01-26883. 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 Pub. L. 104-13 effective October 1, 1995, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 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 and at the following addresses:

(OMB), Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New Executive Office Building, Room 10230, 725 17th St., NW., Washington, DC 20503

(SSA), Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: SSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1-A-21 Operations Bldg., 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

I. The information collection listed below will be submitted to OMB within 60 days from 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 instrument by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-4145, or by writing to him at the address listed above.

Railroad Employment Questionnaire—0960-0078. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses Form SSA-671 to secure sufficient information to effect the required coordination with the Railroad Retirement Board for Social Security claims processing. It is completed whenever claimants give indications of having been employed in the railroad industry. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits, who have had railroad employment, or dependents of railroad workers.

Number of Respondents: 30,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 2,500 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 on [phone], or by writing to him at the address listed above.

1. Statement Regarding Students' School Attendance—0960-0113. Form SSA-2434 is used by the Social Security Administration to determine student entitlement status of the children of coal miners, children of their widows or the brothers of deceased miners eligible for Black Lung benefits. This form collects information from students about to attain age 18, for the express purpose of evaluating their continuing eligibility for program benefits under the Federal Mine Safety Act of 1977. The respondents are entitled black lung children of coal miner's or their widow, or the brother of deceased black lung coal miners.

Number of Respondents: 50.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 8 hours.

2. The Internet Social Security Benefits Application (ISBA)—0960-0618. One of the requirements for obtaining Social Security benefits is the filing of an application so that a determination may be made on the applicant's eligibility for monthly benefits. ISBA, which is available at the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Internet site, is one method that an individual can choose to file an application for benefits. In order to make a determination on eligibility for benefits, it is necessary to elicit from the applicant information about the date and place of birth, current and recent work, receipt of non-covered pensions etc. Currently, the ISBA can only be used to apply for retirement and spouse's benefits. SSA plans to expand ISBA to encompass Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB). SSA has used information collected by ISBA to entitle individuals to retirement insurance benefits and/or spouse's benefits. The information collected by the expanded ISBA will be used to entitle individuals to DIB as well. The respondents are applicants for retirement insurance benefits, spouse's benefits and disability benefits. Below is an estimate of the public reporting burden:

Type of benefit	Number of respondents	Frequency of response	Average burden per response	Estimated annual burden
RIB	130,000	1	20 minutes	43,333 hours.
DIB	39,000	1	25-30 minutes	16,542 hours.
Total	169,000			59,875 hours.

Dated: October 18, 2001.

Frederick W. Brickenkamp,

Reports Clearance Officer.