[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62525-62526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29532]
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[[Page 62526]]
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Employer Based Claims Filing
AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
ACTION: Notice with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration's Reinventing Government
Phase II initiatives include a proposal to establish a controlled
employer-based claims-taking process. The goal of this proposal is to
make it easy for retiring employees to file for Social Security
retirement benefits through their employer. The purpose of this notice
is to solicit from the business community expressions of interest in
participating in the pilot phase of this claims-taking process. This
expression of interest pertains to the pilot phase only. Upon
completion of the pilot, participants will be given the opportunity to
decide on future participation. Expressions of interest should include
a brief description of the employer's existing retirement process,
including specifics such as the number of retirements processed each
year, the degree of company assistance to retiring employees during the
retirement process and how the gathering of Social Security retirement
information could be incorporated into this existing process.
DATES: To be sure your expressions of interest are considered, we must
receive them no later than January 22, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest or other comments should be
submitted in writing to the Commissioner of Social Security, P.O. Box
1585, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, sent by telefax to (410) 966-2830,
sent by E-mail to regulations@ssa.gov,'' or delivered to the Division
of Regulations and Rulings, Social Security Administration, 3-B-1
Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland
21235, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on regular business days.
Comments may be inspected during these same hours by making
arrangements with the contact person shown below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Steeley, Social Insurance
Specialist, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21235, telephone (410) 965-8976.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Clinton administration's Reinventing
Government Phase II initiatives, announced on April 12, 1995, include a
proposal to provide workers with an alternate way to file their Social
Security retirement applications. Currently, workers can apply for
Social Security via the mail, telephone or by visiting one of our 1,300
field offices. Under this proposal, workers would have the additional
option of filing for their Social Security retirement benefits through
their company's personnel office.
The benefits of this proposal will be explored within a pilot
phase. Participation in the pilot will involve a commitment to continue
participation for the planned 6 to 12 month duration of the pilot. Upon
completion of the pilot, involved businesses will be given an
opportunity to express their interest in continuing with or removing
themselves from further participation in this claims-taking process
based on their assessment of the benefits of the process.
The pilot of this cooperative claims-taking process will be
conducted through use of paper forms and applications. SSA plans to use
an abbreviated application that would minimize the information
gathering process for the employer. Information gathering for each
retiring employee by the employer will include about 20 short-answer
questions. If the basic information gathered by the employer reveals
complexities that require further exploration, SSA will develop these
issues during later evidence gathering phases of the application
process.
This proposal focuses on service to SSA customers. SSA believes the
opportunity for a worker to file for Social Security benefits at the
same time that the worker completes his/her employer retirement
paperwork provides a convenient ``one stop'' service for the worker.
Additionally, because the intent is to work towards establishing at
some time in the future an electronic transfer of such information to
us, we envision that we will eventually be able to provide an employer
and worker with the actual amount of the worker's retirement benefit
without any significant delay after submission of the employee's
application. This contemplated electronic transfer would facilitate
final settlement of the pension amount payable to the worker in
situations involving companies that have integrated pension plans in
which a worker's pension amount relates to his/her Social Security
benefit.
SSA does not envision the employer as the conduit for reporting by
the worker after completion of the initial Social Security application
process by the worker. SSA will remain the focal point for such later
reporting activities.
Dated: November 21, 1995.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security
[FR Doc. 95-29532 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P
