[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 667-671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29207]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2020-0067]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed 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 new information collections, and 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

    Comments: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Submit your 
comments online, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2020-0067].

(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#5e110c700c3b2e312c2a2d701d323b3f2c3f303d3b1e2d2d3f70393128"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bef1ec90ecdbced1cccacd90fdd2dbdfccdfd0dddbfecdcddf90d9d1c8">[email protected]</span></a>

    Or you may submit your comments online through https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-
2020-0067].
    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 
March 8, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instruments by writing to the above email address.
    1. Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network 
(RETAIN)--0960-NEW.

Background

    The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Department of 
Labor (DOL) are undertaking the Retaining Employment and Talent After 
Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) demonstration. The RETAIN demonstration 
will test the impact of early intervention strategies to improve stay-
at-work/return-to-work (SAW/RTW) outcomes of individuals who experience 
work disability while employed. We define ``work disability'' as an 
injury, illness, or medical condition that has the potential to inhibit 
or prevent continued employment or labor force participation. SAW/RTW 
programs succeed by returning injured or ill workers to productive work 
as soon as medically possible during their recovery process, and by 
providing interim part-time or light duty work and accommodations, as 
necessary. The RETAIN demonstration is loosely modeled after promising 
programs operating in Washington State, including the Centers of 
Occupational Health and Education (COHE), the Early Return to Work 
(ERTW), and the Stay at Work programs. While these programs operate 
within the state's workers' compensation system, and are available only 
to people experiencing work-related injuries or illnesses, the RETAIN 
demonstration provides opportunities to improve SAW/RTW outcomes for 
both occupational and non-occupational injuries and illnesses of people 
who are employed, or at a minimum in the labor force, when their injury 
or illness occurs.
    The primary goals of the RETAIN demonstration are:
    1. To increase employment retention and labor force participation 
of individuals who acquire, or are at risk of developing, work 
disabilities; and
    2. To reduce long-term work disability among RETAIN service users, 
including the need for Social Security Disability Insurance and 
Supplemental Security Income.
    The ultimate purpose of the demonstration is to validate and expand 
implementation of evidence-based strategies to accomplish these goals. 
DOL is funding the intervention approaches and programmatic technical 
assistance for the demonstration. SSA is funding evaluation support, 
including technical assistance and the full evaluation for the 
demonstration.

Project Description

    The demonstration consists of two phases. The first involves the 
implementation and assessment of cooperative awards to eight states to 
conduct planning and start-up activities, including the launch of a 
small pilot demonstration. During phase 1, SSA will provide evaluation-
related technical assistance and planning, and conduct evaluability 
assessments to assess which states' projects would allow for a rigorous 
evaluation if continued beyond the pilot phase. DOL will select a 
subset of the states to continue to phase 2, full implementation.
    Phase 2 will include a subset of states for full implementation and 
evaluation. During phase 2, DOL will fund the operations and program 
technical assistance activities for the recommended states, and SSA 
will fund the full set of evaluation activities.
    SSA is requesting clearance for the collection of data needed to 
implement and evaluate RETAIN. The four components of this evaluation, 
completed during site visits, interviews with RETAIN service users, 
surveys of RETAIN enrollees, and surveys of RETAIN service providers, 
include:
    <bullet> The participation analysis: Using RETAIN service user 
interviews and surveys, this analysis will provide insights into which 
eligible workers choose to participate in the program, in what ways 
they participate, and how services received vary with participant 
characteristics. Similarly, it will assess the characteristics of, and 
if possible, reasons for non-enrollment of non-participants.
    <bullet> The process analysis: Using staff interviews and logs, 
this analysis will produce information about operational features that 
affect service provision; perceptions of the intervention design by 
service users, providers, administrators, and other stakeholders; the 
relationships among the partner organizations; each program's fidelity 
to the research design; and lessons for future programs with similar 
objectives.
    <bullet> The impact analysis: This analysis will produce estimates 
of the effects of the interventions on primary outcomes, including 
employment and Social Security disability applications, and secondary 
outcomes, such as health and service usage. SSA will identify 
evaluation designs for each state to generate impact estimates. The 
evaluation design could include experimental or non-experimental 
designs.
    <bullet> The cost-benefit analysis: This analysis will assess 
whether the benefits

