Individuals applying for employment must provide an SSN or indicate they have applied for one. However, when an individual applies for an initial SSN, there is a delay between the assignment of the number and the delivery of the SSN card. At an individual's request, SSA uses Form SSA-132 to send the individual's SSN to an employer. Mailing this information to the employer (1) ensures the employer has the correct SSN for the individual; (2) allows SSA to receive correct earnings information for wage reporting purposes; and (3) reduces the delay in the initial SSN assignment and delivery of the SSN information directly by SSA to the employer. It also enables SSA to verify the employer as a safeguard for the applicant's personally identifiable information. The majority of individuals who take advantage of this option are in the United States with exchange visitor and student visas; however, we allow any applicant for an SSN to use the SSA-132. The respondents are individuals applying for an initial SSN who ask SSA to mail confirmation of their application or the SSN to their employers.
US Code:
42 USC 405
Name of Law: Evidence, procedure and certification for payments
We decreased the public reporting burden to reflect the updated burden data we have for FY 2011. In FY 2011, SSA enumerated approximately 249,000 foreign students (F1) and exchange visitors (J1). Absent any mechanism that measures the number of individuals that utilize form SSA-132, we use this figure as the number of respondents for the reporting burden (assuming that every F1 and J1 needed to complete Form SSA-132). This is consistent with how we calculated and reported the number of respondents previously.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.