Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request, 33007-33011 [2021-13144]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 23, 2021 / Notices
of the Act.8 The Adviser would retain
overall responsibility for the
management and investment of the
assets of each Subadvised Series.
III. Applicable Law
6. Section 15(c) of the Act prohibits a
registered investment company having a
board from entering into, renewing or
performing any contract or agreement
whereby a person undertakes regularly
to act as an investment adviser
(including a sub-adviser) to the
investment company, unless the terms
of such contract or agreement and any
renewal thereof have been approved by
the vote of a majority of the investment
company’s board members who are not
parties to such contract or agreement, or
interested persons of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval.
7. Section 6(c) of the Act provides that
the Commission may exempt any
person, security, or transaction or any
class or classes of persons, securities, or
transactions from any provisions of the
Act, or any rule thereunder, if such
exemption is necessary or appropriate
in the public interest and consistent
with the protection of investors and the
purposes fairly intended by the policy
and provisions of the Act. Applicants
state that the requested relief meets this
standard for the reasons discussed
below.
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IV. Arguments in Support of the
Requested Relief
8. Applicants assert that boards of
registered investment companies,
including the Board, typically hold inperson meetings on a quarterly basis.
Applicants state that during the three to
four month period between board
meeting dates, market conditions may
change or investment opportunities may
arise such that the Adviser may wish to
make a Sub-Adviser Change. Applicants
also state that at these moments it may
be impractical and costly to hold an
additional in-person Board meeting,
especially given the geographic
diversity of Board members and the
additional cost of holding in-person
meetings.
9. As a result, Applicants believe that
the requested relief would allow the
Subadvised Series to operate more
efficiently. In particular, Applicants
assert that without the delay inherent in
holding in-person Board meetings (and
the attendant difficulty of obtaining the
necessary quorum for, and the
additional costs of, an unscheduled in8 Each sub-adviser would be registered with the
Commission as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act or not subject to such registration.
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person Board meeting), the Subadvised
Series would be able to act more quickly
and with less expense to add or replace
sub-advisers when the Board and the
Adviser believe that a Sub-Adviser
Change would benefit the Subadvised
Series.
10. Applicants also note that the inperson meeting requirement in Section
15(c) of the Act was designed to prohibit
absentee approval of advisory
agreements. Applicants state that
condition 1 to the requested relief is
designed to avoid such absentee
approval by requiring that the Board
approve a Sub-Adviser Change at a
meeting where all participating Board
members can hear each other and be
heard by each other during the
meeting.9
11. Applicants, moreover, represent
that the Board would conduct any such
non-in-person consideration of a SubAdvisory Agreement in accordance with
its typical process for approving SubAdvisory Agreements. Consistent with
Section 15(c) of the Act, the Board
would request and evaluate such
information as may reasonably be
necessary to evaluate the terms of any
Sub-Advisory Agreement, and the
Adviser and sub-adviser would provide
such information.
12. Finally, Applicants note that if
one or more Board members request that
a Sub-Adviser Change be considered inperson, then the Board would not be
able to rely on the relief and would have
to consider the Sub-Adviser Change at
an in-person meeting.
V. Applicants’ Conditions
Applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief will be
subject to the following conditions:
1. The Independent Board Members
will approve a Sub-Adviser Change at a
non-in-person meeting in which Board
members may participate by any means
of communication that allows those
Board members participating to hear
each other simultaneously during the
meeting.
2. Management will represent that the
materials provided to the Board for the
non-in-person meeting include the same
information the Board would have
received if a Sub-Adviser Change were
sought at an in-person Board meeting.
3. The notice of the non-in-person
meeting will explain the need for
considering the Sub-Adviser Change at
9 Applicants state that technology that includes
visual capabilities will be used unless
unanticipated circumstances arise. Applicants also
state that the Board could not rely upon the relief
to approve a Sub-Advisory Agreement by written
consent or another form of absentee approval by the
Board.
