SSA asks whether SSI income paperwork is clear enough
Published Date: 10/29/2026
Notice
Summary
The Social Security Administration wants your thoughts on how they collect info about income and resources for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). They’re checking if their forms are clear, useful, and not too much work for people helping SSI applicants. If you have ideas or concerns, send them in by November 30, 2026, so SSA can keep things smooth and fair without wasting anyone’s time or money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Work incentives program collects beneficiary data
SSA's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program collects identifying and case information (via SSA-4565, SSA-4566, and the WIPA Star System) from SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients to support returning to work and program management. SSA reports the WIPA system and forms involve many responses and estimates a combined theoretical opportunity cost of $403,966 for WIPA staff activities and $33,850 for form-based collections.
Third‑parties must provide SSI income info
If you are a parent, spouse, guardian, or other third party who supports an SSI applicant or recipient, SSA collects your income and resource information on Form SSA-8010-BK to decide eligibility. SSA estimates 1,916,720 total respondents, 638,907 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical annual opportunity cost of $33,214,863 for completing this collection.
Option to waive in-person hearing with form
If you are applying for or appealing Social Security or SSI and want to waive your right to personally appear before a judge, you can submit Form HA-4608 (paper or upload). SSA estimates 5,615 respondents, a total annual burden of 468 hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $6,678 for this form.
Request to reschedule disability hearings
If you cannot attend a scheduled disability hearing, you or your representative can request a change in time or place using Form SSA-769. SSA reports 24,599 respondents, an annual burden of 3,280 hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $46,806 for this collection.
Marital status questionnaire for SSI couples
SSI applicants or recipients may be asked to complete the Marital Relationship Questionnaire (Form SSA-4178) so SSA can determine whether two unrelated opposite-sex individuals living together are presenting as husband and wife for payment purposes. SSA lists 10,983 respondents, 916 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $63,288.
Employers asked to verify wages after an employee's death
When employers report wages for a worker in a year after the worker's recorded death, SSA sends Form SSA-L4112 for employers to verify those earnings. SSA estimates 27,304 employer respondents, 9,101 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $305,248 for completing the form.
Parents/guardians provide child pain evidence
Before SSA can make a disability decision for a child, parents, guardians, or others who know the child must provide information about the child's pain or symptoms on Form SSA-3371-BK. SSA estimates 1,500 respondents, 375 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $20,921.
Request pension plan info from SSA
Social Security number holders may submit a written request to SSA to obtain pension plan information (per 20 CFR 422.122(b)). SSA estimates 178 respondents, a 30-minute burden per request, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $3,086.
Direct deposit enrollment required for benefits
SSA requires all applicants and recipients of OASDI or SSI to receive benefits via direct deposit at a financial institution and collects Direct Deposit/EFT enrollment information. SSA estimates 8,010,548 respondents, 1,739,203 total annual burden hours, and a theoretical opportunity cost of $79,254,047 for the enrollment collections.
SOAR jail intervention connects inmates to SSI/SSDI
Under a cooperative agreement with Georgia CJCC, SSA is supporting a SOAR model intervention in four county jails to connect incarcerated individuals with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to Medicaid Eligibility Specialists and help them apply for SSI/SSDI. The follow-up survey stage will continue through 2027; remaining survey burden shown is 51 hours with a theoretical opportunity cost of $399.
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