[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41173-41174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19101]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request
In compliance with Public Law 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, SSA is providing notice of its information collections that
require submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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.
I. The information collection listed below will be submitted to OMB
within 60 days from the date of this notice. Therefore, comments and
recommendations regarding the information collection would be most
useful if received by the Agency within 60 days from the date of this
publication. Comments should be directed to the SSA Reports Clearance
Officer at the address listed at the end of this publication. You can
obtain a copy of the collection instrument by calling the SSA Reports
Clearance Officer on (410) 965-4145, or by writing to him at the
address listed at the end of this publication.
1. Public Understanding Measurement System--0960-NEW. SSA has
contracted with the Gallup Organization to conduct surveys to gather
data on the public's level of knowledge about Social Security programs.
The 1998 Public Understanding Measurement System (PUMS) survey
indicated that 45 percent of the population has a lack of understanding
of the major Social Security program areas. The 1999 and future Public
Understanding Measurement System (PUMS II) surveys will enable SSA to
build upon the 1998 PUMS quantitative baseline measure of public
understanding.
An annual survey will provide tracking data of public understanding
of SSA programs against which the outcomes of SSA performance
improvement efforts can be assessed. Eight quarterly targeted surveys
will test the effectiveness of several specific communications and
public information outreach efforts.
PUMS II is essential to SSA's goal of strengthening public
understanding about Social Security programs. The relevant Agency goal
contained in SSA's strategic plan is that by the year 2005, 90 percent
of all American adults will be knowledgeable about Social Security
programs in five broad areas: basic program facts; the financial value
of programs to individuals; the economic and social impact of SSA
programs; how the programs are financed today; and financing issues.
The respondents will be randomly selected adults residing in the United
States.
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Annual survey Quarterly surveys
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Number of Respondents................ 4,000..................................... 12,000.
Frequency of Response................ 1......................................... 1.
Average Burden Per Response.......... 12 minutes................................ 12 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden.............. 800 hours................................. 2,400 hours.
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II. The information collections listed below have been submitted to
OMB for clearance. Written comments and recommendations on the
information collections would be most useful if received within 30 days
from the date of this publication. Comments should be directed to the
SSA Reports Clearance Officer and the OMB Desk Officer at the addresses
listed at the end of this publication. You can obtain a copy of the OMB
clearance packages by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer on
(410) 965-4145, or by writing to him.
1. Supplemental Security Income Notice of Interim Assistance
Reimbursement (two forms)--0960-0546. Please note that these forms were
previously approved under 2 OMB numbers, form SSA-8125, 0960-0546 and
SSA-L8125-F6, 0960-0563. However, because these forms are interrelated
SSA is combining them under 0960-0546. Form SSA-8125 and SSA-L8125-F6,
previously 0960-0563, collect interim assistance reimbursement (IAR)
information from the States that provide such assistance. Form SSA-8125
is used in situations where IAR can be distributed directly to the
recipient after the State has deducted the amount of assistance it
provided. Form SSA-L8125-F6 is used in situations where a recipient
entitled to underpayments has received IAR from a State and SSA will
control the benefit through the installment process. The respondents
are States that provide IAR to SSI claimants.
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SSA-8125 SSA-L8125-F6
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Number of Respondents................ 50,000.................................... 50,000.
Frequency of Response................ 1......................................... 1.
Average Burden Per Response.......... 10 minutes................................ 10 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden.............. 8,333 hours............................... 8,333 hours.
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2. Request for Information--0960-0607. The information collected
through this form letter will be used by SSA's Office of the Inspector
General (OIG) to conduct periodic eligibility reviews of beneficiaries
residing in foreign countries. The form is designed to replace the
current time-consuming and expensive method of conducting these reviews
by selecting sample cases and conducting in person interviews. The form
will permit OIG to review all beneficiary residents of the foreign
country under study, thereby narrowing the scope of the beneficiaries
requiring
[[Page 41174]]
in person visits to those who do not respond or to those who provide
questionable evidence. The respondents are Social Security
beneficiaries residing in foreign countries.
Number of Respondents: 900.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 450 hours.
(Please note that this information collection received emergency
approval from OMB on July 19, 1999. Emergency consideration was
requested due to the time constraints associated with the normal
clearance process, which conflicted with OIG's mission of combating
fraud waste and abuse of SSA programs. Notice of the emergency request
was published in the Federal Register on June 21, 1999. SSA plans to
conduct eligibility reviews of beneficiaries residing in foreign
countries on a scheduled basis and is therefore continuing to seek
normal clearance of this collection.)
3. Application for Parent's Insurance Benefits--0960-0012. The
information collected on form SSA-7 is used by the Social Security
Administration to determine entitlement of an individual to parent's
insurance benefits. The respondents are parents who were dependents of
the worker for at least one-half of their support.
Number of Respondents: 1,400.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden: 350 hours.
(SSA Address)
Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Frederick W. Brickenkamp,
6401 Security Blvd., 1-A-21 Operations Bldg., Baltimore, MD 21235
(OMB Address)
Office of Management and Budget, OIRA, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, New
Executive Office Building, Room 10230, 725 17th St., NW., Washington,
D.C. 20503
Dated: July 21, 1999.
Frederick W. Brickenkamp,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-19101 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-U
