May
22, 2026. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments
by writing to the above email address.
1. Request for Corrections of Earnings Record--20 CFR 404.820 and
20 CFR 422.125--0960-0029. Individuals alleging inaccurate earnings
records in SSA's files use paper Form SSA-7008, or a personal interview
during which SSA employees key their answers into our electronic
Earnings Modernization Item Correction system, to provide the
information SSA needs to check earnings posted, and as necessary,
initiate development to resolve any inaccuracies. The respondents are
individuals who request correction of earnings posted to their Social
Security earnings record.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average Average time in field
Number of Frequency of burden per Estimated theoretical office/ Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response response total annual hourly cost telephone wait opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount time (minutes) (dollars) ***
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7008............................. 9,766 1 30 4,883 * $32.66 .............. *** $159,479
In-person or telephone interview..... 112,312 1 30 56,156 * 32.66 ** 38 *** 4,157,193
mySSA Earnings Correction Screen..... 14,194 1 30 7,097 *32.66 .............. *** 231,788
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 136,272 .............. .............. 68,136 .............. .............. *** 4,548,460.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics)
** We based this figure on the average combined FY 2026 wait times for field offices (23 minutes) and for teleservice centers (52 minutes which includes
the average speed of answer of 11 minutes as well as the average 41-minute wait time for a call back from an SSA technician), based on SSA's current
management information data. This figure reflects both data from our systems and the data posted on our public facing website (Social Security
performance [verbar] SSA) on the date we drafted this document. As the figures fluctuate daily, the wait times may be different on the website than
they appear here. We continue to monitor our website and management information data on call back times to ensure we report updated figures when
possible.
*** 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. Application for Supplemental Security Income (Deferred or
Abbreviated)--20 CFR 416.305-416.335, Subpart C--0960-0444. SSA
provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to members of the
public who meet the required eligibility criteria and file an
application. SSA uses Form SSA8001BK, Application for SSI (Deferred or
Abbreviated), to collect information from respondents to either: (1)
provide a formal determination of ineligibility based on non-medical
reasons only, or (2) document allegations of potential eligibility
prior to requesting a medical determination from the state disability
determination services (DDS) while deferring the collection of
additional information until after the DDS approves a medical
determination. Respondents apply for SSI using the deferred application
through one of three modalities: (1) a paper application for both adult
and child claims (Form SSA-8001), which the public can access as a
fillable PDF from our website and submit through SSA's Upload Documents
Portal (OMB Control No. 0960-0830); (2) a field office interview (in
person or over the phone), during which an SSA employee enters
applicant data directly into the Consolidated Claim Experience (CCE)
and Intranet SSI Claims System screens; or (3) using the internet
Claims (iClaim) System to complete the iSSI internet application to
complete the basic eligibility questions. In December 2024, SSA
implemented a new simplified SSI online application. SSA developed a
hybrid approach to streamline and simplify the online application form
and the modalities we offer across other service channels (i.e., phone
and in-person interviews). SSA's hybrid approach consists of two
separate steps: (1) capturing the claimant's basic eligibility with a
simplified application, and (2) a technician supported experience to
develop additional information necessary to make an initial
determination. This second step only happens after we provide medical
approval and identify what other information we need. This approach
strikes a balance between improving the applicant's filing experience
and collecting all necessary information to make eligibility
determinations. SSA uses the information we gather on the SSA-8001,
deferred SSI Application, to: (1) formally deny SSI for nonmedical
reasons when information the applicant provides results in
ineligibility; or (2) establish a disability claim but defer the
evidence development of non-medical issues until SSA approves the
disability. The respondents are individuals who are applying for SSI
and are either clearly ineligible or, disabled or blind, or are the
third parties who aid these individuals in applying for SSI.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 13917]]
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Average wait
Average Average time in field
Number of Frequency of burden per Estimated theoretical office or for Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response response total annual cost amount teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) (dollars) * centers (dollars) ***
(minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intranet CCE or SSI Claims System.... 596,633 1 28 278,429 * $23.47 ** 38 *** $15,403,291
Internet Claim System (iSSI)......... 167,331 1 6 16,733 * 23.47 .............. *** 392,724
SSA-8001 (Paper Version)............. 371,585 1 15 92,896 * 23.47 ** 38 *** 7,703,629
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ 1,135,579 .............. .............. 388,058 .............. .............. *** 23,499,644
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security
Benefits), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average combined FY 2026 wait times for field offices (23 minutes) and for teleservice centers (52 minutes which includes
the average speed of answer of 11 minutes as well as the average 41-minute wait time for a call back from an SSA technician), based on SSA's current
management information data. This figure reflects both data from our systems and the data posted on our public facing website (Social Security
performance [verbar] SSA) on the date we drafted this document. As the figures fluctuate daily, the wait times may be different on the website than
they appear here. We continue to monitor our website and management information data on call back times to ensure we report updated figures when
possible.
