Social Security Seeks Comments on Worker Earnings Forms Update
Published Date: 6/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Social Security Administration wants your thoughts on some forms they use to check workers’ earnings and benefits. They’re updating these forms to make sure they’re clear, useful, and not too much work for employers and others who fill them out. If you have ideas or concerns, send your comments by July 17, 2025, so they can keep things running smoothly without wasting time or money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.
Online eSignature upload: big shift to digital submissions
SSA's eSignature/Upload Documents portal (national rollout April 2024) lets first‑party individuals submit 71 forms and 79 evidence types electronically, including dynamic webforms and an electronic signature option; SSA estimates 115,369 internet-based submissions with 9,614 total annual burden hours and a theoretical opportunity cost of $1,569,966. SSA also accepts Commercial Product Alternative Signatures for eight named forms and requires individuals to retain the digital certificate for at least three years.
Foreign pension questionnaire may reduce benefits
Title II beneficiaries who received a foreign (non‑covered) pension before January 2024 must complete Form SSA-308 so SSA can determine how much that foreign pension reduces their Social Security retirement or disability benefit under the Windfall Elimination Provision. SSA estimates 2,081 respondents, 1,041 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $41,456.
Employers: 30-minute wage form burden
If SSA cannot find a worker's wages in its records, it may send employers Form SSA-7011-F4 to verify alleged wages. SSA estimates 750 employers will each spend about 30 minutes (total 375 hours) completing this form, with a theoretical opportunity cost of $12,248.
Claimants abroad: form SSA-21 time burden
People living outside the United States for three months or longer who claim Social Security benefits must complete Form SSA-21. SSA estimates 5,280 respondents and a total annual burden of 610 hours with a theoretical opportunity cost of $43,225.
Student beneficiaries: reporting form burden
Student Social Security Title II beneficiaries must use Forms SSA-1383 or SSA-1383-FC to report school attendance and events affecting benefits. SSA estimates 8,715 respondents with a total annual burden of 872 hours and a theoretical opportunity cost of $30,545.
OASDI quality review: sampled beneficiary burden
SSA conducts annual quality-review telephone interviews and collects supporting forms from a sample of OASDI beneficiaries or their representative payees. The agency estimates 18,215 sampled contacts with a total annual burden of 2,525 hours and a theoretical opportunity cost of $197,536.
Law firms: provide taxpayer info to receive fees
Law firms or business entities that want to be paid directly by SSA must complete Form SSA-1694 so SSA can issue Form 1099‑MISC and designate entity administrators. SSA estimates 181 respondents, 60 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $5,090.
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