Addendum to Supporting Statement 0960-0595

Addendum to the Supporting Statement for

Request a Proof of Income Letter (BEVE)

Internet Application

20 CFR 401.40

OMB No. 0960-0595

Revisions to the Collection Instrument

SSA is making the following revisions:

We are revising the information collection to include the release of the enhanced Internet Request a Benefit Verification Letter (iBEVE) application. The enhanced iBEVE application will ultimately replace the current BEVE application, as it will include current and additional functionality not currently available with the BEVE application. In addition, the name of the application will change from the Request a Proof of Income Letter (BEVE) application to the Request a Benefit Verification Letter (iBEVE) application. Below is a description of the differences in applications along with detailed information of the screen changes:

Future release of new application:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will enhance the current Request a Proof of Income Letter (BEVE) internet application with the release of a new Internet Request a Benefit Verification Letter (iBEVE) application. SSA has yet to determine the expected release date, as the implementation of iBEVE is contingent upon our release of the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process and the MySocialSecurity.gov initiative.

Upon our successful national implementation of both the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process and MySocialSecurity initiative, SSA expects to retire the current BEVE application. The new iBEVE application will allow title 2, title 16, and Medicare beneficiaries to access their benefit verification letter immediately. The current BEVE application only allows title 2, title 16, and Medicare beneficiaries to submit an electronic request to have SSA mail the benefit verification letter via United States Postal Service (USPS). In addition to allowing instant access to the benefit verification letter, the new iBEVE application provides printing, saving, and maintaining the current mail functions.

New application authentication process:

An increased authentication process is required with the release of the new iBEVE application since the letter contains personally identifiable information (PII) and access is immediate. Therefore, title 2, title 16, and Medicare beneficiaries will authenticate using a PIN/Password authentication process rather than the Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA) process used in the current BEVE application. SSA’s PIN/Password process will use the authentication criteria established by the new initiative. Therefore, the new iBEVE application will be using the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process upon its implementation. Thus, iBEVE implementation is contingent on OMB clearance of the new Public Credentialing and Authentication Process. We will submit the new Information Collection Request for this initiative on or about August 1, 2011.

Possible overlap of current and future applications:

The current BEVE application along with the new iBEVE application will simultaneously be in production until we have established a successful national implementation of the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process and MySocialSecuerity.gov initiatives. This overlap insures all current BEVE users can access the new iBEVE application under the new Public Credentialing and Authentication Process and MySocialSecurty.gov framework.

Descriptions of screen changes:

The iBEVE application screens will be on the MySocialSecurity.gov framework with a new design template that is in-line with the SSA.gov pattern. Below is detailed information about each screen change.

Screen number from the BEVE application, as they relate to the order of the iBEVE application:

Screen #	In current BEVE application	In future iBEVE application
1
The removal of BEVE screen #1 from the new iBEVE path is required. This screen is an informational screen with hyperlinks to other informational pages. The hyperlinks are accessible from either the MySocialSecurity.gov portal, or the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process authentication screens prior to entering iBEVE. The following hyperlinks in the current BEVE screen have been deemed unnecessary within the iBEVE screen #1: Your local Social Security Office: This link is available on the SSA homepage before the user arrives to the BEVE application. It will remain on the SSA homepage. You will be given notice: This link displays a copy of the screen users are displayed when inactive on any particular screen for more than 25 minutes. This is true on all screens behind authentication. Therefore, the need to display this link, although displayed automatically to the user, is not necessary. Social Security’s Internet policy: This link will be available from the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process screens. Report this change: This link redirects users to the Change of Address (COA) application. The MySocialSecurity.gov portal will present access to the COA application before the user enters the iBEVE application. Contact Us: This link is available on the SSA homepage and accessible from the MySocialSecurity.gov portal. Block access to your personal information: This link is in the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process path and part of the business process for this application.
2		N/A
The iBEVE application does not contain a Public Agreement screen. The Paperwork Reduction Act displayed on screen #2 of the current BEVE application, is accessible from screen #1 in the iBEVE application. It is a link on the top right-hand corner of screen #1 in iBEVE, along with the OMB number and expiration date. SSA’s Office of General Council has deemed the Privacy Act Statement unnecessary in the new iBEVE application as the application no longer collects personal information.
3		N/A
The BEVE Log In screen has been removed from the iBEVE screen path as authentication happens outside of the application (authentication is now completed in the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process). If a user does not pass authentication, the user cannot access the iBEVE application. Therefore, once the user is displayed screen #1 of the iBEVE application, full authentication has already occurred within the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process.
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The Information To Be Included In The Letter screen is the selection screen. It is the first screen in the iBEVE path. In the BEVE path, this is the forth screen in the path. The new iBEVE path, will begin here, as users will enter the application upon authentication through the Public Credentialing and Authentication Process; and make a selection to enter iBEVE from the MySocialSecurity.gov portal. The Information To Be Included In The Letter screen has been modified to the “What information would you like in your letter?” screen. We based the modifications on Usability Test feedback conducted with members of the general public. In an effort to clarify and simply selections, we have narrowed avaliable options to: Amount of benefit(s); Type of benefit(s) (disability, SSI, retirment, survivors, etc.); Medicare entitlement; and, Date of birth. The options will continue to provide the same verification selections as those in the current BEVE application. The “Learn more about your benefit verification letter” link provides information on the benefit verification letter and reasons for its use, similar to the information in screen 1 of the current BEVE application.
5
The confirmation screen has been removed from iBEVE screen path. The reason we removed the confirmation screen is: Users have two additional options; print and save. With these two additional options, confirming that users have successfully printed and saved is not viable. Users may have inadequate printers or saving capabilities therefore confirming tasks is not necessary. No need for users to confirm they have accessed the letter, as it will be displayed on the screen. Unlike the BEVE application, upon making selections of the information to be verified on the letter, the iBEVE application will automatically display the benefit verification letter on the screen. This screen is screen number two in the iBEVE screen path. If a users selects to save the letter, a lock PDF will appear on the screen to allow the user to save the letter. If a user selects to print the letter, a print dialog box will appear on the screen.
6
This is a duplicate screen from the prior screen. The difference in this screen is the confirmation test box above all the action links; print, save, and mail. This confirmation is only for the mail option. The print and save options will not have confirmations as the application cannot determine task compliance with those actions.

Other Minor Revisions to the Collection Instrument

We are revising the PRA statement in the current BEVE application to show the correct estimated response time of 5 minutes instead of 10 minutes.

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