*** 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. Authorization to Obtain Earnings Data From the Social Security
Administration--0960-0602. On occasion, public and private
organizations and agencies need to obtain detailed earnings information
about specific Social Security number (SSN) holding wage earners for
business purposes (e.g. pension funds and State agencies, etc.).
Respondents use Form SSA-581 to identify the SSN holder whose
information they are requesting, and provide authorization from the SSN
holder, when applicable. SSA uses the information provided on Form SSA-
581 to: (1) identify the wage earner; (2) establish the period of
earnings information requested; (3) verify the wage earner authorized
SSA to release this information to the requesting party; and (4)
produce the Itemized Statement of Earnings (SSA-1826). The respondents
are private businesses, state or local agencies, and other federal
agencies.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-581........................................ 24,000 1 10 4,000 * $39.86 ** $159,440
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists hourly wage data, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics
data (Occupational Employment and Wage 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.
4. Medicare Subsidy Quality Review Forms--20 CFR 418(b)(5)--0960-
0707 The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 mandated the creation of
the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage program and provides
certain subsidies for eligible Medicare beneficiaries to help pay for
the cost of prescription drugs. As part of its stewardship duties of
the Medicare Part D subsidy program, SSA conducts periodic quality
review checks of the information Medicare beneficiaries report on their
subsidy applications (Form SSA-1020). SSA uses the Medicare Quality
Review program to conduct these checks. The respondents are applicants
for the Medicare Part D subsidy whom SSA chose to undergo a quality
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 telephone opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount (minutes) ** (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-9301 (Medicare Subsidy Quality 3,500 1 30 1,750 * $32.66 ** 52 *** $156,212
Review Case Analysis Form...........
[[Page 13918]]
SSA-9302 (Notice of Quality Review 3,500 1 15 875 * 32.66 .............. *** 28,578
Acknowledgment Form for those with
Phones).............................
SSA-9303 (Notice of Quality Review 350 1 15 88 * 32.66 .............. *** 2,874
Acknowledgment Form for those
without Phones).....................
SSA-9308 (Request for Information)... 7,000 1 15 1,750 * 32.66 .............. *** 57,155
SSA-9310 (Request for Documents)..... 3,500 1 5 292 * 32.66 .............. *** 9,537
SSA-9311 (Notice of Appointment- 450 1 15 113 * 32.66 .............. *** 3,691
Denial -Reviewer Will Call).........
SSA-9312 (Notice of Appointment- 50 1 15 13 * 32.66 .............. *** 425
Denial-Please Call Reviewer)........
SSA-9313 (Notice of Quality Review 2,500 1 15 625 * 32.66 .............. *** 20,413
acknowledgment Form for those with
Phones).............................
SSA-9314 (Notice of Quality Review 500 1 15 125 * 32.66 .............. *** 4,083
acknowledgement Form for those
without Phones).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ 21,350 .............. .............. 5,631 .............. 53 ** 282,968
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average combined FY 2026 wait times for field offices (23 minutes) and for teleservice centers (52 minutes which includes
the average speed of answer of 11 minutes as well as the average 41-minute wait time for a call back from an SSA technician), based on SSA's current
management information data. This figure reflects both data from our systems and the data posted on our public facing website (Social Security
performance [verbar] SSA) on the date we drafted this document. As the figures fluctuate daily, the wait times may be different on the website than
they appear here. We continue to monitor our website and management information data on call back times to ensure we report updated figures when
possible.
*** 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. Electronic SSDI and SSI Wage Reporting: myWageReport, SSA Mobile
Wage Reporting, and Supplemental Security Income Telephone Wage
Reporting--20 CFR 404.1520(b), 404.1571-1576, 404.1584-1593, & 416.701-
416.732--0960-0715. SSA requires Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) beneficiaries or their representative payees to report changes
when beneficiaries return to work, when their amount of work increases,
or when their earnings increase. Similarly, SSA requires recipients of
SSI, their deemors, and representative payees to report changes in work
and monthly wages. SSA allows SSDI beneficiaries, SSI recipients,
deemors, and representative payees to report earnings via electronic
means, though the methods available depend on the type of benefits
received. SSDI users may report wages using an internet reporting
system called myWageReport. myWageReport is a secure internet reporting
tool within the mySSA portal that enables SSDI beneficiaries to submit
pay stub information to SSA. In addition to myWageReport, SSI users
have two other electronic options, the SSA Mobile Wage Reporting
application (SSAMWR) and the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System
(SSITWR). The SSITWR allows callers to report their wages by speaking
their responses through voice recognition technology, or by keying in
responses using a telephone key pad. The SSAMWR allows recipients to
report their wages through the mobile wage reporting application on
their smartphone. SSITWR and SSAMWR systems collect the same
information and send it to SSA over secure channels. To ensure the
security of the information provided, SSITWR and SSAMWR ask respondents
to provide information SSA can compare against our records for
authentication purposes. Once the system authenticates the identity of
the respondents, they can report their wage data. The respondents are
SSDI beneficiaries, SSI recipients, SSI deemors, or representative
payees.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 13919]]
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Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of Number of per response total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response responses (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) ***
(dollars) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training/Instruction \+\............. 129,032 1 129,032 35 75,269 * $23.47 ** $1,766,563
myWageReport......................... 37,425 12 449,100 22 164,670 * 23.47 ** 3,864,805
SSITWR............................... 8,678 12 104,136 20 34,712 * 23.47 ** 814,691
SSAMWR............................... 82,929 12 995,148 20 331,716 * 23.47 ** 7,758,375
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 258,064 .............. 1,667,416 .............. 606,367 .............. ** 14,204,434
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\+\ SSI respondents complete training and a modality of collection. SSA is not able to break down the number of new wage reporters who receive training
and longtime wage reporters who did not receive training; therefore, the actual number may be less than the estimate we provided. SSA collects
management information data based on the number of transactions; the number of respondents has been extrapolated from that number. We do not collect
MI on unique reporters.
