Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods Form SSA

Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods Form SSA-8508 BK

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-

Quality Review Case Analysis

OMB No. 0960-0133

1. The sample universe consists of about 8 million recipients. We have completed at least 95 percent of each sample since sample reviews using Form SSA-8508 BK began in September 1973. There is no reason to expect a change in future response rates.

2. The sample is a stratified cluster sample. Within each region, we group field offices (FO) into three clusters based on estimated costs for Quality Assurance reviewers to travel to the office. All FOs in cluster 1 are subject to selection, while we select simple random samples of the offices in clusters 2 and 3. We use a number generator and a sampling fraction to select sampled cases from the selected FO in each cluster. Since the probability of selection varies by region and FO cluster, we use the final sample data to produce regional and national data.

We collect and report information from Form SSA-8508 BK on an annual cycle, and we can generalize the reported data to the sample universe with a confidence level of 95 percent within a range of plus or minus 3 percent for the nation.

3. Initially, we solicit Respondents’ cooperation by mailing an advance notification letter, a return contact sheet, and a Form SSA-97 (a checklist for the respondents’ use), OMB Control No. 0960-0432. Whenever a reviewer encounters an uncooperative respondent, we solicit FO assistance, and may reassign the case to another reviewer. If we are unable to complete an interview with the potential respondent, we may request FO case file material and, if it contains sufficient information, we use it in lieu of the recipient interview. The reviewer will exclude a case from the sample only after we have explored all reasonable alternatives. The sample size allows for a reasonable number of exclusions without affecting confidence levels. Whenever the sampled individual cannot be located, we request FO assistance to find the recipient. If the FO cannot locate the recipient, we suspend payments pending further investigation. This is one of SSA's payment safeguards.

4. We are not taking any formal testing of Form SSA-8508-BK information collection and reporting methods at this time.

5. Daniel Zabronsky is the agency's statistician responsible for reviewing and approving the statistical aspects of the survey design. His contact number is (410)965-5953. The Office of Quality Performance (OQP) collects, analyzes, and reports on the information obtained from the review.