59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–702 

SOCIAL SECURITY MUST AVERT IDENTITY LOSS (MAIL) 

ACT OF 2016 

JULY 25, 2016.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BRADY of Texas, from the Committee on Ways and Means, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 5320] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 5320) to restrict the inclusion of social security account 

numbers on documents sent by mail by the Social Security Administration, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that 

the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND ............................................................... 2 

A. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY ........................................................... 2 

B. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION ...................... 2 

C. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY ................................................................ 3 

II. EXPLANATION OF THE BILL ................................................................... 4 

A. SHORT TITLE (SEC. 1 OF THE BILL) ......................................... 4 

B. RESTRICTION ON SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS IN DOCUMENTS SENT BY MAIL (SEC. 2 OF THE 

BILL) ............................................................................................... 4 

III. VOTES OF THE COMMITTEE .................................................................... 5 

IV. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES ..................... 5 

V. COST ESTIMATE PREPARED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET 

OFFICE ....................................................................................................... 5 

VI. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED UNDER THE RULES OF 

THE HOUSE .............................................................................................. 6 

A. COMMITTEE FINDING AND OVERSIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................. 6 

B. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND 

OBJECTIVES ................................................................................. 6 

C. APPLICABILITY OF HOUSE RULE XXI 5(b) .............................. 6 


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D. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, 

AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS ............................................ 6 

E. DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS ................................. 7 

F. DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS ......................... 7 

VII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED 7 

A. TEXT OF EXISTING LAW AMENDED OR REPEALED BY 

THE BILL, AS REPORTED .......................................................... 7 

B. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW PROPOSED BY THE BILL, 

AS REPORTED .............................................................................. 35 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) 

Act of 2016’’. 

SEC. 2. RESTRICTION ON SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS IN DOCUMENTS SENT BY 

MAIL. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

405(c)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(xiv)(I) The Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure that no document sent 

by mail by the Social Security Administration includes a complete social security account number unless the Commissioner determines that inclusion of such complete 

number is necessary. 

‘‘(II) Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this clause and 

not later than each of March 31 and September 30 of each of the first 6 years following the year in which such date of enactment occurs, the Commissioner of Social 

Security shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the implementation of subclause (I). Such report shall include— 

‘‘(aa) the title and identification number of each document used by the Social 

Security Administration during the previous year on which is printed an individual’s complete social security account number; 

‘‘(bb) the most recent date on which each such document was updated; and 

‘‘(cc) the projected date on which complete social security account numbers 

will be removed from each such document, or if the Commissioner determines 

that inclusion of such complete number is necessary, the rationale for such determination.’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Commissioner of Social Security shall implement the 

amendments made under subsection (a) as soon as practicable after the date of the 

enactment of this Act. 

I. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND 

A. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 5320, as reported by the Committee on Ways and Means, 

amends Title II of the Social Security Act to direct the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ensure that documents it sends by 

mail do not include a complete Social Security account number 

(SSN) unless necessary. The bill aims to protect individuals’ personal information by requiring the removal of SSNs from documents mailed by the SSA unless such inclusion is deemed to be 

necessary by the Commissioner of Social Security. The bill also requires bi-annual reports to Congress on the SSA’s efforts to remove 

SSNs from mailed documents, and to justify the retention of SSNs 

on those documents that the Commissioner of Social Security has 

deemed necessary. 

B. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Identity theft is a serious and rapidly growing issue affecting 

Americans. The Federal Trade Commission, the lead Federal agency on identity theft, reported that identity theft complaints had inVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:31 Jul 26, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR702.XXX HR702

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1 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for January–December 2015, FEDERAL TRADE COM- MISSION, 79 (February 2016). 2Your Social Security Number and Card, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 2 (January 2016, 

Publication No. EN–05–10002). 3 Id. at 11. 4Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Safeguarding Against 

and Responding to the Breach of Personally Identifiable Information, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT

AND BUDGET, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (May 22, 2007). 5Social Security Administration Correspondence Containing Full Social Security Numbers, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, 3 (April 27, 2016). 6 Id. at 2. 7 Id. at B–2. 

creased by almost 50 percent from 332,647 in 2014 to 490,220 in 

2015.1 The SSN has been recognized as a valuable target for identity theft because the SSN is widely used in the financial sector.2

The SSA instructs individuals to treat their SSNs as confidential 

information.3

SSNs are central to the operation of the SSA’s programs and to 

its business process. SSNs are used to maintain each individual’s 

earnings history and in administering both Social Security and 

Supplemental Security Income benefits. 

