Supporting Statement for Form SSA-455
Disability Update Report
20 CFR 404.1589-.1595 and 416.988-.996
OMB No. 0960-0511
A. Justification
Introduction/Authoring Laws and Regulations
Sections 205(a) and 1631(e)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act) empower the Social Security Administration (SSA) to establish and uphold reasonable procedures for evaluating an alleged disability. Section 221(i) of the Act requires SSA to periodically assess current disability payment recipients to determine if their eligibility for benefits should continue. Sections 1614(a)(4) and 1633(a)/(c) authorize SSA to review the disability status of Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. Sections 223(d)(5)(A) and 1631(e)(1) of the Act require claimants to furnish medical and other evidence SSA asks for to prove the continued existence of their disability. Sections 20 CFR 404.1589- .1595 and 416.988-.996 of the Code of Federal Regulations detail the rules for I implementing the requirements of the above Social Security Act sections.
Description of Collection
SSA periodically reviews current disability beneficiaries' cases to determine if they should continue to receive disability payments. SSA uses Form SSA-455 to determine if: (1) There is enough evidence to warrant referring the case for a full medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR); (2) the beneficiary's impairment is unchanged or only slightly changed, precluding the need for a CDR; or (3) there are unresolved work-related issues. The respondents are recipients of Social Security disability benefits.
SSA mails form SSA-455 to specific disability beneficiaries, whom we select as possibly qualifying for continuing disability review process. We pre-fill the form with data specific to the beneficiary, except the sections we ask the beneficiary to fill. When we receive the form, we scan it, and store the information in the beneficiary’s electronic folder.
Use of Information Technology to Collect the Information
SSA did not create an electronic version of form SSA-ABC under the agency’s Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) plan, because we pre-fill the form with
data specific to the beneficiary, except the sections we ask the beneficiary to fill. When we receive the form, we scan it, and store the information in the beneficiary’s electronic folder. For these reasons, we do not believe it is beneficial to create an Internet-base version of this form.
SSA has found our current process to be effective and relatively quick. When we receive the completed form, we scan it, allowing our computers to extract the information and store it in the beneficiary’s electronic folder. This allows for rapid processing of the form, enabling us to quickly make the next step in the decision process. To date, we have only needed to refer approximately 2.5% of respondents for a full medical review. For these reasons, we believe our current modality of collecting this information is the preferred method.
Why We Cannot Use Duplicate Information
The nature of the information we are collecting and the manner in which we are collecting it preclude duplication. SSA does not use another collection instrument to obtain similar data.
Minimizing Burden on Small Respondents
This collection does not affect small businesses or other small entities.
Consequence of Not Collecting Information or Collecting it Less Frequently
If we did not use form SSA-455, we would have no means of documenting the recovery of current beneficiaries. This could lead to an indefinite payment of benefits to people who should not be receiving them. Because we only collect this information on an as needed basis, we cannot collect it less frequently.
There are no technical or legal obstacles to burden reduction.
Special Circumstances
There are no special circumstances that would cause SSA to conduct this information collection in a manner inconsistent with 5 CFR 1320.5.
Solicitation of Public Comment and Other Consultations with the Public
The 60-day advance Federal Register Notice published on May 16, 2011, at 76 FR 28297, and we received no public comments. The 30-day FRN published July 20, 2011 at 76 FR 43368. If we receive any comments in response to this Notice, we will forward them to OMB.
We did not consult with the public in the revision of this form.
Payment or Gifts to Respondents
SSA does not provide payments or gifts to the respondents.
Assurances of Confidentiality
SSA protects and holds confidential the information it collects in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1306, 20 CFR 401 and 402, 5 U.S.C. 552 (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. 552a (Privacy Act of 1974), and OMB Circular No. A-130.
Justification for Sensitive Questions
The information collection does not contain any questions of a sensitive nature.
Estimate of Public Reporting Burden
Approximately 1,100,000 beneficiaries spend 15 minutes each to complete this form annually, resulting in an annual burden of 275,000 hours. This figure represents burden hours, and we did not calculate a separate cost burden.
Annual Cost to the Respondents (Other)
This collection does not impose a known cost burden on the respondents.
Annual Cost To Federal Government
The annual cost to the Federal Government is approximately $24,200,000. This estimate is a projection of the cost for printing, mailing, processing, and analyzing the form.
Program Changes or Adjustments to the Information Collection Request
There has been increase in burden hours. The increase stems from SSA releasing a higher number of mailers.
Plans for Publication Information Collection Results
SSA will not publish the results of the information collection.
Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date
OMB exempted SSA from the requirement to print the OMB approval expiration date on its program forms. SSA produces millions of public-use forms, most of which outlive an OMB approval. SSA does not periodically revise and reprint its public-use forms (e.g. on an annual basis). OMB granted this exemption so we would not have to stop using forms simply because of a past OMB expiration date. In addition, we are avoiding Government waste because we do not have to destroy and reprint stocks of forms.
Exceptions to Certification Statement
SSA is not requesting an exception to the certification requirements at 5 CFR 1320.9 and related provisions at 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
SSA does not use statistical methods for this information collection.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement |
| Author | Elizabeth A. Davidson |
| Last Modified By | 889123 |
| File Modified | 2011-07-25 |
| File Created | 2011-04-25 |