65696 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices 

Incident: Severe Storms, Flooding, 

and Straight-line Winds associated with 

remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole. 

Incident Period: 09/27/2010 through 

10/01/2010. 

DATES: Effective Date: 10/19/2010. 

Physical Loan Application Deadline 

Date: 12/13/2010. 

EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 

07/14/2011. 

ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan 

applications to: U.S. Small Business 

Administration, Processing and 

Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport 

Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A. 

Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, 

U.S. Small Business Administration, 

409 3rd Street, SW., Suite 6050, 

Washington, DC 20416. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice 

of the Presidential disaster declaration 

for the State of North Carolina, dated 

10/14/2010 is hereby amended to 

include the following areas as adversely 

affected by the disaster: 

Primary Counties: (Physical Damage 

and Economic Injury Loans): 

Brunswick, Jones, Pender, Pitt. 

Contiguous Counties: (Economic Injury 

Loans Only): 

North Carolina: Bladen, Columbus, 

Edgecombe, Greene, New Hanover, 

Sampson, Wilson. 

South Carolina: Horry. 

All other information in the original 

declaration remains unchanged. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Numbers 59002 and 59008) 

Cynthia G. Pitts, 

Acting Associate Administrator for Disaster 

Assistance. 

[FR Doc. 2010–27090 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 

[Disaster Declaration #12349 and #12350] 

Minnesota Disaster Number MN–00028 

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business 

Administration. 

ACTION: Amendment 2. 

SUMMARY: This is an amendment of the 

Presidential declaration of a major 

disaster for Public Assistance Only for 

the State of Minnesota (FEMA–1941– 

DR), dated 10/13/2010. 

Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. 

Incident Period: 09/22/2010 through 

10/14/2010. 

DATES: Effective Date: 10/19/2010. 

Physical Loan Application Deadline 

Date: 12/13/2010. 

Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan 

Application Deadline Date: 07/13/2011. 

ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan 

applications to: U.S. Small Business 

Administration, Processing and 

Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport 

Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A. 

Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, 

U.S. Small Business Administration, 

409 3rd Street, SW., Suite 6050, 

Washington, DC 20416. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice 

of the President’s major disaster 

declaration for Private Non-Profit 

organizations in the State of Minnesota, 

dated 10/13/2010, is hereby amended to 

include the following areas as adversely 

affected by the disaster. 

Primary Counties: Brown, Carver, Le 

Sueur, Nicollet, Nobles, Redwood, 

Sibley, Yellow Medicine. 

All other information in the original 

declaration remains unchanged. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Numbers 59002 and 59008) 

Cynthia G. Pitts, 

Acting Associate Administrator for Disaster 

Assistance. 

[FR Doc. 2010–27086 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 

[Disaster Declaration #12359] 

Ohio Disaster #OH–00025 Declaration 

of Economic Injury 

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business 

Administration. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This is a notice of an 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) 

declaration for the State of Ohio, dated 

10/19/2010. 

Incident: Toxic Algae Bloom in Grand 

Lake St. Marys. 

Incident Period: 06/21/2010 and 

continuing. 

DATES: Effective Date: 10/19/2010. 

EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 

07/19/2011. 

ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan 

applications to: U.S. Small Business 

Administration, Processing and 

Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport 

Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A. 

Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, 

U.S. Small Business Administration, 

409 3rd Street, SW., Suite 6050, 

Washington, DC 20416 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is 

hereby given that as a result of the 

Administrator’s EIDL declaration, 

applications for economic injury 

disaster loans may be filed at the 

address listed above or other locally 

announced locations. 

The following areas have been 

determined to be adversely affected by 

the disaster: 

Primary Counties: Auglaize, Mercer. 

Contiguous Counties: 

Ohio: Allen, Darke, Hardin, Logan, 

Shelby, Van Wert. 

Indiana: Adams, Jay. 

The Interest Rates are: 

Percent 

Businesses and Small Agricultural 

Cooperatives Without Credit 

Available Elsewhere .................. 4.000 

Non-Profit Organizations Without 

Credit Available Elsewhere ....... 3.000 

The number assigned to this disaster 

for economic injury is 123590. 

The States which received an EIDL 

Declaration # are Ohio, Indiana. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Number 59002) 

Dated: October 19, 2010. 

