Supporting Statement for Form SSA-L2794
Real Property Current Market Value Estimate
OMB No. 0960-0471
A. Justification
Introduction/Authoring Laws and Regulations
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a person’s resources when evaluating eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. The value of an individual’s resources, including non-home real property, must be below certain statutory limits for an individual to be eligible for SSI payments. Section 1631(e)(1) of the Social Security Act requires SSA to obtain proof, as necessary, to ensure that we pay benefits to eligible individuals only.
Description of the Collection
SSA uses Form SSA-L2794 to collect information about the value of real property owned by SSI recipients and applicants. SSA contacts independent and collateral sources to obtain an estimate on the value of such resources. SSA uses the information obtained on Form SSA-L2794 to determine whether individuals meet the resource requirements for SSI program eligibility. We use the form in both initial SSI applications, and post-entitlement situations; and respondents answer voluntarily. There is no obligation to provide responses. The respondent may complete the form with information readily available, or we can accept a best estimate. SSA will request this information from an outside source only if the SSI applicant or recipient cannot provide a valid third party knowledgeable-source estimate. The SSA employee fills out the form and sends it to the respondent for completion. The respondents are small business operators in real estate; State and local employees; and other individuals who are knowledgeable about local real estate values.
Use of Information Technology to Collect the Information
In accordance with the agency’s Government Paperwork Elimination Act plan, SSA created a downloadable electronic version of Form SSA-L2794. This allows us to track usage more accurately. Additionally, SSA is utilizing Internet-based sources available to the public for determining the market value of real property. As more states and counties upload real property information online for public use, SSA may be able to collect more of this information electronically, thereby reducing the public burden.
Why We Cannot Use Duplicate Information
The nature of the information we collect and the manner in which we collect it preclude duplication. SSA does not use another collection instrument to obtain similar data.
Minimizing Burden on Small Respondents
This collection does not significantly affect small businesses or other small entities.
Consequence of Not Collecting Information or Collecting it Less Frequently
SSA collects the requested information to determine eligibility for SSI payments only when we must verify an SSI applicant’s or recipient's allegations concerning property and tax assessment values. Additionally, SSA only requests this information when the individual cannot provide a third party knowledgeable‑source estimate. If we did not obtain such information when needed, it would prevent us from making accurate determinations of eligibility as required by the statute. If we collected the information less frequently, it could create the risk of incorrect SSI eligibility determinations and incorrect SSI payment amounts. Therefore, we cannot collect this information less frequently. There are no technical or legal obstacles to burden reduction.
Special Circumstances
There are no special circumstances that would cause SSA to conduct this information collection in a manner inconsistent with 5 CFR 1320.5.
Solicitation of Public Comment and Other Consultations with the Public
The 60-day advance Federal Register Notice published on May 2, 2019, at
84 FR 18913, and we received no public comments. The 30-day FRN published on July 18, 2019 at 84 FR 34469. If we receive any comments in response to this Notice, we will forward them to OMB.
Payment of Gifts to Respondents
SSA does not provide payments or gifts to the respondents.
Assurances of Confidentiality
SSA protects and holds confidential the information we collect in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1306, 20 CFR 401 and 402, 5 U.S.C. 552 (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. 552a (Privacy Act of 1974), and OMB Circular No. A-130.
Justification for Sensitive Questions
The information collection does not contain any questions of a sensitive nature.
Estimates of Public Reporting Burden
Modality of Completion |
Number of Respondents |
Frequency of Response |
Average Burden Per Response (minutes) |
Estimated Total Annual Burden (hours) |
SSA-L2794 |
300 |
1 |
20 |
100 |
The total burden for this ICR is 100 hours. We based these figures on current management information data. This figure represents burden hours, and we did not calculate a separate cost burden.
Annual Cost to the Respondents
This collection does not impose a known cost burden to the respondents.
Annual Cost to the Federal Government
The annual cost to the Federal Government is approximately $2,543. This estimate accounts for costs from the following areas: (1) designing, printing, and distributing the form; and (2) SSA employee (e.g., field office, 800 number) information collection and processing time.
Program Changes or Adjustments to the Information Collection Request
When we last cleared this IC in 2016, the burden was 83. However, we are currently reporting a burden of 100 hours. This change stems from an increase in the number of responses from 250 to 300. 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.
Plans for Publication Information Collection Results
SSA will not publish the results of the information collection.
Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date
SSA is not requesting an exception to the requirement to display the OMB approval expiration date.
Exemption to Certification Statement
SSA is not requesting an exception to the certification requirements at 5 CFR 1320.9 and related provisions at CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
SSA does not use statistical methods for this information collection.
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