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33007
a non-in-person meeting. Once notice of
the non-in-person meeting to consider a
Sub-Adviser Change is sent, Board
members will be given the opportunity
to object to considering the Sub-Adviser
Change at a non-in-person Board
meeting. If a Board member requests
that the Sub-Adviser Change be
considered in-person, the Board will
consider the Sub-Adviser Change at an
in-person meeting, unless such request
is rescinded.
4. A Subadvised Series’ ability to rely
on the requested relief will be disclosed
in the Subadvised Series’ registration
statement.
5. In the event that the Commission
adopts a rule under the Act providing
substantially similar relief to that in the
order requested in the application, the
requested order will expire on the
effective date of that rule.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–13116 Filed 6–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA–2021–0020]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request
The Social Security Administration
(SSA) publishes a list of information
collection packages requiring clearance
by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) in compliance with
Public Law 104–13, the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, effective October
1, 1995. This notice includes revisions
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 ways to
minimize burden on respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. Mail, email, or
fax your comments and
recommendations on the information
collection(s) to the OMB Desk Officer
and SSA Reports Clearance Officer at
the following addresses or fax numbers.
(OMB) Office of Management and
Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA,
Comments: https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Submit your
comments online referencing Docket
ID Number [SSA–2021–0020].
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(SSA) Social Security Administration,
OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, 3100 West High Rise, 6401
Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235,
Fax: 410–966–2830, Email address:
OR.Reports.Clearance@ssa.gov.
Or you may submit your comments
online through https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain, referencing Docket
ID Number [SSA–2021–0020].
I. The information collections below
are pending at SSA. SSA will submit
them to OMB within 60 days from the
date of this notice. To be sure we
consider your comments, we must
receive them no later than August 23,
2021. Individuals can obtain copies of
the collection instruments by writing to
the above email address.
1. Continuation of Supplemental
Security Income Payments for the
Temporarily Institutionalized—
Certification of Period and Need to
Maintain Home—20 CFR
416.212(b)(1)—0960–0516. When
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
recipients: (1) Enter a public institution;
or (2) enter a private medical treatment
facility with Medicaid paying more than
50 percent of expenses, SSA reduces
recipients’ SSI payments to a nominal
sum. However, if this
institutionalization is temporary
(defined as a maximum of three
months), SSA may waive the reduction.
Before SSA can waive the SSI payment
reduction, the agency must receive the
following documentation: (1) A
physician’s certification stating the SSI
recipient will only be institutionalized
for a maximum of three months; and (2)
certification from the recipient, the
Number of
respondents
Modality of completion
Frequency of
response
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
recipient’s family, or friends, confirming
the recipient needs SSI payments to
maintain the living arrangements to
which the individual will return postinstitutionalization. To obtain this
information, SSA employees contact the
recipient (or a knowledgeable source) to
collect the required physician’s
certification and the statement of need.
SSA does not require any specific
format for these items, so long as we
obtain the necessary attestations. The
respondents are SSI recipients, their
family or friends, as well as physicians
or hospital staff members who treat the
SSI recipient.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) **
Statement from other Respondents .........
Physician’s Certifications .........................
26,793
26,793
1
1
5
5
2,233
2,233
* $10.95
* 41.30
** $24,451
** 92,223
Totals ................................................
53,586
........................
........................
4,466
........................
** 116,674
* We based these figures on the average DI payments based on SSA’s current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/
2021FactSheet.pdf), and the average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
2. Financial Disclosure for Civil
Monetary Penalty (CMP) Debt—20 CFR
498—0960–0776. When SSA imposes a
CMP on individuals for various
fraudulent conduct related to SSAadministrated programs, those
individuals may request to pay the CMP
through benefit withholding, or an
installment agreement. To negotiate a
monthly payment amount, fair to both
the individual and the agency, SSA
needs financial information from the
individual. SSA uses Form SSA–640, to
obtain the information necessary to
determine a monthly installment
repayment rate for individuals owing a
CMP. The respondents are recipients of
Social Security benefits and nonentitled individuals who must repay a
CMP to the agency and choose to do so
using an installment plan.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
Modality of completion
Number of
respondents
Frequency of
response
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Average
wait time in
field office
(minutes) **
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) ***
SSA–640 ......................
