Expand the Definition of a
Public Assistance Household (NPRM) - RIN 0960-AI81
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
09/29/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
389,528
0
234,136
0
0
0
We administer the SSI program, which
provides monthly payments to: (1) adults and children with a
disability or blindness; and (2) adults aged 65 or older. Eligible
individuals must meet all the requirements in the Social Security
Act (Act), including having resources and income below specified
amounts. Since SSI is a needs-based program for those with limited
income and resources, SSA must consider the amount of income an
applicant or recipient has when determining whether that person is
eligible to receive SSI payments. If the individual is eligible,
their income is also a factor when SSA calculates the amount of
their monthly SSI payments. Specifically, once SSA determines an
individual is eligible for SSI, SSA determines the individual’s
monthly payment amount under section 20 CFR 416.1104 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) by subtracting the individual’s countable
monthly income from the Federal benefit rate (FBR), which is the
monthly maximum Federal SSI payment. Applicants’ and recipients’
resources may affect their SSI eligibility, while their income may
affect both their SSI eligibility and payment amounts. The Social
Security Act (Act) in section 42 USC 1382a, and our regulations in
in section 416.1110 defines income as “earned,” such as wages from
work, and in section 416.1120 defines all income that is not earned
as “unearned,” (e.g., gifted cash or in-kind support and
maintenance (ISM)). Like other forms of income, ISM can reduce the
amount of an applicant’s or recipient’s monthly SSI payment.
Because ISM requires that applicants or recipients receive food,
shelter, or both, by definition. Under our current regulations in
section 20 CFR 416.1130(b), ISM means any food or shelter that is
given to an individual or that the individual receives because
someone else pays for it. In addition to counting ISM that an
applicant or recipient receives, the current SSI program deems a
portion of the income of certain individuals to the SSI applicant
or recipient under section 42 U.S.C. 1382c(f) of the Act and as
codified under 20 CFR 416.1160. Our current regulations in section
416.1161(a) and (b) exclude from the deemed income of an ineligible
spouse or parent any public income maintenance (PIM) payments and
any income used to compute this payment. This exclusion also
applies to the income of an ineligible spouse or parent when used
to compute a PIM payment of someone else. Section 416.1142(a)
defines what we consider a public assistance household and lists
PIM payments. Under section 20 CFR 416.1142(a) of this rule, we
propose to expand the definition of “public assistance household”
to include SNAP, which we anticipate will allow for deeming for
more respondents under our revised ISM regulations. This proposed
policy will better reflect current means-tested benefit programs
and will simplify the development of living arrangements and ISM
policies. In addition, this proposal will also allow for higher
benefit payments to recipients, and therefore supports our goal of
enhancing equality in the programs we administer for all applicants
and recipients. We anticipate a 50% reduction in the number of
respondents under this rule, based on those who indicate they are
part of a Public Assistance Household and who may not need to
complete the follow-up forms SSA-L5062, SSA L5063, SSA-8006, and
SSA 8011. We also anticipate a small burden reduction per response
for the SSA-8006 (0960-0174) as respondents will not need to
develop the responses about their household. Respondents are
applicants for, or recipients of, Social Security disability
benefits (SSDI); SSI payments; or their representatives.
US Code:
42
USC 1382a Name of Law: Social Security Act
US Code: 42
USC 1382c(f) Name of Law: Social Security Act
The new proposed rule decreases
the overall public reporting burden for these information
collections. See question #12 for updated burden figures. As noted
in #1 and #12 above, upon OMB approval of the final rule, we will
update the burden figures in the associated information collections
under 0960-0174, 0960-0456, and 0960-0529 to reflect these revised
burdens. * Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 181,823,
while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is
88,820. This discrepancy is because the ROCIS burden reflects the
field office waiting time. In contrast, the chart in #12 of the
Supporting Statement reflects actual burden.
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.
Form SSA-L5063 0960-0529 SSA-L5063 (Paper version)
0960-NEW (PAHH NPRM ICR) - Addendum.docx
0960-0529 SSA-L5063 (SSI claim system)