Methods for Conducting Personal Conferences When Waiver of Recovery of a Title II or Title XVI Overpayment Cannot Be Approved

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration.

ACTION:

Proposed rules.

SUMMARY:

We propose to revise our title II regulations and add title XVI regulations on personal conferences when waiver of recovery of an overpayment cannot be approved. These proposed rules would allow for the conferences to be conducted face-to-face, by telephone, or by video teleconference in these circumstances.

DATES:

To be sure that we consider your comments, we must receive them by May 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

You may give us your comments: by Internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov;; by e-mail to regulations@ssa.gov; by telefax to (410) 966-2830; or by letter to the Commissioner of Social Security, P.O. Box 17703, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-7703. You may also deliver them to the Office of Regulations, Social Security Administration, 107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on regular business days. Comments are posted on the Federal eRulemaking Portal. You may also inspect the comments on regular business days by making arrangements with the contact person shown in this preamble.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robin Strauss, Social Insurance Specialist, Office of Income Security Programs, Social Security Administration, 252 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, (410) 965-7944 or TTY (410) 966-5609, for information about this notice. For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Version

The electronic file of this document is available on the date of publication in the Federal Register at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

Background

Our existing regulations at § 404.506 state that we will waive recovery of an overpayment if the individual was without fault in causing the overpayment and if recovery would defeat the purpose of the Social Security Act or be against equity and good conscience. Section 404.506 further states that, if we cannot approve waiver after reviewing the information the individual has given to support his or her contention that the recovery of the overpayment should be waived, we will offer the individual a personal conference. The personal conference policy was established so that the decisionmaker would have the opportunity to assess an individual's contention through personal, versus written, contact. Our existing regulations at § 416.550 state that we will waive recovery of an overpayment if the individual was without fault in causing the overpayment and if recovery would either defeat the purpose of title XVI, or be against equity and good conscience, or impede the efficient administration of title XVI. There is currently no title XVI regulation regarding personal conferences.

Section 404.506(e)(1) states that the individual is given the opportunity to “appear personally” at the personal conference. Current regulations do not further specify the method in which this appearance may be made. Our longstanding policy contained in Social Security Ruling (SSR) 94-4p which implemented the decisions in Buffington, et. al. v. Schweiker and Califano v. Yamasaki, provides that a face-to-face pre-recoupment hearing will be conducted prior to the denial of waiver of recovery of an overpayment. However, a face-to-face appearance at the field office is not always convenient for the beneficiary. Often, if an individual is not able to come to the face-to-face conference, field office personnel will go to the person to hold the conference. Offering additional appearance options for the conference would improve service to the beneficiaries and reduce costly home visits by field personnel.

In order to fulfill our stewardship responsibilities to the Social Security trust fund, we must employ methods that will simplify our personal conference procedures and use our resources most efficiently. We should be using all available technology when we conduct personal conferences. Therefore, we propose to revise the regulations to allow for personal conferences to be conducted face-to-face at a place we designate (usually in the field office), by telephone, or by video teleconference. We will give the choice to the individual; the individual will still be provided the opportunity to appear face-to-face by choosing to come to us for the personal conference, or may choose to participate by telephone or video teleconference. If the individual elects to conduct the personal conference by video teleconference, the individual will designate the location for his or her end of the video teleconference. We will designate the location for our end of the video teleconference, if video teleconferencing is feasible, e.g., the field office has reasonable access to video teleconferencing. Because we are offering claimants two new and convenient ways to participate in a personal conference—in addition to the face-to-face conferences at our field offices we currently offer—we believe the need for our personnel to make costly home visits will significantly decrease. Therefore, we will consider conducting face-to-face conferences at locations other than SSA field offices only on a case-by-case basis, and only in those limited circumstances where: (a) A claimant has exhausted all other means of obtaining a personal conference, and (b) conducting a personal conference by any other means would be so inadequate, owing to a claimant's physical or mental condition, as to infringe upon the person's right to a hearing. An example of such a circumstance would be a claimant who is bedridden and deaf, and therefore, will have considerable difficulty traveling to a field office and participating in a conference by phone.

These proposed rules will not affect the individual's right to review the claims file, have a representative present for the proceedings, cross-examine witnesses, or submit documentary evidence. Those provisions will not change. For example, claimants who choose to conduct the personal conference via telephone or video teleconference will be given an opportunity to submit documentary evidence by mail or fax prior to the scheduled conference. If necessary, the conference could be rescheduled to allow claimants time to do this. In conducting the personal conference face-to-face at a place we designate, or by telephone, or by video teleconference, we will be fulfilling our stewardship responsibilities while offering an additional convenience to the individual and continuing to protect the individual's right to present his or her contention that he or she meets the requirements for waiver of recovery of an overpayment. The decisionmaker will still be able to properly assess the person's contentions regarding fault under these new procedures.