Karen G. Mills, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2010–27087 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 

Office of the Commissioner 

[Docket No. SSA–2010–0054] 

Cost-of-Living Increase and Other 

Determinations for 2011 

AGENCY: Social Security Administration. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Under title II of the Social 

Security Act (Act), there will be no costof-living increase in Social Security 

benefits effective for December 2010. As 

a result, the following items will remain 

at their 2010 levels: 

(1) The maximum Federal 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

monthly benefit amounts for 2011, 

under title XVI of the Act, will remain 

$674 for an eligible individual, $1,011 

for an eligible individual with an 

eligible spouse, and $338 for an 

essential person; 

(2) The special benefit amount under 

title VIII of the Act for certain World 

War II veterans will remain $505.50 in 

2011; 

(3) The student earned income 

exclusion under title XVI of the Act will 

remain $1,640 per month in 2011, but 

not more than $6,600 in all of 2011; 

(4) The dollar fee limit for services 

performed as a representative payee will 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices 65697 

remain $37 per month ($72 per month 

in the case of a beneficiary who is 

disabled and has an alcoholism or drug 

addiction condition that leaves him or 

her incapable of managing benefits) in 

2011; 

(5) The dollar limit on the 

administrative-cost assessment charged 

to attorneys representing claimants will 

remain $83 in 2011; 

(6) The Old-Age, Survivors, and 

Disability Insurance (OASDI) 

contribution and benefit base will 

remain $106,800 for remuneration paid 

in 2011 and self-employment income 

earned in taxable years beginning in 

2011; 

(7) The monthly exempt amounts 

under the Social Security retirement 

earnings test for taxable years ending in 

calendar year 2011 will remain $1,180 

and $3,140; 

(8) The ‘‘old-law’’ contribution and 

benefit base under title II of the Act will 

remain $79,200 for 2011; and 

(9) The monthly amount deemed to 

constitute substantial gainful activity for 

statutorily blind individuals in 2011 

will remain $1,640. 

The national average wage index for 

2009 is $40,934.93. This index affects 

the following items: 

(1) The dollar amounts (‘‘bend 

points’’) used in the primary insurance 

amount benefit formula for workers who 

become eligible for benefits, or who die 

before becoming eligible, in 2011 will be 

$753 and $4,542; 

(2) The bend points used in the 

formula for computing maximum family 

benefits for workers who become 

eligible for benefits, or who die before 

becoming eligible, in 2011 will be $963, 

$1,390, and $1,812; 

(3) The amount of taxable earnings a 

person must have to be credited with a 

quarter of coverage in 2011 will be 

$1,120; 

(4) The monthly amount deemed to 

constitute substantial gainful activity for 

non-blind disabled persons will be 

$1,000 in 2011; 

(5) The earnings threshold 

establishing a month as a part of a trial 

work period will be $720 for 2011; and 

(6) Coverage thresholds for 2011 will 

be $1,700 for domestic workers and 

$1,500 for election officials and election 

workers. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan C. Kunkel, Office of the Chief 

Actuary, Social Security 

Administration, 6401 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, (410) 

965–3016. Information relating to this 

notice is available on our Internet site at 

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/ 

cola/index.html. For information on 

eligibility or claiming benefits, call 1– 

800–772–1213, or visit our Internet site, 

Social Security Online, at http:// 

www.socialsecurity.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the Act, we must 

publish on or before November 1 the 

national average wage index for 2009 

(section 215(a)(1)(D)), the amount of 

earnings required to be credited with a 

quarter of coverage in 2011 (section 

213(d)(2)), the formula for computing a 

primary insurance amount for workers 

who first become eligible for benefits or 

die in 2011 (section 215(a)(1)(D)), and 

the formula for computing the 

maximum amount of benefits payable to 

the family of a worker who first 

becomes eligible for old-age benefits or 

dies in 2011 (section 203(a)(2)(C)). 

Cost-of-Living Increases 

General 

There will be no cost-of-living 

increase for benefits under titles II and 

XVI of the Act. 

Computation 

By law a cost-of-living increase for 

benefits is determined based on the 

percentage increase, if any, in the 

Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban 

Wage Earners and Clerical Workers from 

the last computation quarter that 

resulted in a cost-of-living increase to 

the third quarter of the current year. 