10
1
120
20
* $19.01
** 24
*** $456
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* We based this figure on averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA’s current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/
2021FactSheet.pdf), and the average U.S. worker’s hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/
current/oes_nat.htm).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA’s current management information data.
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
II. SSA submitted the information
collections below to OMB for clearance.
Your comments regarding these
information collections would be most
useful if OMB and SSA receive them 30
days from the date of this publication.
To be sure we consider your comments,
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we must receive them no later than July
23, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies
of these OMB clearance packages by
writing to OR.Reports.Clearance@
ssa.gov.
1. Application for Mother’s or Father’s
Insurance Benefits—20 CFR 404.339–
404.342, 20 CFR 404.601–404.603—
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0960–0003. Section 202(g) of the Social
Security Act (Act) provides for the
payment of monthly benefits to the
widow or widower of an insured
individual if the surviving spouse is
caring for the deceased worker’s child
(who is entitled to Social Security
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benefits). SSA uses the information on
Form SSA–5–BK to determine an
individual’s eligibility for mother’s or
father’s insurance benefits. The
respondents are individuals caring for a
child of the deceased worker who is
applying for mother’s or father’s
insurance benefits under the Old Age,
Number of
respondents
Modality of completion
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Frequency of
response
Survivors, and Disability Insurance
(OASDI) program.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
Average
wait time in
field office
(minutes) **
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) ***
SSA–5–BK (Paper) .......................................
SSA–5 MCS Interview ..................................
28
23,123
1
1
15
15
7
5,781
* $27.07
* 27.07
........................
** 24
*** $189
*** 406,862
Totals .....................................................
23,151
........................
........................
5,788
........................
........................
*** 407,051
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker’s hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#000000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA’s current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the
application.
2. Claim for Amounts Due in the Case
of a Deceased Beneficiary—20 CFR
404.503(b)—0960–0101. Section 204(d)
of the Act provides that if an individual
dies before payment under Title II is
complete, or before a Medicare premium
refund is due, SSA will pay the amount
due (including the amount of any check
not negotiated) to people who meet
specified qualifications under an order
of priority. When a Social Security
payment, or Medicare premium, was
due to a deceased beneficiary at the time
of death, and there is insufficient
information in the file to identify the
people entitled to the payment, or their
addresses, SSA asks the surviving
spouse, next of kin, or legal
representative of the estate to complete
Form SSA–1724. SSA collects the
information when a surviving
child(ren), parent(s), or spouse is not
already entitled to a monthly benefit on
the same earnings record, or is not filing
Number of
respondents
Modality of completion
SSA–1724 .....................................................
I
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Frequency of
response
I
250,000
I
1
for a lump-sum death payment as a
former spouse. SSA uses the
information Form SSA–1724 provides to
ensure proper payment of an
underpayment due to a deceased
beneficiary. The respondents are
applicants for Title II underpayments or
Medicare premium refunds owed to
deceased beneficiaries.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
I
10
I
41,667
* $27.07
Average
wait time in
field office
(minutes) **
I
** 24
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) ***
I
*** $3,834,926
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker’s hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#000000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA’s current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the
application.
3. Claimant’s Recent Medical
Treatment—20 CFR 404.1512 and
416.912—0960–0292. When Disability
Determinations Services (DDS) deny a
claim at the reconsideration level, the
claimant has a right to request a hearing
before a judge. For the hearing, SSA
asks the claimant to complete and
return the HA–4631 if the claimant’s file
does not reflect a current, complete
medical history as the claimant
Number of
respondents
Modality of completion
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proceeds through the appeals process. A
judge must obtain the information to
update and complete the record and to
verify the accuracy of the information.
Through this process, the judge can
ascertain whether the claimant’s
situation has changed. The judge and
hearing office staff use the response to
make arrangements for consultative
examination(s) and the attendance of an
expert witness(es), if appropriate.
