Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form SSA-25 Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits	Form	Modified	Available
Form SSA-25 Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	Form	Modified	Repair queued
Addendum - 0398 (Final).docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2021-09-10	Available
Addendum - 0398 (Final).docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2021-09-10	Repair queued
Supporting Statement - 0398 (Clean Copy).docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2022-04-08	Available
Supporting Statement - 0398 (Final).docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2021-09-10	Repair queued

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
9256	Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	Form	Modified	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits
9256	Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	Form	Modified
9256	Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	Other-Revised Privacy Act Statement	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0960-0398	ICR Reference No: 202107-0960-008
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201804-0960-001
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 07/20/2023
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 09/10/2021
Terms of Clearance: The agency made clarifying edits to the description and burden estimate in the supporting statement. Six months prior to re-submission for triennial renewal, the agency will provide OMB a brief update on efforts to digitize this information collection.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2026	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2023
Responses	30,000	0	30,000
Time Burden (Hours)	6,500	0	1,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Reduced benefits are to payable to an already entitled spouse, at least age 62 but under full retirement age, who no longer has a child in their care unless the spouse elects to receive reduced benefits. If spouses decide to elect reduced benefits, they complete Form SSA-25. SSA uses the information to pay qualified spouses who elect to receive reduced benefits. Respondents are entitled spouses seeking reduced benefits.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 402 (q)(5)(A) 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:
	86 FR 40221	07/27/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 49403	09/02/2021
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
Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	SSA-25	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits

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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	30,000	30,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,500	1,000	0	0	5,500	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 2018, the burden was 1,000 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 6,500 hours. This change stems from an increase in the completion time from 2 minutes to 13 minutes, as we determined it takes longer to read and fill out the form. These figures represent current Management Information data. * Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 33,500, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 6,500. This discrepancy is because the ROCIS burden reflects the following components: field office waiting time + a rough estimate of a 30-minute, one-way, drive burden. In contrast, the chart in #12 of the Supporting Statement reflects actual burden.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $170,695

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: 09/10/2021

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