Computation quarters are third calendar 

quarters. Because the last cost-of-living 

increase became effective for those 

eligible to receive Title II benefits for 

December 2008, the last computation 

quarter is the third quarter of 2008. 

Section 215(i)(1) of the Act provides 

that the CPI for a cost-of-living 

computation quarter shall be the 

arithmetic mean of this index for the 3 

months in that quarter. In accordance 

with 20 CFR 404.275, we round the 

arithmetic mean, if necessary, to the 

nearest 0.001. The CPI for Urban Wage 

Earners and Clerical Workers for each 

month in the quarter ending September 

30, 2008, is: For July 2008, 216.304; for 

August 2008, 215.247; and for 

September 2008, 214.935. The 

arithmetic mean for that calendar 

quarter is 215.495. The corresponding 

CPI for each month in the quarter 

ending September 30, 2010, is: For July 

2010, 213.898; for August 2010, 

214.205; and for September 2010, 

214.306. The arithmetic mean for this 

calendar quarter is 214.136. Thus, 

because the CPI for the calendar quarter 

ending September 30, 2010, is not 

greater than the CPI for the calendar 

quarter ending September 30, 2008, the 

calendar quarter ending September 30, 

2010, is not a cost-of-living computation 

quarter and there is no cost-of-living 

increase. 

Program Amounts That Change Based 

on the Cost-of-Living Increase 

Several program amounts adjust based 

on the cost-of-living increase. These 

include the maximum Federal SSI 

benefit amounts under title XVI, the title 

VIII benefit amount, the student earned 

income exclusion, the fee for services 

performed by a representative payee, 

and the attorney assessment fee. 

Because there will be no cost-of-living 

increase, these program amounts will 

not increase in 2011, but rather will 

remain at their 2010 levels. 

Program Amounts That May Increase 

Based on the Change in the National 

Average Wage Index, but Only If There 

Is a Cost-of-Living Increase 

Certain other program amounts are 

adjusted annually based on the change 

in the national average wage index, 

rather than the CPI increase, but only if 

there also is a cost-of-living increase for 

benefits (as determined under section 

215(i) of the Act). Moreover, these 

amounts cannot decrease even if there is 

a decrease in the national average wage 

index. These amounts include the 

OASDI contribution and benefit base, 

the retirement earnings test exempt 

amounts, the ‘‘old-law’’ contribution and 

benefit base, and the substantial gainful 

activity amount for individuals who are 

statutorily blind. Because there is no 

cost-of-living increase this year, these 

amounts will remain at their 2010 levels 

for 2011. 

Program Amounts That May Change 

Based on the Change in the National 

Average Wage Index, Without Regard to 

the Cost-of-Living Increase 

Some program amounts are adjusted 

annually based on the change (increase 

or decrease) in the national average 

wage index whether there is a cost-ofliving increase in that year or not. These 

include: 

• The dollar amounts (‘‘bend points’’) 

in the formulae used to compute the 

primary insurance amount and 

maximum family benefit for workers 

who become eligible for benefits, or die 

before becoming eligible, in 2011; 

• The amount of taxable earnings 

required to earn a quarter of coverage; 

• The substantial gainful activity 

amount for non-blind disabled 

individuals; 

• The earnings threshold to establish 

a trial work period; 

• The domestic employee coverage 

threshold; and 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65698 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices 

• The coverage threshold for election 

officials and election workers. 

In the sections that follow, we explain 

the calculation of the national average 

wage and the corresponding changes in 

each of these program amounts. 

National Average Wage Index for 2009 

Computation 

We have determined the national 

average wage index for calendar year 

2009 based on the 2008 national average 

wage index of $41,334.97 announced in 

the Federal Register on October 28, 

2009 (74 FR 55614), along with the 

percentage change in the average wage 

from 2008 to 2009 measured by annual 

wage data. We tabulate the annual wage 

data, including contributions to deferred 

compensation plans, as required by 

section 209(k) of the Act. The average 

amounts of wages calculated directly 

from these data were $39,652.61 and 

$39,268.85 for 2008 and 2009, 

respectively. To determine the national 

average wage index for 2009 at a level 

that is consistent with the national 

average wage indexing series for 1951 

through 1977 (published December 29, 

1978, at 43 FR 61016), we multiply the 

2008 national average wage index of 

$41,334.97 by the percentage change in 

the average wage from 2008 to 2009 

(based on SSA-tabulated wage data) as 

follows, with the result rounded to the 

nearest cent. 

