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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 97155-97158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28509]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No: SSA-2024-0052]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and 
Comment Request

    The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of 
information collection packages requiring clearance by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Public Law 104-13, the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. This notice 
includes extensions 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,

[[Page 97156]]

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, 
(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance 
Director, Mail Stop 3253 Altmeyer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 
21235, Fax: 833-410-1631, Email address: [email protected].
    Or you may submit your comments online through https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain by clicking on Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comments and choosing to click on one of SSA's 
published items. Please reference Docket ID Number [SSA-2024-0052] in 
your submitted response.
    I. The information collection below is pending at SSA. SSA will 
submit it 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 
February 4, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection 
instrument by writing to the above email address.
    Coverage of Employees of State and Local Governments--20 CFR 404--
0960-0425. The Code of Federal Regulations at 20 CFR 404, Subpart M, 
prescribes the rules for States submitting reports of deposits and 
recordkeeping to SSA. SSA requires States (and interstate 
instrumentalities) to provide wage and deposit contribution information 
for pre-1987 periods. Not all states have completely satisfied their 
pending wage report and contribution liability with SSA for pre-1987 
tax years. SSA needs these regulations until all pending items with all 
states are closed out, and to provide for collection of this 
information in the future, if necessary. The respondents are State and 
local governments or interstate instrumentalities.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved Information 
Collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                          Average burden                    theoretical    Total annual
                   Regulation section                        Number of     Frequency of    per response    Total annual     hourly cost     opportunity
                                                            respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount      cost (dollars)
                                                                                                                            (dollars) *         **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
404. 1204 (a) & (b).....................................              52               1              30              26          $32.39         ** $842
404.1215................................................              52               1              60              52         * 32.39        ** 1,684
404. 1216 (a) & (b).....................................              52               1              60              52         * 32.39        ** 1,684
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............................................             156  ..............  ..............             130  ..............        ** 4,210
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure by averaging both the average State Government hourly wages (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999200.htm), and the average
  Local Government hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999300.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.

    II. 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 6, 2025. Individuals can obtain copies of 
these OMB clearance packages by writing to the 
[email protected].
    1. Work Activity Report--Employee--20 CFR 404.1520(b), 404.1571-
404.1576, 404.1584-404.1593, and 416.971-404.976--0960-0059. SSA uses 
Form SSA-821-BK to collect recipient employment information to 
determine whether recipients worked after becoming disabled and, if so, 
whether the work is substantial gainful activity. In addition, SSA uses 
the SSA-821-BK and SSA-821-APP to obtain work information during the 
initial claims process, the continuing disability review process, post-
adjudicative work issue actions, and for Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) claims involving work issues. SSA reviews and evaluates the data 
to determine if the applicant or recipient meets the disability 
requirements of the law. The respondents are applicants or recipients 
of Title II Social Security Disability, and Title XVI SSI applicants.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Average wait
                                                                                                          Average      time in field
                                         Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    office or for     Total annual
       Modality of completion           respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice    opportunity cost
                                                                         (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                        (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-821-BK In Office................          64,330               1              30          32,165        * $13.30           ** 24        *** $770,030
SSA-821-BK Phone....................         128,660               1              30          64,330         * 13.30           ** 19       *** 1,397,458
SSA-821-BK Returned Via Mail........         192,990               1              40         128,660         * 13.30  ..............       *** 1,710,380
SSA-821-BK Electronic...............          25,320               1              45          18,990         * 13.30  ..............         *** 252,567
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........................         411,300  ..............  ..............         244,145  ..............  ..............       *** 4,130,435
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average of both DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2024 data (https://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf),
  and 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 2024 wait times for field offices (24 minutes) and teleservice centers (19 minutes), 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 97157]]

    2. Claimant's Medication--20 CFR 404.1512, 416.912--0960-0289. To 
receive Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, the relevant State 
Disability Determination Service (DDS) or field office (FO) must first 
adjudicate claimants' applications. If the DDS or FO denies an initial 
application, the claimants may request for reconsideration of the 
initial denial. At that time, the claimants may submit addition 
documentation to further justify their claims. If the DDS denies the 
claim at the reconsideration level, the claimant may then request a 
hearing before a judge. Before the hearing, SSA allows the claimant to 
submit additional evidence to support their claim. In addition, since 
judges must obtain information from the claimant to update and complete 
their medical record and to verify the accuracy of the information, SSA 
also sends the claimant Form HA-4632, Claimant's Medications, to 
request information from the claimant regarding the current medications 
they use. This information helps the judge overseeing the case to fully 
investigate: (1) the claimant's medical treatment and (2) the effects 
of the medications on the claimant's medical impairments and functional 
capacity. The judge makes the completed form a part of the documentary 
evidence of record, placing it in the official record of the 
proceedings as an exhibit. The respondents are applicants (or their 
representatives) for OASDI or SSI payments who request a hearing to 
contest an agency denial of their claim.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                                       Average wait
                                                                                                          Average      time in field
                                         Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    office or for     Total annual
       Modality of completion           respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice    opportunity cost
                                                                         (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                        (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-46321--PDF/paper version.........          51,000               1              20          17,000        * $13.30           ** 21        *** $463,505
Electronic Records Express                   249,000               1              20          83,000         * 31.48  ..............       *** 2,612,840
 Submissions........................
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........................         300,000  ..............  ..............         100,000  ..............  ..............       *** 3,076,345
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average DI payments based on SSA's current data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf) and 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).
** We based this figure on averaging both the average FY 2024 wait times for field offices and teleservice centers, 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. Questionnaire for Children Claiming SSI Benefits--20 CFR 
416.912(a)--0960-0499. Sections 1614 and 1631 of the Act allow SSA to 
determine the eligibility of an applicant's claim for SSI payments. 
Parents or legal guardians seeking to obtain or retain SSI eligibility 
for their children use Form SSA-3881-BK to provide SSA with the 
addresses of nonmedical sources such as schools, counselors, agencies, 
organizations, or therapists who would have information about a child's 
functioning. SSA uses this information to help determine a child's 
claim or continuing eligibility for SSI. The respondents are the 
parents, guardians, or other caretakers of: (1) applicants who appeal 
SSI childhood disability decisions; or (2) recipients undergoing a 
continuing disability review.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

