68 FR 229 pgs. 66913-66915 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 68Number: 229Pages: 66913 - 66915
FR document: [FR Doc. 03-29686 Filed 11-26-03; 8:45 am]
Agency: Social Security Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
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, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. The information collection packages that may be included in this notice are for new information collections, approval of existing 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 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.
1. Certificate of Support-20 CFR 404.408a, 404.370, and 404.750-0960-0001. The information collected by form SSA-760-F4 is used to determine whether a deceased worker provided one-half support required for entitlement to Social Security parent's or spouse's benefits. The information will also be used to determine whether the Government pension offset would apply to the applicant's benefit payments. The respondents are parents of deceased workers or spouses who may be subject to Government pension offset.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 18,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 4,500 hours.
2. Notice Regarding Substitution of Party Upon Death of Claimant-20 CFR 404.957(c)(4) and 416.1457(c)(4)-0960-0288. When a claimant for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits dies while a request for a hearing is pending, the hearing will be dismissed unless an eligible individual makes a written request to SSA showing that he or she would be adversely affected by the dismissal of the deceased's claim. An individual may satisfy this requirement by completing an HA-539. SSA uses the information collected to document the individual's request to be made a substitute party for a deceased claimant, and to make a decision on whom, if anyone, should become a substitute party for the deceased. The respondents are individuals requesting hearings on behalf of deceased claimants for Social Security benefits.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 10,548.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 879 hours.
3. Request to Resolve Questionable Quarters of Coverage (QC); Request for QC History Based on Relationship-0960-0575. Form SSA-512 is used by States to request clarification from SSA on questionable QC information. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act states that aliens admitted for lawful residence who have worked and earned 40 qualifying QCs for Social Security purposes can generally receive State benefits. Form SSA-513 is used by States to request QC information for an alien's spouse or child in cases where the alien does not sign a consent form giving permission to access his/her Social Security records. QCs can also be allocated to a spouse and/or to a child under age 18, if needed, to obtain 40 qualifying QCs for the alien. The respondents are State agencies that require QC information in order to determine eligibility for benefits.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
| Burden Information | SSA-512 | SSA-513 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Respondents | 200,000 | 350,000 |
| Frequency of Response | 1 | 1 |
| Average Burden Per Response (minute) | 2 | 2 |
| Estimated Annual Burden (hours) | 6,667 | 11,667 |
4. International Direct Deposit-31 CFR 210-0960-NEW. SSA uses the information collected on the International Direct Deposit (IDD) Form, SSA-1199 (Country), to enroll beneficiaries residing abroad in the IDD program. There are currently 39 countries where IDD is now available, and SSA plans to expand this service to other countries as it becomes available. The SSA-1199 (Country) is named according to the country for its intended use, but will always request the same basic enrollment information. This form is a variation of the SF-1199 A, Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form, which is used to enroll a beneficiary in direct deposit to a U.S. financial institution. The respondents are beneficiaries living in a foreign country that request Direct Deposit to a financial institution in their country of residence.
Type of Request: New information collection.
Number of Respondents: 5,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 417 hours.
II. The information collections listed below have 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 packages by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by writing to the address listed above.
1. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices-20 CFR 404.452-455-0960-0369. In 1997, as part of the initiative to reinvent government, SSA began to use the information reported on W-2's and self-employment tax returns to adjust benefits under the earnings test rather than have beneficiaries make a separate report, which often showed the same information. As a result, beneficiaries under full retirement age (FRA) complete forms SSA-L9778-SM-SUP, SSA-L9779-SM-SUP and SSA-L9781-SM under this information collection. With the passage of the Senior Citizen Freedom to Work Act of 2000, the annual earnings test (AET) at FRA was eliminated. As a result, SSA designed two new Midyear Mailer Forms, SSA-L9784-SM and SSA-L9785-SM, to request an earnings estimate (in the year of FRA) for the period prior to the month of FRA. Social Security benefits may be adjusted based on the information provided and this information is needed to comply with the law. Consequently, the Midyear Mailer program has become an even more important tool in helping SSA to ensure that Social Security payments are correct. Respondents are beneficiaries who must update their current year estimate of earnings, give SSA an estimate of earnings for the following year and an earnings estimate (in the year of FRA) for the period prior to the month of FRA.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 225,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 37,500 hours.
2. Application for Lump Sum Death Payment-20 CFR 404.390-404.392-0960-0013. The information collected on form SSA-8 by SSA is required to authorize payment of a lump-sum death benefit to a widow, widower, or children as defined in Section 202(i) of the Social Security Act. The respondents are widows, widowers or children who apply for a lump-sum death payment.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 43, 850.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 7,308 hours.
3. Petition To Obtain Approval Of A Fee For Representing A Claimant Before the Social Security Administration-20 CFR Subpart R, 404.1720, 404.1725, Subpart F, 410.686b, Subpart O, 416.1520 and 416.1525-0960-0104. A representative of a claimant for Social Security benefits must file either a fee petition or a fee agreement with SSA in order to charge a fee for representing a claimant in proceedings before SSA. The representative uses Form SSA-1560 to petition SSA for authorization to charge and collect a fee. A claimant may also use the form to agree or disagree with the requested fee amount or other information the representative provides on the form. SSA uses the information to determine a reasonable fee that a representative may charge and collect for his or her services. The respondents are claimants, their attorneys and other persons representing them.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 34, 624.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Average Burden: 17,312 hours.
4. Student Statement Regarding School Attendance-20 CFR 404.351-352, 404.367-.368-0960-0105. The information collected on Form SSA-1372 is needed to determine whether children of an insured worker are eligible for benefits as a student. The respondents are student claimants for Social Security benefits and their respective schools.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB approved information collection.
Number of Respondents: 200,000.
Number of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 33,333 hours.
5. Application of Circuit Court Law-20 CFR 404.985 and 416.1485-0960-0581. SSA regulations at 20 CFR 404.985 and 416.1485 inform claimants of their right to request that a published Acquiescence Ruling (AR) be applied to a prior determination when we make a determination or decision on a claim between the date of the Circuit Court decision and the date we publish the AR. The regulations also specify that claimants can request that the AR be applied to a prior determination or decision by submitting a statement that demonstrates how the AR could change the prior determination or decision. SSA will use the information provided in the statement to readjudicate the claim if the claimant demonstrates the Ruling could change the prior determination. The respondents are claimants whose determinations or decisions on their claims may be affected by an AR.
Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved collection.
Number of Respondents: 100,000.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 17 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 28,333 hours.
Dated: November 21, 2003.
Elizabeth A. Davidson,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-29686 Filed 11-26-03; 8:45 am]
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