Amount 

Multiplying the national average wage 

index for 2008 ($41,334.97) by the ratio 

of the average wage for 2009 

($39,268.85) to that for 2008 

($39,652.61) produces the 2009 index, 

$40,934.93. The national average wage 

index for calendar year 2009 is about 

0.97 percent lower than the 2008 index. 

Computing Benefits After 1978 

General 

The Social Security Amendments of 

1977 provided a method for computing 

benefits that generally applies when a 

worker first becomes eligible for benefits 

after 1978. This method uses the 

worker’s ‘‘average indexed monthly 

earnings’’ (AIME) to compute the 

primary insurance amount. We adjust 

the computation formula each year to 

reflect changes in general wage levels, 

as measured by the national average 

wage index. 

We also adjust, or ‘‘index,’’ a worker’s 

earnings to reflect the change in the 

general wage levels that occurred during 

the worker’s years of employment. Such 

indexing ensures that a worker’s future 

benefit level will reflect the general rise 

in the standard of living that will occur 

during his or her working lifetime. To 

compute the average indexed monthly 

earnings, we first determine the 

required number of years of earnings. 

Then we select that number of years 

with the highest indexed earnings, add 

the indexed earnings for those years, 

and divide the total amount by the total 

number of months in those years. We 

then round the resulting average amount 

down to the next lower dollar amount. 

The result is the AIME. 

Computing the Primary Insurance 

Amount 

The primary insurance amount is the 

sum of three separate percentages of 

portions of the AIME. In 1979 (the first 

year the formula was in effect), these 

portions were the first $180, the amount 

between $180 and $1,085, and the 

amount over $1,085. We call the dollar 

amounts in the formula governing the 

portions of the average indexed monthly 

earnings the ‘‘bend points’’ of the 

formula. Thus, the bend points for 1979 

were $180 and $1,085. 

To obtain the bend points for 2011, 

we multiply each of the 1979 bendpoint amounts by the ratio of the 

national average wage index for 2009 to 

that average for 1977. We then round 

these results to the nearest dollar. 

Multiplying the 1979 amounts of $180 

and $1,085 by the ratio of the national 

average wage index for 2009 

($40,934.93) to that for 1977 ($9,779.44) 

produces the amounts of $753.45 and 

$4,541.61. We round these to $753 and 

$4,542. Accordingly, the portions of the 

AIME to be used in 2011 are the first 

$753, the amount between $753 and 

$4,542, and the amount over $4,542. 

Consequently, for individuals who 

first become eligible for old-age 

insurance benefits or disability 

insurance benefits in 2011, or who die 

in 2011 before becoming eligible for 

benefits, their primary insurance 

amount will be the sum of: 

(a) 90 percent of the first $753 of their 

AIME, plus 

(b) 32 percent of their AIME over $753 

and through $4,542, plus 

(c) 15 percent of their AIME over 

$4,542. 

We round this amount to the next 

lower multiple of $0.10 if it is not 

already a multiple of $0.10. This 

formula and the rounding adjustment 

described above are contained in section 

215(a) of the Act. 

Maximum Benefits Payable to a Family 

General 

The 1977 amendments continued the 

long established policy of limiting the 

total monthly benefits that a worker’s 

family may receive based on his or her 

primary insurance amount. Those 

amendments also continued the then 

existing relationship between maximum 

family benefits and primary insurance 

amounts but changed the method of 

computing the maximum amount of 

benefits that may be paid to a worker’s 

family. The Social Security Disability 

Amendments of 1980 (Pub.L. 96–265) 

established a formula for computing the 

maximum benefits payable to the family 

of a disabled worker. This formula 

applies to the family benefits of workers 

who first become entitled to disability 

insurance benefits after June 30, 1980, 

and who first become eligible for these 

benefits after 1978. For disabled workers 

initially entitled to disability benefits 

before July 1980, or whose disability 

began before 1979, we compute the 

family maximum payable the same as 

the old-age and survivor family 

maximum. 

Computing the Old-Age and Survivor 

Family Maximum 

The formula used to compute the 

family maximum is similar to that used 

to compute the primary insurance 

amount. It involves computing the sum 

of four separate percentages of portions 

of the worker’s primary insurance 

amount. In 1979, these portions were 

the first $230, the amount between $230 

and $332, the amount between $332 and 

$433, and the amount over $433. We 

refer to such dollar amounts in the 

formula as the ‘‘bend points’’ of the 

family-maximum formula. 

