Supporting Statement - 0758

Supporting Statement for Technical Updates to Applicability of the

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Reduced Benefit Rate for

Individuals Residing in Medical Treatment Facilities

20 CFR 416.708(k)

OMB 0960-0758

1. Justification

1. Introduction/Authorizing Laws and Regulations

Section 1611(e)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (Act) specifies residents of a public institution are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, Sections 1611(e)(1)(B) and (G) of the Act list certain exceptions to this provision, making it necessary for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to collect information about SSI recipients who enter or leave a medical treatment facility, or other public or private institution, to determine their continuing eligibility for SSI. Section 20 CFR 416.708(k) of the Code of Federal Regulations describes the reporting requirements for SSI recipients. If a medical treatment facility or public or private institution admits or discharges an SSI recipient, the recipient or another person must notify us.

2. Description of Collection

SSA uses this information collection to determine SSI eligibility or the benefit amount for SSI recipients who enter or leave institutions. SSA personnel collect this information directly from SSI recipients, or from someone reporting on their behalf. An SSI recipient who enters an institution may be unable to report; therefore, a family member sometimes makes this report on behalf of the recipient. When contacting SSA, the recipient or family member of the recipient provides the name of the institution; the date of admission; and the expected date of discharge. The respondents are SSI recipients who enter or leave an institution.

3. Use of Information Technology to Collect the Information

The respondent may submit this information in person, by telephone, by fax, or by mail. There is no standard form for submitting this information. SSA employees input all collection information directly into the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Claim System. In accordance with the agency’s Government Paperwork Elimination Act plan, SSA created an electronic version for this information collection in our SSI Claim System. Based on our data, we estimate approximately 99% of respondents under this OMB number use the electronic version.

4. 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.

5. Minimizing Burden on Small Respondents

This collection does not significantly affect small businesses or other small entities.

6. Consequence of Not Collecting Information or Collecting it Less Frequently

If we did not collect this information, we would not be able to make correct determinations of SSI eligibility or SSI payment amounts for SSI recipients who enter or leave a medical treatment facility, or other public or private institution. 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.

7. 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.

8. Solicitation of Public Comment and Other Consultations with the Public

The 60-day advance Federal Register Notice published on May 22, 2019, at 84 FR 23623, and we received no public comments. The 30-day FRN published on August 1, 2019 at 84 FR 37704. If we receive any comments in response to this Notice, we will forward them to OMB. We did not consult with the public on the maintenance of this information collection.

9. Payment or Gifts to Respondents

SSA does not provide payments or gifts to the respondents.

10. Assurances of Confidentiality

SSA protects and holds confidential the information we collect 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.

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions

The information collection does not contain any questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Estimates of Public Reporting Burden

Approximately 34,200 respondents take 7 minutes each to report this information collection each year:

Modality of Completion	Number of Respondents	Frequency of Response	Average Burden Per Response (minutes)	Estimated Total Annual Burden (hours)
Technical Updates Statement/Institutional Residents Screens	34,200	1	7	3,990

The total estimated annual burden for this collection is 3,990 hours. We based this figure on current management information data, and it represents burden hours. We did not calculate a separate cost burden.

13. Annual Cost to the Respondents (Other)

This collection does not impose a known cost burden to the respondents.

14. Annual Cost To Federal Government

The annual cost to the Federal Government is approximately $166,588. This estimate accounts for costs from the following areas: (1) SSA employee (e.g., field office, 800 number, DDS staff) information collection and processing time; and (3) systems development, updating, and maintenance costs.

15. Program Changes or Adjustments to the Information Collection Request

There are no changes in the public reporting burden.

16. Plans for Publication Information Collection Results

There are no changes in the public reporting burden.

17. Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date

SSA is not requesting an exception to the requirement to display the OMB approval expiration date.

18. 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).

2. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

SSA does not use statistical methods for this information collection.

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