Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Addendum 0395.docx Supplementary Document	2020-08-25
Supporting Statement 0395.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-08-25

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
9252	Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire Other-Paperwork Reduction Act Statement Revised	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0960-0395	ICR Reference No: 202008-0960-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201702-0960-001
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/25/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	21,540	90,000
Time Burden (Hours)	2,872	12,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: SSA collects information on the SSA 150 to determine the correct formula to use in computing the Social Security benefit for someone who receives a pension from employment not covered by Social Security. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) requires use of a benefit formula that replaces a smaller percentage of a worker's pre-retirement earnings. However, the resulting amount cannot show a difference in the benefit computed using the modified and regular formulas greater than one-half the amount of the pension received in the first month an individual is entitled to both the pension and the Social Security benefit. The SSA-150 collects the information needed to make all the necessary benefit computations. SSA requires the respondents to furnish the information on form SSA-150 so we can calculate their benefits using the data they supply. SSA will calculate the benefits of applicants that do not respond to this questionnaire using the full WEP reduction. SSA employees collect this information once from the applicant at the time they file their claim. The respondents are applicants for old age and disability benefits.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 415 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:
	85 FR 34703	06/05/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 51536	08/20/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire	SSA-150	Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	21,540	90,000	0	0	-68,460	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,872	12,000	0	0	-9,128	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 2017, the burden was 90,000 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 21,540 hours. This change stems a decrease in the number of responses from 12,000 to 2,872. 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

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,414,276

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? No

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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: 08/25/2020

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