To obtain the bend points for 2011, 

we multiply each of the 1979 bendpoint amounts by the ratio of the 

national average wage index for 2009 to 

that average for 1977. Then we round 

this amount to the nearest dollar. 

Multiplying the amounts of $230, $332, 

and $433 by the ratio of the national 

average wage index for 2009 

($40,934.93) to that for 1977 ($9,779.44) 

produces the amounts of $962.74, 

$1,389.69, and $1,812.46. We round 

these amounts to $963, $1,390, and 

$1,812. Accordingly, the portions of the 

primary insurance amounts to be used 

in 2011 are the first $963, the amount 

between $963 and $1,390, the amount 

between $1,390 and $1,812, and the 

amount over $1,812. 

Consequently, for the family of a 

worker who becomes age 62 or dies in 

2011 before age 62, we will compute the 

total amount of benefits payable to them 

so that it does not exceed: 

(a) 150 percent of the first $963 of the 

worker’s primary insurance amount, 

plus 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices 65699 

(b) 272 percent of the worker’s 

primary insurance amount over $963 

through $1,390, plus 

(c) 134 percent of the worker’s 

primary insurance amount over $1,390 

through $1,812, plus 

(d) 175 percent of the worker’s 

primary insurance amount over $1,812. 

We then round this amount to the 

next lower multiple of $0.10 if it is not 

already a multiple of $0.10. This 

formula and the rounding adjustment 

described above are contained in section 

203(a) of the Act. 

Quarter of Coverage Amount 

General 

The amount of earnings required for 

a quarter of coverage in 2011 is $1,120. 

A quarter of coverage is the basic unit 

for determining whether a worker is 

insured under the Social Security 

program. For years before 1978, we 

generally credited an individual with a 

quarter of coverage for each quarter in 

which wages of $50 or more were paid, 

or with 4 quarters of coverage for every 

taxable year in which $400 or more of 

self-employment income was earned. 

Beginning in 1978, employers generally 

report wages on an annual basis instead 

of a quarterly basis. With the change to 

annual reporting, section 352(b) of the 

Social Security Amendments of 1977 

amended section 213(d) of the Act to 

provide that a quarter of coverage would 

be credited for each $250 of an 

individual’s total wages and selfemployment income for calendar year 

1978, up to a maximum of 4 quarters of 

coverage for the year. 

Computation 

Under the prescribed formula, the 

quarter of coverage amount for 2011 

shall be the larger of: (1) the 1978 

amount of $250 multiplied by the ratio 

of the national average wage index for 

2009 to that for 1976; or (2) the current 

amount of $1,120. Section 213(d) further 

provides that if the resulting amount is 

not a multiple of $10, it shall be 

rounded to the nearest multiple of $10. 

Quarter of Coverage Amount 

Multiplying the 1978 quarter of 

coverage amount ($250) by the ratio of 

the national average wage index for 

2009 ($40,934.93) to that for 1976 

($9,226.48) produces the amount of 

$1,109.17. We then round this amount 

to $1,110. Because $1,110 is less than 

the current amount of $1,120, the 

quarter of coverage amount is $1,120 for 

2011. 

Substantial Gainful Activity Amount 

for Non-Blind Disabled Individuals 

General 

A finding of disability under titles II 

and XVI of the Act requires that a 

person, except for a title XVI disabled 

child, be unable to engage in substantial 

gainful activity (SGA). A person who is 

earning more than a certain monthly 

amount (net of impairment-related work 

expenses) is ordinarily considered to be 

engaging in SGA. The amount of 

monthly earnings considered as SGA 

depends on the nature of a person’s 

disability. Section 223(d)(4)(A) of the 

Act specifies a higher SGA amount for 

statutorily blind individuals under title 

II while Federal regulations (20 CFR 

404.1574 and 416.974) specify a lower 

SGA amount for non-blind individuals. 

Computation 

The monthly SGA amount for nonblind disabled individuals for 2011 

shall be the larger of: (1) Such amount 

for 2000 multiplied by the ratio of the 

national average wage index for 2009 to 

that for 1998; or (2) such amount for 

2010. If the resulting amount is not a 

multiple of $10, it shall be rounded to 

the nearest multiple of $10. 

