Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request, 19820-19821 [05-7451]

Download as PDF 19820 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 71 / Thursday, April 14, 2005 / Notices For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.15 Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E5–1758 Filed 4–13–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010–01–P 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, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. The information collection packages that may be included in this notice are for new information collections, approval of existing information collections, revisions to OMB-approved information collections, and extensions (no change) of OMBapproved 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 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. The information can be mailed and/or faxed to the individuals at the addresses and fax numbers listed below: (OMB): Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, Fax: (202) 395–6974. (SSA): Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance Officer, 1338 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, Fax: (410) 965–6400. I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA and 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 the address listed above. 15 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate jul<14>2003 19:36 Apr 13, 2005 Jkt 205001 1. Farm Arrangement Questionnaire— 20 CFR 404.1082(c)—0960–0064. SSA uses the information collected on the SSA–7157–F4 to determine if farm rental income may be considered selfemployment income for Social Security benefits coverage purposes. The respondents are individuals alleging self-employment income from the renting of land for farming activities. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 38,000. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes. Estimated Annual Burden: 19,000 hours. 2. Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement—20 CFR 404.1925—0960– 0448. The information collected on the SSA–2490–BK is required to determine entitlement to old-age, survivors or disability benefits from the United States or from a country that has entered into a Social Security agreement with the United States. The respondents are individuals who are applying for benefits from the U.S. or from a totalization agreement country. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 23,200. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes. Estimated Average Burden: 11,600 hours. 3. Letter to Landlord Requesting Rental Information—20 CFR 416.1130(b)—0960–0454. Form SSA– L5061 provides a nationally uniform vehicle for collecting information from landlords for use in making rental subsidy determinations in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The information is used in deciding whether income limits are met for SSI eligibility. Respondents are landlords who provide subsidized rental arrangements to SSI applicants and recipients. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 49,000. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes. Estimated Annual Burden: 8,167 hours. 4. Plan for Achieving Self-Support— 20 CFR 416.1180–1182, 416.1225–1227, 416.110(e)—0960–0559. The information on form SSA–545 is collected by SSA when a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicant/ recipient desires to use available income and resources to obtain education and/ PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 or training in order to become selfsupportive. The information is used to evaluate the recipient’s plan for achieving self-support to determine whether the plan may be approved under the provisions of the SSI program. The respondents are SSI applicants/ recipients who are blind or disabled. Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection. Number of Respondents: 7,000. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 2 hours. Estimated Annual Burden: 14,000 hours. 5. Disability Update Report—20 CFR 404.1589–404.1595, 20 CFR 416.988– 416.996—0960–0511. Forms SSA–455 and SSA–455–OCR–SM are used by SSA to collect information when the continuing disability review (CDR) diary of a recipient of SSA-administered payments, based on disability, has matured or there is an indication of possible medical improvement. The information collected from beneficiaries is reviewed by specialists in the evaluation of work and earnings and in disability adjudication. The respondents are recipients of benefits, based on disability, under title II and/or XVI of the Social Security Act. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 981,000. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes. Estimated Annual Burden: 245,250 hours. II. 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 at (410) 965–0454, or by writing to the address listed above. 1. Statement Regarding Contributions—20 CFR 360–366 and 404.736—0960–0020. The determination of one-half support or contributions to support must be made to entitle certain child applicants to social security benefits. SSA uses Form SSA–783 to collect the information necessary to make such a determination. The respondents are persons giving information about a child’s sources of support for entitlement to child’s benefits. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 30,000. Frequency of Response: 1. E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM 14APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 71 / Thursday, April 14, 2005 / Notices Average Burden per Response: 17 minutes. Estimated Annual Burden: 8,500 hours. 2. Report of Death by Funeral Director—20 CFR 404.715, 404.720, 416.635—0960–0142. SSA uses the information on Form SSA–721 to make timely and accurate decisions based on the report of death including: (1) Proving the death of an insured individual, (2) learning of the death of a beneficiary whose benefits should terminate, and (3) determining who is eligible for the Lump-Sum Death Payment (LSDP) or may be eligible for benefits. The respondents are funeral directors with knowledge of the fact of death. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 741,113. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 3.5 minutes. Estimated Annual Burden: 43,232 hours. 