02-24808. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request  

  • [Federal Register Volume 67, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 61715-61717]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 02-24808]
    
    
    =======================================================================
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
    
    
    Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and 
    Comment Request
    
        The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of 
    information collection packages that will require clearance by the 
    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Public Law 
    104-13 effective October 1, 1995, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 
    The information collection packages that may be included in this notice 
    are for new information collections, revisions to OMB-approved 
    information collections and extensions (no change) of OMB-approved 
    information collections.
        SSA is soliciting comments on the accuracy of the agency's burden 
    estimate; the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to 
    enhance its quality, utility and clarity; and on ways to minimize 
    burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
    techniques or other forms of information technology. Written comments 
    and recommendations regarding the information collection(s) should be 
    submitted to the OMB Desk Officer and the SSA Reports Clearance 
    Officer. The information can be mailed and/or faxed to the individuals 
    at the addresses and fax numbers listed below:
    
    (OMB), Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New 
    Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th St., NW., Washington, 
    DC 20503, Fax: 202-395-6974.
    (SSA), Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance 
    Officer, 1338 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, 
    Fax: 410-965-6400.
    
        I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA and 
    will be submitted to OMB within 60 days from
    
    [[Page 61716]]
    
    the date of this notice. Therefore, your comments should be submitted 
    to SSA within 60 days from the date of this publication. You can obtain 
    copies of the collection instruments by calling the SSA Reports 
    Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by writing to the address listed 
    above.
        1. Black Lung Student Statement Regarding Resumption of School 
    Attendance and Report of Black Lung Student Beneficiary at End of 
    School Year--0960-0314. 20 CFR subpart C 410.370. The information 
    collected on forms SSA-2602 and SSA-2613 is used by SSA to determine 
    whether or not an entitled student beneficiary will resume (or has 
    resumed) full-time school attendance at an approved educational 
    institution. If so, the student will be continuously entitled to 
    benefits. The respondents are children of disabled or deceased coal 
    miners and officials of schools they attend.
        Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      SSA-2602     SSA-2613
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of Respondents.........................           50          100
    Frequency of Response.........................            1            1
    Average Burden Per Response (in minutes)......            5          7.5
    Estimated Annual Burden (hours)...............            4           12
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        2. Voluntary Customer Surveys In Accordance with E.O. 12862 within 
    the Social Security Administration--0960-0526. These voluntary customer 
    surveys will be used to ascertain customer satisfaction with the Social 
    Security Administration in terms of timeliness, appropriateness, 
    access, and other measures of quality service. Surveys will involve 
    individuals that are the direct or indirect beneficiaries of SSA 
    services. The average burden per response for these activities is 
    estimated to range from 5 minutes for a simple comment card to 2 hours 
    for participation in a focus group.
        Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
    
    FY 2003
    
        Number of Respondents: 1,530,854.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: Varies (5 minutes to 2 hours).
        Estimated Annual Burden: 139,571 Hours.
    
    FY 2004:
    
        Number of Respondents: 1,527,260.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: Varies (5 minutes to 2 hours).
        Estimated Annual Burden: 138,229.
    
    FY 2005:
    
        Number of Respondents: 1,529,990.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: Varies (5 minutes to 2 hours).
        Estimated Annual Burden: 138,074.
        3. Authorization to Disclose Information to Social Security 
    Administration--0960-0623--20 CFR subpart O, 404.1512 and subpart I, 
    416.912. SSA must obtain sufficient medical evidence to make 
    eligibility determinations for the Social Security disability benefits 
    and supplemental security income (SSI) payments. For SSA to obtain 
    medical evidence, an applicant must authorize his or her medical 
    source(s) to release the information to SSA. The applicant may use one 
    of the forms SSA-827, SSA-827OP1 or SSA-827 OP2 to provide consent for 
    the release of information. Generally, the State Disability 
    Determination Service completes the form(s) based on information 
    provided by the applicant, and sends the form(s) to the designated 
    medical source(s). The respondents are applicants for Social Security 
    disability benefits and SSI payments.
        Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
        Number of Respondents: 3,853,928.
        Frequency of Response: 4.
        Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 2,569,285 hours.
        4. Application for Supplemental Security Income--0960-0444--20 CFR 
    subpart C, 416.301-416.360. Form SSA-8001-F5 is the application for SSI 
    payments. The information collected by SSA is used to determine 
    eligibility for SSI and the amount of benefits payable.
        Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
        Number of Respondents: 872,956.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: 15-18 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 219,549 hours.
        II. The information collection listed below has been submitted to 
    OMB for clearance. Your comments on the information collections would 
    be most useful if received by OMB and SSA within 30 days from the date 
    of this publication. You can obtain a copy of the OMB clearance package 
    by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454 or by 
    writing to the address listed above.
        1. Disability Report-Adult--0960-0579--20 CFR subpart O, 404.1512 
    and subpart I, 416.912. The Social Security Act requires claimants to 
    furnish medical and other evidence to prove they are disabled. 
    Applicants for disability benefits will complete form SSA-3368. The 
    information will be used, in conjunction with other evidence, by State 
    DDSs to develop medical evidence, to assess the alleged disability, and 
    to make a disability determination. The respondents are applicants for 
    title II and title XVI disability benefits.
        Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
        Number of Respondents: 2,116,667.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: 60 minutes.
        Estimated annual Burden: 2,116,667 hours.
        2. State Contribution Return--0960-0041-20 CFR subpart M, 404.1237 
    and 404.1249. Information collection on form SSA-3961 is used by the 
    Social Security Administration (SSA) to identify and account for all 
    contributions due and paid under section 218 of the Social Security 
    Act. The respondents are State Social Security agencies (one agency in 
    each state, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) and each of 
    approximately 65 interstate instrumentalities.
        Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
        Number of Respondents: 117.
        Frequency of Response: 8.5.
        Average Burden Per Response: 3 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 50 hours.
        3. Report on Individual with Mental Impairment--0960-0058-20 CFR 
    subpart O, 404.1513. and subpart I, 416.913. Information collected on 
    form SSA-824 is used by the Social Security Administration to determine 
    the claimant's medical status prior to making a disability 
    determination. The respondents are physicians, medical directors, 
    medical record librarians and other health professionals.
        Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
    
