SSA conducts interviews with centenary title II beneficiaries and title XVI recipients age 100 and older, or title II beneficiaries ages 90-99 who do not use their Medicare benefits for an extended period and who lack private insurance, a health maintenance organization (HMO), or a nursing home (which may indicate the individual is deceased) 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 these individuals. If the individuals have representatives or caregivers, SSA personnel invite them to the interviews. During the interview, SSA employees make overall observations of the individual and their representative payee (if applicable). The interviewer uses the appropriate 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 individual's payments. SSA conducts the interview either over the telephone or through a face-to-face discussion with the individual. 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; Social Security beneficiaries between the ages of 90-99 who are not utilizing their Medicare benefits and lack private insurance, an HMO, or nursing home; their representative payees; or their caregivers.
This non-substantive Change Request expands the current program to include the Medicare Non-Utilization Project (MNUP). See Justification for the Non-Substantive Changes for further information.
US Code:
42 USC 405
Name of Law: The Social Security Act
US Code:
42 USC 1383
Name of Law: The Social Security Act
We are increasing the scope of this project to include the Medicare Non-Utilization Project (MNUP). For MNUP we will contact beneficiaries ages 90 through 99, and interview them using the same process as we do for the current Centenarian Project (see Justification for the Non-Substantive Changes for more information).
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.
Justification for Non-Substantive Changes - 0780.doc
Medicare Non-utilization Project (MNUP)