Justification for the Non-Substantive Changes to 0960-0061

Justification for Non-Substantive Changes for Form SSA-7156

Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire

20 CFR 404.1082(c) & 404.1095

OMB No. 0960-0061

Background

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses Form SSA-7156 to determine the existence of an agricultural trade or business, which is prerequisite for determining whether an individual or partnership may have net earnings from self-employment.

SSA recently reassessed the need for the respondent’s signature on this form and determined that we no longer require it. Therefore, we are removing the signature requirement from this form.

While we will leave a name block on the form, we will not require a wet signature. The respondent will be able to type in their name, but will not be required to print the form and sign it.

Revision to the Information Collection

• Change #1: SSA is removing the signature requirement from Form SSA-7156.

Justification #1: We reassessed the need for a wet signature on this form and determined we no longer require it. Therefore, we will no longer ask respondents to sign this form prior to submitting it to SSA or ask for the signature of two witnesses only if the statement has been signed by mark (X).

• Change #2:  We are replacing the Penalty of Perjury Statement with a Penalty of Perjury Warning: Anyone who knowingly makes or causes to be made a false statement or representation of material fact for use in determining a payment under the Social Security Act, or knowingly conceals or fails to disclose an event with an intent to affect an initial or continued right to payment, or submits or causes to be submitted any false statement or document knowing the same to contain any misrepresentation of material fact, commits a crime punishable under Federal law by fine, imprisonment, or both, and may be subject to administrative sanctions.

Justification #2:  The Penalty of Perjury Statement is directly connected to the signature and needs to be removed since a signature is no longer required. However, to maintain the intent of that statement, it will be replaced with a Penalty of Perjury Warning.

After OMB approves the signature removal for this form, we will implement the new version of the form that clarifies that we no longer require a signature by removing the signature block. The new version of the form will provide space to collect the name and title of the individual completing the form.

This action will not affect the public reporting burden.