Rate for Assessment on Direct Payment of Fees to Representatives in 2015, 78133 [2014-30332]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Notices
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA–2014–0075]
Rate for Assessment on Direct
Payment of Fees to Representatives in
2015
AGENCY:
Social Security Administration
(SSA).
ACTION:
Notice.
We are announcing that the
assessment percentage rate under
sections 206(d) and 1631(d)(2)(C) of the
Social Security Act (Act), 42 U.S.C.
406(d) and 1383(d)(2)(C), is 6.3 percent
for 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey C. Blair, Associate General
Counsel for Program Law, Office of the
General Counsel, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401,
Phone: (410) 965–3157, email Jeff.Blair@
ssa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
claimant may appoint a qualified
individual as a representative to act on
his or her behalf in matters before the
Social Security Administration. If the
individual was represented either by an
attorney or by a non-attorney
representative who has met certain
prerequisites, the Act provides that we
may withhold up to 25 percent of the
past-due benefits and use that money to
pay the representative’s approved fee
directly to the representative.
When we pay the representative’s fee
directly to the representative, we must
collect from that fee payment an
assessment to recover the costs we incur
in determining and paying
representatives’ fees. The Act provides
that the assessment we collect will be
the lesser of two amounts: A specified
dollar limit; or the amount determined
by multiplying the fee we are paying by
the assessment percentage rate.
(Sections 206(d), 206(e), and 1631(d)(2)
of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 406(d), 406(e), and
1383(d)(2).)
The Act initially set the dollar limit
at $75 in 2004 and provides that the
limit will be adjusted annually based on
changes in the cost-of-living. (Sections
206(d)(2)(A) and 1631(d)(2)(C)(ii)(I) of
the Act, 42 U.S.C. 406(d)(2)(A) and
1383(d)(2)(C)(ii)(I).) The maximum
dollar limit for the assessment currently
is $91, as we announced in the Federal
Register on October 29, 2014 (79 FR
64455).
The Act requires us each year to set
the assessment percentage rate at the
lesser of 6.3 percent or the percentage
rate necessary to achieve full recovery of
the costs we incur to determine and pay
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SUMMARY:
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19:09 Dec 24, 2014
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representatives’ fees. (Sections
206(d)(2)(B)(ii) and 1631(d)(2)(C)(ii)(II)
of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 406(d)(2)(B)(ii) and
1383(d)(2)(C)(ii)(II).)
Based on the best available data, we
have determined that the current rate of
6.3 percent will continue for 2015. We
will continue to review our costs for
these services on a yearly basis.
Dated: December 18, 2014.
Peter D. Spencer,
Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance,
Quality, and Management.
[FR Doc. 2014–30332 Filed 12–24–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
2015 Special 301 Review: Identification
of Countries Under Section 182 of the
Trade Act of 1974: Request for Public
Comment and Announcement of
Public Hearing
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Request for written submissions
from the public and announcement of
public hearing.
AGENCY:
Section 182 of the Trade Act
of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2242)
requires the United States Trade
Representative (Trade Representative) to
identify countries that deny adequate
and effective protection of intellectual
property rights (IPR) or deny fair and
equitable market access to U.S. persons
who rely on intellectual property
protection. The provisions of Section
182 are commonly referred to as the
‘‘Special 301’’ provisions of the Trade
Act. The Trade Act requires the Trade
Representative to determine which, if
any, of these countries to identify as
Priority Foreign Countries. Acts,
policies, or practices that are the basis
of a country’s identification as a Priority
Foreign Country can be subject to the
procedures set out in sections 301–305
of the Trade Act.
In addition, the Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR) has
created a ‘‘Priority Watch List’’ and
‘‘Watch List’’ to assist the
Administration in pursuing the goals of
the Special 301 provisions. Placement of
a trading partner on the Priority Watch
List or Watch List indicates that
particular problems exist in that country
with respect to IPR protection,
enforcement, or market access for
persons that rely on intellectual
property protection. Trading partners
placed on the Priority Watch List are the
focus of increased bilateral attention
concerning the problem areas.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
78133
USTR chairs the Special 301
Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff
Committee (Subcommittee). The
Subcommittee reviews information from
many sources, and consults with and
makes recommendations to the Trade
Representative on issues arising under
Special 301. Written submissions from
interested persons are a key source of
information for the Special 301 review
process. In 2015, USTR again will
conduct a public hearing as part of the
review process as well as offer the
opportunity, as described below, for
hearing participants to provide
additional information relevant to the
review. At the conclusion of the
process, USTR will publish the results
of the review in a ‘‘Special 301’’ Report.
