2015-32849. 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 revisions and an extension 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, Fax: [phone], Email address: [e-mail].

(SSA), Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance Director, 3100 West High Rise, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: [phone], Email address: [e-mail].

Or you may submit your comments online through www.regulations.gov,, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2015-0079].

I. 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 February 29, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection instruments by writing to the above email address.

1. Internet Direct Deposit Application—31 CFR 210—0960-0634. SSA requires all applicants and recipients of Social Security Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits, or Supplemental Security Income payments to receive these benefits and payments via direct deposit at a financial institution. SSA receives Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) enrollment information from OASDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients to facilitate DD/EFT of their funds with their chosen financial institution. We also use this information when an enrolled individual wishes to change their DD/EFT information. For the convenience of the respondents, we collect this information through several modalities, including an Internet application, in-office or telephone interviews, and our automated telephone system. In addition to using the direct deposit information to enable DD/EFT of funds to the recipient's chosen financial institution, we also use the information through our Direct Deposit Fraud Indicator to ensure the correct recipient receives the funds. Respondents are OASDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients requesting that we enroll them in the Direct Deposit program or change their direct deposit banking information.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion	Number of responses	Frequency of response	Average burden per response (minutes)	Estimated total annual burden (hours)
Internet DD	507,214	1	10	84,536
Non-Electronic Services (FO, 800#-ePath, MSSICS, SPS, MACADE, POS, RPS)	3,317,351	1	12	663,470
Direct Deposit Fraud Indicator	54,016	1	2	1,801
Totals	3,878,581			749,807

2. Centenarian and Medicare Non-Utilization Project Development Worksheets: Face-to-Face Interview and Telephone Interview—20 CFR 416.204(b) and 422.135—0960-0780. SSA conducts interviews with centenary Title II beneficiaries and Title XVI recipients, and Medicare Non-Utilization Project (MNUP) beneficiaries age 90 and older to: (1) Assess if the beneficiaries are still living; (2) prevent fraud through identity misrepresentation; and (3) evaluate the well-being of the recipients. SSA field office personnel obtain the information through one-time, in-person interviews with the centenarians and MNUP beneficiaries. If the centenarians and MNUP beneficiaries have representatives or caregivers, SSA personnel invite them to the interviews. During these interviews, SSA employees make overall observations of the centenarians, MNUP beneficiaries, and their representative payees (if applicable). The interviewer uses the appropriate Development Worksheet as a guide for the interview, in addition to documenting findings during the interview. Non-completion of the Worksheets, or refusal of the interviews, will result in the suspension of the centenarians' or MNUP beneficiaries' payments. SSA conducts the interviews either over the telephone or through a face-to-face discussion with the respondents. Respondents are SSI recipients or Social Security beneficiaries 100 years old or older; MNUP beneficiaries; their representative payees; or their caregivers.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information collection.

Modality of completion	Number of responses	Frequency of response	Average burden per response (minutes)	Estimated total annual burden (hours)
Centenarian Project—Title XVI Only *	240	1	15	60
MNUP—All Title II Responses	4,400	1	15	1,100
Totals	4,640			1,160
* Some cases are T2 rollovers from prior Centenarian workloads.

II. SSA submitted the information collection below to OMB for clearance. Your comments regarding the information collection 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 29, 2016. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB clearance package by writing to [e-mail].

Protecting the Public and Our Personnel To Ensure Operational Effectiveness (RIN 0960-AH35), Regulation 3729I—20 CFR 422.905 and 422.906—0960-0796

Background

On September 2, 2011, the agency published interim final regulations and notifications processes for the restrictive access and alternative service process at 76 FR 54700. These regulations explain the process we follow when we restrict individuals from receiving in-person services in our field offices and provide them, instead, with alternative services. We published these rules to create a safer environment for our personnel and members of the public who use our facilities, while ensuring we continue to serve the American people with as little disruption to our operations as possible. Under our regulations at 20 CFR 422.905, an individual whom we restrict access to our facilities has the opportunity to appeal our decision within 60 days of the date of the restrictive access and alternative service notice. Under 20 CFR 422.906, if the individual does not appeal the decision within the 60 days; if we restrict the individual prior to the effective date of this regulation; or if the appeal results in a denial, the individual has another opportunity to request review of the restriction after a three-year period. We make this periodic review available to all restricted individuals once every three years.

Information Collection Description

The interim final restrictive access and alternative services rules contain two public reporting burdens:

• 20 CFR 422.905—after SSA issues a restrictive access and alternative service decision against an individual, the individual has 60 days to appeal the determination. Restricted individuals must submit a written appeal stating why they believe SSA should rescind the restriction and allow them to conduct business with us on a face-to-face basis in one of our offices. There is no printed form for this request; restricted individuals create their own written statement of appeal, and submit it to a sole decision-maker in the regional office of the region where the restriction originated. The individuals may also provide additional documentation to support their appeal.
• 20 CFR 422.906—three years after the original restrictive access and alternative service decision, restricted individuals may re-submit a written appeal of the decision. The same criteria apply as for the original appeal: (1) It must be in writing; (2) it must go to a sole decision-maker in the regional office of the region where the restriction originated for review; and (3) it may accompany supporting documentation.

Respondents for this collection are individuals appealing their restrictions from in-person services at SSA field offices.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.

Regulation section	Number of respondents	Frequency of response	Average burden per response (minutes)	Estimated total annual burden (hours)
20 CFR 422.905	75	1	15	19
20 CFR 422.906	75	1	20	25
Totals	150			44

Dated: December 24, 2015.

Naomi R. Sipple,

Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.