Supporting Statement for Form SSA-2574
Information About Joint Checking/Savings Account
20 CFR 416.120, 416.1208
A. Justification
Introduction/Authoring Laws and Regulations
Section 1611(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (Act) states individuals may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments if their resources do not exceed a specified amount. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a person’s resources when evaluating eligibility for SSI. Items such as checking and savings accounts are countable resources under 20 CFR 416.1201 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Generally, we consider funds in checking and savings accounts resources owned by the individuals whose names appear on the accounts (20 CFR 416.1208). However, individuals applying for SSI may rebut this assumption of ownership in a joint account if they submit certain evidence establishing the funds do not belong to them. Section 1631(e) of the Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)), authorizes SSA to collect the rebuttal information from SSI applicants/recipients who object to our assumption they own all or part of the funds in a joint checking or savings account bearing their name.
Description of Collection
SSA uses Form SSA-2574 to collect information about checking/savings accounts from both the SSI applicants/recipients and any other account holder(s) listed on the account. After receiving the completed form, SSA can determine if we should consider the account as a resource for the SSI applicant/recipient. We use Form SSA-2574 to obtain the information by personal interview or by mail from the SSI applicant/recipient and from the joint owner of the account. The respondents may complete the form by themselves or with help from SSA employees. SSA conducts this information collection on an "as needed" basis when SSI applicants/recipients wish to rebut our assumption of joint ownership of financial accounts bearing their names. Respondents are SSI applicants and recipients, and individuals who list themselves as joint owners of financial accounts with SSI applicants/recipients.
Use of Information Technology to Collect the Information
In most situations, we obtain the information requested on the SSA-2574 while taking the individual’s statement and recording it in our Modernized SSI Claims System (MSSICS). We estimate approximately 75 percent respond electronically. We use the paper SSA-2574 for cases we cannot process through MSSICS and in situations where the form is the most efficient means of collecting the information. The paper form is available as print-only on the SSA’s internal website.
Why We Cannot Use Duplicate Information
The nature of the information we are collecting and the manner in which we are collecting it preclude duplication. SSA does not use another collection instrument to obtain similar data.
Minimizing Burden on Small Respondents
This collection does not affect small businesses or other small entities.
6. Consequence of Not Collecting Information or Collecting it Less Frequently
If we did not collect this information, there would be a high risk of incorrect SSI eligibility and payment determinations. Not collecting this information would prevent us from making accurate determinations regarding eligibility as required by statute. Collection of the information takes place based upon the need of the individual to apply for or reaffirm eligibility for SSI; therefore, we cannot collect it less frequently. There are no technical or legal obstacles to 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.
Solicitation of Public Comment and Other Consultations with the Public
SSA published the 60-day advance Federal Register Notice on December 28, 2012 at 77 FR 76591, and we received no public comments. SSA published the second Notice on March 20, 2013, at 78 FR 17276. If we receive any public comments in response to our second Notice, we will forward them to OMB. There have been no outside consultations with members of the public.
Payment or Gifts to Respondents
SSA does not provide payments or gifts to the respondents.
Assurances of Confidentiality
SSA protects and holds confidential the information we collect 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.
Justification for Sensitive Questions
The information collection does not contain any questions of a sensitive nature.
Estimates of Public Reporting Burden
We estimate 200,000 respondents per year will spend 7 minutes each completing the information via interview or paper form.
Modality of Completion |
Number of Respondents |
Frequency of Response |
Response Time (minutes) |
Burden (hours) |
Paper version |
50,000 |
1 |
7 |
5,833 |
Intranet version (MSSICS) |
150,000 |
1 |
7 |
17,500 |
Totals |
200,000 |
|
|
23,333 |
The total burden is 23,333 hours. This figure represents burden hours, and we did not calculate a separate cost burden.
13. Annual Cost to the Respondents (Other)
This collection does not impose a known cost burden on the respondents.
Annual Cost To Federal Government
The annual cost to the Federal Government is approximately $848,050. This estimate is a projection of the costs for printing and distributing the collection instrument and for collecting the information.
15. Program Changes or Adjustments to the Information Collection Request
There are no changes to the public reporting burden.
16. Plans for Publication Information Collection Results
SSA will not publish the results of the information collection.
17. Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date
OMB granted SSA an exemption from the requirement to print the OMB expiration date on its program forms. SSA produces millions of public-use forms with life cycles exceeding those of an OMB approval. Since SSA does not periodically revise and reprint its public-use forms (e.g., on an annual basis), OMB granted this exemption so SSA would not have to destroy stocks of otherwise useable forms with expired OMB approval dates, avoiding Government waste.
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.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Title of Information Collection and Form Number(s) |
| Author | Naomi |
| Last Modified By | 889123 |
| File Modified | 2013-03-20 |
| File Created | 2012-12-13 |