3. Authorization To Obtain Earnings Data From the Social Security Administration—0960–0602. The information collected on Form SSA–581 is used to verify the authorization of the wage earner, or other party, to access the correct earnings record and disposition of the response. This access is required in order to produce an itemized statement for release to the proper third party. The respondents are individuals, and various private/public organizations/agencies needing detailed earnings information. Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection. Number of Respondents: 60,000. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes. Estimated Average Burden: 2,000 hours. Dated: April 8, 2005. Faye L. Lipsky, Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration. [FR Doc. 05–7451 Filed 4–13–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191–02–P SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Social Security Disability Program Demonstration Project: Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration Social Security Administration. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: We announce a demonstration project relating to the Social Security disability program under VerDate jul<14>2003 19:36 Apr 13, 2005 Jkt 205001 title II of the Social Security Act (the Act). In this demonstration, called the Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration, we will test modifications to current program rules that we apply to title II disability beneficiaries who work. We will also modify current rules for paying outcome payments to providers of services under the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program (Ticket to Work program). We are conducting this project under the demonstration authority provided in section 234 of the Act. EFFECTIVE DATES: We anticipate that we will implement the Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration on or about May 1, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Green by e-mail at mark.green@ssa.gov, by telephone at (410) 965–9852 or by mail at Social Security Administration, Office of Program Development and Research, 3520 Annex Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration In this demonstration project, we will apply alternate rules for treating the work activity of beneficiaries under the title II disability program. Our ultimate goal is to enable more beneficiaries to return to work and maximize their employment, earnings and economic independence. The project will test the effects of reducing benefits $1 for every $2 of a beneficiary’s earnings above the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount when title II benefits otherwise would not be payable during the disability beneficiary’s reentitlement period. This benefit offset will be provided in concert with other support services, such as benefits counseling. The demonstration also will test the effects of extending the duration of the reentitlement period from the current 36 months to 72 months. The demonstration also will test the effects of altering current rules that we use in continuing disability reviews. Only beneficiaries selected for the treatment group under the project will be eligible for the demonstration provisions. We will also modify the rules for paying outcome payments to providers participating in the Ticket to Work program who have accepted tickets from beneficiaries in the treatment group. We are conducting this demonstration project in the States of Connecticut, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin. This pilot demonstration is the beginning stage of demonstration activities that we plan to conduct to test the effects of a benefit offset as an alternative approach for treating work PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19821 activity of title II disability beneficiaries. Information available from this pilot demonstration will be used to assist in the development of a more expansive demonstration project that we plan on conducting. We plan to conduct a demonstration project testing alternate methods of treating work activity in the title II disability program at a nationally representative sample of sites. We intend to enter into a contract to obtain assistance in the design, implementation, evaluation and management of this project, which will test a range of employment supports in combination with a $1 reduction in benefits for every $2 in earnings for individuals receiving disability benefits under title II of the Act. We estimate that this national demonstration project will begin in 2006. The contractor for the national demonstration project will carefully consider the information available from this pilot project. In the Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration, we have entered into contracts with Connecticut, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin, to assist us in conducting a pilot demonstration designed to test a benefit offset in concert with various support services and inform the planning phases of the national demonstration. In this pilot demonstration, we are testing the effectiveness of certain modifications of title II disability program rules and a requirement under section 1148 of the Act. Our goal is to enable more beneficiaries to return to work and maximize their employment, earnings and economic independence. For title II disability beneficiaries who are participating in the treatment group of the demonstration project, we will waive title II rules that provide that we will stop benefits for any month, after the third month, in which a beneficiary performs SGA during the reentitlement period, and rules regarding the duration of the reentitlement period. In addition, we will waive certain rules relating to continuing disability reviews. We also will waive rules regarding payments to employment networks under the Ticket to Work program. We are conducting the Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration under the authority of section 234 of the Act. Section 234 of the Act directs the Commissioner of Social Security to carry out experiments and demonstration projects to determine the relative advantages and disadvantages of, among other approaches, various alternative methods of treating work activity of individuals entitled to title II benefits based on disability, including such methods as a reduction in benefits based on earnings, E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM 14APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 71 (Thursday, April 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19820-19821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7451]


