Agency Information Collection Activities: 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 a revision and an extension 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, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email address: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.

(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 www.regulations.gov,, referencing Docket ID Number [SSA-2015-0020].

SSA submitted the information collections below to OMB for clearance. Your comments regarding the 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 May 22, 2015. Individuals can obtain copies of the OMB clearance package by writing to OR.Reports.Clearance@ssa.gov.

1. Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary—20 CFR 404.503(b)—0960-0101. When a Social Security payment was due to a deceased beneficiary at the time of death and there is insufficient information in the file to identify the persons(s) entitled to the payment or the person's address, SSA asks the surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal representative of the estate to complete Form SSA-1724, Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Social Security Recipient. SSA collects the information when a surviving widow(er) 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 from Form SSA-1724 to ensure proper payment of an underpayment due a deceased beneficiary. The respondents are applicants for underpayments owed to deceased beneficiaries.

This is a correction notice. SSA published this information collection as a revision on February 10, 2015 at 80 FR 2521. Since we are no longer revising the information collection, this is now an extension of an OMB-approved information collection.

Type of Request: Extension of an OMB-approved information collection.

2. Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits—20 CFR 404.421—0960-0398. SSA cannot pay reduced Social Security benefits to an already entitled spouse unless the spouse elects to receive reduced benefits and is (1) at least age 62, but under full retirement age; and (2) no longer is caring for a child. In this situation, spouses who decide to elect reduced benefits must file Form SSA-25, Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits. SSA uses the information to pay qualified spouses who elect to receive reduced benefits. Respondents are entitled spouses seeking reduced Social Security benefits.

Type of Request: Revision of an OMB approved information collection.