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                                                                                                          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 cost
                                        respondents      response        (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          office         (dollars) ***
                                                                                                        (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3881-BK (Paper Version).........          98,307               1              30          49,154        * $31.48           ** 24      *** $2,785,256
SSA-3881-BK (Intranet Version)......          52,936               1              30          26,468         * 31.48           ** 21       *** 1,416,474
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........................         151,243  ..............  ..............          75,622  ..............  ..............       *** 4,201,730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on 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 2024 wait times for field offices and hearings office, as well as by averaging both the average FY 2024 wait
  times for field offices and teleservice centers, 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.

    4. Waiver of Right to Appear--Disability Hearing--20 CFR 404.913-
404.914, 404.916(b)(5), 416.1413-416.1414, 416.1416(b)(5)--0960-0534. 
Claimants for Social Security disability payments or their 
representatives can use Form SSA-773-U4 to waive their right to appear 
at a disability hearing. The disability hearing officer uses the signed 
form as a basis for not holding a hearing, and for preparing a written 
decision on the claimant's request for disability payments based solely 
on the evidence of record. The respondents are disability claimants for 
Social Security benefits or SSI payments, or their representatives, who 
wish to waive their right to appear at a disability hearing.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

[[Page 97158]]

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                                                                                                                      Average wait
                                                                                                       Average       time in field
                                  Number of       Frequency of    Average burden  Estimated total    theoretical     office or for       Total annual
    Modality of completion       respondents        response       per response    annual burden     hourly cost      teleservice      opportunity cost
                                                                    (minutes)         (hours)           amount          centers         (dollars) ***
                                                                                                     (dollars) *      (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-773-U4...................           4,356                1                3              218         * $13.30            ** 24          *** $26,068
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2024 data (https://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/legislation/2024FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2024 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. Function Report--Child (Birth to 1st Birthday, Age 1 to 3rd 
Birthday, Age 3 to 6th Birthday, Age 6 to 12th Birthday, Age 12 to 18th 
Birthday)--20 CFR 416.912 and 416.924a(a)(2)--0960-0542. As part of 
SSA's disability determination process, we use Forms SSA-3375-BK 
through SSA-3379-BK to request information from a child's parent or 
guardian for children applying for SSI. The five different versions of 
the form contain questions about the child's day-to-day functioning 
appropriate to a particular age group; thus, respondents use only one 
version of the form for each child. The adjudicative team (disability 
examiners and medical or psychological consultants) of State disability 
determination services offices collect the information on the 
appropriate version of this form (in conjunction with medical and other 
evidence) to form a complete picture of the children's ability to 
function and their impairment-related limitations. The adjudicative 
team uses the completed profile to determine: (1) if each child's 
impairment(s) results in marked and severe functional limitations; and 
(2) whether each child is disabled. The respondents are parents and 
guardians of child applicants for SSI.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Average wait
                                                                                                          Average      time in field
                                         Number of     Frequency of   Average burden     Estimated      theoretical    office or for     Total annual
       Modality of completion           respondents      response      per response    total annual     hourly cost     teleservice    opportunity cost
                                                                         (minutes)    burden (hours)      amount          centers        (dollars) ***
                                                                                                        (dollars) *    (minutes) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-3375............................          26,864               1              20           8,955        * $31.48           ** 21        *** $577,878
SSA-3376............................          53,347               1              20          17,782         * 31.48           ** 21       *** 1,147,540
SSA-3377............................         108,745               1              20          36,248         * 31.48           ** 21       *** 2,339,247
SSA-3378............................         193,800               1              20          64,600         * 31.48           ** 21       *** 4,168,896
SSA-3379............................         142,006               1              20          47,335         * 31.48           ** 21       *** 3,054,725
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........................         524,762  ..............  ..............         174,921  ..............  ..............      *** 11,288,286
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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).
** We based this figure on averaging the average FY 2024 wait times for field offices and teleservice Centers, 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 2, 2024.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-28509 Filed 12-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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