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security
Benefits), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage 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.
6. Request for Evidence from Doctor and Request for Evidence from
Hospital--20 CFR 404 Subpart P and 20 CFR 416 Subpart I--0960-0722.
Sections 223(d)(5) and 1614(a)(3)(H)(i) of the Act require claimants to
furnish medical evidence of their disability when filing a disability
claim. SSA uses Forms HA-66 and HA-67 to request evidence from medical
sources, which claimants identify as having information relative to
their impairments, or ability to do work-related activities. In
addition to accepting manual paper responses, SSA sends a barcode with
the HA-66 and HA-67, allowing respondents to fax the information
directly into the electronic claims folder rather than submitting it
manually. SSA uses the information to determine eligibility for
benefits, and to pay medical sources for furnishing the information.
The respondents are medical sources, doctors, and hospitals that
evaluate the claimants.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of Number of per response total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response responses (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-66--Paper Version................. 6,843 22 150,546 15 37,637 * $103 ** $3,876.611
HA-66--Electronic Version (ERE or 12,708 22 279,576 15 69,894 * 103 ** 7,199,082
barcode)............................
HA-67--Paper Version................. 2,752 22 60,544 15 15,136 * 103 ** 1,559,008
HA-67--Electronic Version (ERE or 5,111 22 112,442 15 28,111 * 103 ** 2,895,433
barcode)............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 27,414 .............. .............. .............. 150,778 .............. ** 15,530,134
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figures on the average Physician's hourly salary, the average Psychiatrist's hourly salary, and the average Psychologist's hourly salary
as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage 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.
7. Government-to-Government Services Online website Registration
Form; Government-to-Government Services Online website Account
Modification/Deletion Form--20 CFR 401.45--0960-0757. The Government-
to-Government Services Online (GSO) website allows various external
organizations to submit files to a variety of SSA systems and, in some
cases, receive files in return. The SSA systems that process data
transferred via GSO include, but are not limited to, systems
responsible for disability processing and benefit determination or
termination. SSA uses the information on Form SSA-159, Government-to-
Government Online website Registration Form, to register the requestor
to use the GSO website. Once we receive the SSA-159, SSA provides the
user with account information and conducts a walkthrough of the GSO
website as necessary. Established organizations may submit Form SSA-159
to register additional users as well. The established requesting
organizations can also complete Form SSA-160, Government-to-Government
Online website Account Modification/Deletion Form, to modify their
online accounts (e.g., address change). Respondents are State and local
government agencies, and some private sector business entities.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 13920]]
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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 cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-159.............................................. 1,973 1 15 493 * $21.44 ** $10,570
SSA-160.............................................. 366 1 15 92 * 21.44 ** 1,972
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 2,339 .............. .............. 585 .............. ** 12,542
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average Information and Record Keeping Clerk's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational
Employment and Wage 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.
8. Request to Show Cause for Failure to Appear--20 CFR 404.938,
416.1438, and 404.957(b)(i) and (ii)--0960-0794. When claimants who
requested a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) fail to
appear at their scheduled hearing, the ALJ may reschedule the hearing
if the claimants establish good cause for missing the hearings. To
establish good cause, respondents must show proof of one of the
following: (1) SSA did not properly notify the claimant of the hearing;
or (2) an unexpected event occurred without sufficient time for the
claimant to request a postponement. The claimants can use paper Form
HA-L90 or HA-L90-OP1 to provide their reason for not appearing at their
scheduled hearings; or the claimants' representatives can use
Electronic Records Express (ERE), OMB Control No. 0960-0753, to submit
the HA-L90 online. SSA uses the HA-L90 for new cases, and the HA-L90-
OP1 for redeterminations cases. We need two versions of the paper form,
as the ALJ follows different procedures when determining the good cause
on redetermination cases (cases that have a prior decision and evidence
on file), than they do for new cases (where we have no evidence on
file). The ERE modality automatically adjusts for redetermination
cases, so we only need one version of the internet screens. If the ALJ
determines the claimant established good cause for failure to appear at
the hearing, the ALJ will schedule a supplemental hearing; if not, the
ALJ will make a claims eligibility determination based on the
claimants' evidence of record. Respondents are claimants, or their
representatives, seeking to establish good cause for failure to appear
at a scheduled hearing before an ALJ.
