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.

(OMB) Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email address: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.

(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 www.regulations.gov,, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2016-0027].

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 August 19, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments by writing to the above email address.

1. Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement—20 CFR 404.810—0960-0466. Section 205(c)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (Act) requires the Commissioner of SSA establish and maintain records of wages paid to, and amounts of self-employment income derived by, each individual as well as the periods in which such wages were paid and such income derived. An individual may complete and mail Form SSA-7004 to SSA's Data Operations Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA, to obtain a Statement of Earnings or Quarters of Coverage. SSA uses the information Form SSA-7004 collects to identify respondent's Social Security earnings records; extract posted earnings information; calculate potential benefit estimates; produce the resulting Social Security statements; and mail them to the requesters. The respondents are Social Security number holders requesting information about their Social Security earnings records and estimates of their potential benefits.

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

2. National Beneficiary Survey—0960-0800. SSA is continuing the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS), a survey which gathers data from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries about their characteristics, their well-being, and other factors that promote or hinder employment. In particular, the survey seeks to uncover important information about the factors promoting beneficiary self-sufficiency and, conversely, factors impeding beneficiary efforts to maintain employment. We use this data to improve the administration and effectiveness of the SSDI and SSI programs. These results are valuable as SSA and other policymakers continue efforts to improve programs and services that help SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients become more self-sufficient.

Background

SSDI and SSI programs provide a crucial and necessary safety net for working-age people with disabilities. By improving employment outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients, SSA supports the effort to reduce the reliance of people with disabilities on these programs. SSA conducted the prior NBS in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2010, which was an important first step in understanding the work interest and experiences of SSI recipients and SSDI beneficiaries, and in gaining information about their impairments, health, living arrangements, family structure, pre-disability occupation, and use of non-SSA programs (e.g., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The prior NBS data is available to researchers and the public.

The National Beneficiary Survey (NBS)

The primary purpose of the new NBS-General Waves is to assess beneficiary well-being and interest in work, learn about beneficiary work experiences (successful and unsuccessful), and identify factors that promote or restrict long-term work success. Information collected in the survey includes factors such as health; living arrangements; family structure; current occupation; use of non-SSA programs; knowledge of SSDI and SSI work incentive programs; obstacles to work; and beneficiary interest and motivation to return to work.

We propose to conduct the first wave of the NBS-General Waves in 2015. We will further conduct subsequent rounds in 2017 (round 2) and 2019 (round 3). The information we will collect is not available from SSA administrative data or other sources. In the NBS-General Waves, the sample design is similar to what we used for the prior NBS. Enhancement of the prior questionnaire includes additional questions on the factors that promote or hinder employment success. In 2015 we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews to provide SSA an in-depth understanding of factors that aid or inhibit individuals in their efforts to obtain and retain employment and advance in the workplace. We use the qualitative data to add context and understanding when interpreting survey results, and to inform the sample and survey design of rounds 2 and 3.

Respondent participation in the NBS is voluntary and the decision to participate or not has no impact on current or future receipt of payments or benefits. Respondents are current SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients.

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

II. SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for clearance. Your comments regarding the 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 July 20, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB clearance package by writing to OR.Reports.Clearance@ssa.gov.

1. Application for Lump Sum Death Payment—20 CFR 404.390-404.392—0960-0013. SSA uses Form SSA-8-F4 to collect information needed to authorize payment of the lump sum death payment (LSDP) to a widow, widower, or children as defined in section 202(i) of the Act. Respondents complete the application for this one-time payment via paper form, telephone, or an in-person interview with SSA employees. Respondents are applicants for the LSDP.

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

2. Representative Payee Evaluation Report—20 CFR 404.2065 & 416.665—0960-0069. Sections 205(j) and 1631(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (Act) state SSA may appoint a representative payee to receive Title II benefits or Title XVI payments on behalf of individuals unable to manage or direct the management of those funds themselves. SSA requires appointed representative payees to report once each year on how they used or conserved those funds. When a representative payee fails to adequately report to SSA as required, SSA conducts a face-to-face interview with the payee and completes Form SSA-624, Representative Payee Evaluation Report, to determine the continued suitability of the representative payee to serve as a payee. The respondents are individuals or organizations serving as representative payees for individuals receiving Title II benefits or Title XVI payments, and who fail to comply with SSA's statutory annual reporting requirement.

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

3. Medical Report on Adult with Allegation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection; Medical Report on Child with Allegation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection—20 CFR 416.933-20 CFR 416.934—0960-0500. Section 1631(e)(i) of the Act authorizes the Commissioner of SSA to gather information to make a determination about an applicant's claim for SSI payments; this procedure is the Presumptive Disability (PD). SSA uses Forms SSA-4814-F5 and SSA-4815-F6 to collect information necessary to determine if an individual with human immunodeficiency virus infection, who is applying for SSI disability benefits, meets the requirements for PD. The respondents are the medical sources of the applicants for SSI disability payments.

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

4. Complaint Form for Allegations of Discrimination in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Social Security Administration—0960-0585. SSA uses Form SSA-437 to investigate and formally resolve complaints of discrimination based on disability, race, color, national origin (including limited English language proficiency), sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), age, religion, or retaliation for having participated in a proceeding under this administrative complaint process in connection with an SSA program or activity. Individuals who believe SSA discriminated against them on any of the above bases may file a written complaint of discrimination. SSA uses the information to: (1) Identify the complaint; (2) identify the alleged discriminatory act; (3) establish the date of such alleged action; (4) establish the identity of any individual(s) with information about the alleged discrimination; and (5) establish other relevant information that would assist in the investigation and resolution of the complaint. Respondents are individuals who believe an SSA program or activity, or SSA employees, contractors or agents discriminated against them.

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

5. Statement for Determining Continuing Entitlement for Special Veterans Benefits (SVB)—0960-0782. SSA regularly reviews individuals' claims for Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) to determine their continued eligibility and correct payment amounts. Individuals living outside the United States receiving SVB must report to SSA any changes that may affect their benefits, such as: (1) A change in mailing address or residence; (2) an increase or decrease in a pension, annuity, or other recurring benefit; (3) a return or visit to the United States for a calendar month or longer; or (4) an inability to manage benefits. SSA uses Form SSA-2010, to collect this information. Respondents are beneficiaries living outside the United States collecting SVB.

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