Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request, Comment Request and Emergency Consideration Request

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request,

Comment Request and Emergency Consideration Request

In compliance with Public Law 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1995, SSA is providing notice of its information collections that

require submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). SSA is

soliciting comments on the accuracy of the agency's burden estimate;

the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to enhance

its quality, utility and clarity; and on ways to minimize burden on

respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments should be directed to the SSA Reports Clearance Officer at

the address listed at the end of the notices. You can obtain a copy of

the collection instruments and/or the OMB clearance packages by calling

the SSA Reports Clearance Officer on (410) 965-4145, or by writing to

him.

I. The information collection listed below will be submitted to OMB

within 60 days from the date of this notice. Therefore, comments and

recommendations regarding the information collection would be most

useful if received by the Agency within 60 days from the date of this

notice.

Medical Use Report, 20 CFR 416.268-0960-0267. The information

required by this regulation is used by the Social Security

Administration to determine if an individual is entitled to special

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. The respondents are SSI

recipients whose payments were stopped based on earnings.

Number of Respondents: 60,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 3 minutes.

Estimated Average Burden: 3,000 hours.

II. The information collection listed below has been submitted to

OMB for clearance. Written comments and recommendations on this

information collection would be most useful if received within 30 days

from the date of this publication.

Social Security Card Fee Survey--0960-NEW. The Social Security

Administration (SSA) processes over 11 million applications per year

for replacement Social Security Number (SSN) cards. SSA is proposing to

conduct a survey of a random sample of applicants who request a

replacement SSN card to obtain information on reasons for replacing the

SSN card and willingness to pay a fee for a replacement card. SSA is

evaluating whether to charge a fee for replacement cards (other than

for a name change) and will use the information from the survey to

develop policy on when it would be appropriate to charge a fee for a

replacement SSN card.

Number of Respondents: 3,600.

Frequency of Response: Once.

Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 300 hours.

III. SSA is requesting emergency consideration from OMB by

September 30, 1999 of the information collections listed below. Written

comments and recommendations on these information collections would be

most useful if received prior to the date shown above.

1. Claimant's Recent Medical Treatment--0960-0282. Form SSA-4290 is

used by SSA to collect information from State or alternate providers of

vocational rehabilitation services regarding participation in a

rehabilitation program by an individual whose medical condition has

improved and whose participation has ceased. This information is

necessary to determine whether the individual's improved medical

condition meets the statutory requirements for continued eligibility

for benefit payments. The respondents are State Vocational

Rehabilitation agencies or alternate providers of vocational

rehabilitation services.

Number of Respondents: 8,000.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 2,000 hours.

2. Permanent Residence Under Color of Law (PRUCOL)-0960-0451.

Public Law 105-306, Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other

Technical Amendments Act of 1998, provided that nonqualified aliens who

were receiving SSI on August 22, 1996 would remain eligible for SSI as

long as all other requirements for eligibility were met (e.g., income

and resources, etc.). Section 416.1618 of the Code of Federal

Regulations requires nonqualified aliens to give SSA certain evidence

which proves that they are lawfully admitted to the United States, in

order to qualify for SSI benefits. PRUCOL aliens must present evidence

of their status at the time of application for SSI benefits and

periodically thereafter. The respondents are nonqualified aliens who

apply for or receive SSI benefits.

Number of Respondents: 9,000.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 750 hours.

SSA is also providing notice that it will submit this information

collection (OMB No. 0960-0451) for approval under the normal OMB

clearance process within 60 days from the date of this notice.

Therefore, comments received within 60 days will be considered in SSA's

request for extension of the OMB approval.

(SSA Address)

Social Security Administration, DCFAM, Attn: Frederick W. Brickenkamp,

6401 Security Blvd., 1-A-21 Operations Bldg., Baltimore, MD 21235.

(OMB Address)

Office of Management and Budget, OIRA, Attn: Lori Schack, Desk Officer

for SSA, New Executive Office Building, Room 10230, 725 17th St., NW,

Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: September 9, 1999.

Frederick W. Brickenkamp,

Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-24102 Filed 9-15-99; 8:45 am]

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