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Frequency of
response
During the hearing, the judge offers any
completed questionnaires as exhibits
and may use them to: (1) Refresh the
claimant’s memory, and (2) shape their
questions. The respondents are
claimant’s requesting hearings on
entitlement to OASDI benefits or SSI
payments.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
Average
wait time in
field office
(minutes) **
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) ***
HA–4631—PDF/paper version ......................
Electronic Records Express Submissions ....
53,200
136,800
1
1
10
10
8,867
22,800
* $10.95
* 27.07
** 24
........................
*** $330,110
*** 617,196
Totals .....................................................
190,000
........................
........................
31,667
........................
........................
*** 947,306
* We based these figures on the average DI payments based on SSA’s current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf), and the average
U.S. worker’s hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA’s current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the
application.
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4. Request for Reconsideration—
Disability Cessation—20 CFR 404.909,
404.1597(b), 416.995, & 416.1409—
0960–0349. When SSA determines that
claimants’ disabilities medically
improved; ceased; or are no longer
sufficiently disabling, these claimants
may ask SSA to reconsider that
determination. SSA uses Form SSA–789
determination; and (4) indicate if they
will need an interpreter for the hearing.
The respondents are disability claimants
for Social Security benefits or SSI
payments who wish to appeal an
unfavorable disability cessation
determination.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
to arrange for a hearing or to prepare a
decision based on the evidence of
record. Specifically, claimants or their
representatives use Form SSA–789 to:
(1) Ask SSA to reconsider a
determination; (2) indicate if they wish
to appear at a disability hearing; (3)
submit any additional information or
evidence for use in the reconsidered
Modality of completion
Number of
respondents
Frequency of
response
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) **
SSA–789 ..................................................
49,000
1
13
10,617
* $10.95
** $116,256
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA’s current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
Number of
respondents
Modality of completion
SSA–773–U4 .................................................
I
disability claimants for Social Security
benefits or SSI payments, or their
representatives, who wish to waive their
right to appear at a disability hearing.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
right to appear at a disability hearing.
The disability hearing officer uses the
signed form as a basis for not holding
a hearing, and for preparing a written
decision on the claimant’s request for
disability payments based solely on the
evidence of record. The respondents are
5. Waiver of Right to Appear—
Disability Hearing—20 CFR 404.913–
404.914, 404.916(b)(5), 416.1413–
416.1414, 416.1416(b)(5)—0960–0534.
Claimants for Social Security disability
payments or their representatives can
use Form SSA–773–U4 to waive their
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Frequency of
response
I
200
I
1
I
3
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
10
I
* $10.95
Average
wait time in
field office
(minutes) **
I
** 24
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) ***
I
*** $986
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA’s current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA’s current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the
application.
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6. Prohibition of Payment of SSI
Benefits to Fugitive Felons and Parole/
Probation Violators—20 CFR
416.708(o)—0960–0617. Section
1611(e)(4) of the Act precludes
eligibility for SSI payments for certain
fugitives and probation or parole
violators. Our regulation at 20 CFR
416.708(o) requires individuals
applying for or receiving SSI to report
to SSA that: (1) They are fleeing to avoid
prosecution for a crime; (2) they are
fleeing to avoid custody or confinement
after conviction of a crime; or (3) they
are violating a condition of probation or
parole. In addition, due to the
implementation of the Martinez v.
Astrue and Clark v. Astrue cases, we
changed our policy to deny eligibility or
suspend payments for three fleeing
codes. We use the information we
receive to determine eligibility on an
initial claim for SSI payments or a
redetermination of existing recipients.
The collection is mandatory to ensure
that an applicant or recipient does not
have a warrant for one of the three
fleeing codes. If the respondent has a
warrant for one of the three fleeing
codes, SSA uses this information to
deny payments. The respondents are
SSI applicants and recipients, or their
representative payees, who are reporting
their status as a fugitive felon or
probation or parole violator.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
Modality of completion
Number of
respondents
Frequency of
response
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) **
Fugitive Felon and Parole or Probation
Violation screens within the SSI
Claims System .....................................
