The final rule requires revisions to our existing information collections to enable SSA to directly pay entities fees we may authorize to their employees, and to register all entities who wish direct payment to register with us, using our revised, standardized registration system. For some sections in this rule, we previously accounted for the public reporting burdens under the following OMB approved information collections: 0960-0527 (SSA-1696 Claimantâs Appointment of a Representative, which allows an individual to appoint a representative, and requires the representativeâs agreement to serve as representative), 0960-0731 (SSA-1694, Request for Business Entity Taxpayer Information, which requests specific taxpayer data from representatives requesting a fee), and 0960 0732 (SSA-1699, Representative Registration, which requires the representatives to prove eligibility when they register with SSA and allows them to request a fee). Consequently, we are not reporting those sections here.
However, the application of the revisions under this final rule requires burden changes and information collection revisions to the currently approved information collections under the following information collection requests: 0960-0527 (SSA-1696, Claimantâs Appointment of a Representative, which allows an individual to appoint a representative, and requires the representativeâs agreement to serve as representative), 0960-0731 (SSA-1694, Request for Business Entity Taxpayer Information, which requests specific taxpayer data from representatives requesting a fee), and 0960 0732 (SSA-1699, Representative Registration, which requires the representatives to prove eligibility when they register with SSA and allows them to request a fee). We anticipate these revisions will increase the burdens for the affected information collections.
We published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on August 4, 2023, at 88 FR 51747. In that NPRM, we solicited comments under the PRA on the burden estimate; the need for the information; its practical utility; ways to enhance its quality, utility, and clarity; and on ways to minimize the burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The comments section of the final rule includes our responses to the PRA-related public comments we received under the NPRM.
Note: While this information collection request encompasses multiple information collection (IC) tools, not all of the ICs will become effective at the same time. We expect to make the SSA 1694 (OMB No. 0960-0731) and the SSA-1699 (OMB No. 0960-0732) effective on September 30, 2024. However, we expect to make the SSA-1696 (OMB No. 0960 0527) effective December 9, 2024. SSA is submitting a single new Information Collection Request which encompasses revisions to information collections currently under OMB Numbers 0960-0527, 0960-0731 and 0960-0732 to OMB for the approval of the changes due to the final rule. After approval at the final rule stage, we will adjust the figures associated with the current OMB numbers for these forms to reflect the new burden.
US Code:
42 USC 405
Name of Law: Social Security Law
The final rule increases the overall public reporting burden for these information collections. See the chart above for updated burden figures. As noted in questions #1 and #12 of the Supporting Statement (and in the Abstract section above), upon OMB approval of the final rule, we will update the burden figures in the associated information collections under 0960-0527, 0960-0731, and 0960-0732 to reflect these revised burdens.
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.
SSA-1694 (0960-0731) - 404.1735; 416.1535 - An entity is eligible for direct payment under certain circumstances