    [[Page 61717]]
    
        Number of Respondents: 50,000.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: 36 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 30,000 hours.
        4. Missing and Discrepant Wage Reports Letter and Questionnaire--
    0960-0432. SSA uses the information on Forms SSA-L93, SSA-95 and SSA-97 
    to secure the employer information missing from its records (or 
    discrepant with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records) by contacting 
    the involved employers. When secured, SSA is able to properly post the 
    employee's earnings records. Compliance by employers with SSA requests 
    facilitates proper posting of employees' wage records. SSA makes two 
    efforts to obtain wage information from the employer before the case is 
    turned over to the IRS for penalty assessments. The respondents are 
    employers with missing or discrepant wage reports.
        Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
    collection.
        Number of Respondents: 360,000.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 180,000 hours.
        5. Employee Verification Service (EVS).
    
    Background
    
        Under Internal Revenue Service regulations, employers are required 
    to provide wage and tax data to SSA using form W-2, Wage and Tax 
    Statement or its electronic equivalent. As part of this process, the 
    employer must furnish the employee's name and Social Security Number 
    (SSN). This information must match SSA's records in order for the 
    employee's wage and tax data to be properly posted to the Earnings 
    Record. Information that is incorrectly provided to the Agency must be 
    corrected by the employer using an amended reporting form, which is a 
    labor-intensive and time-consuming process for both SSA and the 
    employer. Therefore, to help ensure that employers provide accurate 
    name and SSN information on their wage reports, SSA is offering the EVS 
    service whereby employers can verify, via magnetic tape, cartridge, 
    diskette, paper, and telephone, if the reported name and SSN of their 
    employee matches SSA's records.
    
    EVS Collection
    
        SSA will use the information collected through the EVS to verify 
    that the employee name and SSN information, provided by employers, 
    matches SSA records. SSA will respond to the employer informing them 
    only of matches and mismatches of submitted information. Respondents 
    are employers who provide wage and tax data to SSA who elect to use EVS 
    to verify their employees' names and SSNs.
        Type of Request: New information collection.
        Number of Respondents: 100,000.
        Frequency of Response: 5.
        Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 83,333 hours.
        6. 20 CFR part 422.527, Private Printing and Modification of 
    Prescribed Applications and Other Forms--0960-NEW. SSA uses the 
    information required by this regulation to process requests from a 
    person, institution or organization (requesting entities) that want to 
    reproduce, duplicate, or privately print any SSA application or other 
    form prescribed by SSA. The requesting entities must obtain prior 
    approval from SSA and make their requests in writing, providing the 
    required information set forth in the regulation. Respondents are the 
    requesting entities that want to reproduce, duplicate, or privately 
    print any SSA application or other form.
        Type of Request: New information collection.
        Number of Respondents: 4.
        Frequency of Response: 1.
        Average Burden Per Response: 8 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: \1/2\ hour.
        7. Medical Source Statement of Ability To Do Work-Related 
    Activities (Physical), Form HA-1151; Medical Source Statement of 
    Ability To Do Work-Related Activities (Mental), Form HA-1152; 20 CFR 
    404.1513 and 20 CFR 416.913-0960-NEW. SSA's Office of Hearing and 
    Appeals (OHA) uses the HA-1151 (Physical) and its companion form HA-
    1152 (Mental) to collect information that Administrative Law Judges and 
    the Appeals Council of OHA require to determine the residual functional 
    capacity (RFC) of individuals who are appealing denied claims for 
    benefits based on disability. RFC must be determined to decide cases 
    that cannot be decided based on current work activity or on medical 
    facts alone. Both forms are completed by medical sources that provide 
    medical reports based either on existing medical evidence or on 
    consultative examinations conducted for the purposes of the report. 
    Respondents to these forms are medical sources that provide medical 
    reports.
    
    HA-1151
    
        Type of Request: New information collection.
        Number of Respondents: 5,000.
        Frequency of Response: 20.
        Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 25,000 hours.
    
    HA-1152
    
        Type of Request: New information collection.
        Number of Respondents: 5,000.
        Frequency of Response: 20.
        Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
        Estimated Annual Burden: 25,000 hours.
    
        Dated: September 25, 2002.
    Elizabeth A. Davidson,
    Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
    [FR Doc. 02-24808 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/01/2002
Department:
Social Security Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
02-24808
Pages:
61715-61717 (3 pages)
PDF File:
02-24808.pdf