When self-employed workers submit earnings data to SSA, they cannot count rental income from a farm they own unless they demonstrate "material participation" in that farm's operation. A material participation arrangement means the farm owners who are seeking to have earnings counted by SSA must perform a combination of physical duties, management decisions, and capital investment in the farm they are renting out. In such cases SSA uses form SSA-7157, the Farm Arrangement Questionnaire, to document material participation. The respondents are workers who are renting farm land to other people but who are involved in the operation of the farm, and want to claim countable income from their work there.
US Code:
42 USC 411
Name of Law: Social Security Act
When we last cleared this IC in 2017, the burden was 1,152 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 331 hours. This change stems a decrease increase in the number of responses from 2,304 to 662. 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. These figures represent current Management Information data
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.