Notice2026-08138
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request
Primary source
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Published
April 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 80 (Monday, April 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 80 (Monday, April 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22569-22573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08138]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2026-0298]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request
The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of
information collection packages requiring clearance by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Public Law 104-13, the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. This notice
includes revisions of OMB-approved information collections.
SSA is soliciting comments on the accuracy of the agency's burden
estimate; the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to
enhance its quality, utility, and clarity; and ways to minimize burden
on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Mail, email, or fax your
comments and recommendations on the information collection(s) to the
OMB Desk Officer and SSA Reports Clearance Officer at the following
addresses or fax numbers.
(OMB) Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA.
(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, Mail Stop 3253 Altmeyer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD
21235, Fax: 833-410-1631, Email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#357a671b6750455a4741461b7659505447545b5650754646541b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="377865196552475845434419745b525645565954527744445619505841">[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-2026-0298] 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 June
26, 2026. Individuals can obtain copies of
[[Page 22570]]
the collection instruments by writing to the above email address.
1. Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits--20 CFR
404.335 -404.338, & 404.603--0960-0004. Section 202(e) and 202(f) of
the Social Security Act (Act) set forth the requirements for
entitlement to widow(er)'s benefits, including the requirements to file
an application. For SSA to make a formal determination for entitlement
to widow(er)'s benefits, we use Form SSA-10 to determine whether an
applicant meets the statutory and regulatory conditions for entitlement
to widow(er)'s Title II benefits. SSA employees interview individuals
applying for benefits either face-to-face or via telephone and enter
the information on the paper form or into the Modernized Claims System
(MCS). In addition, respondents may mail the completed paper form to
SSA, or submit a completed fillable static PDF webform through our
Upload Documents portal (OMB No. 0960-0830). The respondents are
applicants for widow(er)'s benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
wait time
Estimated Average in field
Average total theoretical office or Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency burden per annual hourly cost for opportunity cost
respondents of response response burden amount teleservice (dollars) ***
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) * centers
(minutes)
**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-10 (Paper).......................................... 1,845 1 30 923 * $32.66 ........... *** $30,145
SSA-10 (Upload Documents)............................... 1,516 1 30 758 * 32.66 ........... *** 24,756
SSA-10 (MCS/In-person Interview)........................ 74,474 1 30 37,237 * 32.66 ** 22 *** 2,108,007
SSA-10 (MCS/Telephone Interview)........................ 490,129 1 30 245,065 * 32.66 ** 48 *** 20,809,907
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Totals.............................................. 567,964 ........... ........... 283,982 ........... ........... *** 22,972,815
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* We based this figure on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages for all occupations, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational
Employment and Wage Statistics)
** We based this figure on the average FY 2026 wait times for field offices (22 minutes) and for teleservice centers (48 minutes which includes the
average speed of answer of 7 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 Lump Sum Death Payment--20 CFR 404.390-404.392--
0960-0013. SSA uses Form SSA-8 to collect information needed to
authorize payment of the lump sum death payment (LSDP) to a surviving
individual (e.g., widow, widower, or children of the deceased, etc.) as
defined in section 202(i) of the Act. Respondents complete the
application for this one-time payment through: (1) use of the paper
form; (2) the internet modality through the Universal Benefits
Application portal, (3) submission of a completed fillable static PDF
webform through our Upload Documents portal (OMB No. 0960-0830), or (4)
a personal interview with an SSA employee either via telephone, or in a
field office. For all personal interviews (either telephone or in-
person), we collect the information via our electronic Modernized Claim
System (MCS) screens. When a respondent completes the paper Form SSA-8,
they mail it back to SSA. The respondents are applicants for the LSDP.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
wait time
Estimated Average in field
Average total theoretical office or Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency burden per annual hourly cost for opportunity cost
respondents of response response burden amount teleservice (dollars) ***
(minutes) (hours) (dollars)* centers
(minutes)
**
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SSA-8--MCS Version (Technician Interview).............. 771,630 1 9 115,745 * $32.66 **35 ***$18,481,086
SSA-8 -Paper Version................................... 6,829 1 10 1,138 *32.66 ........... ***37,167
Internet Version (Unified Benefits Application Portal). 6,864 1 6 686 32.66 ........... ***22,405
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.............................................. 785,323 ........... ........... 117,569 ........... ........... ***18,540,658
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** 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 (22 minutes) and for teleservice centers (48 minutes which includes
the average speed of answer of 7 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. Request for Withdrawal of Application--20 CFR 404.640--0960-
0015. Form SSA-521, Request for Withdrawal of Application, allows
claimants to specify which application they want to withdraw and the
reason for the withdrawal. Form SSA-521 is our preferred instrument for
a withdrawal request; however, any written request for withdrawal
signed by the claimant or a proper applicant on the claimant's behalf
will suffice. Individuals who wish to withdraw their applications for
benefits complete Form SSA-521 or sign the completed form for each
request to withdraw. SSA uses the information from Form SSA-521 to
process the request for withdrawal. The respondents are applicants for
Retirement, Survivors, Disability, and Health Insurance benefits.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
[[Page 22571]]
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Average
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity
respondents response response burden (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(minutes) (dollars) * **
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SSA-521 submitted before approving benefit application 19,995 1 5 1,666 * $32.66 ** $54,412
(pre-adjudication).....................................
