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:
0960-0051
ICR Reference No:
202502-0960-012
Status:
Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
202103-0960-006
Agency/Subagency:
SSA
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Supplement To Claim of Person Outside the United States
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
07/31/2025
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
06/25/2025
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
07/31/2028
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2025
Responses
5,280
0
8,275
Time Burden (Hours)
13,053
0
1,030
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
Claimants or beneficiaries, both United States (U.S.) citizens and aliens entitled to benefits, living outside the U.S. complete Form SSA-21 as a supplement to an application for benefits. SSA collects the information to determine eligibility for U.S. Social Security benefits for those months an alien beneficiary or claimant is outside the U.S., and to determine if tax withholding applies. In addition, SSA uses the information to: (1) allow beneficiaries or claimants to request a special payment exception in an SSA Restricted country; (2) terminate Supplemental Medical Insurance coverage for recipients who request it, because they are, or will be, out of the U.S.; and (3) allow claimants to collect a lump sum death benefit if the number holder died outside the U.S. and we do not have information to determine the whether the lump sum death is payable under the Social Security Act. The respondents are Social Security claimants, or individuals entitled to Social Security benefits, who are, will be, or have been residing outside the U.S. for three months or longer.
Authorizing Statute(s):
PL:
Pub.L. 98 - 21 121(c)
Name of Law: Social Security Amendments of 1983
US Code:
42 USC 402.27 (c)
Name of Law: 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:
90 FR 14891
04/04/2025
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
90 FR 25734
06/17/2025
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-21 - Non-Resident Alien (not a resident of a tax treaty country), MCS Macros Version
SSA-21 - Non-Resident Alien (not a resident of a tax treaty country), Paper Version
SSA-21
Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States
SSA-21 - Resident of Tax Treaty Country, Paper Version
SSA-21
Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States
SSA-21 - Resident of a Tax Treaty Country, MCS Macros Version
SSA-21 - U.S Resident, MCS Macros Version
SSA-21 - U.S. Residents, Paper Version
SSA-21
Supplement to Claim of person Outside the United States
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
5,280
8,275
0
0
-2,995
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
13,053
1,030
0
0
12,023
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:
When we last cleared this IC in 2021, the burden was 1,030 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 610 hours. This change stems a decrease in the number of respondents completing Form SSA-21, and, therefore, a decrease in the number of responses from 8,275 to 5,280. There is no change to the burden time per response. Although the number of responses changed, SSA did not take any actions to cause this change. These figures represent current Management Information data. * Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 13,053, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 610 . This discrepancy is because the ROCIS burden reflects the following components: field office waiting time + telephone waiting time + a rough estimate of a 30-minute, one-way, drive burden + learning costs. In contrast, the chart in #12 of the Supporting Statement reflects actual burden.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$87,140
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:
06/25/2025
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