Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form SSA-10-BK Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits - Paper Version	Form	Modified	Available
PCS Questions.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2019-02-26	Repair queued
Supporting Statement - 0004.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2019-02-26	Available
Addendum - 0004.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2019-02-26	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
8871	Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits - Paper Version	Form	Modified
44959	Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits - Modernized Claims System (MCS) and Preliminary Claims System (PCS)	Other-MCS Screens	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0960-0004	ICR Reference No: 201810-0960-018
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201612-0960-002
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/18/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 02/26/2019
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2022	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2019
Responses	521,039	0	455,554
Time Burden (Hours)	121,614	0	106,330
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: SSA needs information to make a formal determination for entitlement to widow(er)’s benefits. We use Form SSA-10-BK to determine whether an applicant meets the statutory and regulatory conditions for entitlement to widow(er)’s Title II benefits. SSA employees interview individuals applying for benefits either face-to-face or via telephone, and enter the information on the paper form, or into the Modernized Claims System (MCS) and the Preliminary Claims System (PCS). The respondents are applicants for Widow(er)’s Insurance Benefits.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 402 Name of Law: Social Security Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 62943	12/06/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 4597	02/15/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits - Paper Version	SSA-10-BK	Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits
Application for Widow's or Widower's Insurance Benefits - Modernized Claims System (MCS) and Preliminary Claims System (PCS)

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	521,039	455,554	0	0	65,485	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	121,614	106,330	0	0	15,284	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: When we last cleared this IC in 2016, the burden was 106,330 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 121,614 hours. This change stems from an increase in responses for the MCS version from 453,509 to 518,784, and an increase in responses for the paper version from 2,045 to 2,255. There is no change to the burden time per response. Although the number of responses changed, SSA did not take any actions to cause this change.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $4,669,332

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 02/26/2019

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