View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
0960-0369
ICR Reference No:
202009-0960-010
Status:
Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
201703-0960-006
Agency/Subagency:
SSA
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-up Program Notices
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved with change
Conclusion Date:
12/19/2024
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
12/08/2020
Terms of Clearance:
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, this information collection is approved.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
12/31/2027
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2024
Responses
736,072
0
736,072
Time Burden (Hours)
368,037
0
122,680
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
SSA developed the Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-up Program to improve beneficiary reporting on work and earnings during the year and earnings information at the end of the year. SSA may reduce benefits payable under the Social Security Act when an individual has wages or self-employment income exceeding the annual exempt amount. SSA identifies beneficiaries likely to receive more than the annual exempt amount, and requests more frequent estimates of earnings from them. When applicable, SSA also requests a future year estimate to reduce overpayments due to earnings. SSA sends letters (SSA-L9778, SSA-L9779, SSA-L9781, SSA-L9784, SSA L9785, and SSA-L9790) to beneficiaries requesting earnings information the month prior to their attainment of full retirement age. We send each beneficiary a tailored letter that includes relevant earnings data from SSA records. The Annual Earnings Test Direct Mail Follow-up Program helps to ensure Social Security payments are correct, and enables us to prevent earnings-related overpayments, and avoid erroneous withholding. The respondents are working Social Security beneficiaries with earnings over the exempt amount.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
42 USC 403
Name of Law: The Social Security Act
US Code:
42 USC 405
Name of Law: The Social Security Act
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
Not associated with rulemaking
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
85 FR 63630
10/08/2020
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
85 FR 79064
12/08/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
6
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
SSA-L9778
SSA-L9778
Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance: Earnings Estimate Form
SSA-L9779
SSA-L9779
Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance: Earnings Estimate Form
SSA-L9781
SSA-L9781
Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance: Earnings Estimate Form
SSA-L9784
SSA-L9784
Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance: Earnings Estimate Form
SSA-L9785
SSA-L9785
Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance: Earnings Estimate Form
SSA-L9790
SSA-L9790
Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance: Nonwork Months Form
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
736,072
736,072
0
0
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
368,037
122,680
0
0
245,357
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
There are no changes to the public reporting burden. Per our agreement with OMB, we increased the average burden per response for these forms to 30 minutes to account for confirmation of month-level estimates surrounding earnings and hours worked. We made no other changes to the burden for these forms.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$5,774,976
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see
OMB Circular No. A-130
for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
Yes
Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see
5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3)
)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
Yes
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
No
Agency Contact:
Faye Lipsky 410 965-8783 faye.lipsky@ssa.gov
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
12/08/2020
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