Amount 

Multiplying the 2000 monthly SGA 

amount for non-blind individuals ($700) 

by the ratio of the national average wage 

index for 2009 ($40,934.93) to that for 

1998 ($28,861.44) produces the amount 

of $992.83. We then round this amount 

to $990. Because $990 is less than the 

current amount of $1,000, the monthly 

SGA amount for non-blind disabled 

individuals is $1,000 for 2011. 

Trial Work Period Earnings Threshold 

General 

During a trial work period, a 

beneficiary receiving Social Security 

disability benefits may test his or her 

ability to work and still be considered 

disabled. We do not consider services 

performed during the trial work period 

as showing that the disability has ended 

until services have been performed in at 

least 9 months (not necessarily 

consecutive) in a rolling 60-month 

period. In 2010, any month in which 

earnings exceed $720 is considered a 

month of services for an individual’s 

trial work period. In 2011, this monthly 

amount remains at $720. 

Computation 

The method used to determine the 

new amount is set forth in our 

regulations at 20 CFR 404.1592(b). 

Monthly earnings in 2011, used to 

determine whether a month is part of a 

trial work period, is such amount for 

2001 ($530) multiplied by the ratio of 

the national average wage index for 

2009 to that for 1999, or, if larger, such 

amount for 2010. If the amount so 

calculated is not a multiple of $10, we 

round it to the nearest multiple of $10. 

Amount 

Multiplying the 2001 monthly 

earnings threshold ($530) by the ratio of 

the national average wage index for 

2009 ($40,934.93) to that for 1999 

($30,469.84) produces the amount of 

$712.03. We then round this amount to 

$710. Because $710 is less than the 

current amount of $720, the monthly 

earnings threshold is $720 for 2011. 

Domestic Employee Coverage 

Threshold 

General 

The minimum amount a domestic 

worker must earn so that such earnings 

are covered under Social Security or 

Medicare is the domestic employee 

coverage threshold. For 2011, this 

threshold is $1,700. Section 3121(x) of 

the Internal Revenue Code provides the 

formula for increasing the threshold. 

Computation 

Under the formula, the domestic 

employee coverage threshold amount 

for 2011 shall be equal to the 1995 

amount of $1,000 multiplied by the ratio 

of the national average wage index for 

2009 to that for 1993. If the resulting 

amount is not a multiple of $100, it 

shall be rounded to the next lower 

multiple of $100. 

Domestic Employee Coverage Threshold 

Amount 

Multiplying the 1995 domestic 

employee coverage threshold amount 

($1,000) by the ratio of the national 

average wage index for 2009 

($40,934.93) to that for 1993 

($23,132.67) produces the amount of 

$1,769.57. We then round this amount 

to $1,700. Accordingly, the domestic 

employee coverage threshold amount is 

$1,700 for 2011. 

Election Official and Election Worker 

Coverage Threshold 

General 

The minimum amount an election 

official and election worker must earn 

so that such earnings are covered under 

Social Security or Medicare is the 

election official and election worker 

coverage threshold. For 2011, this 

threshold is $1,500. Section 218(c)(8)(B) 

of the Act provides the formula for 

increasing the threshold. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
65700 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices 

Computation 

Under the formula, the election 

official and election worker coverage 

threshold amount for 2011 shall be 

equal to the 1999 amount of $1,000 

multiplied by the ratio of the national 

average wage index for 2009 to that for 

1997. If the amount so determined is not 

a multiple of $100, it shall be rounded 

to the nearest multiple of $100. 

Election Official and Election Worker 

Coverage Threshold Amount 

Multiplying the 1999 coverage 

threshold amount ($1,000) by the ratio 

of the national average wage index for 

2009 ($40,934.93) to that for 1997 

($27,426.00) produces the amount of 

$1,492.56. We then round this amount 

to $1,500. Accordingly, the election 

official and election worker coverage 

threshold amount is $1,500 for 2011. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 

Program Nos. 96.001 Social SecurityDisability Insurance; 96.002 Social SecurityRetirement Insurance; 96.004 Social SecuritySurvivors Insurance; 96.006 Supplemental 

Security Income) 

Michael J. Astrue, 

Commissioner of Social Security. 

