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OMB Control No: 0960-0061	ICR Reference No: 202609-0960-013
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202409-0960-009
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 09/29/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2026
Responses	60	1,000
Time Burden (Hours)	33	1,017
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Abstract: SSA collects the information on Form SSA-7156 on a voluntary, as needed basis to determine the existence of an agriculture trade or business which may affect the insured status or monthly benefit of a retirement applicant. When an applicant indicates self-employment as a farmer, SSA uses the SSA 7156 to determine the existence of an agricultural trade or business, and to calculate subsequent covered earnings for Social Security entitlement purposes the applicant is claiming. As part of the application process, we conduct a personal interview with the applicant, either face-to-face or via telephone, and document the interview using Form SSA-7156. Alternately, applicants have the option of using our Upload Documents portal (OMB No. 0960-0830), which allows them to complete and submit the form online in lieu of an interview. The respondents are applicants for Social Security benefits whose entitlement and amount of benefits depend on establishing if the worker received covered earnings from self employment as a farmer, and if so how much they earned.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 411 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:
	91 FR 48470	07/31/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 60677	09/24/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire - SSA-7156 (Fillable PDF – Upload Documents)	SSA-7156
Farm Self-Employment Questionnaire - SSA-7156 – (In-Person Interview)	SSA-7156

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	60	1,000	-940
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	33	1,017	-984
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	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 cleared the this ICR in 2024, the burden was 167 hours. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 16 hours. This change stems from a decrease in the number of responses and an increase in burden time per response. Responses decreased from 1,000 to 60, as the increase in electronic submissions has increased our ability to track this form. Per our current MI data, fewer people are using this form to allege self employment on a farm. Although the number of responses changed, SSA did not take any actions to cause this change. In addition, the burden time increased by five minutes per response as we updated the burden based on usability testing in Upload Documents. Even though we increase the overall burden per response, the use of Upload Documents streamlines the form and makes it easier for respondents to submit. *Note: The total burden reflected in ROCIS is 33, while the burden cited in #12 of the Supporting Statement is 16. This discrepancy is because the ROCIS burden reflects the following components: field office waiting time + telephone call system wait times + a rough estimate of a 30-minute, one-way, drive burden + learning costs. In contrast, the chart in #12 above reflects actual burden.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $4,149

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

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