1,000
1
1
17
* $27.07
** $460
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker’s hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/
oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
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7. Social Security Number
Verification Services—20 CFR 401.45—
0960–0660. Internal Revenue Service
regulations require employers to
provide wage and tax data to SSA using
Form W–2, or its electronic equivalent.
As part of this process, the employer
must furnish the employee’s name and
Social Security number (SSN). In
addition, the employee’s name and SSN
must match SSA’s records for SSA to
post earnings to the employee’s earnings
record, which SSA maintains. SSA
offers the Social Security Number
Verification Service (SSNVS), which
allows employers to verify the reported
names and SSNs of their employees
match those in SSA’s records. SSNVS is
Number of
respondents
Modality of completion
SSNVS ..........................................................
I
44,891
Frequency of
response
I
60
Average
burden per
response
(minutes)
Number of
responses
I
2,693,460
a cost-free method for employers to
verify employee information via the
internet. The respondents are employers
who need to verify SSN data using
SSA’s records.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection.
I
5
Average
theoretical
hourly cost
amount
(dollars) *
Estimated
total annual
burden
(hours)
I
224,455
I
* $38.23
Total annual
opportunity
cost
(dollars) **
I
** $8,580,915
* We based this figure on the average hourly wage for Accountants and Auditors, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/
current/oes132011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to respondents to complete the
application.
Dated: June 17, 2021.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security
Administration.
research purposes in tracking the size
of, and impact on, subpopulations of
government annuitants affected by the
Government Pension Offset (GPO), the
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP),
and in cost estimates of proposals to
change the two provisions.
[FR Doc. 2021–13144 Filed 6–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA–2020–0057]
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
AGENCY:
Social Security Administration
(SSA).
Notice of a new matching
program.
ACTION:
In accordance with the
provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces a new
matching program with the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM). This
matching agreement (agreement) sets
forth the terms, conditions, and
safeguards under which OPM will
disclose civil service benefit and
payment data to SSA. SSA is legally
required to offset specific benefits by a
percentage of civil service benefits
received (Spousal and Survivors
benefits, Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits, and Retirement and
Disability Insurance Benefits are offset
by a percentage of the recipients’
Federal Government pension benefits).
SSA administers the Old Age,
Survivors, Disability Insurance (OASDI),
SSI, and Special Veterans’ Benefits
(SVB) programs. SSA will use the match
results under this agreement to meet its
civil service benefit offset obligations.
Appendices A, B, C, and D of this
agreement contain specific information
on the matching programs that SSA will
conduct under this agreement. SSA’s
Office of the Chief Actuary (OCA) will
also use OPM’s data for statistical and
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 22, 2021
Jkt 253001
The deadline to submit
comments on the proposed matching
program is July 23, 2021. The matching
program will be applicable on
September 11, 2021, or once a minimum
of 30 days after publication of this
notice has elapsed, whichever is later.
The matching program will be in effect
for a period of 18 months.
DATES:
You may submit comments
by any one of three methods—internet,
fax, or mail. Do not submit the same
comments multiple times or by more
than one method. Regardless of which
method you choose, please state that
your comments refer to Docket No.
SSA–2020–0057 so that we may
associate your comments with the
correct regulation.
Caution: You should be careful to
include in your comments only
information that you wish to make
publicly available. We strongly urge you
not to include in your comments any
personal information, such as Social
Security numbers or medical
information.
1. Internet: We strongly recommend
that you submit your comments via the
internet. Please visit the Federal
eRulemaking portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. Use the Search
function to find docket number SSA–
2020–0057 and then submit your
comments. The system will issue you a
tracking number to confirm your
submission. You will not be able to
view your comment immediately
because we must post each submission
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00130
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
manually. It may take up to a week for
your comments to be viewable.
2. Fax: Fax comments to (410) 966–
0869.