[FR Doc. 2010–26983 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4191–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice: 7215] 

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: R/PPR Evaluation and 

Measurement Unit, Evaluation Survey 

Question Bank 

ACTION: Notice of request for public 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of State is 

seeking Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) approval for the 

information collection described below. 

The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 

days for public comment in the Federal 

Register preceding submission to OMB. 

We are conducting this process in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. 

• Title of Information Collection: R/ 

PPR Evaluation and Measurement Unit 

Survey Question Bank. 

• OMB Control Number: None. 

• Type of Request: New Collection. 

• Originating Office: Office of the 

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy 

and Public Affairs’ Office of Policy, 

Planning and Resources Evaluation and 

Measurement Unit (R/PPR EMU). 

• Form Number: Survey numbers 

generated as needed. 

• Respondents: Participants in Public 

Diplomacy (PD) programs, selected 

users of PD products and services, and 

others engaged in Department of State 

Public Diplomacy efforts. 

• Estimated Number of Respondents: 

40,000 annually. 

• Estimated Number of Responses: 

40,000 annually. 

• Average Hours per Response: 30 

minutes per response. 

• Total Estimated Burden: 20,000 

hours. 

• Frequency: On occasion. 

• Obligation to Respond: Voluntary. 

DATES: The Department will accept 

comments from the public up to 60 days 

from October 26, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods: 

• E-mail: DullesJF@state.gov. 

• Mail (paper, disk, or CD–ROM 

submissions): Juliet Dulles, R/PPR EMU 

2200 C Street, NW., SA–5 5th Floor, 

Washington, DC 20037. 

You must include the DS form 

number (if applicable), information 

collection title, and OMB control 

number in any correspondence. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Direct requests for additional 

information regarding the collection 

listed in this notice, including requests 

for copies of the proposed information 

collection and supporting documents, to 

Juliet Dulles, R/PPR EMU 2200 C Street, 

NW., SA–5 5th Floor, Washington, DC 

20037, who may be reached on 202– 

632–3344 or at DullesJF@state.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are 

soliciting public comments to permit 

the Department to: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper performance of our 

functions. 

• Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection, including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used. 

• Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected. 

• Minimize the reporting burden on 

those who are to respond, including the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of technology. 

Abstract of Proposed Collection 

This generic collection is for 

performance measurement, program 

evaluation, customer satisfaction and 

attitudinal evaluation surveys. Included 

in this collection are questions designed 

to measure and evaluate the 

performance of programs, products and 

services provided by the Bureau of 

International Information Programs 

(IIP), and the Office of the Under 

Secretary for Public Diplomacy and 

Public Affairs, Office of Policy, Planning 

and Resources (R/PPR). Survey 

respondents include participants in PD 

programs, selected users of PD products 

and services, and others engaged in 

Department of State efforts. 

Methodology 

95% of the data collection conducted 

by R/PPR EMU uses electronic 

collection methodologies except when 

the infrastructure of the foreign country 

does not permit electronic data 

collection, or when data are being 

collected through focus groups. 

Technology is used in nearly every 

survey in which safety, security, 

programmatic, cultural or political 

concerns are not of sufficient magnitude 

to pose a negative impact on the 

respondent. Survey instruments are 

distributed via web-based or e-mail 

technology in PDF format, allowing the 

respondent to complete the survey and 

return it anytime during the survey 

period. 

Additional Information 

None. 

Dated: October 15, 2010. 

Cherreka Montgomery, 

Director, R/PPR EMU, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2010–27070 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–10–P 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 

Generalized System of Preferences 

(GSP): Notice Regarding the 2010 

Annual Product Review: Acceptance of 

Product Petitions 

AGENCY: Office of the United States 

Trade Representative. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Office of the United 

States Trade Representative (USTR) 

received petitions in connection with 

the 2010 GSP Annual Review to modify 

the list of products that are eligible for 

duty-free treatment under the GSP 

program (‘‘2010 GSP Annual Product 

Review’’). This notice announces the 

petitions accepted for review and sets 

the date of the public hearing and 

schedule for submitting comments on 

the petitions, requests to participate in 

the public hearing, pre-hearing and 

post-hearing briefs, and comments on 

the U.S. International Trade 

Commission’s (USITC) report on 

probable economic effects. The petitions 

accepted for review are listed below. 

More information on these petitions can 


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