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 cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-L90............................................... 37,265 1 10 6,211 * $23.47 ** $145,772.17
HA-L90-OP1........................................... 500 1 10 83 * 23.47 ** 1948.01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 37,765 .............. .............. 6,294 .............. ** 147,720.18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security
Benefits), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage 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.
9. Vocational Resource Facilitator Demonstration--0960-0829. SSA
administers the Vocational Resource Facilitator Demonstration (VRFD)
under the Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program (ICAP). ICAP
allows SSA to partner with various non-federal groups and organizations
to advance interventional research connected to the SSI and SSDI
programs. VRFD tests the Vocational Resource Facilitator (VRF)
intervention, which helps newly injured spinal cord injury or disease
(SCI) or brain injury (BI) patients in pursuing their employment goals.
The VRFD provides empirical evidence on the impact of the intervention
on patients in several critical areas: (1) employment and earnings; (2)
SSI and SSDI benefit receipt; and (3) satisfaction and well-being. A
rigorous evaluation of VRFD is critical to help SSA and other
interested parties assess promising options to improve employment-
related outcomes and decrease benefit receipt. The VRFD evaluation uses
a randomized control experimental design that includes one treatment
group and one control group. Control group members receive a referral
for services to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
(DVRS), New Jersey's state Vocational Rehabilitation agency. The
treatment group receives a referral to DVRS and employment services
from a resource facilitator (RF). RFs are fully integrated members of
clinical teams who engage with injured workers during inpatient
rehabilitation about return to work. The central research questions
include:
<bullet> Was the intervention implemented as planned?
<bullet> What are key considerations for scaling up or adopting the
VRF model at other facilities?
<bullet> What were the impacts of VRF on outcomes of interest?
<bullet> Did treatment group members earn or work more than control
group members?
<bullet> Were treatment group members relatively less likely to
apply to or receive SSI or SSDI benefits?
<bullet> Did treatment group members experience greater
satisfaction and well-being than control group members?
<bullet> What were the benefits and costs of the demonstration
across key groups?
[[Page 13921]]
The proposed public survey data collections supports three
components of the planned implementation, impact, and benefit-cost
analyses. The data collection efforts provides information that is not
available in SSA program records about the characteristics and outcomes
of VRFD participants in the treatment and control groups. Respondents
are newly injured SCI and BI patients, who will provide written consent
before agreeing to participate in the study and are randomly assigned
to one of the study groups.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response response burden amount (dollars) **
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-month Follow-up Survey............................ 90 1 25 38 * $14.27 ** $542
Staff Interviews with Site Staff..................... 12 1 66 13 * 32.66 ** 425
Onsite Audit of sample of case files................. 1 1 30 1 * 32.66 ** 32.66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 103 .............. .............. 51 .............. ** 1,000
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* We based this figure on DI Payments, based on SSA's current management information data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits) and on
the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage 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.
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 22, 2026. Individuals can obtain copies of
these OMB clearance packages by writing to the
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d322f532f180d120f090e533e11181c0f1c131e183d0e0e1c531a120b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="044b562a5661746b7670772a4768616576656a6761447777652a636b72">[email protected]</span></a>.
1. Application for Child's Insurance Benefits--20 CFR 404.350-
404.368, 404.603, & 416.350--0960-0010. Title II of the Social Security
Act (Act) provides for the payment of monthly benefits to children of
an insured worker who is retired, disabled, or deceased. Section 202(d)
of the Act discloses the conditions and requirements SSA requires the
applicant to meet when filing an application. SSA uses the information
on Form SSA-4-BK to determine entitlement for children of living and
deceased workers to monthly Social Security payments. Respondents are
guardians completing the form on behalf of the children of living or
deceased workers, or the children of living or deceased workers.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average Estimated Average time in field
Number of Frequency of burden per total annual theoretical office and Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response response burden hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) (hours) amount centers (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-4-BK (Death Claim): Paper........ 1,702 1 12 340 * $32.66 .............. *** $11,104
SSA-4-BK (Death Claim): MCS Interview 235,166 1 11 43,114 * 32.66 ** 38 *** 6,272,418
SSA-4-BK (Life Claim): Paper......... 2,912 1 12 582 * 32.66 .............. *** 19,008
SSA-4-BK (Life Claim): MCS Interview. 332,333 1 11 60,928 * 32.66 ** 38 *** 8,864,120
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 572,113 .............. .............. 104,964 .............. .............. *** 15,166,650
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average combined FY 2026 wait times for field offices (23 minutes) and for teleservice centers (52 minutes which includes
the average speed of answer of 11 minutes as well as the average 41-minute wait time for a call back from an SSA technician), based on SSA's current
management information data. This figure reflects both data from our systems and the data posted on our public facing website (Social Security
performance [bond] SSA) on the date we drafted this document. As the figures fluctuate daily, the wait times may be different on the website than they
appear here. We continue to monitor our website and management information data on call back times to ensure we report updated figures when possible.
