Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request

The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of information collection packages that will require clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Pub. L. 104-13 effective October 1, 1995, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection packages that may be included in this notice are for new information collections, revisions to OMB-approved information collections and extensions (no change) 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 on ways to minimize burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written comments and recommendations regarding the information collection(s) should be submitted to the OMB Desk Officer and the SSA Reports Clearance Officer. The information can be mailed and/or faxed to the individuals at the addresses and fax numbers listed below:

(OMB)

Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th St., NW., Washington, DC 20503, Fax: 202-395-6974.

(SSA)

Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance Officer, 1338 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: 410-965-6400.

I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA and will be submitted to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. Therefore, your comments should be submitted to SSA within 60 days from the date of this publication. You can obtain copies of the collection instruments by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by writing to the address listed above.

Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States; 20 CFR 404.460, 20 CFR 422.505(b), 20 CFR 404.460 and 404.463 of Subpart E, and 42 CFR 407.27(c)-0960-0051. The information collected on Form SSA-21 is used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine continuing entitlement to Social Security benefits and the proper benefit amounts of alien beneficiaries living outside the United States (U.S.). It is also used to determine whether benefits are subject to withholding tax. The respondents are comprised of individuals entitled to Social Security benefits, who are, will be, or have been residing outside the U.S.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information Collection.

Number of Respondents: 35,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 2,917.

II. The information collection listed below has been submitted to OMB for clearance. Your comments on the information collections would be most useful if received by OMB and SSA within 30 days from the date of this publication. You can obtain a copy of the OMB clearance package by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by writing to the address listed above.

1. Prohibition of Payments of SSI Benefits to Fugitive Felons and Parole/Probation Violators; CFR 416.708-0960-0617. Section 1611(e) of the Act provides that a person shall not be considered an eligible individual or eligible spouse for purposes of the SSI program for any month during which the person is fleeing to avoid prosecution for a crime, or an attempt to commit a crime, which is a felony under the laws of the place from which the person flees (or which, in the case of the State of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor under the laws of the State); is fleeing to avoid custody or confinement after conviction for a crime, or an attempt to commit a crime, which is a felony under the laws of the place from which the person flees (or which, in the case of the State of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor under the laws of the State); or is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law. 20 CFR 416.708 describes events which must be reported by an individual receiving SSI benefits, a representative payee for an SSI recipient, or an applicant awaiting a final decision on an application for SSI benefits. It is therefore necessary for SSA to require a report for SSI applicants and recipients if they are in violation of any of the stated conditions. The information reported will be used by SSA to determine eligibility for SSI benefits or whether to suspend SSI benefit payments. The respondents are SSI applicants or recipients, or the representative payee of same, who are in violation of the above stipulations.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information Collection.

Number of Respondents: 1,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 1 minute.

Estimated Annual Burden: 16.6.

2. Request to be Selected as Payee—20 CFR 404.2010-404.2025; 20 CFR 416.601-416.665-0960-0014. The information collected by SSA on form SSA-11-BK is used to determine the proper payee for a Social Security beneficiary, and it is designed to aid in the investigation of a payee applicant. The form will establish the applicant's relationship to the beneficiary, the justification of the need for a payee, the concern for the beneficiary and the manner in which the benefits will be used. The respondents are applicants for selection as representative payee for Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and title VIII Special Veterans Benefits.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information Collection.

Number of Respondents: 2,121,686.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 10.5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 371,295 hours.

3. Request for Internet Service—Authentication—20 CFR 401.45-0960-0596. The information collected on the electronic request for Internet Service—Authentication, is used by the Social Security Administration to identify its customers who are requesting Privacy Act protected information. The respondents are members of the public who request services from SSA through the Internet.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information Collection.

Number of Respondents: 21,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 1.5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 525 hours.

4. Claim for Amount Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary—20 CFR 405.503(b)—0960-0101. Section 204(d) of the Social Security Act provides that if a beneficiary dies before payment of Social Security benefits has been completed, the amount due will be paid to the persons meeting specified qualifications. The information collected on Form SSA-1724 is used by SSA to determine whether an individual is entitled to the underpayment. The respondents are applicants for the amounts of an underpayment of a deceased beneficiary.

Type of Request: Revision of an Approved OMB Information Collection.

Number of Respondents: 300,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 50,000 hours.

5. Statement of Employer—20 CFR 404.801-404.803-0960-0030. The information collected by SSA on form SSA-7011 is needed to substantiate allegations of wages paid to workers when those wages do not appear in SSA's records of earnings and the worker does not have proof that payment was made. This information is used to process claims for social security benefits and to resolve discrepancies in earnings records. The respondents are certain employers who can verify allegations of wages made by the wage earner.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information Collection.

Number of Respondents: 925,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 20 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 308,333 hours.