[[Page 668]]

of RETAIN justify its costs. We conduct this assessment from a range of 
perspectives, including those of the participants, state and Federal 
governments, SSA, and society as a whole.
    The proposed data collections to support these analyses include 
qualitative and quantitative data. At this time, SSA requests clearance 
for all of these data collection activities. The qualitative data 
collection consists of: (1) Semi-structured interviews with program 
staff and service users; and (2) staff activity logs. The program staff 
will complete interviews during two rounds of site visits. They will 
focus on staff's perceptions of the successes and challenges of 
implementing each state's program. The staff activity logs will house 
information on staff's time to inform the benefit-cost analysis. The 
service user interviews will inform SSA's understanding of users' 
experiences with program services. The quantitative data include SSA's 
program records and survey data. The survey data collection consists 
of: (1) Two rounds of follow-up surveys, focusing on individual-level 
outcomes, with enrollees, all of whom who have experienced a disability 
onset; and (2) two rounds of surveys with RETAIN providers.
    The respondents are staff members selected for staff interviews and 
staff activity logs, and RETAIN service users, enrollees, and 
providers.
    Type of Request: Request for a new 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) **         ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               RETAIN 2021 Burden Figures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Respondents)...             320               1              15              80        * $25.72           ** 24      *** $5,350
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Nonrespondents)              80               1               3               4         * 25.72           ** 24         *** 926
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................             400  ..............  ..............              84  ..............  ..............       *** 6,276
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               RETAIN 2022 Burden Figures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Interviews (state administrators/                4               1             105               7         * 45.23              24         *** 407
 directors).............................
Staff Interviews (program line staff)...              72               1              75              90         * 32.58           ** 24       *** 3,870
Service User Interviews (Respondents)...              60               1              36              36         * 25.72           ** 24       *** 1,543
Service User Interviews (Nonrespondents)             540               1               6              54         * 25.72           ** 24       *** 6,945
Staff Activity Logs (state                             4               1              70               5         * 45.23           ** 24         *** 298
 administrators/directors)..............
Staff Activity Logs (program line staff)              48               1              70              56           32.58           ** 24       *** 2,450
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Respondents)...           3,840               1              15             960         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 64,197
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Nonrespondents)             960               1               3              48         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 11,111
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Respondents)...             960               1              21             336           25.72           ** 24      *** 18,518
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Nonrespondents)             240               1               3              12           25.72              24       *** 2,778
Provider Survey Round 2 (Respondents)...             320               1              17              91         * 32.58           ** 24       *** 7,135
Provider Survey Round 2 (Nonrespondents)              80               1               3               4         * 32.58           ** 24       *** 1,173
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................           7,128  ..............  ..............           1,699  ..............  ..............     *** 120,425
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               RETAIN 2023 Burden Figures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Respondents)...           3,840               1              15             960         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 64,197
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Nonrespondents)             960               1               3              48           25.72              24      *** 11,111
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Respondents)...           3,840               1              21           1,344         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 74,074
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Nonrespondents)             960               1               3              48         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 11,111
Provider Survey Round 2 (Respondents)...             320               1              17              91         * 32.58           ** 24       *** 7,135
Provider Survey Round 2 (Nonrespondents)              80               1               3               4         * 32.58           ** 24       *** 1,173
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................          10,000  ..............  ..............           2,495  ..............  ..............     *** 168,801
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               RETAIN 2024 Burden Figures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Respondents)...           1,600               1              15             400         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 26,749
Enrollee Survey Round 1 (Nonrespondents)             400               1               3              20         * 25.72           ** 24       *** 4,629
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Respondents)...           3,840               1              21           1,344         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 74,074
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Nonrespondents)             960               1               3              48         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 11,111
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................           6,800  ..............  ..............           1,812  ..............  ..............     *** 116,563
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               RETAIN 2025 Burden Figures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Respondents)...             960               1              21             336         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 18,518
Enrollee Survey Round 2 (Nonrespondents)             240               1               3              12         * 25.72           ** 24       *** 2,778
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................           1,200  ..............  ..............             348  ..............  ..............      *** 21,296
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            RETAIN Grand Total Burden Figures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................          25,528  ..............  ..............           6,438  ..............  ..............     *** 433,361
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm), and average local Government Management and staff hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes110000.htm) & (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131071.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.