We note that we combined these two figures for the purposes of this information collection, as SSA does not track whether the respondents who complete
the MCS interview do so via telephone or in person. In addition, we did not calculate wait time for the respondents who use the paper form, as they
submit the forms via mail.
*** 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 13922]]
2. Statement Regarding Marriage--20 CFR 404.726--0960-0017. Section
216(h)(1)(A) of the Act directs SSA to apply State law to determine an
individual's marital relationship. Some state laws recognize marriages
without a ceremony (i.e., common-law marriages). In such cases, SSA
provides the same spouse or widow(er) benefits to the common-law
spouses as it does to ceremonially married spouses. To determine
common-law spouses, SSA must elicit information from blood relatives or
other persons who are knowledgeable about the alleged common-law
relationship. SSA uses Form SSA-753, Statement Regarding Marriage, to
collect information from third parties to verify the applicant's
statements about intent; cohabitation; and holding out to the public as
married, which are the basic tenets of a common-law marriage. SSA uses
the information to determine if a valid marital relationship exists,
and if the common-law spouse is entitled to Social Security spouse, or
widow(er) benefits. The respondents are blood relatives of the worker
or claimant for spouse's or widow(er)'s benefits, or other third
parties who can confirm or deny an alleged common-law marriage.
This is a correction notice: SSA published the incorrect burden
information for this collection at 90 FR 42294, on 8/29/25. We are
correcting this error here.
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 cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-753 (paper)...................................... 179,804 1 9 26,971 * $32.66 *** $880,873
SSA-753 Submittable PDF Version via Upload Documents 165 1 9 25 * 32.66 ** 817
(0960-0830).........................................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 179,969 .............. .............. 56,990 .............. ** 881,690
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
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.
3. Claimant's Work Background--20 CFR 404.1512(a); 404.1520(a)(4);
404.1565(b); 416.912(a); 416.920(a)(4); 416.965(b)--0960-0300. Sections
205(a) and 1631(e) of the Act provide the Commissioner of Social
Security with the authority to establish procedures for determining if
a claimant is entitled to disability benefits. The administrative law
judge (ALJ) may ask individuals to provide background information on
Form HA-4633 about work they performed in the past 15 years. When a
claimant requests a hearing before an ALJ to establish an entitlement
to disability benefits, the ALJ may request that the claimant provide a
work history to assist the ALJ in fully inquiring into issues related
to the disability. The ALJ uses the information collected from the
claimants on Form HA-4633 to: (1) identify the claimant's relevant work
history; (2) decide if SSA requires expert vocational testimony and, if
so, have a vocational expert available to testify during the hearing;
and (3) provide a reference for the ALJ to discuss the claimant's work
history. The ALJ makes the completed Form HA-4633 part of the
documentary evidence of record. The respondents are claimants for
disability benefits under Title II or Title XVI who requested a hearing
before an ALJ after SSA denied their application for disability
payments.
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 cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-4633 (paper)...................................... 48,450 1 20 16,150 * $14.27 ** $230,461
Electronic Records Express Submissions............... 236,550 1 20 78,850 * 32.66 ** 275,241
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 285,000 .............. .............. 142,500 .............. *** 505,702
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average DI hourly wages based on SSA's current FY 2026 SSI data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits), and on
average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage 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.
4. Disability Update Report--20 CFR 404.1589-404.1595 and 416.988-
416.996--09600511. As part of our statutory requirements, SSA
periodically uses Form SSA-455, the Disability Update Report, to
evaluate current Title II disability beneficiaries' and Title XVI
disability payment recipients' continued eligibility for Social
Security disability payments. Specifically, SSA uses the form to
determine if: (1) there is enough evidence to warrant referring the
respondent for a full medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR); (2)
the respondent's impairments are still present and indicative of no
medical improvement, precluding the need for a CDR; or (3) the
respondent has unresolved work related issues. SSA mails Form SSA-455
to specific
[[Page 13923]]
disability recipients, whom we select as possibly qualifying for the
CDR process. SSA pre-fills the form with data specific to the
disability recipient, except for the sections we ask the recipients to
complete. When SSA receives the completed form, we scan it into SSA's
system. This allows us to gather information electronically and enables
SSA to process the returned forms through automated decision logic to
decide the proper course of action to take. The respondents are
recipients of Title II and Title XVI Social Security disability
payments.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Average wait
Average burden Estimated theoretical time in Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount center (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-455 (mail-in).................... 1,049,176 1 15 262,294 * $14.27 .............. *** $3,684,818
SSA-455 (electronic online process).. 89,104 1 15 22,276 * 14.27 .............. *** 317,879
Telephone Interview Process.......... 100 1 15 25 * 14.27 ** 52 *** 1,598
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 1,138,380 .............. .............. 284,595 .............. .............. *** 4,004,295
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2026 wait times for teleservice centers (52 minutes which includes the average speed of answer of 11 minutes
as well as the average 41-minute wait time for a call back from an SSA technician), based on SSA's current management information data. This figure
reflects both data from our systems and the data posted on our public facing website (800 number performance [verbar] SSA) on the date we drafted this
notice. As the figures fluctuate daily, the wait times may be different on the publication date of this notice.