3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Executive
Director, Office of Privacy and
Disclosure, Office of the General
Counsel, Social Security
Administration, G–401 WHR, 6401
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21235–6401, or emailing
Matthew.Ramsey@ssa.gov. Comments
are also available for public viewing on
the Federal eRulemaking portal at
https://www.regulations.gov, or in
person, during regular business hours,
by arranging with the contact person
identified below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested parties may submit general
questions about the matching program
to Andrea Huseth, Division Director,
Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office
of the General Counsel, Social Security
Administration, G–401 WHR, 6401
Security Boulevard, Baltimore MD
21235–6401, at telephone: (410) 966–
5855, or emailing Andrea.Huseth@
ssa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None.
Matthew Ramsey,
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and
Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel.
Participating Agencies
SSA and OPM.
Authority for Conducting the Matching
Program
The legal authority for SSA to
conduct this matching activity for SSI
purposes is section 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f)
of the Social Security Act (Act) (42
U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)), and for
SVB purposes, is section 806 of the Act
(42 U.S.C. 1006). The legal authority for
SSA to conduct this matching activity
E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM
23JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33007-33011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13144]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No: SSA-2021-0020]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and
Comment Request
The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of
information collection packages requiring clearance by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with Public Law 104-13, the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, effective October 1, 1995. This notice
includes revisions 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 ways to minimize burden
on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Mail, email, or fax your
comments and recommendations on the information collection(s) to the
OMB Desk Officer and SSA Reports Clearance Officer at the following
addresses or fax numbers.
(OMB) Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for SSA,
Comments: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Submit your
comments online referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2021-0020].
[[Page 33008]]
(SSA) Social Security Administration, OLCA, Attn: Reports Clearance
Director, 3100 West High Rise, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD
21235, Fax: 410-966-2830, Email address: [email protected].
Or you may submit your comments online through https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-
2021-0020].
I. The information collections below are pending at SSA. SSA will
submit them to OMB within 60 days from the date of this notice. To be
sure we consider your comments, we must receive them no later than
August 23, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of the collection
instruments by writing to the above email address.
1. Continuation of Supplemental Security Income Payments for the
Temporarily Institutionalized--Certification of Period and Need to
Maintain Home--20 CFR 416.212(b)(1)--0960-0516. When Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) recipients: (1) Enter a public institution; or
(2) enter a private medical treatment facility with Medicaid paying
more than 50 percent of expenses, SSA reduces recipients' SSI payments
to a nominal sum. However, if this institutionalization is temporary
(defined as a maximum of three months), SSA may waive the reduction.
Before SSA can waive the SSI payment reduction, the agency must receive
the following documentation: (1) A physician's certification stating
the SSI recipient will only be institutionalized for a maximum of three
months; and (2) certification from the recipient, the recipient's
family, or friends, confirming the recipient needs SSI payments to
maintain the living arrangements to which the individual will return
post-institutionalization. To obtain this information, SSA employees
contact the recipient (or a knowledgeable source) to collect the
required physician's certification and the statement of need. SSA does
not require any specific format for these items, so long as we obtain
the necessary attestations. The respondents are SSI recipients, their
family or friends, as well as physicians or hospital staff members who
treat the SSI recipient.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average Estimated theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of burden per total annual hourly cost opportunity
respondents response response burden amount cost
(minutes) (hours) (dollars) * (dollars) **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement from other Respondents........................ 26,793 1 5 2,233 * $10.95 ** $24,451
Physician's Certifications.............................. 26,793 1 5 2,233 * 41.30 ** 92,223
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................................. 53,586 .............. .............. 4,466 .............. ** 116,674
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf), and the
average Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes290000.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
2. Financial Disclosure for Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Debt--20
CFR 498--0960-0776. When SSA imposes a CMP on individuals for various
fraudulent conduct related to SSA-administrated programs, those
individuals may request to pay the CMP through benefit withholding, or
an installment agreement. To negotiate a monthly payment amount, fair
to both the individual and the agency, SSA needs financial information
from the individual. SSA uses Form SSA-640, to obtain the information
necessary to determine a monthly installment repayment rate for
individuals owing a CMP. The respondents are recipients of Social
Security benefits and non-entitled individuals who must repay a CMP to
the agency and choose to do so using an installment plan.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-640.......................... 10 1 120 20 * $19.01 ** 24 *** $456
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on averaging both the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf), and the average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/ current/
oes_nat.htm).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
II. SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for
clearance. Your comments regarding these information collections would
be most useful if OMB and SSA receive them 30 days from the date of
this publication. To be sure we consider your comments, we must receive
them no later than July 23, 2021. Individuals can obtain copies of
these OMB clearance packages by writing to
[email protected].
