SSA conducts interviews with centenary
Title II beneficiaries and Title XVI recipients, and Medicare
Non-Utilization Project (MNUP) beneficiaries age 90 and older to:
(1) Assess if the beneficiaries are still living; (2) prevent fraud
through identity misrepresentation; and (3) evaluate the well-being
of the recipients. SSA field office personnel obtain the
information through one-time, in-person interviews with the
centenarians and MNUP beneficiaries. If the centenarians and MNUP
beneficiaries have representatives or caregivers, SSA personnel
invite them to the interviews. During these interviews, SSA
employees make overall observations of the centenarians, MNUP
beneficiaries, and their representative payees (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
interviews, will result in the suspension of the centenarians’ or
MNUP beneficiaries’ payments. SSA conducts the interviews either
over the telephone or through a face-to-face discussion with the
respondents. Respondents are SSI recipients or Social Security
beneficiaries 100 years old or older; MNUP beneficiaries; their
representative payees; or their caregivers.
US Code:
42
USC 405 Name of Law: The Social Security Act
US Code: 42
USC 1383 Name of Law: The Social Security Act
In 2010, SSA selected Title II
beneficiaries and Title XVI recipients ages 103 years and older for
the Centenarian Project. In 2012, SSA changed the age range to 100
years and older, and in 2014, we changed the Centenarian Project to
Title XVI recipients only. Since we only conduct these interviews
once, the population that still requires interviews continues to
decrease. Currently, our records show we only need to conduct 240
more Centenarian reviews. We consider these remaining 240
Centenarian reviews rollover cases. These rollovers consist of
Title II and Title XVI records where SSA staff has not, yet, made a
successful contact confirming life or providing a death report.
Upon completion of these rollover cases, we will discontinue the
Centenarian Project. We will notify OMB when the remaining 240
Centenarian rollovers are complete, as this will affect the burden
information in #12 above. The MNUP will continue as the official
Title II replacement for the Centenarian Project. Currently, our
records show 4,400 MNUP beneficiaries who require contact. Our
yearly selections identify beneficiaries who do not use their
Medicare over a period. Medicare usage fluctuates yearly, and this
influences our MNUP respondents. Additionally, since we only
conduct these interviews once per beneficiary, the population
requiring interviews decreases each year.
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.
Supporting Statement - 0780.docx
Medicare Non-utilization Project (MNUP)