Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form SSA-25 Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits	Form	Modified	Available
Form SSA-25 (Upload Doc Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits	Form	New	Available
Addendum 0960-0398 (final).docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-07-31	Available
Supporting Statement - 0398 (final).docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-07-31	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
9256	Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	Form	Modified	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits
9256	Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	Other-Revised Privacy Act Statement	Modified
281296	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits (Upload Documents)	Form	New	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits
281296	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits (Upload Documents)	Other-Privacy Act Statement (revised)	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0960-0398	ICR Reference No: 202607-0960-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202107-0960-008
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 07/31/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2026
Responses	1,616	30,000
Time Burden (Hours)	2,044	6,500
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Reduced benefits are to payable to an already entitled spouse, at least age 62 but under full retirement age, who no longer has a child in their care unless the spouse elects to receive reduced benefits. If spouses decide to elect reduced benefits, they complete Form SSA-25. SSA uses the information to pay qualified spouses who elect to receive reduced benefits. Respondents are entitled spouses seeking reduced benefits.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 402 (q)(5)(A) Name of Law: Social Security 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:
	91 FR 30774	05/26/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 48475	07/31/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse's Benefits (Upload Documents)	SSA-25 (Upload Documents)	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits
Certification of Elections for Reduced Spouse's Benefits	SSA-25	Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list 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	1,616	30,000	0	0	-28,384	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,044	6,500	0	0	-4,456	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: When we cleared this ICR in 2023, the burden was 6,500 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 350 hours. This change stems from a decrease in the number of responses from 30,000 to 1,616. We note that we previously did not retain MI data for this form, and based our previous burden data on an anticipated expectation that more respondents would request this annually; however, as we now have accurate MI data, we are reporting the actual (not anticipated) figures. There is no change to the burden time per response. Although the number of responses changed, SSA did not take any actions to cause this change. These figures represent current Management Information data. *Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 2,044, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 350. 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 above reflects actual burden.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $15,582

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: 07/31/2026

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