1. Application for Mother's or Father's Insurance Benefits--20 CFR
404.339-404.342, 20 CFR 404.601-404.603--0960-0003. Section 202(g) of
the Social Security Act (Act) provides for the payment of monthly
benefits to the widow or widower of an insured individual if the
surviving spouse is caring for the deceased worker's child (who is
entitled to Social Security
[[Page 33009]]
benefits). SSA uses the information on Form SSA-5-BK to determine an
individual's eligibility for mother's or father's insurance benefits.
The respondents are individuals caring for a child of the deceased
worker who is applying for mother's or father's insurance benefits
under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-5-BK (Paper)........................ 28 1 15 7 * $27.07 .............. *** $189
SSA-5 MCS Interview..................... 23,123 1 15 5,781 * 27.07 ** 24 *** 406,862
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 23,151 .............. .............. 5,788 .............. .............. *** 407,051
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
2. Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary--20
CFR 404.503(b)--0960-0101. Section 204(d) of the Act provides that if
an individual dies before payment under Title II is complete, or before
a Medicare premium refund is due, SSA will pay the amount due
(including the amount of any check not negotiated) to people who meet
specified qualifications under an order of priority. When a Social
Security payment, or Medicare premium, was due to a deceased
beneficiary at the time of death, and there is insufficient information
in the file to identify the people entitled to the payment, or their
addresses, SSA asks the surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal
representative of the estate to complete Form SSA-1724. SSA collects
the information when a surviving child(ren), parent(s), or spouse is
not already entitled to a monthly benefit on the same earnings record,
or is not filing for a lump-sum death payment as a former spouse. SSA
uses the information Form SSA-1724 provides to ensure proper payment of
an underpayment due to a deceased beneficiary. The respondents are
applicants for Title II underpayments or Medicare premium refunds owed
to deceased beneficiaries.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-1724......................... 250,000 1 10 41,667 * $27.07 ** 24 *** $3,834,926
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
3. Claimant's Recent Medical Treatment--20 CFR 404.1512 and
416.912--0960-0292. When Disability Determinations Services (DDS) deny
a claim at the reconsideration level, the claimant has a right to
request a hearing before a judge. For the hearing, SSA asks the
claimant to complete and return the HA-4631 if the claimant's file does
not reflect a current, complete medical history as the claimant
proceeds through the appeals process. A judge must obtain the
information to update and complete the record and to verify the
accuracy of the information. Through this process, the judge can
ascertain whether the claimant's situation has changed. The judge and
hearing office staff use the response to make arrangements for
consultative examination(s) and the attendance of an expert
witness(es), if appropriate. During the hearing, the judge offers any
completed questionnaires as exhibits and may use them to: (1) Refresh
the claimant's memory, and (2) shape their questions. The respondents
are claimant's requesting hearings on entitlement to OASDI benefits or
SSI payments.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response total annual hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents response (minutes) burden (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-4631--PDF/paper version.............. 53,200 1 10 8,867 * $10.95 ** 24 *** $330,110
Electronic Records Express Submissions.. 136,800 1 10 22,800 * 27.07 .............. *** 617,196
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............................. 190,000 .............. .............. 31,667 .............. .............. *** 947,306
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based these figures on the average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf), and the
average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
[[Page 33010]]
4. Request for Reconsideration--Disability Cessation--20 CFR
404.909, 404.1597(b), 416.995, & 416.1409--0960-0349. When SSA
determines that claimants' disabilities medically improved; ceased; or
are no longer sufficiently disabling, these claimants may ask SSA to
reconsider that determination. SSA uses Form SSA-789 to arrange for a
hearing or to prepare a decision based on the evidence of record.