[[Page 669]]

    2. Internet and Telephone Appointment Applications--20 CFR 404.620-
404.630, and 416.330-416.340--0960-NEW. SSA offers both internet and 
telephone appointment options for individuals who wish to request an 
appointment when they are unable to complete one of SSA's online or 
automated telephone applications because they failed the initial 
verification checks,--or who state their reading language preference is 
other than English.
    iAppointment: iAppointment is an online process that allows members 
of the public an easy-to-use method to schedule an appointment with the 
servicing office of their choice. Since the application date can affect 
when a claimant's benefit begins, iAppointment establishes a protective 
filing date and provides respondents information related to the date by 
which they must file their actual application. The iAppointment 
application propagates information the applicant already entered onto 
any of SSA's internet applications for SSN, name, date of birth, and 
gender. Applicants must provide minimal additional information: Mailing 
address; telephone number; language preference; type of appointment 
(Disability, Retirement, Medicare); and whether they prefer a telephone 
interview or in-office appointment. iAppointment is a customer-centric 
application. If the available appointment times do not meet the 
customer's needs, iAppointment allows the user to enter a different zip 
code to identify another field office, which may offer different 
appointment times. At this time, SSA only allows domestic first party 
applicants to use iAppointment. If users indicate they are filing as 
third parties, iAppointment provides a message directing them to call 
the National 800 Number for assistance. If a foreign first party user 
is unable to complete iClaim, iAppointment directs them to contact a 
Social Security representative, and provides a link to SSA's Service 
Around the World website.
    Enhanced Leads and Appointment System (eLAS): eLAS is an Intranet-
based version of the iAppointment screens for use by SSA technicians 
both in the field offices and call centers. eLAS interacts with 
iAppointment to ensure we always record the same information whether an 
individual requests an appointment through our internet screens or via 
telephone. eLAS is a non-public facing system that allows SSA employees 
in the field offices, workload support units, and teleservice centers 
to use an telephone interview process to schedule appointments and 
document an individual's intent to file using a script and asking the 
same questions to each individual. We use eLAS with individuals who use 
our automated telephone system or who prefer not to use iAppointment to 
set up their appointment.
    The respondents are individuals who are unable to use our internet 
or automated telephone systems because they failed the initial 
verification checks; or because they state their reading language 
preference is other than English.
    Type of Request: Request for a new information collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                                              Average      combined wait
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    time in field   Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    office or for    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount        teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *       center            ***
                                                                                                                           (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iAppointment............................          17,621               1              10           2,937        * $25.72  ..............     *** $75,540
eLAS....................................       5,157,780               1              10         859,630         * 25.72           ** 21  *** 68,540,019
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................       5,175,401  ..............  ..............         862,567  ..............  ..............  *** 68,615,559
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on average U.S. worker's hourly wages (based on BLS.gov data, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm).
** We based this figure on the combined average FY 2020 wait times for field offices (approximately 24 minutes per respondent) and teleservice centers
  (approximately 17 minutes per respondent), 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.

    3. Statement of Living Arrangements, In-Kind Support, and 
Maintenance--20 CFR 416.1130-416.1148--0960-0174. SSA determines 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment amounts based on 
individuals' needs. We measure individuals' needs, in part, by the 
amount of income they receive, including in-kind support and 
maintenance in the form of food and shelter provided by other persons. 
SSA uses Form SSA-8006 to determine if in-kind support and maintenance 
exists for SSI applicants and recipients. This information also assists 
SSA in determining the income value of in-kind support and maintenance. 
The respondents are individuals who apply for SSI payments, or who 
complete an SSI eligibility redetermination.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                                              Average      combined wait
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    time in field   Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    office or for    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount        teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *       center            ***
                                                                                                                           (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-8006--Intranet version (SSI Claims           109,436               1               7          12,768        * $10.73           ** 17    *** $469,706
 System)................................
SSA--8006-Paper version.................          12,160               1               7           1,419         * 10.73           ** 24      *** 67,417
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         121,596  ..............  ..............          14,187  ..............  ..............     *** 537,123
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2020 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2020Fact%20Sheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2020 wait times for field offices (24 minutes) and wait times for teleservice centers (17 minutes), based on
  SSA's current management information data.

[[Page 670]]

 
*** 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.

    4. Statement of Funds You Provided to Another and Statement of 
Funds You Received--20 CFR 416.1103(f)--0960-0481. SSA uses Forms SSA-
2854 (Statement of Funds You Provided to Another) and SSA-2855 
(Statement of Funds You Received) to gather information to verify if a 
loan is bona fide for SSI recipients. The SSA-2854 asks the lender for 
details on the transaction, and Form SSA-2855 asks the borrower the 
same basic questions independently. Agency personnel then compare the 
two statements, gather evidence if needed, and make a decision on the 
validity of the bona fide status of the loan.
    For SSI purposes, we consider a loan bona fide if it meets these 
requirements:
    <bullet> Must be between a borrower and lender with the 
understanding that the borrower has an obligation to repay the money;
    <bullet> Must be in effect at the time the cash goes to the 
borrower, that is, the agreement cannot come after the cash is paid; 
and
    <bullet> Must be enforceable under State law, as often there are 
additional requirements from the State.
    SSA collects this information at the time of initial application 
for SSI, or at any point when an individual alleges being party to an 
informal loan while receiving SSI. SSA collects information on the 
informal loan through both interviews and mailed forms. The agency's 
field personnel conduct the interviews and mail the form(s) for 
completion, as needed. The respondents are SSI recipients and 
applicants, and individuals who lend money to them.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                                              Average      combined wait
                                                                          Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    time in field   Total annual
         Modality of completion              Number of     Frequency of    per response    total annual     hourly cost    office or for    opportunity
                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount        teleservice   cost (dollars)
                                                                                                            (dollars) *       center            **
                                                                                                                           (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-2854................................          20,000               1              15           5,000        * $25.72           ** 24    *** $334,360
SSA-2855................................          20,000               1              15           5,000         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 334,360
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................          40,000  ..............  ..............          10,000  ..............  ..............     *** 668,720
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, 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.

