SSA's Public Credentialing and Authentication Process

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Supporting Statement 0960-0789.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2023-11-16	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
249420	mySocial Security Supplemental Security Income Change of Telephone (SSICOT)	Other-Internet Screens	Removed
242067	USPS Pilot Intranet Registration (RCS)	Other-Intranet Screens	Removed
239638	Internet Sign-Ins	Other-Internet Screens	Modified
197897	Intranet Registration (RCS)	Other-Intranet Screens	Modified
197896	Internet Registrations	Other-Internet Screens	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0960-0789	ICR Reference No: 202311-0960-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202310-0960-003
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: SSA's Public Credentialing and Authentication Process
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 02/28/2024
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 11/17/2023
Terms of Clearance: Any previous terms of clearance remain in effect.

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2027	36 Months From Approved	02/29/2024
Responses	136,832,911	0	137,185,311
Time Burden (Hours)	3,684,290	0	3,868,019
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Social Security Administration's citizen authentication process enables a new user experience and access to more electronic services. Authentication is the foundation for secure, online transactions. Identity authentication is the process of determining, with confidence, that someone is who he or she claims to be during a remote, automated session. It comprises three distinct factors: something you know, something you have, and something you are. Single-factor authentication uses one of the factors, and multi-factor authentication uses two or more of the factors. Social Security's process features credential issuance, account management, and single- and multi-factor authentication. We allow our users to maintain one User ID, which consists of a self-selected Username and Password, to access multiple Social Security electronic services. This process provides the means for authenticating users of Social Security's sensitive electronic services and streamlines access to those services. The respondents are individuals who choose to use the Internet or Automated Telephone Response System to conduct business with SSA.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 5 USC 552a Name of Law: The Privacy Act of 1974
   PL: Pub.L. 107 - 347 301 Name of Law: E-Government Act of 2002
   US Code: 42 USC 405 Name of Law: The Social Security Act
   US Code: 26 USC 6103(l)(1)(A) Name of Law: Internal Revenue Code
   US Code: 5 USC 552 Name of Law: Freedom of Information 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:
	88 FR 62136	09/08/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 78443	11/15/2023
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Internet Registrations
Internet Sign-Ins
Intranet Registration (RCS)
USPS Pilot Intranet Registration (RCS)
mySocial Security Supplemental Security Income Change of Telephone (SSICOT)

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list 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	136,832,911	137,185,311	0	-352,400	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,684,290	3,868,019	0	-159,020	-24,709	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: When we last cleared this IC in 2020, the burden was 2,256,275 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 3,662,327 hours. This increase in burden hours stems from the continuing expansion of our online services and the increase in the number of individuals who register for a credential so they can come online to do business with us. Eventually, this identity verification, public credentialing, and authentication process will absorb and replace the existing authentication collections under OMB Control Numbers 0960-0596 and 0960-0626. We plan to accomplish this work through a series of annual releases. The future releases will reduce the burdens in the other existing authentication collections. We will continue to prepare change requests for the other existing authentication collections, as needed. * Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 3,684,290, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 3,662,327. 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: $29,227,142

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: 11/17/2023

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