The Social Security Act requires individuals who represent a claimant before the agency and want to receive a fee for their services to obtain SSAâs authorization of the fee. One way to obtain the authorization is to submit the fee agreement to the agency either in writing or through using Form SSA-1693, Fee Agreement for Representation before the Social Security Administration. Since representatives currently use fee agreements which vary in length, content, and complexity, submission of a free-form fee agreement may cause delays in SSAâs review time. Therefore, SSA encourages respondents to use Form SSA-1693 to submit the information either using the paper form or the electronically submittable e1693 through SSAâs website. SSA uses the information from the SSA-1693 to review the request and authorize any fee to representatives who seek to charge and collect a fee from a claimant. The respondents are the representatives who help claimants through the application process, and the claimants who they represent.
We are submitting this non-substantive change request to comply with the Final Rule for Changes to the Administrative Rules for Claimant Representation and Provisions for Direct Payment to Entities and due to the published increase in the fee cap for representatives.
When we last cleared this IC in 2022, the burden was 356,816 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 526,480 hours. This change stems from a increase in completion time for the e1693 from 12 minutes to 13 minutes to allow additional time for representatives or claimants to navigate and submit the online version. In addition there is an increase in burden, due to the increase number of written agreements submitted by representatives.
* Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 529,866, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 526,480. 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.