    5. Medicare Subsidy Quality Review Forms--20 CFR part 418--0960-
0707. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 mandated the creation of 
the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage program and provides 
certain subsidies for eligible Medicare beneficiaries to help pay for 
the cost of prescription drugs. As part of its stewardship duties of 
the Medicare Part D subsidy program, SSA must conduct periodic quality 
review checks of the information Medicare beneficiaries report on their 
subsidy applications (Form SSA-1020). SSA uses the Medicare Quality 
Review program to conduct these checks. The respondents are applicants 
for the Medicare Part D subsidy whom SSA chose to undergo a quality 
review.
    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-9301 (Medicare Subsidy Quality Review Case Analysis            3,500               1              30           1,750        * $40.64      ** $71,120
 Form...................................................
SSA-9302 (Notice of Quality Review Acknowledgment Form             3,500               1              15             875         * 25.72       ** 22,505
 for those with Phones).................................
SSA-9303 (Notice of Quality Review Acknowledgment Form               350               1              15              88         * 25.72        ** 2,263
 for those without Phones)..............................
SSA-9308 (Request for Information)......................           7,000               1              15           1,750         * 25.72       ** 45,010
SSA-9310 (Request for Documents)........................           3,500               1               5             292         * 25.72        ** 7,510
SSA-9311 (Notice of Appointment--Denial--Reviewer Will               450               1              15             113         * 25.72        ** 2,906
 Call)..................................................
SSA-9312 (Notice of Appointment--Denial--Please Call                  50               1              15              13         * 25.72          ** 334
 Reviewer)..............................................
SSA-9313 (Notice of Quality Review Acknowledgment Form             2,500               1              15             625         * 25.72       ** 16,075
 for those with Phones).................................
SSA-9314 (Notice of Quality Review Acknowledgement Form              500               1              15             125         * 25.72        ** 3,215
 for those without Phones)..............................
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................          21,350  ..............  ..............           5,631  ..............      ** 170,938
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figures on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, 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.


[[Page 671]]

    6. Redetermination of Eligibility for Help with Medicare 
Prescription Drug Plan Costs--20 CFR 418.3125--0960-0723. Under the 
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, SSA conducts low-income subsidy 
eligibility redeterminations for Medicare beneficiaries who currently 
receive Medicare Part D subsidy and who meet certain criteria. 
Respondents complete Form SSA-1026-OCR-SM-REDE under the following 
circumstances: (1) When individuals became entitled to the Medicare 
Part D subsidy during the past 12 months; (2) if they were eligible for 
the Part D subsidy for more than 12 months; or (3) if they reported a 
change in income, resources, or household size. Part D beneficiaries 
complete Form SSA-1026-OCR-SM-SCE when they need to report a 
potentially subsidy-changing event, including the following: (1) 
Marriage; (2) spousal separation; (3) divorce; (4) annulment of a 
marriage; (5) spousal death; or (6) moving back in with one's spouse 
following a separation. The respondents are current recipients of 
Medicare Part D low-income subsidy who will undergo an eligibility 
redetermination for one of the reasons mentioned above.
    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-1026-OCR-SM-REDE....................         120,220               1              18          36,066        * $25.72  ..............    *** $927,618
SSA-1026-OCR-SM-SCE.....................           3,462               1              18           1,039         * 25.72  ..............      *** 26,723
REDE Field Office Interview.............          50,879               1              18          15,264         * 25.72           ** 24     *** 916,033
SCE Field Office Interview..............           4,441               1              18           1,332         * 25.72           ** 24      *** 79,948
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................         179,002  ..............  ..............          53,701  ..............  ..............   *** 1,950,322
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. citizen's hourly salary, 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.


    Dated: December 20, 2020.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-29207 Filed 1-5-21; 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>