Specifically, claimants or their representatives use Form SSA-789 to:
(1) Ask SSA to reconsider a determination; (2) indicate if they wish to
appear at a disability hearing; (3) submit any additional information
or evidence for use in the reconsidered determination; and (4) indicate
if they will need an interpreter for the hearing. The respondents are
disability claimants for Social Security benefits or SSI payments who
wish to appeal an unfavorable disability cessation determination.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-789........................................... 49,000 1 13 10,617 * $10.95 ** $116,256
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
5. Waiver of Right to Appear--Disability Hearing--20 CFR 404.913-
404.914, 404.916(b)(5), 416.1413-416.1414, 416.1416(b)(5)--0960-0534.
Claimants for Social Security disability payments or their
representatives can use Form SSA-773-U4 to waive their right to appear
at a disability hearing. The disability hearing officer uses the signed
form as a basis for not holding a hearing, and for preparing a written
decision on the claimant's request for disability payments based solely
on the evidence of record. The respondents are disability claimants for
Social Security benefits or SSI payments, or their representatives, who
wish to waive their right to appear at a disability hearing.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Average wait Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost time in field opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount office cost (dollars)
(dollars) * (minutes) ** ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSA-773-U4....................... 200 1 3 10 * $10.95 ** 24 *** $986
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average DI payments based on SSA's current FY 2021 data (https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/2021FactSheet.pdf).
** We based this figure on the average FY 2021 wait times for field offices, based on SSA's current management information data.
*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
6. Prohibition of Payment of SSI Benefits to Fugitive Felons and
Parole/Probation Violators--20 CFR 416.708(o)--0960-0617. Section
1611(e)(4) of the Act precludes eligibility for SSI payments for
certain fugitives and probation or parole violators. Our regulation at
20 CFR 416.708(o) requires individuals applying for or receiving SSI to
report to SSA that: (1) They are fleeing to avoid prosecution for a
crime; (2) they are fleeing to avoid custody or confinement after
conviction of a crime; or (3) they are violating a condition of
probation or parole. In addition, due to the implementation of the
Martinez v. Astrue and Clark v. Astrue cases, we changed our policy to
deny eligibility or suspend payments for three fleeing codes. We use
the information we receive to determine eligibility on an initial claim
for SSI payments or a redetermination of existing recipients. The
collection is mandatory to ensure that an applicant or recipient does
not have a warrant for one of the three fleeing codes. If the
respondent has a warrant for one of the three fleeing codes, SSA uses
this information to deny payments. The respondents are SSI applicants
and recipients, or their representative payees, who are reporting their
status as a fugitive felon or probation or parole violator.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fugitive Felon and Parole or Probation Violation 1,000 1 1 17 * $27.07 ** $460
screens within the SSI Claims System.............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on average U.S. worker's hourly wages, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
[[Page 33011]]
7. Social Security Number Verification Services--20 CFR 401.45--
0960-0660. Internal Revenue Service regulations require employers to
provide wage and tax data to SSA using Form W-2, or its electronic
equivalent. As part of this process, the employer must furnish the
employee's name and Social Security number (SSN). In addition, the
employee's name and SSN must match SSA's records for SSA to post
earnings to the employee's earnings record, which SSA maintains. SSA
offers the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS), which
allows employers to verify the reported names and SSNs of their
employees match those in SSA's records. SSNVS is a cost-free method for
employers to verify employee information via the internet. The
respondents are employers who need to verify SSN data using SSA's
records.
Type of Request: Revision of an OMB-approved information
collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average burden Estimated total theoretical Total annual
Modality of completion Number of Frequency of Number of per response annual burden hourly cost opportunity
respondents response responses (minutes) (hours) amount cost (dollars)
(dollars) * **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSNVS............................ 44,891 60 2,693,460 5 224,455 * $38.23 ** $8,580,915
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We based this figure on the average hourly wage for Accountants and Auditors, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm).
** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; rather,
these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual charge to
respondents to complete the application.
Dated: June 17, 2021.
Naomi Sipple,
Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-13144 Filed 6-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
