Supporting Statement - 0780

Supporting Statement for Centenarian Project Development Worksheets:

Face-To-Face Interview; Telephone Interview;

20 CFR 416.204(b) and 422.135

OMB No. 0960-0780

A. Justification

1. Introduction/Authoring Laws and Regulations

The Social Security Administration (SSA) documents the results of interviews we conduct with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance beneficiaries who are 100 years old or older, and in current pay status. For this Centenarian Project, SSA contacts these beneficiaries to determine whether they are still alive, if they need a representative payee, or if they need a change in representative payees. We require this anti-fraud initiative to determine whether we are issuing improper payments and whether we need to establish or remove a representative payee. Sections 205(a)&(b) and 1631(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, corresponding to Sections 42 U.S.C. 405 and 42 U.S.C. 1383 of the United States Code, give SSA the authority to collect the information. Since these interviews may lead to changes within the recipient’s payments, 20 CFR 416.204(b) and 422.135 of the Code of Federal Regulations cover reports from beneficiaries and SSA’s policies for redeterminations.

2. Description of Collection

SSA conducts interviews with centenary title II beneficiaries and title XVI recipients age 100 and older to: (1) assess if the beneficiaries are still living; (2) to prevent fraud, through either identity misrepresentation or representative payee misuse of funds; and (3) to evaluate the well‑being of the beneficiaries. SSA field office personnel obtain the information through one-time interviews with the centenarians. If the centenarians have representatives or caregivers, SSA personnel invite them to the interviews. During the interview, SSA employees make overall observations of the centenarian and their representative payee (if applicable). The interviewer uses the appropriate Centenarian Development Worksheet as a guide for the interview, in addition to documenting findings during the interview. Non-completion of the Worksheets, or refusal of the interview, does not result in the suspension of the centenarian’s payments. SSA conducts the interview either over the telephone or through a face-to-face discussion with the centenarian. This is a national project for our title II beneficiaries and title XVI recipients. Respondents are SSI recipients or Social Security beneficiaries 100 years old or older, their representative payees, or their caregivers.

3. Use of Information Technology to Collect the Information

SSA employees document the outcome of the interviews on the paper Development Worksheets or key them directly into the Centenarian Project Website. We conduct a telephone interview or a face-to-face interview at the centenarian’s residence or in a field office. SSA employees print the appropriate Development Worksheet from the Centenarian Project Website to use during the interview.

4. Why We Cannot Use Duplicate Information

The nature of the information we are collecting and the manner in which we collect it preclude duplication. SSA does not use another collection instrument to obtain similar data.

5. Minimizing Burden on Small Respondents

This collection does not significantly affect small businesses or other small entities.

6. Consequence of Not Collecting Information or Collecting it Less Frequently

The consequences of not conducting these interviews are two-fold: 1) SSA would have no means to confirm if the centenarian is in need of a representative payee or a change in payee; and 2) SSA would not know if the individual is actually deceased, and someone else is committing fraud by cashing the monthly payment we send. Because we collect the information only once per centenarian we cannot collect it less frequently. There are no technical or legal obstacles to prevent burden reduction.

7. Special Circumstances

There are no special circumstances that would cause SSA to conduct this information collection in a manner inconsistent with 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. Solicitation of Public Comment and Other Consultations with the Public

The 60-day advance Federal Register Notice published on December 28, 2012, at 77 FR 76591, and we received no public comments. SSA published the second Notice on March 20, 201, at 78 FR 17276. If we receive comments in response to the 30-day Notice, we will forward them to OMB.

9. Payment or Gifts to Respondents

SSA does not provide payment or gifts to the respondents.

10. Assurances of Confidentiality

SSA protects and holds confidential information it collects in accordance with 42 U. S. C. 1306, 20 CFR 401 and 402, 5 U. S. C. 552 (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S. C. 552a (Privacy Act of 1974), and OMB Circular No. A-130.

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions

The information collection does not contain any questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Estimates of Public Reporting Burden

SSA estimates we interview approximately 22,000 centenarian cases nationally. We estimate 15 minutes as the average burden per Centenarian Development Worksheet for 5,500 total burden hours. SSA conducts only one interview per centenarian, using the most appropriate Worksheet based on whom we interview, and how we conduct the interview. The total burden for this ICR is 5,500 hours. This figure represents burden hours, and SSA did not calculate a separate cost burden.

13. Annual Cost to the Respondents (Other)

This collection does not impose a known cost burden to the respondents.

14. Annual Cost To Federal Government

The annual cost to the Federal Government is approximately $185,573. This estimate is a projection of the costs for printing the Centenarian Development Worksheets, visiting the centenarian, and filling out the appropriate Worksheet.

15. Program Changes or Adjustments to the Information Collection Request

We increased the public reporting burden as we lowered the age criterion for this program to 100 years or older. This programmatic change increases the respondent pool.

15. Plans for Publication Information Collection Results

SSA will not publish the results of the information collection.

15. Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date

SSA is not requesting an exception to the requirement to display an expiration date.

15. Exceptions to Certification Statement

SSA is not requesting an exception to the certification requirements at 5 CFR 1320.9 and related provisions at 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

SSA does not use statistical methods for this information collection.

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