USTR is hereby requesting written
submissions from the public concerning
foreign countries that deny adequate
and effective protection of intellectual
property rights or deny fair and
equitable market access to U.S. persons
who rely on intellectual property
protection. USTR requests that
interested parties provide the
information described below in the
‘‘Public Comments’’ section, and
identify whether a particular trading
partner should be named as a Priority
Foreign Country under Section 182 of
the Trade Act or placed on the Priority
Watch List or Watch List. Foreign
governments that have been identified
in previous Special 301 Reports or that
are nominated for review in 2015 are
considered interested parties, and are
invited to respond to this request for
public submissions. Interested parties,
including foreign governments, wishing
to submit information to be considered
during the review or testify at the public
hearing must adhere to the procedures
and deadlines set forth below.
Dates/Deadlines: The schedule and
deadlines for the 2015 Special 301
review are as follows:
Friday, February 6, 2015—Deadline
for interested parties, except foreign
governments, to submit written
comments, notice of intent to testify at
the Special 301 Public Hearing, and
hearing statements.
Friday, February 13, 2015—Deadline
for foreign governments to submit
written comments, notice of intent to
testify at the Special 301 Public Hearing,
and, although not mandatory, any
prepared hearing statements.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015—Public
Hearing—The Special 301
Subcommittee will hold a Public
Hearing for interested parties, including
representatives of foreign governments,
at the offices of the International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC. No later than Friday,
E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM
29DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 78133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30332]
[[Page 78133]]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2014-0075]
Rate for Assessment on Direct Payment of Fees to Representatives
in 2015
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are announcing that the assessment percentage rate under
sections 206(d) and 1631(d)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (Act), 42
U.S.C. 406(d) and 1383(d)(2)(C), is 6.3 percent for 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey C. Blair, Associate General
Counsel for Program Law, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401,
Phone: (410) 965-3157, email Jeff.Blair@ssa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A claimant may appoint a qualified
individual as a representative to act on his or her behalf in matters
before the Social Security Administration. If the individual was
represented either by an attorney or by a non-attorney representative
who has met certain prerequisites, the Act provides that we may
withhold up to 25 percent of the past-due benefits and use that money
to pay the representative's approved fee directly to the
representative.
When we pay the representative's fee directly to the
representative, we must collect from that fee payment an assessment to
recover the costs we incur in determining and paying representatives'
fees. The Act provides that the assessment we collect will be the
lesser of two amounts: A specified dollar limit; or the amount
determined by multiplying the fee we are paying by the assessment
percentage rate. (Sections 206(d), 206(e), and 1631(d)(2) of the Act,
42 U.S.C. 406(d), 406(e), and 1383(d)(2).)
The Act initially set the dollar limit at $75 in 2004 and provides
that the limit will be adjusted annually based on changes in the cost-
of-living. (Sections 206(d)(2)(A) and 1631(d)(2)(C)(ii)(I) of the Act,
42 U.S.C. 406(d)(2)(A) and 1383(d)(2)(C)(ii)(I).) The maximum dollar
limit for the assessment currently is $91, as we announced in the
Federal Register on October 29, 2014 (79 FR 64455).
The Act requires us each year to set the assessment percentage rate
at the lesser of 6.3 percent or the percentage rate necessary to
achieve full recovery of the costs we incur to determine and pay
representatives' fees. (Sections 206(d)(2)(B)(ii) and
1631(d)(2)(C)(ii)(II) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 406(d)(2)(B)(ii) and
1383(d)(2)(C)(ii)(II).)
Based on the best available data, we have determined that the
current rate of 6.3 percent will continue for 2015. We will continue to
review our costs for these services on a yearly basis.
Dated: December 18, 2014.
Peter D. Spencer,
Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, Quality, and Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-30332 Filed 12-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