*** 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. Incorporation by Reference of Oral Findings of Fact and
Rationale in Wholly Favorable Written Decisions (Bench Decision
Regulation)--20 CFR 404.953 and 416.1453--0960-0694. If an
administrative law judge (ALJ) makes a wholly favorable oral decision,
including all the findings and rationale for the decision for a
claimant of Title II or Title XVI payments, at an administrative
appeals hearing, the ALJ sends a Notice of Decision (Form HA-82), as
the records from the oral hearing preclude the need for a written
decision. We call this the incorporation-by-reference process. In
addition, the regulations for this process state that if the involved
parties want a record of the oral decision, they may submit a written
request for these records. SSA collects identifying information under
Sections 20 CFR 404.953 and 416.1453 of the Code of Federal Regulations
to determine how to send interested individuals written records of a
favorable incorporation-by-reference oral decision made at an
administrative review hearing. Since there is no prescribed form to
request a written record of the decision, the involved parties send SSA
their contact information and reference the hearing for which they
would like a record. The respondents are applicants for Disability
Insurance Benefits and SSI payments, or their representatives, to whom
SSA gave a wholly favorable oral decision under the regulations cited
above.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-82.......................................... 622 1 5 52 * $14.27 ** $742
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits).
** 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.
6. Help America Vote Act--0960-0706. Public Law 107-252, the Help
America Vote Act of 2002, mandates that States verify the identities of
newly registered voters. When newly registered voters do not have
driver's licenses or State-issued ID cards, they must supply the last
four digits of their Social Security number to their local State
election agencies for verification. The election agencies forward this
information to their State Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), and the
State MVA inputs the data into the American Association of MVAs
(AAMVA), a central consolidation system that routes the voter data to
SSA's Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) system. SSA's HAVV system
returns the result (a ``match'' or ``no match'' of name, DOB, and last
four digits of an SSN) to the AAMVA hub, which then routes the
information back to the state MVA. The respondents are State MVAs
seeking to confirm voter identities.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 13924]]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of Number of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response responses (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAVV.......................... \+\ 45 121,01345 5,445,585 2 181,520 * $24.14 ** $4,381,893
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\+\ The 45 respondents here represent the number of states participating in HAVV. SSA has agreements with forty-four states and one territory (Puerto
Rico) for the use of HAVV to support their states' voter registration process. Five States (i.e., New Mexico, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and
Virginia) are permitted to use the 9-digit SSN on applications for voter registration; therefore, these States do not obtain SSN verifications from
SSA through HAVV for voter registration (which requires states to use on the last four digits of the SSN for verification). North Dakota has no voter
registration requirement and, therefore, does not use the HAVV system.
* We based this figure on the average Information and Record Clerks, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage
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.
Cost Burden: Per our current management information data, the 45
state MVAs participating in HAVA each pay an annual maintenance cost of
$1,344.88. Additionally, states pay .30 per verification request.
Therefore, the total annual cost to respondents is $60,520.