SSA-521 submitted after receiving benefits. (post- 61,896 1 5 5,158 * 32.66 ** 168,460
adjudication)..........................................
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Totals.............................................. 81,891 .............. .............. 6,824 .............. ** 222,872
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* We based this figure on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (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. Letter to Employer Requesting Information About Wages Earned by
Beneficiary--20 CFR 404.1520, 404.1571-404.1576, 404.1584-404.1593, and
416.971-416.976--0960-0034. Social Security disability recipients
receive payments based on their inability to engage in substantial
gainful activity (SGA) because of physical or mental condition. If the
recipients work, the SSA must evaluate and determine if they continue
to meet the disability requirements of the law. When an individual is
unable to provide earnings information and SSA does not have access to
proof of earnings, we use Form SSA-L725 to request monthly earnings
information from the recipient's employer. SSA employees send the paper
form SSA-L725 to the employer to complete and use the earnings data we
receive from the employers to determine whether the recipient is
engaging in SGA, since work above SGA level can cause a cessation of
disability payments. The respondents are businesses that employ Social
Security disability recipients.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency of per Response annual burden hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
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SSA-L725....................................... 124,000 1 40 82,667 * $27.34 ** $2,260,116
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* We based this figure on the average Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks 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.
5. Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information--20 CFR 416.203 &
416.1110--0960-0138. SSA must establish and verify wage information for
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants and recipients when
determining SSI eligibility and payment amounts. SSA collects wage data
from employers on Form SSA-L4201-BK to determine eligibility and proper
payment amounts for SSI applicants and recipients. The respondents are
employers of SSI applicants and recipients.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L4201-BK................................... 133,000 1 30 66,500 * $27.34 ** $1,818,110
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* We based this figure on the average Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational
Employment and Wage Statistics),
** This figure does not represent actual costs that we are 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. Continuation of Supplemental Security Income Payments for the
Temporarily Institutionalized--Certification of Period and Need to
Maintain Home--20 CFR 416.212(b)(1)--0960-0516. When SSI recipients:
(1) enter a public institution; or (2) enter a private medical
treatment facility with Medicaid paying more than 50 percent of
expenses, SSA reduces recipients' SSI payments to a nominal sum.
