New Applicant Survey (NAS)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Attachment A-10 Text-Email-Voicemail Messages 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-9 Fourth Mailing to Nonrespondents 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-8 Third Mailing to Nonrespondents 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-7 Second Mailing to All Applicants 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-6 Enclosure with List of Resources.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-4 First Mailing to All Applicants 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-3 Email to ARs 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Attachment A-2 Email to ARs from AR Associations 06172024.docx Supplementary Document	2024-11-08
Supporting Statement Part B - 0960-NEW (NAS).docx Supporting Statement B	2024-11-07
Supporting Statement Part A - 0960-NEW (NAS).docx Supporting Statement A	2024-11-08

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
272261	Telephone Survey (including informed consent and screener) Other-New Applicant Survey Questionnaire	New
272260	Paper Survey (including informed consent and screener) Other-New Applicant Survey Questionnaire	New
272241	Internet Survey (including informed consent and screener) Other-New Applicant Survey Questionnaire	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202405-0960-008
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: New Applicant Survey (NAS)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 11/08/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	10,000	0
Time Burden (Hours)	5,959	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides income assistance to more than 13 million working-age adults and children with disabilities through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. The objective of the New Applicant Survey (NAS) is to provide SSA’s Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support (ORDES) with information about recent applicants’ experience at different stages or touchpoints in the disability application process. SSA will use findings from the survey to inform testable policy interventions to improve the application experience for applicants. SSA will use this survey to answer the following research qestions: 1. What are the pre- and post-application employment experiences of awarded and denied SSDI and SSI applicants? 2. What employment-, vocational-, medical-, or income-related services and supports did applicants use leading up to and since application? 3. What sources of information about SSDI or SSI did the applicant use or have access to? 4. What were the applicants’ experiences with representation during the application or post-application periods? To accommodate respondent preferences, the survey will make available three versions of the instrument: web, telephone, and paper. The survey asks questions that focus on the applicant’s experience with different aspects of the application process. This information is not available in SSA program records. As described in Part B of this ICR request, the survey will collect data from 10,000 new applicants at different touchpoints in the application process to understand applicant experiences at each stage and obtain the information needed to address the research questions. The information collected from this survey will be used by SSA to understand applicants’ experiences at different stages in the application process, the types of SSA services applicants accessed, and changes to the application process that could potentially improve applicants’ experience. The respondents are adults who have applied for Social Security disability benefits.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

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:
	89 FR 67141	08/19/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 84431	10/22/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Internet Survey (including informed consent and screener)
Paper Survey (including informed consent and screener)
Telephone Survey (including informed consent and screener)

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	10,000	0	0	10,000	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,959	0	0	5,959	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new data collection that increases the public reporting burden. See #12 above for updated burden figures.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,262,107

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: 11/08/2024

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