7. Advance Designation of Representative Payee--0960-0814. On April
13, 2018, the President signed into law The Strengthening Protections
for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018, also known as Public Law
(Pub. L.) 115-165. Section 201 of the law allows SSA beneficiaries and
applicants under Title II, Title VIII and Title XVI, of the Act to
designate individuals to serve as a representative payee should the
need arise in the future. Section 201(j)(2) of Public Law 115-165
provides the requirements for selecting a qualified representative
payee. SSA only offers the option to advance designate to capable
adults and emancipated minors. Beneficiaries who have an assigned
representative payee, or have a representative application in process,
cannot advance designate. SSA uses Form SSA-4547, Advance Designation
of Representative Payee, or the electronic modalities for this form
[the internet i4547 (available through both iClaim and an individual's
mySocial Security account), and Intranet SSI Claim System, Modernized
Claim System (MCS), and iMain System screens] to allow beneficiaries or
applicants the option to designate individuals in order of priority, to
serve as a representative. Beneficiaries or applicants can update or
change the advance designee order of priority at any time. SSA uses the
information on Form SSA-4547 or its equivalent modalities to select a
qualified representative payee in order of priority. If the selected
representative payee is unable or unwilling to serve, or does not meet
SSA requirements, SSA selects another representative payee to serve in
the beneficiaries and applicant's best interest. SSA notifies
beneficiaries annually of the individuals they chose in advance to be
their representative payee. The respondents are SSA beneficiaries and
claimants who want to designate individuals to serve as a
representative payee should the need arise in the future.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average wait
Average time for a
Number of Frequency of Average burden Estimated theoretical field office Total annual
Modality of completion respondents response per response total annual hourly cost or teleservice opportunity cost
(minutes) burden (hours) amount center (dollars) ***
(dollars) * (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submission of Advance Designation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intranet version (Paper Form SSA- \+\ 693,339 1 6 69,334 * $23.47 ** 38 *** $11,933,298
4547, SSI Claims System, MCS, iMain)
Internet version (mySocial Security). 304,471 1 6 30,447 * 23.47 .............. *** 714,591
Internet version (iClaim)............ 898,233 1 6 89,823 * 23.47 .............. *** 2,108,146
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 1,896,043 .............. .............. 189,604 .............. .............. *** 14,756,035
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiver of Advance Designation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intranet version (Paper Form SSA- 1,507,403 1 2 50,247 * 23.47 ** 38 *** 23,585,848
4547, SSI Claims System, MCS, iMain)
Internet version (mySSA)............. 1,442 1 2 48 * 23.47 .............. *** 1,127
Internet version (iClaim)............ 1,498,363 1 2 49,945 * 23.47 .............. *** 1,172,209
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 13925]]
Totals........................... 3,007,208 .............. .............. 100,240 .............. .............. *** 24,759,184
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Totals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................... 4,903,251 .............. .............. 289,844 .............. .............. *** 39,515,219
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\+\ SSA enters advance designation information we receive on the paper Form SSA-4547 in the advanced designation representative payee system using one
of the Intranet applications. Accordingly, we have included the paper form responses in this figure for Intranet responses.
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security
Benefits), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average combined FY 2026 wait times for field offices (23 minutes) and for teleservice centers (52 minutes which includes
the average speed of answer of 11 minutes as well as the average 41-minute wait time for a call back from an SSA technician), based on SSA's current
management information data. This figure reflects both data from our systems and the data posted on our public facing website (Social Security
performance <radical> SSA) on the date we drafted this document. As the figures fluctuate daily, the wait times may be different on the website than
they appear here. We continue to monitor our website and management information data on call back times to ensure we report updated figures when
possible.
*** 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.
8. Electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification--20
CFR 400.100--0960-0817. The electronic Consent Based Social Security
Number Verification (eCBSV) is a fee-based Social Security Number (SSN)
verification service that allows permitted entities (a financial
institution as defined by Section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. 42
U.S.C. 405b(b)(4), Public Law 115-174, Title II, 215(b)(4), or service
provider, subsidiary, affiliate, agent, subcontractor, or assignee of a
financial institution), to verify that an individual's name, date of
birth (DOB), and SSN match our records based on the SSN holder's
signed--including electronic--consent in connection with a credit
transaction or any circumstance described in section 604 of the Fair
Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681b).
Background
We created this service due to section 215 of the Economic Growth,
Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 (Banking Bill),
Public Law 115-174. Permitted entities are able to submit an SSN, name,
and DOB of the number holder in connection with a credit transaction or
any circumstances described in Section 604 of the Fair Credit Reporting
Act to SSA for verification via an application programming interface.
The purpose of the information collection is for SSA to verify for the
permitted entity (PE) that the submitted SSN, name and DOB matches, or
does not match, the data contained in our records. After obtaining
number holders' consents, a PE submits the names, DOBs, and SSNs of
number holders to the eCBSV service. SSA matches the information
against our Master File, using SSN, name, and DOB. The eCBSV service
responds in real time with an indication as to whether there is a match
with a ``yes'' or ``no'' response, along with details specifying which
data element(s) do not align with SSA records. Additionally, if
applicable, the SSN verification result indicates the status of the
individual's death based on data in SSA's records. The verification
does not authenticate the identity of the number holders or
conclusively prove the number holders we verify are who they claim to
be. Respondents can find up-to-date information on the service,
eligibility, fees, enrollment, technical specifications, and guides to
written consent on the eCBSV website.
Consent Requirements
Under the eCBSV process, the PE does not submit the number holder's
consent forms to SSA. SSA requires each PE to retain a valid consent
for each SSN verification request submitted for a period of 5 years.
The agency permits the PE to retain the consent in an electronic
format.
SSA requires a wet or electronic signature on the consent. A PE may
request verification of a number holder's SSN on behalf of a financial
institution pursuant to the terms of the Banking Bill, the user
agreement between SSA and the PE, and the SSN Holder's consent. In this
case, the PE ensures that the financial institution agrees to the terms
in the user agreement, which require the PE use the SSN verification
only for the purpose stated in the consent, and to mark their own
records as ``verified'' or ``unverified,'' and prohibits entities from
further using or disclosing the SSN verification. This relationship is
subject to the terms in the user agreement between SSA and the PE.