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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, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. The 
information collection packages that may be included in this notice are 
for new information collections, approval of existing information 
collections, revisions to OMB-approved information collections, and 
extensions (no change) 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 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. The information can be mailed and/or faxed to the individuals 
at the addresses and fax numbers listed below:

(OMB):
    Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA, Fax: 
(202) 395-6974.
(SSA):
    Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1338 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235, 
Fax: (410) 965-6400.

    I. The information collections listed below are pending at SSA and 
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 the address listed above.
    1. Farm Arrangement Questionnaire--20 CFR 404.1082(c)--0960-0064. 
SSA uses the information collected on the SSA-7157-F4 to determine if 
farm rental income may be considered self-employment income for Social 
Security benefits coverage purposes. The respondents are individuals 
alleging self-employment income from the renting of land for farming 
activities.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 38,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 19,000 hours.
    2. Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social 
Security Agreement--20 CFR 404.1925--0960-0448. The information 
collected on the SSA-2490-BK is required to determine entitlement to 
old-age, survivors or disability benefits from the United States or 
from a country that has entered into a Social Security agreement with 
the United States. The respondents are individuals who are applying for 
benefits from the U.S. or from a totalization agreement country.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 23,200.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Average Burden: 11,600 hours.
    3. Letter to Landlord Requesting Rental Information--20 CFR 
416.1130(b)--0960-0454. Form SSA-L5061 provides a nationally uniform 
vehicle for collecting information from landlords for use in making 
rental subsidy determinations in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
program. The information is used in deciding whether income limits are 
met for SSI eligibility. Respondents are landlords who provide 
subsidized rental arrangements to SSI applicants and recipients.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 49,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 8,167 hours.
    4. Plan for Achieving Self-Support--20 CFR 416.1180-1182, 416.1225-
1227, 416.110(e)--0960-0559. The information on form SSA-545 is 
collected by SSA when a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicant/
recipient desires to use available income and resources to obtain 
education and/or training in order to become self-supportive. The 
information is used to evaluate the recipient's plan for achieving 
self-support to determine whether the plan may be approved under the 
provisions of the SSI program. The respondents are SSI applicants/
recipients who are blind or disabled.
    Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 7,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 14,000 hours.
    5. Disability Update Report--20 CFR 404.1589-404.1595, 20 CFR 
416.988-416.996--0960-0511. Forms SSA-455 and SSA-455-OCR-SM are used 
by SSA to collect information when the continuing disability review 
(CDR) diary of a recipient of SSA-administered payments, based on 
disability, has matured or there is an indication of possible medical 
improvement. The information collected from beneficiaries is reviewed 
by specialists in the evaluation of work and earnings and in disability 
adjudication. The respondents are recipients of benefits, based on 
disability, under title II and/or XVI of the Social Security Act.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 981,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 245,250 hours.
    II. 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 at (410) 965-
0454, or by writing to the address listed above.
    1. Statement Regarding Contributions--20 CFR 360-366 and 404.736--
0960-0020. The determination of one-half support or contributions to 
support must be made to entitle certain child applicants to social 
security benefits. SSA uses Form SSA-783 to collect the information 
necessary to make such a determination. The respondents are persons 
giving information about a child's sources of support for entitlement 
to child's benefits.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.

[[Page 19821]]

    Average Burden per Response: 17 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 8,500 hours.
    2. Report of Death by Funeral Director--20 CFR 404.715, 404.720, 
416.635--0960-0142. SSA uses the information on Form SSA-721 to make 
timely and accurate decisions based on the report of death including: 
(1) Proving the death of an insured individual, (2) learning of the 
death of a beneficiary whose benefits should terminate, and (3) 
determining who is eligible for the Lump-Sum Death Payment (LSDP) or 
may be eligible for benefits. The respondents are funeral directors 
with knowledge of the fact of death.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 741,113.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 3.5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 43,232 hours.
    3. Authorization To Obtain Earnings Data From the Social Security 
Administration--0960-0602. The information collected on Form SSA-581 is 
used to verify the authorization of the wage earner, or other party, to 
access the correct earnings record and disposition of the response. 
This access is required in order to produce an itemized statement for 
release to the proper third party. The respondents are individuals, and 
various private/public organizations/agencies needing detailed earnings 
information.
    Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 60,000.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Average Burden: 2,000 hours.

    Dated: April 8, 2005.
Faye L. Lipsky,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-7451 Filed 4-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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