Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request

Download PDF
Federal RegisterOct 12, 2021
86 Fed. Reg. 56746 (Oct. 12, 2021)

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. Comments: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Submit your comments online referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2021-0040].

(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance Director, 3100 West High Rise, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: 410-966-2830, Email address: OR.Reports.Clearance@ssa.gov . Or you may submit your comments online through https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain,, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2021-0040].

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 December 13, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments by writing to the above email address.

1. Statement of Household Expenses and Contributions—20 CFR 416.1130-416.1148—0960-0456. SSA bases eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on the needs of the recipient. In part, we assess need through determining the amount of income a recipient receives. This income includes in-kind support and maintenance in the form of food and shelter home owners provide. SSA uses Form SSA-8011-F3, Statement of Household Expenses and Contributions, to determine whether the claimant or recipient receives in-kind support and maintenance. This is necessary to determine: (1) The claimant's or recipient's eligibility for SSI, and (2) the SSI payment amount. SSA only uses this form in cases where SSA needs the householder's (head of household) corroboration of in-kind support and maintenance. The SSA-8011-F3 provides information, which could affect SSI eligibility and payment amount. An SSA claims specialist collects the information on Form SSA-8011-F3 through telephone contact with the respondents, or through face-to-face interviews. The claims specialist records the information in our electronic SSI Claims System. When we use this procedure, we do not use a paper Form SSA-8011-F3, and we do not require a wet signature, rather we request verbal attestation. However, for those few instances when we use a paper form, we ensure the appropriate person, i.e., the householder, signs the form, and then the claims specialist documents the information in the SSI Claims System; faxes the form into the appropriate electronic folder; and shreds the form. Respondents are householders of homes in which an SSI applicant or recipient resides.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion Number of respondents Frequency of response Average burden per response (minutes) Estimated total annual burden (hours) Average theoretical hourly cost amount (dollars) * Average wait time in field office or for teleservice centers (minutes) ** Total annual opportunity cost (dollars) ***
SSA-8011-F3 (Paper) 21,000 1 15 5,250 * $27.07 ** 21 *** $341,082
Interview (MCS) 398,759 1 15 99,690 * 27.07 ** 21 *** 6,476,660
Totals 419,759 104,940 *** $6,817,742
* We based this figure on the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000 ).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices and teleservice centers, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on claimants 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. Integrated Registration Services (IRES) System—20 CFR 401.45—0960-0626. The IRES System verifies the identity of individuals, businesses, organizations, entities, and government agencies seeking to use SSA's secured internet and telephone applications. Individuals need this verification to electronically request and exchange business data with SSA. Requestors provide SSA with the information needed to establish their identities. Once SSA verifies identity, the IRES system issues the requestor a user identification number and a password to conduct business with SSA. Respondents are employers; employees; third party submitters of wage data; business entities providing taxpayer identification information; appointed representatives; representative payees; and data exchange partners conducting business in support of SSA programs.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion Number of respondents Frequency of response Average burden per response (minutes) Estimated total annual burden (hours) Average theoretical hourly cost amount (dollars) * Average wait time for teleservice centers (minutes) ** Total annual opportunity cost (dollars) ***
IRES Internet Registrations 266,210 1 5 22,184 * $33.66 ** 0 *** $746,713
IRES Internet Requestors 14,472,710 1 2 482,424 * 33.66 ** 0 *** 16,238,392
IRES CS (CSA) Registrations 15,247 1 11 2,795 * 33.66 ** 19 *** 256,590
Totals 14,754,167 507,403 *** 17,241,695
* We based this figure on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-00000 ); hourly wages for Information and Record Keeping Analysts hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434199.htm ); and average hourly wages for paralegals/legal assistants and lawyers as posted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm ).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2021 wait times for teleservice centers, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.

3. Site Review Questionnaire for Volume and Fee-for-Service Payees and Beneficiary Interview Form—20 CFR 404.2035, 404.2065, 416.665, 416.701, and 416.708—0960-0633. SSA asks organizational representative payees to complete Form SSA-637, the Site Review Questionnaire for Volume and Fee-for-Service Payees, to provide information on how they carry out their responsibilities, including how they manage beneficiary funds. SSA then obtains information from the beneficiaries these organizations represent via Form SSA-639, Beneficiary Interview Form, to corroborate the payees' statements. Due to the sensitivity of the information, the forms are always completed based on the answers respondents give during the interviews. The respondents are individuals; State and local governments; non-profit and for-profit organizations serving as representative payees; and the beneficiaries they serve.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion Number of respondents Frequency of response Average burden per response (minutes) Estimated total annual burden (hours) Average theoretical hourly cost amount (dollars) * Total annual opportunity cost (dollars) **
SSA-639—Individuals 22,000 1 10 3,667 * $19.01 ** $69,710
SSA-637—Individuals 500 1 120 1,000 * 19.01 ** 19,010
SSA-637—Organizations 4,500 1 120 9,000 * 19.03 ** 171,270
Totals 27,000 13,667 ** 259,990
* We based these figures by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data ( https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf ), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm ). As well as by averaging both the average State and local governments ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211093.htm ), and the average non-profit and for-profit organizations serving as representative payees ( https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes390000.htm ).
** 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. Request for Reinstatement (Title II)—20 CFR 404.1592b-404.1592f—0960-0742. SSA allows certain previously entitled disability beneficiaries to request expedited reinstatement (EXR) of benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act when their medical condition no longer permits them to perform substantial gainful activity. SSA uses Form SSA-371, Request for Reinstatement (Title II) to obtain: (1) A signed statement from individuals requesting an EXR of their Title II disability benefits; and

(2) proof the requestors meet the EXR requirements. SSA maintains the form in the disability folder of the applicant to demonstrate the requestors' awareness of the EXR requirements, and their choice to request EXR. Respondents are applicants for EXR of Title II disability benefits.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion Number of respondents Frequency of response Average burden per response (minutes) Estimated total annual burden (hours) Average theoretical hourly cost amount (dollars) * Average wait time for teleservice centers (minutes) ** Total annual opportunity cost (dollars) ***
SSA-371 10,000 1 2 333 * $10.95 ** 19 *** $38,325
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data ( https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf ).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2021 wait times for teleservice centers, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.

5. Important Information About Your Appeal, Waiver Rights, and Repayment Options—20 CFR 404.502-404.521—0960-0779. When SSA overpays beneficiaries, the agency informs them of the following rights: (1) The right to reconsideration of the overpayment determination; (2) the right to request a waiver of recovery, and the automatic scheduling of a personal conference if SSA cannot approve a request for waiver; and (3) the availability of a different rate of withholding when SSA proposes the full withholding rate. SSA uses Form SSA-3105, Important Information About Your Appeal, Waiver Rights, and Repayment Options, to explain these rights to overpaid individuals and allow them to notify SSA of their decision(s) regarding these rights. The respondents are individuals who are overpaid Social Security payments.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion Number of respondents Frequency of response Average burden per response (minutes) Estimated total annual burden (hours) Average theoretical hourly cost amount (dollars) * Average wait time in field office or for teleservice centers (minutes) ** Total annual opportunity cost (dollars) ***
SSA-3105 (Paper Form) 500,000 1 15 125,000 * $10.95 ** 21 *** $3,285,000
Debt Management System 166,666 1 15 41,667 * 10.95 ** 21 *** 1,095,000
Totals 666,666 166,667 *** 4,380,000
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data ( https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf ).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices and teleservice centers, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the application.

Dated: October 5, 2021.

Naomi Sipple,

Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.

[FR Doc. 2021-22079 Filed 10-8-21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4191-02-P