We already successfully conduct some hearings by telephone and by video teleconference. For example, the administrative review of an initial determination for Medicare Part D subsidies is conducted either by a telephone hearing or a case review. See § 418.3625. Additionally, some administrative hearings to review claims under title II (including administrative law judge review of denial of waiver based on a personal conference), and other claims under title XVI are now conducted via video teleconferencing. See §§ 404.936 and 416.1436. Our experience in these contexts has demonstrated that these procedures adequately protect a claimant's due process rights.

Explanation of Proposed Changes

We propose to change the regulations in 20 CFR parts 404 and 416 to reflect the methods for conducting personal conferences when waiver of recovery of an overpayment cannot be approved as follows:

• We propose to change the regulations at § 404.506 to reflect the various methods we can use to conduct the personal conference. These methods are: face-to-face in a location we designate (usually in the field office), via telephone, or via video teleconference.
• Currently, part 416 has no reference to personal conferences when waiver of recovery of the overpayment cannot be approved. We are proposing to add a new section that is similar to the regulations at § 404.506. New § 416.557 would include the various methods we can use to conduct the personal conference and describe the individual's rights and responsibilities regarding the personal conference.

Since SSR 94-4p only provides for a pre-recoupment hearing that is conducted face-to-face before waiver of recovery of an overpayment can be denied, the proposed changes in §§ 404.506 and 416.557 would expand that policy. Therefore, if we proceed to publish final rules, we will also publish a notice rescinding SSR 94-4p concurrently with the effective date of the final rules.

Clarity of These Proposed Rules

Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 13258, requires each agency to write all rules in plain language. In addition to your substantive comments on these proposed rules, we invite your comments on how to make these proposed rules easier to understand. For example:

• Have we organized the material to suit your needs?
• Are the requirements in the rules clearly stated?
• Do the rules contain technical language or jargon that is not clear?
• Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, use of headings, paragraphing) make the rules easier to understand?
• Would more (but shorter) sections be better?
• Could we improve clarity by adding tables, lists, or diagrams?
• What else could we do to make the rules easier to understand?

Regulatory Procedures

Executive Order 12866

We have consulted with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and determined that these proposed rules meet the criteria for a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 13258. Thus, they were reviewed by OMB.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

We certify that these proposed rules would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they affect only individuals. Thus, a regulatory flexibility analysis as provided in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, is not required.

Paperwork Reduction Act

We are proposing to revise our rules on conducting personal conferences when waiver of recovery of a title II or title XVI overpayment cannot be approved. These proposed revisions would allow for the conferences to be conducted face-to-face, by telephone, or by video teleconference. Currently, we only conduct these conferences face-to-face. Although these proposed rules only contain information collection burdens in §§ 416.557(c)(3) and 416.557(d)(8), we are also including the associated information collection burdens for §§ 404.506(e)(3) and 404.506(f)(8) since those sections deal with personal conferences. As outlined in the table below, in §§ 404.506(e)(3), 404.506(f)(8), 416.557(c)(3) and 416.557(d)(8), respondents may provide additional evidence for consideration at the personal conference. The collection of evidence is a public paperwork burden that requires clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Respondents to these collections are individual and the individual's representative that request a waiver conference of their overpayment and submit additional evidence.

An Information Collection Request has been submitted to OMB for clearance. We are soliciting comments on the burden estimate; the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to enhance its quality, utility and clarity; and on ways to minimize the burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be sent to OMB by fax or by e-mail to: Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, Fax Number: 202-395-6974, E-mail address: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.

Comments on the paperwork burdens associated with this rule can be received for up to 60 days after publication of this notice and will be most useful if received within 30 days of publication. This does not affect the deadline for the public to comment to SSA on the proposed regulations. These information collection requirements will not become effective until approved by OMB. When OMB has approved these information collection requirements, SSA will publish a notice in the Federal Register.

To receive a copy of the OMB clearance package, your staff may call the SSA Reports Clearance Officer on 410-965-0454.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 96.001, Social Security-Disability Insurance; 96.002, Social Security-Retirement Insurance; 96.004, Social Security-Survivors Insurance; and 96.006, Supplemental Security Income)

List of Subjects

20 CFR Part 404

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Blind
• Disability benefits
• Old-Age
• Survivors and Disability Insurance; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Social Security

20 CFR Part 416

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Aged
• Blind
• Disability benefits
• Public assistance programs; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Supplemental security income (SSI)

For the reasons set out in the preamble, we propose to amend subpart F of part 404 and subpart E of part 416 of chapter III of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 404—FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE (1950— )

Subpart F—[Amended]

1. The authority citation for subpart F of part 404 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 204, 205(a), 702(a)(5), and 1147 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 404, 405(a), 902(a)(5), and 1320b-17); 31 U.S.C. 3720A.

2. Section 404.506 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (c) to read as follows:

PART 416-SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED

Subpart E—[Amended]

1. The authority citation for subpart E of part 416 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 702(a)(5), 1147, 1601, 1602, 1611(c) and (e), and 1631(a)-(d) and (g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902(a)(5), 1320b-17, 1381, 1381a, 1382(c) and (e), and 1383(a)-(d) and (g)); 31 U.S.C. 3720A.

2. Section 416.557 is added to read as follows: