[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79064-79068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26871]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2020-0051]


Agency Information Collection Activities: 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#36797f6477696543545b5f45455f595876595b541853594618515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d19e9883908e82a4b3bcb8a2a2b8bebf91bebcb3ffb4bea1ffb6bea7">[email protected]</span></a>
(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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0ffe29ee2d5c0dfc2c4c39ef3dcd5d1c2d1ded3d5f0c3c3d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c332e522e190c130e080f523f10191d0e1d121f193c0f0f1d521b130a">[email protected]</span></a>

    Or you may submit your comments online through www.regulations.gov, 
referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2020-0051].
    SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for 
clearance. Your comments regarding these 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 January 7, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of 
these OMB clearance packages by writing to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8f7ea96eaddc8d7cacccb96fbd4ddd9cad9d6dbddf8cbcbd996dfd7ce"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eaa5b8c4b88f9a85989e99c4a9868f8b988b84898faa99998bc48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.
    1. Disability Report-Appeal--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912, 404.916(c), 
416.1416(c), 422.140, 404.1713, 416.1513, 404.1740(b)(4), and 
416.1540(b)(4)--0960-0144. SSA requires disability applicants who wish 
to appeal an unfavorable determination to complete Form SSA-3441-BK; 
the associated Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS) interview; 
or the internet application, i3441. This allows claimants to disclose 
any changes to their disability, or resources, which might influence 
SSA's unfavorable determination. SSA may use the information to: (1) 
Reconsider and review an initial disability determination; (2) review a 
continuing disability; and (3) evaluate a request for a hearing. This 
information assists the State Disability Determination Services (DDS) 
and administrative law judges (ALJ) in preparing for the appeals and 
hearings, and in issuing a determination or decision on an individual's 
entitlement (initial or continuing) to disability benefits. In 
addition, the information we collect on the SSA-3441-BK, or related 
modalities, facilitates SSA's collection of medical information to 
support the applicant's request for reconsideration; request for 
benefits cessation appeal; and request for a hearing before an ALJ. 
Respondents are individuals who appeal denial, reduction, or cessation 
of Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) payments; individuals who wish to request a hearing before an 
ALJ; or their representatives.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                              Average
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Average wait    Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    time in field    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *    (minutes) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3441-BK (Paper Form)................          22,556               1              45          16,917        * $18.22           ** 24    *** $472,609
Electronic Disability Collect System             208,831               1              45         156,623         * 10.73           ** 24   *** 2,576,863
 (EDCS)--Individuals....................
Electronic Disability Collect System              71,652               1              45          53,739         * 25.72  ..............   *** 1,382,167
 (EDCS)--Representatives................
i3441 (Internet Application)--                   109,598               1              28          51,146         * 10.73  ..............     *** 548,797
 Individuals............................
i3441 (Internet Application)--                   656,424               1              28         306,331         * 25.72  ..............   *** 7,878,833
 Representatives........................
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       1,069,061  ..............  ..............         584,756  ..............  ..............  *** 12,859,269
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average DI hourly wages for single students based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf), and on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm), as well as a combination of those two figures (for the paper form, as we do not collect data on whether the paper forms are filled out
  by individuals or representatives or both).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, 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.

    2. Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-Up Program Notices--20 
CFR 404.452-404.455--0960-0369. SSA developed the Annual Earnings Test 
Direct Mail Follow-up Program to improve beneficiary reporting on work 
and earnings during the year and earnings information at the end of the 
year. SSA may reduce benefits payable under the Social Security Act 
(Act) when an individual has wages or self-employment income exceeding 
the annual exempt amount. SSA identifies beneficiaries likely to 
receive more than the annual exempt amount, and requests more frequent 
estimates of earnings from them. When applicable, SSA also requests a 
future year estimate to reduce overpayments due to earnings. SSA sends 
letters (SSA-L9778, SSA-L9779, SSA-L9781, SSA-L9784, SSA-L9785, and 
SSA-L9790) to beneficiaries requesting earnings information the month 
prior to their attainment of full retirement age. We send each 
beneficiary a tailored letter that includes relevant earnings data from 
SSA records. The Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-up Program 
helps to ensure Social Security payments are

[[Page 79065]]

correct, and enables us to prevent earnings-related overpayments, and 
avoid erroneous withholding. The respondents are working Social 
Security beneficiaries with earnings over the exempt amount.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-L9778...............................................          42,630               1              10           7,105          $25.72     ** $182,741
SSA-L9779...............................................         158,865               1              10          26,478           25.72      ** 681,014
SSA-L9781...............................................         472,437               1              10          78,740           25.72    ** 2,025,193
SSA-L9784...............................................           1,270               1              10             212           25.72        ** 5,453
SSA-L9785...............................................          15,870               1              10           2,645           25.72       ** 68,029
SSA-L9790...............................................          45,000               1              10           7,500           25.72      ** 192,900
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................         736,072  ..............  ..............         122,680  ..............    ** 3,155,330
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on the average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that we are 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. Request for Social Security Earnings Information--20 CFR 401.100 
and 404.810--0960-0525. The Social Security Act permits wage earners, 
or their authorized representatives, to request Social Security 
earnings information from SSA using Form SSA-7050-F4. SSA uses the 
information the respondent provides on Form SSA-7050-F4 to verify the 
wage earner has: (1) Earnings; (2) the right to access the correct 
Social Security Record; and (3) the right to request the earnings 
statement. If we verify all three items, SSA produces an Itemized 
Statement of Earnings (Form SSA-1826) and sends it to the requestor. 
The agency charges respondents for sending them an Itemized Statement 
of Earnings. Respondents are wage earners and their authorized 
representatives who are requesting Itemized Statement of Earnings 
records.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-7050-F4.......................................          66,800                1               11           12,247         * $25.72      ** $314,993
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** 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.

    Cost Burden to Respondents: The agency charges respondents to send 
them an Itemized Statement of Earnings for purposes unrelated to the 
administration of our programs. The chart below shows the costs to the 
respondents for this request:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of       Cost per
                       Type of respondent                            requests         request       Annual cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Certified Respondent........................................          33,400          $92.00      $3,072,800
Certified Respondent............................................          33,400          122.00       4,074,800
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................  ..............  ..............       7,147,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Disability Case Development Information Collections By State 
Disability Determination Services On Behalf of SSA--20 CFR 404.1503a, 
404.1512, 404.1513, 404.1514, 404.1517, 404.1519; 20 CFR 404.1613, 
404.1614, 404.1624; 20 CFR 416.903a, 416.912, 416.913, 416.914, 
416.917, 416.919 and 20 CFR 416.1013, 416.1014, 416.1024--0960-0555. 
State DDSs collect the information necessary to administer the Social 
Security Disability Insurance and SSI programs. They collect medical 
evidence from consultative examination (CE) sources; credential 
information from CE source applicants; and medical evidence of record 
(MER) from claimants' medical sources. The DDSs collect information 
from claimants regarding medical appointments, pain, symptoms, and 
impairments. The respondents are medical providers, other sources of 
MER, and disability claimants.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

CE Collections

    There are four CE information collections: (a) Medical evidence 
about claimants' medical condition(s) that DDS's use to make disability 
determinations when the claimant's own medical sources cannot or will 
not provide the required information, and proof of credentials from CE 
providers; (b) CE appointment letters; (c) CE claimant reports sent to 
claimants' doctors; and (d) One-time CE claimant telehealth call 
script/letter.

[[Page 79066]]



                                                 (a) Medical Evidence and Credentials From CE Providers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CE Paper Submissions....................................       1,400,000               1              30         700,000        * $40.21  ** $28,147,000
CE Electronic Submissions...............................         296,000               1              10          49,333         * 40.21    ** 1,983,680
CE Credentials..........................................           4,000               1              15           1,000         * 40.21       ** 40,210
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................       1,700,000  ..............  ..............         750,333  ..............   ** 30,170,890
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data
  (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm).


                                      (b) CE Appointment Letters and (c) CE Claimants' Report to Medical Providers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) CE Appointment Letters..............................         880,000               1               5          73,333        * $10.73     ** $786,863
(c) CE Claimants' Report to Medical Providers...........         450,000               1               5          37,500         * 10.73      ** 402,375
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................       1,330,000  ..............  ..............         110,833  ..............    ** 1,189,238
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf).


                                                    (d) CE Claimant Telehealth CE Call Script/Letter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CE Claimant Telehealth Call Script/Letter.........          10,000                1                5              833         * $10.73        ** $8,938
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf).

MER Collections

    The DDS's collect MER information from the claimant's medical 
sources to determine a claimant's physical or mental status prior to 
making a disability determination.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Submissions.......................................       3,150,000               1              20       1,050,000        * $40.21  ** $42,220,500
Electronic Submissions..................................       9,450,000               1              12       1,890,000         * 40.21   ** 75,996,900
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................      12,600,000  ..............  ..............       2,940,000  ..............  ** 118,217,400
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data
  (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm).

Pain/Other Symptoms/Impairment Information From Claimants

    The DDS's use information about pain/symptoms to determine how 
pain/symptoms affect the claimant's ability to do work-related 
activities prior to making a disability determination.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Average
                                                                                            Average       Estimated      theoretical      Total annual
                  Modality of completion                      Number of    Frequency of   burden per    total annual     hourly cost   opportunity  cost
                                                             respondents     response      response    burden (hours)      amount         (dollars) **
                                                                                           (minutes)                     (dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pain/Other Symptoms/Impairment Information...............       2,100,000             1            20         700,000        * $18.23     ** $12,761,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.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).

Grand Total

[[Page 79067]]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Average
                                                                                     Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical       Total annual
             Modality of completion                  Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost    opportunity  cost
                                                    respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount         (dollars) **
                                                                                                                        (dollars) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals..........................................      17,740,000   ...............  ...............       4,501,999   ...............   ** $162,347,466
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** 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. Work History Report--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912, 404.1560, 
404.1565, 416.960 and 416.965--0960-0578. Under certain circumstances, 
SSA asks individuals applying for disability about work they have 
performed in the past. Applicants use Form SSA-3369, Work History 
Report, to provide detailed information about jobs held prior to 
becoming unable to work. State DDS evaluate the information, together 
with medical evidence, to determine eligibility for disability 
payments. Respondents are disability applicants and third parties 
assisting applicants.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Average
                                                                        Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Average wait     Total annual
        Modality of completion             Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    time in field     opportunity
                                          respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                          (dollars) *    (minutes) **          ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3369 (Paper form).................       1,553,900               1              60       1,553,900        * $18.23           ** 24   *** $39,658,636
SSA-3369 (EDCS).......................          38,049               1              60          38,049         * 18.23           ** 24       *** 971,094
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................       1,591,949  ..............  ..............       1,591,949  ..............  ..............    *** 40,629,730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.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).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices, 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.

    6. Teacher Questionnaire and Request for Administrative 
Information--20 CFR 404.1513, 416.913, and 416.924a(a)--0960-0646. When 
determining the effects of a child's impairment(s), SSA obtains 
information about the child's functioning from teachers; parents; and 
others who observe the child on a daily basis. SSA obtains results of 
formal testing, teacher reports, therapy progress notes, individualized 
education programs, and other records of a child's educational aptitude 
and achievements using Forms SSA-5665-BK and SSA-5666. The respondents 
are parents, teachers, and other education personnel.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-5665-BK (electronic)................................         246,539               1              40         164,359        * $26.14   ** $4,296,344
SSA-5666 (electronic)...................................          91,186               1              30          45,593         * 26.14    ** 1,191,801
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................         337,725  ..............  ..............         209,952  ..............    ** 5,488,145
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average Elementary and Secondary School worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes250000.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.

    7. Medicare Part D Subsidies Regulations--20 CFR 418.3625(c), 
418.3645, 418.3665(a), and 418.3670--0960-0702. The Medicare 
Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 
established the Medicare Part D program for voluntary prescription drug 
coverage of premium, deductible, and co-payment costs for certain low-
income individuals. The MMA also mandated the provision of subsidies 
for those individuals who qualify for the program and who meet 
eligibility criteria for help with premium, deductible, or co-payment 
costs. This law requires SSA to make eligibility determinations, and to 
provide a process for appealing SSA's determinations. Regulation 
sections 418.3625(c), 418.3645, 418.3665(a), and 418.3670 contain 
public reporting requirements pertaining to administrative review 
hearings. Respondents are applicants for the Medicare Part D subsidies 
who request an administrative review hearing.
    Type of Request: Revision of an existing OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    Total annual
                 Modality of completion                      Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
418.3625(c).............................................             110               1               5               9       ** $10.73         *** $97
418.3645................................................              10               1               5               1        ** 10.73          *** 11

[[Page 79068]]

 
418.3665(a).............................................             215               1               5              18        ** 10.73         *** 193
418.3670 *..............................................               0               1              10               0  ..............  ..............
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................             335  ..............  ..............              28  ..............         *** 301
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Regulation section 418.3670 could be used at any time; however, we currently have no data showing usage over the past three years.
** We based this figure on average DI payments (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf)
*** 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.

    8. Electronic Records Express--20 CFR 404.1512 and 416.912--0960-
0753. Electronic Records Express (ERE) is a Web-based SSA program which 
allows medical and educational providers to electronically submit 
disability claimant data to SSA. Both medical providers and other third 
parties with connections to disability applicants or recipients (e.g., 
teachers and school administrators for child disability applicants) use 
this system once they complete the registration process. SSA employees 
and State agency employees request the medical and educational records 
collected through the ERE website. The agency uses the information 
collected through ERE to make a determination on an Application for 
Benefits. We also use the ERE website to order and receive consultative 
examinations when we are unable to collect enough medical records to 
determine disability findings. The respondents are medical providers 
who evaluate or treat disability claimants or recipients, and other 
third parties with connections to disability applicants or recipients 
(e.g., teachers and school administrators for child disability 
applicants), who voluntarily choose to use ERE for submitting 
information.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            Average
                                                                                       Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical      Total annual
              Modality of completion                   Number of       Frequency of     per response    annual burden     hourly cost      opportunity
                                                      respondents        response        (minutes)         (hours)           amount       cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                          (dollars) *           **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERE...............................................       6,183,548                1               10        1,030,591         * $33.18   ** $34,195,009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm),
  and Elementary and Secondary School worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes250000.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.


    Dated: December 2, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-26871 Filed 12-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>