Social Security Seeks Comments on Updated Earnings Record Forms
Published Date: 3/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The Social Security Administration wants your feedback on some updated forms they use to collect info, especially about fixing earnings records. If you or someone you know deals with Social Security earnings, this affects you! Comments are open until May 22, 2026, so jump in now to help make the process easier and clearer—no extra costs involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 7 costs, 0 mixed.
Disability Update Reports for Beneficiaries
SSA mails the Disability Update Report (Form SSA-455) to selected Title II and Title XVI disability recipients to assess continued eligibility, with SSA estimating 1,138,380 respondents, 284,595 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $4,004,295.
Simplified SSI Online Application
SSA implemented a new simplified SSI online application in December 2024 and uses a hybrid two-step approach: (1) a simplified basic eligibility capture, and (2) technician-supported development only after medical approval. SSA estimates total annual respondent burden across paper, field office, and internet modalities at 388,058 hours with a theoretical opportunity cost of $23,499,644.
Electronic Wage Reporting Options
SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients (or their representative payees) can report wages electronically via myWageReport, the SSA Mobile Wage Reporting app (SSAMWR), or the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System (SSITWR); SSA reports these modalities involve training and reporting burden with total annual responses of 1,667,416 and a theoretical opportunity cost of $14,204,434.
Fixing Your Social Security Earnings
If you think your Social Security earnings record is wrong, you can use Form SSA-7008, a field office or telephone interview, or the mySSA Earnings Correction screen to request a correction. SSA estimates total respondent burden for these modalities at 68,136 hours annually and reports a theoretical opportunity cost of $4,548,460; there is no actual charge to complete the application.
Medicare Part D Subsidy Quality Reviews
SSA conducts periodic quality review checks of Medicare Part D subsidy applications (Form SSA-1020) for selected applicants; SSA lists multiple review forms and estimates total annual respondent burden at 5,631 hours with a theoretical opportunity cost of $282,968 for 21,350 respondents.
Appeal: Explain Missed ALJ Hearing
If you miss a scheduled hearing before an administrative law judge, you may submit Form HA-L90 (new cases) or HA-L90-OP1 (redeterminations) or use Electronic Records Express to explain why you missed it; SSA estimates about 37,765 respondents and 6,294 total annual burden hours for these forms.
Vocational Resource Facilitator Demonstration
SSA is testing the Vocational Resource Facilitator intervention for newly injured spinal cord injury or brain injury patients to study impacts on employment, earnings, SSI/SSDI receipt, and well-being; the demonstration will collect follow-up surveys and staff interviews from about 103 respondents with an estimated annual burden of 51 hours and a theoretical opportunity cost of $1,000.
Common-law Marriage Verification Form
SSA uses Form SSA-753 to collect third-party statements verifying elements of a claimed common-law marriage to determine entitlement to spouse or widow(er) Social Security benefits; SSA estimates about 179,969 respondents and 56,990 total annual burden hours with a theoretical opportunity cost of $881,690.
Child's Insurance Benefits Application Burden
Guardians or eligible children use Form SSA-4-BK to apply for Child's Insurance Benefits; SSA estimates 572,113 respondents with a total annual burden of 104,964 hours and a theoretical opportunity cost of $15,166,650 across paper and interview modalities.
Work History Form for Disability Hearings
Claimants requesting a hearing before an ALJ may be asked to provide past 15-year work history on Form HA-4633; SSA estimates 285,000 respondents with a total annual burden of 142,500 hours and a theoretical opportunity cost of $505,702.
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