However, if this institutionalization is temporary (defined as a
maximum of three months), SSA may waive the reduction. Before SSA can
waive the SSI payment reduction, the agency must receive the following
documentation: (1) A physician's certification stating the SSI
recipient will only be institutionalized for a maximum of three months;
and (2) statement from the recipient (or someone knowledgeable about
the recipient's circumstances, such as a representative payee, family
member, or friend), confirming the recipient needs SSI payments to
maintain the living arrangements to which the individual will return
post-institutionalization. To obtain this information, SSA employees
contact the recipient (or a knowledgeable source) to collect the
required physician's certification and the statement of need. SSA does
not require any specific format for these items, so long as we obtain
the necessary attestations; however, SSA allows the use of Form SSA-186
as a convenient way to notify SSA, request continued benefits, and
obtain physician certification on one document. The respondents are SSI
recipients or individuals with knowledge of their circumstances such as
representative payees, family
[[Page 22572]]
members, or friends, as well as physicians or hospital staff members
who treat the SSI recipient.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Estimated Average wait time
Average total theoretical for Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency burden per annual hourly cost teleservice opportunity cost
respondents of response response burden amount centers (dollars) ***
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) * (minutes)
**
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Statement from other Respondents (SSA-186)............. 26,712 1 15 6,678 * $14.27 ** 48 *** $400,245
Physician's Certifications (SSA-186)................... 26,712 1 15 6,678 * 50.59 ........... *** 337,840
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals............................................. 53,424 ........... ........... 13,356 ........... ........... *** 738,085
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* We based these figures on the average disability payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits),
and the average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Occupational
Employment and Wage Statistics).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2026 wait time for teleservice centers (48 minutes which includes the average speed of answer of 7 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.
7. Certification of Low Birth Weight for SSI Eligibility--20 CFR
416.924, 416.926, and 416.931--0960-0720. Hospitals and claimants use
Form SSA-3830 to provide medical information to local field offices
(FO) and the Disability Determination Services (DDS) on behalf of
infants with low birth weight. FOs use the form as a protective filing
statement and the medical information to make presumptive disability
findings, which allow expedited payment to eligible claimants. DDSs use
the medical information to determine disability and continuing
disability. The respondents are hospitals and claimants who have
information identifying low birth weight babies and their medical
conditions.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount (dollars) **
(dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3830....................................... 3,860 1 15 965 * $106.89 ** $103,149
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* We based this figure by averaging the average Pediatrician's hourly wage, 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. Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain
Account Records from a Financial Institution and Request for Records
(Medicare)--20 CFR 418.3420--0960-0729. The Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) established the
Medicare Part D program for voluntary prescription drug coverage of
premium, deductible, and copayment costs for individuals with limited
income and resources. The MMA mandates that the Government provide
subsidies for those individuals who qualify for the program, and who
meet eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, or co-
payment costs. SSA uses the SSA-4640, Authorization for the Social
Security Administration to Obtain Account Records from a Financial
Institution and Request for Records (Medicare), to determine if subsidy
applicants or recipients qualify, or continue to qualify, for the
subsidy. SSA uses Form SSA-4640 to: (1) obtain the individual's consent
to verify balances of financial institution (FI) accounts; and (2)
obtain verification of such balances from the FI. Respondents are
Medicare Part D program subsidy applicants or claimants, and their
financial institutions.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response response burden (hours) amount (dollars) **
(minutes) (dollars) *
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Medicare Part D Subsidy Applicants................... 5,000 1 10 833 * $14.27 ** $11,887
Financial Institutions............................... 5,000 1 10 833 * 45.04 ** 37,518
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Totals........................................... 10,000 .............. .............. 1,666 .............. ** 49,405
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* We based these figures on the average disability payments based on SSA's current FY 2026 data (Effect of COLA on Average Social Security Benefits),
and the average Business and Financial operations occupations, 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. Financial Disclosure for Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Debt--20
CFR 498--0960-0776. When SSA imposes a CMP on individuals for various
fraudulent conduct related to SSA-administrated programs, those
[[Page 22573]]
individuals may request to pay the CMP through benefit withholding, or
an installment agreement. To negotiate a monthly payment amount, fair
to both the individual and the agency, SSA needs financial information
from the individual. SSA uses Form SSA-640, to obtain the information
necessary to determine a monthly installment repayment rate for
individuals owing a CMP. The respondents are recipients of Social
Security benefits and non-entitled individuals who must repay a CMP to
the agency and choose to do so using an installment plan.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
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Average
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual
Method of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity cost
respondents response response burden amount (dollars) ***
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) *
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SSA-640....................................................... 10 1 120 20 * $23.47 *** $469
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* We based this figure on averaging both the average disability 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.
Mark Steffensen,
General Counsel, Chief of Law, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Social
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-08138 Filed 4-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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