Justification for Non-Substantive Changes - 0824

Justification for Non-Substantive Changes for

Social Security Administration (SSA) COVID-19 Symptoms Screener for Hearings

20 CFR 404.929, 404.933, 416.1429, 416.1433, 418.1350, and 422.203

OMB No. 0960-0824

Justification for Non-Substantive Changes to the Collection

We are making the following revisions to the COVID-19 Procedures Notice:

• Change #1: We revised the language in the Before the Hearing Section:
  
  From:

• Please review the COVID-19 health-screening checklist located at www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_inperson.html. If you do not have access to the internet, please call your local hearing office at the telephone number at the top of this notice for an explanation of the self-screening questions. Please call the office right away if you answer yes to any of the health screening questions.

NOTE: The COVID-19 health-screening checklist must be completed no more than 24 hours before your scheduled hearing.

• If you want to review your file before your hearing, you must call the hearing office at the number at the top of this notice to make arrangements.

• Please be on time for your hearing, but please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your hearing time. We are limiting the number of people who can be in our public reception areas. Therefore, we may ask you to wait outside until others leave the office.

• Generally, only you and your appointed representative, if you have one, may enter the office. If you need another person with you including a witness to provide evidence or information that supports your case, please call the hearing office at the number shown at the top of this notice to make arrangements.

• Please note that representative/claimant rooms are not available.

• You may be asked to wear a face mask while in our office including during the hearing. If you are unable to wear a face mask, please contact our office right away to make alternate arrangements for your hearing.

To:

• For the most up to date information on what to expect when visiting our hearing offices please visit our website, www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_inperson.html. If you do not have access to the internet, please call the hearing office at the telephone number at the top of the notice of hearing.

• 24 hours prior to your scheduled hearing, you can access the COVID-19 health screening questions through the COVID-19 Check-In tool using a computer, smartphone, or tablet at http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/checkin.html or by scanning the Quick Response (QR) Code below.

o How to scan a QR code with the Camera app:

■ Open the Camera app

■ Select the rear facing camera. Hold your device so that the QR code appears in the viewfinder in the Camera app. Your device recognizes the QR code and shows a notification.

■ Tap the notification to open the link associated with the QR code.

• The COVID-19 health-screening questions are also located at

www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_inperson.html. If you do not wish to use the COVID-19 Check-In tool using an electronic device, you can call your local hearing office at the telephone number at the top of your Notice of Hearing to complete the COVID-19 health screening questions the business day before your scheduled hearing.

• If you want to review your file before your hearing, you must call the hearing office at the number at the top of this notice to make arrangements.

• Please be on time for your hearing, but please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your hearing time. We are limiting the number of people who can be in our public reception areas. Therefore, we may ask you to wait outside until others leave the office.

• Generally, only you and your appointed representative, if you have one, may enter the office. If you need another person with you including a witness to provide evidence or information that supports your case, please call the hearing office at the number shown at the top of this notice to make arrangements.

• Please note that representative/claimant rooms are not available.

• You are required to wear a face mask at all times while in the office including during the hearing. If you are unable to wear a face mask, please contact our office right away to make alternate arrangements for your hearing.

Justification #1: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

• Change #2: We revised the language in the On the Day of the Hearing Section:

From:

• Be sure you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and call the number at the top of this notice right away if you do.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are limiting the number of people who can be in our public reception areas. Therefore, please be prepared to wait outside the office.

• Be prepared to wear a face mask throughout your visit.

• Adhere to signage requiring physical distancing.

To:

• Be sure you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and call the number at the top of this notice right away if you do.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are limiting the number of people who can be in our public reception areas. Therefore, please be prepared to wait outside the office.

• You must wear a face mask at all times while in the office.

• Adhere to signage requiring physical distancing.

Justification #2: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

We are making the following revisions to the COVID-19 Screener Screens:

• Change #3: We revised Question #1:

From:

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

To:

Do you have any new or worsening symptoms of Covid-19 including:

Justification #3: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

• Change #4: We revised the bullets under Question #1:

From:

• Cough or sore throat

• Fever (100.4 degrees or higher)

• Chills

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Muscle pain or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

To:

• Fever (100.4 degrees or higher);

• Cough or sore throat;

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;

• Fatigue;

• Muscle pain or body aches;

• Headache;

• New loss of taste or smell;

• Congestion or runny nose; or

• Nausea, Vomiting, or diarrhea

Justification #4: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

• Change #5: We revised Question #2:

From:

In the last 14 days, have you:

To:

Have you:

Within the last 10 days:

Justification #5: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

• Change #6: We revised the bullets under Question #2, and added a definition of close physical contact:

From:

• Been diagnosed with Covid-19;

• Received instructions to monitor for symptoms or self-quarantine;

• Traveled outside the country by means other than land travel, such as car, bus, ferry, or train; or

• Been within 6 feet of a person who was diagnosed with Covid-19?

To:

• Been diagnosed with Covid-19;

• Received instructions from a public health authority (local authority, medical professional, etc.) to self-monitor for symptoms of Covid-19 or self-quarantine due to Covid-19;

• Been tested for Covid-19 and are awaiting the results (other than for travel purposes); or

• Been in close physical contact with anyone who was diagnosed with Covid-19 or developed symptoms consistent with Covid-19?

Close physical contact is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected/symptomatic person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 48 hours before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic individuals, 48 hours prior to test specimen collection).

Justification #6: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

• Change #7: We added an additional question to Question #2:

Within the last 5 days:

• Traveled outside the country by means other than land travel, such as car, bus, ferry, or train?

Justification #7: We are making these changes to align with reopening screening signage posted on our offices. We want all screening language to be consistent.

We will implement these changes upon OMB approval.

These actions do not affect the public reporting burden.