Notification of a Social Security Number (SSN) to an Employer for Wage Reporting
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved without change
03/07/2025
01/14/2025
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2028
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2025
361,902
0
124,668
367,934
0
10,389
0
0
0
Individuals applying for employment must provide an SSN or indicate they have applied for one. However, when an individual applies for an initial SSN, there is a delay between the assignment of the number and the delivery of the SSN card. At an individual's request, SSA uses Form SSA-132 to send the individual's SSN to an employer. Mailing this information to the employer (1) ensures the employer has the correct SSN for the individual; (2) allows SSA to receive correct earnings information for wage reporting purposes; and (3) reduces the delay in the initial SSN assignment and delivery of the SSN information directly by SSA to the employer. It also enables SSA to verify the employer as a safeguard for the applicant's personally identifiable information. The majority of individuals who take advantage of this option are in the United States with exchange visitor and student visas; however, we allow any applicant for an SSN to use the SSA-132. The respondents are individuals applying for an initial SSN who ask SSA to mail confirmation of their application or the SSN to their employers.
US Code:
42 USC 405
Name of Law: Evidence, procedure and certification for payments
When we last cleared this IC in 2021, the burden was 10,389 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 30,159 hours. This change stems from an increase in the number of responses from 124,668 to 361,902. In FY 2023, SSA enumerated approximately 361,902 foreign students and exchange visitors. Absent any mechanism that measures the number of individuals who utilize form SSA-132, we use this figure as the number of respondents for the reporting burden (assuming that every foreign student and exchange visitor needs to complete Form SSA-132, otherwise they would not have their newly requested SSN fast enough). SSA did not change the burden per response.
* Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 367,934, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 30,159. 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 + learning costs. 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.