Agency informtation collection activities: Proposed collection and submission for OMB review; comment request,

[Federal Register: March 18, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 52)]

[Notices]

[Page 12076-12077]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr18mr02-151]

[[Page 12076]]

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 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 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.

1. The information collections 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 instruments by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at 410-965-0454, or by writing to her at the address listed above.

   1. Government Pension Questionnaire--0960-0160

      The Social Security Act and Regulations provide that an individual receiving spouse's benefits and concurrently receiving a Government pension, based on the individual's own earnings, may have the Social Security benefit amount reduced by two-thirds of the pension amount. The data collected on Form SSA-3885 is used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine if the individual's Social Security benefit will be reduced, the amount of reduction, the effective date of the reduction and if one of the exceptions in 20 CFR 404.408a applies. The respondents are individuals who are receiving (or will receive) Social Security spouse's benefits and also receive their own Government pension.

      Number of Respondents: 30,000.

      Frequency of Response: 1.

      Average Burden Per Response: 12.5 minutes.

      Estimated Annual Burden: 6,250 hours.

   2. Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement--0960-0448

      The information collected on form SSA-2490 is used by SSA to determine a claimant's eligibility for U.S. Social Security benefits under the provisions of an international social security agreement. It is also used to take an application for benefits from a foreign country under an agreement. The respondents are individuals who are applying for benefits from either the United States and/or a foreign country with which the United States has an agreement. The United States currently has 17 such agreements.

      Number of Respondents: 22,000.

      Frequency of response: 1.

      Average Burden per response: 30 minutes.

      Estimated Annual Burden: 11,000 hours.

   3. Request for Workers' Compensation/Public Disability Information--0960-0098

      Form SSA-1709 is used by SSA to request and/or to verify information about worker's compensation or public disability benefits given to Social Security disability insurance benefit recipients so that their monthly benefit adjustments are properly made. The respondents are State and local governments and/or businesses that administer workers' compensation or other disability benefits.

      Number of Respondents: 140,000.

      Frequency of Response: 1.

      Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.

      Estimated Annual Burden: 35,000 hours.

2. The information collections listed below have 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 packages by calling the SSA Reports Clearance Officer on (410) 965- 0454, or by writing to her at the address listed above.

   1. Authorization To Obtain Earnings Data From the Social Security Administration--0960-0602

      The information requested on Form SSA-581 is necessary for identification of the earnings record, verification of the signature authorizing access to the earnings record and for disposition of the response. The respondents are individuals and various private/public organizations/agencies that need detailed earnings information.

      Number of Respondents: 60,000.

      Frequency of Response: 1.

      Average Burden Per Response: 2 minutes.

      Estimated Annual Burden: 2,000 hours.

   2. Statement Regarding Contributions--0960-0020

      Form SSA-783 is used to make a determination and obtain information about the source of support for a child applicant who must meet a dependency requirement for entitlement to benefits. The respondents are persons giving information about a child's sources of support for entitlement to child's benefits.

      Number of Respondents: 30,000.

      Frequency of Response: 1.

      Average Burden Per Response: 17 minutes.

      Estimated Annual Burden: 8,500 hours.

   3. Online Authentication Information Collection Form--TEST--0960-- NEW

      Background

      The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) of 1998 directed federal agencies to develop electronic service delivery instruments as an alternative to traditional paper based methods. The Social Security Administration plans to expand its Internet services to enable citizens to complete the application process as well as to process their requests for post-entitlement transactions online. A major requirement for filing applications and for processing transactional requests is SSA's ability to adequately authenticate the citizen. SSA cannot disclose information unless it is under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974. Because these transactions will be taking place online, SSA must authenticate citizens by asking for information that would positively identify the requester of the information as the proper party. This information will be validated against identifying information residing in databases outside of SSA. SSA will conduct a test of the Treasury Department's ``Pay.Gov'' authentication engine as a possible tool for out-of-band authentication.

      The Collection

      The Social Security Administration will use the data collected on the Online

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      Authentication Information Collection Form--TEST, to evaluate the Treasury Department's Pay.Gov authentication engine as a possible tool for SSA to validate out-of-band online applicants. The respondents for this test are members of the general public who elect to complete the form for testing.

      Number of Respondents: 161.

      Frequency of Response: 1.

      Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.

      Estimated Annual Burden: 13 hours.

      Dated: March 11, 2002. Liz Davidson, Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.

      [FR Doc. 02-6234Filed3-15-02; 8:45 am]

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