Supporting Statement for Internet Direct Deposit Application
31 CFR 210
OMB No. 0960-0634
Introduction/Authoring Laws and Regulations
Recipients of Social Security benefits may choose to receive their payments through the Direct Deposit Program, in which the benefits payments go directly to accounts of beneficiaries at financial institutions (FI). To route benefit payments to the account at the FI, two key pieces of information are necessary: the depositor’s account number, and the routing transit number of the receiving FI. The Treasury, Federal Reserve System, and the FI use this information to route payment to the beneficiary’s account. Under the authority of 31 CFR 210, 5 USC 301, and 12 USC 391, the Social Security Administration (SSA) collects this information through the Internet Direct Deposit Application.
Description of Collection
SSA requires all applicants and recipients of Social Security Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to receive their benefits and payments via direct deposit at a financial institution. SSA receives Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) enrollment information from OASDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients to facilitate DD/EFT of their funds with their chosen financial institution. We also use this information when an enrolled individual wishes to change their DD/EFT information. For the convenience of the respondents, we collect this information through several modalities, including an Internet application, and in-office or telephone interviews. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, SSA retired the Direct Deposit automated telephone application aside. Callers, who contact the National 800 Number Network (N8NN) to start, change, or cancel direct deposit of their SSA payment, have their call automatically routed to the next available agent for assistance. In addition to using the direct deposit information to enable DD/EFT of funds to the recipients’ chosen financial institution, we also use the information through our Direct Deposit Fraud Indicator to ensure the correct recipient receives the funds. Respondents are OASDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients requesting enrollment in the Direct Deposit program, or changes to their direct deposit banking information.
Use of Information Technology to Collect the Information
In accordance with the agency’s Government Paperwork Elimination Act plan, SSA created an Internet, Intranet, and automated version for the Internet Direct Deposit Application. Based on our data, we estimate approximately 100% of respondents under this OMB number use an electronic version.
Why We Cannot Use Duplicate Information
The nature of the information we collect and the manner in which we collect it preclude duplication. SSA does not use another collection instrument to obtain similar data.
Minimizing Burden on Small Respondents
This collection does not significantly affect small businesses or other small entities.
Consequence of Not Collecting Information or Collecting it Less Frequently
If we did not use the Direct Deposit Application, SSA would not be able to enroll beneficiaries wishing to participate in the Direct Deposit Program. This would be an inconvenience to the beneficiary, and cost the Agency time and money since we would have to print and mail out checks to the beneficiaries. Because we only collect the 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
SSA published the 60-day advance Federal Register Notice on December 30, 2015 at 80 FR 81664, and we received no public comments. We published the second Notice on March 1, 2016, at 81 FR 10699. If we receive any comments in response to the 30-day Notice, we will forward them to OMB. We did not consult with the public in the maintenance of this form.
Payment or Gifts to Respondents
SSA does not provide payment or gifts to 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.
Estimates of Public Reporting Burden
Modality of Completion |
Number of Respondents |
Frequency of Response |
Average Burden Per Response (minutes) |
Estimated Annual Burden (hours) |
Internet DD |
507,214 |
1 |
10 |
84,536 |
Non-Electronic Services (FO, 800#-ePath, MSSICS, SPS, MACADE, POS, RPS) |
3,317,351 |
1 |
12 |
663,470 |
Direct Deposit Fraud Indicator |
54,016 |
1 |
2 |
1,801 |
Totals |
3,878,581 |
|
|
749,807 |
The total burden for this ICR is 749,807 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 estimated cost to the Federal Government to collect the information is negligible. Because the cost of maintaining the system which collects this information is accounted for within the cost of maintaining all of SSA’s automated systems, it is not possible to calculate the cost associated with just one Internet application.
Program Changes or Adjustments to the Information Collection Request
The significant decrease in the burden information is due to both the termination of the automated direct deposit service to callers reaching the field offices and N8NN, as well as the agency initiative to move respondents away from direct mail and sign them up for direct deposit (see the Addendum for more information).
Plans for Publication Information Collection Results
SSA will not publish the results of the information collection.
Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date
SSA is not requesting an exemption to displaying the OMB expiration date on the Internet screens.
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/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | Supporting Statement |
| Author | 052041 |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-24 |