Compliance Review
SSA requires each PE to undergo compliance reviews. An SSA approved
certified public accountant (CPA) conducts the compliance reviews. SSA
designed the compliance reviews to ensure that the permitted entities
meet all terms and conditions of the user agreement, including that the
permitted entities obtain valid consent from number holders. The PE
pays all compliance review costs through the eCBSV fees. In general,
every permitted entity is subject to an initial audit then once within
five (5) years based on compliance. The CPA follows review standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
and contained in the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards
(GAGAS). eCBSV is available to all interested permitted entities, as
defined in section 215 of the Banking Bill with an estimated annual
58,000,000 requests. The respondents to the eCBSV information
collection are the permitted entities; members of the public who
consent to SSN verifications; and CPAs who provide compliance review
services.
Note: Per OMB's Terms of Clearance, SSA is allowing for public
comment on several minor changes to the User Agreement which OMB
approved via Change Request. These minor changes enhance the match/no
match data we provide to include which elements do not align with our
records; minor
[[Page 13926]]
language changes to update language which discusses the match/no match
data process; revisions to the agreement period and tier levels to
allow for greater flexibility in costs and utilization; and to update
language for clarity purposes.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
Time Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Total annual
Requirement Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a) People whose SSNs SSA will verify--Reading and 58,000,000 1 3 2,900,000 * $14.27 ** $41,383,000
Signing.............................................
a) Sending in the verification request, calling our 58,000,000 1 1 966,667 * 45.04 ** 43,538,682
system, getting a response..........................
c) CPA Compliance Review and Report ***.............. 21 1 4,800 1,680 * 44.96 ** 75,533
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 116,000,021 .............. .............. 3,868,347 .............. ** 84,997,215
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average Business and Financial operations occupations (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), and Accountants and
Auditors hourly salaries as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and average 2026 DI payments, as reported in SSA's disability insurance
payment data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits).
** 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.
*** The enrollment process occurs automatically through the eCBSV Customer Connection, and entails providing consent for SSA to verify the EIN;
electronically signing the eCBSV User Agreement, and the permitted entities certification; selecting their annual tier level; and linking to <a href="http://pay.gov">pay.gov</a>
to make payment for services.
**** SSA uses one CPA firm (an SSA-approved contractor) to conduct compliance reviews and prepare written reports of findings on the permitted entities.
Cost Burden
The public cost burden depends on the number of PEs using the
service and the annual transaction volume. We based the current tier
fee schedule below on 21 participating PEs in fiscal year (FY) 2024
submitting an anticipated annual volume of 58 million transactions. For
FY 2026, we are maintaining the current tier structure, based on our
analysis, which estimated 21 participating PEs with an anticipated
annual volume of 68 million. The total cost for developing and
operating the service is $66.3 million through FY 2024. Of this amount,
$25.5 million remains unrecovered/unreimbursed. The current
subscription tier structure and associated fees are intended to recover
these costs over a three-year period, assuming projected enrollments
and transaction volumes meet these projections. SSA uses the fee to
allocate forecasted systems and operational expenses; agency oversight;
and overhead necessary to sustain the service.
eCBSV Tier Fee Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tier Annual transaction threshold Annual fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................... Up to 10,000 (1-10,000)....... $5,100
2....................... Up to 75,000 (10,001-75,000).. 37,125
3....................... Up to 200,000 (75,001-200,000) 98,000
4....................... Up to 500,000 (200,001- 240,000
500,000).
5....................... Up to 1 million (500,001-1 470,000
million).
6....................... Up to 2.5 million (1,000,001- 907,500
2.5 million).
7....................... Up to 5 million (2,500,001-5 1,765,500
million).
8....................... Up to 10 million (5,000,001-10 3,206,250
million).
9....................... Up to 15 million (10,000,001- 3,562,500
15 million).
10...................... Up to 20 million (15,000,001- 4,453,125
20 million).
11...................... Up to 25 million (20,000,001- 5,165,625
25 million).
12...................... Up to 200 million (25,000,001- 5,878,125
200 million).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA calculates fees based on forecasted systems and operational
expenses, agency oversight, overhead, and Certified Public Accountant
audit contract costs. Section 215(h)(1)(B) of the Banking Bill requires
that the Commissioner shall ``periodically adjust'' the price paid by
users to ensure that amounts collected are sufficient to fully offset
the costs of administering the eCBSV system. On at least an annual
basis, SSA monitors costs incurred to provide eCBSV services and
revises the tier fee schedule accordingly. SSA notifies permitted
entities of the tier fee schedule in effect at the renewal of eCBSV
user agreements, when a permitted entity begins a new 365-day agreement
period, and via notice in the Federal Register. Permitted entity
renewals are governed by the tier in effect at the time of renewal.
Mark Steffensen,
General Counsel, Chief of Law and Policy, Social Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-05600 Filed 3-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 23, 2026.
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.