Justification for the Non-Substantive Changes to 0960-0671 (Removal of the COVID-19 Language)

Justification for the Non-Substantive Changes to the Supporting Statement for

Form HA-504, Acknowledgement of Receipt (Notice of Hearing)

Form HA-L83, Acknowledgement of Receipt (Notice of Hearing) Cover Letter

Form HA-55, Objection to Appearing by Video Teleconferencing

Form HA-510 and HA-510-OP1, Waiver of Written Notice of Hearing

20 CFR 404.936, 404.938, 404.950, 416.1436, 416.1438, 416.1450

OMB No. 0960-0671

Background

President Biden recently declared the Administration plans to end the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. Due to the official end of the public health emergency, SSA needs to update our hearing notices and forms which we used during the public health emergency to remove the COVID-19 language. Therefore, we are updating our hearing notice and form language to meet standard policy and procedure guidelines for post public health emergency activities.

We are asking for OMB approval to remove the COVID-19 language from our Remote Hearing Option Notice, and our Remote Hearing Option form prior to May 11, 2023, due to the end of the public health emergency.

Revision to the Collection Instrument

• Change #1: We will revise the name of the COVID-19 Remote Hearing Option Notice (cover letter for COVID-19 Remote Hearing Agreement Form) to the Remote Hearing Option Notice, and we will remove all references to “COVID-19.”

Justification #1: We will continue to send this updated notice will continue to the claimant and representative prior to scheduling a hearing to be completed by telephone or online video, as the notice provides information to the claimant and representative of the availability of optional modalities (telephone and online video) to appear at a hearing with a judge. The notice also provides information on how to inform SSA whether they agree or disagree with the optional modalities for the hearing. However, as the government’s official end to the COVID-19 public health emergency is scheduled for May 11, 2023, we are removing all references to “COVID-19” on the notice.

• Change #2: We will revise the name of the COVID-19 Remote Hearing Agreement Form to the Remote Hearing Agreement Form and will remove all references to “COVID-19.”

Justification #2: We will continue to enclose this updated form with the Remote Hearing Option Notice above, as the claimant and representative use the form to inform SSA if they agree or do not agree to appear at the hearing with the judge by telephone or online video. If the claimant or representative decline to appear by telephone or online video or do not return the form, then SSA scheduled the hearing for in-person or traditional video teleconferencing with the judge based on the respondent’s previous response to the HA-55 Objection to Appearing by Video Teleconferencing form. As the government’s official end to the COVID-19 public health emergency is scheduled for May 11, 2023, we are removing all references to “COVID-19” on the notice.

• Change #3: We will no longer include the COVID-19 Procedures insert for the Notice of Hearing for in-person or VTC hearings at the hearing office.

Justification #3: This update is to remove the insert listing COVID-19 procedures for following safety rules in the office during the pandemic, as the government is officially ending the public health emergency on May 11, 2023.

• Change #4: We will rename the COVID-19 Enhanced Outreach calls with claimants and representatives to “Claimant Enhanced Outreach calls.”

Justification #4: As the government’s official end to the COVID-19 public health emergency is scheduled for May 11, 2023, we are removing all references to “COVID-19” for our call scripts.

These actions do not affect the public reporting burden. We will implement the updated Remote Hearing Option Notice and Remote Hearing Agreement Form, rename the Claimant Enhanced Outreach calls, and remove the COVID-19 Procedures insert by May 11, 2023.