SF2808_OMBSupportingStmt_2020_12_30

OMB SUPPORTING STATEMENT

SF 2808 – Designation of Beneficiary Under the Civil Service Retirement System

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

Title 5, U. S. Code, Chapter 83, Section 8342 provides that a Federal employee or an annuitant may designate a beneficiary to receive the lump sum payment due from the Civil Service Retirement System in the event of death. Standard Form 2808 is the document used to establish the designation.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requests that OMB renew a previously-approved information collection with minor revisions, control number 3206-0142. This information is collected by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), to determine the proper payee after the respondent dies. If a Standard Form 2808 is not on file, the payee is determined by the order of precedence stated in title 5, U. S. Code, Chapter 83, section 8342(c).

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

New methods of information technology would do little to reduce the burden on the respondents. The information collected is detailed and can only be obtained from the respondents. However, this form is available on our website in a pdf fillable format and meets our GPEA requirement.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

All designations are filed individually. There is no duplication because the respondents initiate the collection.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (Item 5 of OMB Form 83-I), describe any methods used to minimize.

This collection of information does not impact small businesses or other small entities.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal/DHS program or policy activities if the collection of information is not conducted, or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Information is collected at the request of the person wishing to designate. Less frequent collection would deny the right to designate provided by title 5, U. S. Code, Section 8342.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

•requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

•requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records, for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

The collection is consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. Federal Register Notice: Provide a copy and identify the date and page number of the publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB.

On March 23, 2020, a 60 Day Federal Register Notice was published at 85 FR 16390 requesting comments. The following comment was received for this collection: “Request that OPM include a clause to allow employees and witnesses to sign this form using their electronic signature PIV/CAC card for continuity of operations, and to aid OPM in electronically processing retirement claims. Also, recommend that OPM permit agencies to certify for employees as most agencies still have a significant number of CSRS employees for continuity of operations.” Our response is as follows: “During this pandemic, the continuity of operations has remained smooth in Retirement Services where employees have found and continue to find ways to keep performing their duties during these unprecedented times. OPM is releasing a Benefits Administrative Letter (BAL) providing guidance on submitting retirement applications during COVID-19 operations. The BAL will be posted on OPM’s webpage soon. We’re not currently considering permanent changes due to COVID-19.” No changes were made at this time.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift is provided to these respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

This information collection is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974 and OPM regulations

(5 CFR 831.106). The routine uses for disclosure appear in the Federal Register for

OPM/Central-1 (73 FR 15013, et seq., March 20, 2008).

1. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

This information collection does not include questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement

should:

a. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desired. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

b. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.
c. Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections
of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 14.

Approximately 2,000 of these designations are processed annually. The form requires about 15 minutes to complete. The annual burden is 500 hours. Response time is not expected to vary substantially.

Form Name	Form Number	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per Respondent	Average Burden per Response (in hours)	Total Annual Burden (in hours)	Average Hourly Wage Rate	Total Annual Respondent Cost
Designation of Beneficiary Under the CSRS	SF 2808	2,000	1	.25	500	$5.38	$13,450.00

The Total Annual Respondent Cost is $13,450.00.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers

resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden

shown in Items 12 and 14.)

The cost estimate should be split into two components: (1) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection as appropriate.

Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information to keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

There is no cost to the respondent.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description

of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours,

operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing and support staff), and any

other expense that would have been incurred without this collection of information. You

may also aggregate cost estimates for Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

The annualized cost to the Federal government is $8,550. This cost was determined by employee salary hours devoted to the program, forms cost, and overhead.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of

the OMB Form 83-I. Changes in hour burden, i.e., program changes or adjustments made to

annual reporting and recordkeeping hour and cost burden. A program change is the result

of deliberate Federal government action. All new collections and any subsequent revisions

of existing collections (e.g., the addition or deletion of questions) are recorded as program

changes. An adjustment is a change that is not the result of a deliberate Federal government

action. These changes that result from new estimates or actions not controllable by the

Federal government are recorded as adjustments.

This currently approved information collection has been revised to update: (1) how we display the OMB control number and (2) the revision date. The Public Burden Statement meets the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3). The Privacy Act Statement has been revised due to a systematic review by our Chief Privacy Officer.

There are no hour and cost burden changes.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation

and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the

time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection

of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

The results of this information collection are not published.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information

collection, explain reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The Retirement Services program office is the lone processor of the data collected on these ICRs from approximately 2.8 million customers. The substance of each information collection does not substantively change at each OMB renewal cycle, but according to changes in law and regulation. These forms are printed and published (internet, intranet and on-board systems) through various agencies for distribution to and implementation by Government customers. Pursuant to title 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(1), it would not be appropriate to display the OMB clearance expiration date where the form will not be revised for the foreseeable future (e.g., because it is used to collect applicant, annuitant, or beneficiary information required by long-standing statutory provisions), where use of the paper form is prevalent, and where, accordingly, it will be expensive and burdensome to restock the paper forms inventory with a new version. Last year, under current practice, Retirement Services printed approximately 2 million documents subject to OMB clearance at a cost of approximately $85,000. Our costs would rise substantially if additional revision cycles are added. Lastly, by adding the OMB clearance expiration date to the existing format, the end users of OPM’s ICRs may erroneously assume that the expiration date affects the validity of the information collection when it is the OMB clearance expiration date and not reflective of the substance. This may lead to additional submissions by customers, possible litigation and increasing pressures on our Operations workloads. Therefore, we seek approval to not display the OMB clearance expiration date on the forms and to communicate version changes to the public via the revision date. The results of this collection are not published.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 “Certification for
Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions,” of OMB Form 83-I.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.