No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
No
Regular
10/06/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2026
02/28/2026
32,722
32,722
21,975
21,975
0
0
To obtain a certificate of coverage, SSA requires the worker or employer to write to SSA and provide personally identifiable information and details of employment. The information required to issue a certificate differs depending on the agreement negotiated with a particular country. As a result, SSA created 30 forms for each agreement corresponding to the 30 countries with which we have agreements. The forms require respondents to provide personally identifiable information about the worker; the employer; and residential locations for the worker and employer. Some of the questions include the applicantâs name, U.S. Social Security number, date of birth, country of birth, country of citizenship, country of permanent residence, date of hire, country of hire, beginning and ending date of work assignment in the foreign country, the employer, and residential location in the U.S. and abroad. The respondents are U.S. citizens and residents who wish to work in a foreign country, and their employers.
We are making non-substantive changes to modify our 30 Totalization informational brochures from a .PDF format to an online unified website and to modify the display hyperlink for accessing the Certificate of Coverage collection form is displayed as a button located at the top of the webpage (for easier access).
US Code:
42 USC 433
Name of Law: Social Security Act
When we last cleared this IC in 2019, the burden was 56,556 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 21,975 hours. This change stems a decrease in the number of responses from 84,473 to 36,722, due to a decrease in respondents traveling and working in other countries because of the pandemic. 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.
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.
Justification for Non-Substantive Changes 0960-0554.docx
Certificate of Coverage Request via Letter - Individuals (minus Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden & Uruguay)