The SSA has removed the SSN from some documents but continues to include it on others. The SSA removed the full SSN from 

the Social Security Statement in 2001, and from the annual Social 

Security cost-of-living notice in 2002. In 2004, the SSN was removed from SSA checks (which are prepared by the Treasury). In 

2007, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum 

requesting that Federal agencies review the unnecessary collection 

and use of SSNs.4 Specifically, the memorandum states that agencies should protect personally identifiable information in the Government’s possession and avoid a breach. However, as of 2015, approximately 66 percent of the SSA’s 352 million notices that are 

mailed annually still contained full SSNs.5

In 2016, a report from the SSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) 

raised concerns about the continued inclusion of SSNs in many of 

the SSA’s notices.6 It recommended that the SSA ‘‘[m]ake removal 

of SSNs from SSA correspondence a priority as resources permit.’’ 

In response to the OIG report, the SSA agreed that it should make 

the removal of SSNs from correspondence a priority, but did not 

provide any timeframe to do so.7 H.R. 5320 will help keep Americans’ identities secure by requiring the SSA to remove unnecessary 

SSNs from mailed documents. It also requires the SSA to provide 

bi-annual reports to Congress for seven years on its progress and 

to justify the inclusion of SSNs on mailings when the SSA determines it is necessary. 

C. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Background 

H.R. 5320, the Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) 

Act of 2016, was introduced on May 25, 2016 and was referred to 

the Committee on Ways and Means. 

Committee hearings 

On May 18, 2016, the Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on ‘‘Protecting Social 

Security from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.’’ The danger of mailing 


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documents that unnecessarily contain full SSNs, and the need for 

the SSA to stop this practice was discussed at this hearing. 

Committee action 

The Committee on Ways and Means marked up H.R. 5320, the 

Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2016, on 

July 13, 2016, and ordered the bill, as amended, favorably reported 

(with a quorum being present). 

II. EXPLANATION OF THE BILL 

A. SHORT TITLE (SEC. 1 OF THE BILL) 

Present law 

No provision. 

Explanation of provision 

This section contains the short title of the bill, the ‘‘Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2016.’’ 

Reason for change 

The Committee believes that the short title reflects the policy actions included in the legislation. 

Effective date 

The provision is effective on the date of enactment. 

B. RESTRICTION ON SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS IN

DOCUMENTS SENT BY MAIL (SEC. 2 OF THE BILL) 

Present law 

Although no single Federal law regulates Federal agencies’ overall use and disclosure of SSNs, the Freedom of Information Act, 

Privacy Act of 1974, and Social Security Amendments of 1990 generally govern disclosure and use of SSNs. In addition, the Social 

Security Number Protection Act of 2010 prohibits the printing of 

SSNs on government checks and the Medicare Access and CHIP 

Reauthorization Act of 2015 required the removal of SSNs from the 

Medicare card. 

Explanation of provision 

This provision requires the Commissioner of Social Security to 

ensure that documents sent by mail do not contain a complete SSN 

unless the Commissioner has determined that the inclusions of a 

complete SSN is necessary. For seven years following enactment, 

the provision also requires the SSA to bi-annually report on the 

SSA’s progress in removing unnecessary SSNs from mailed documents, and to justify the retention of SSNs on those documents 

that the Commissioner of Social Security has deemed to be necessary. 

Reason for change 

The Committee believes that Americans’ SSNs are too important 

to be needlessly put at risk by being included on documents unnecessarily and that any SSNs that remain on mailed documents must 

be justified. 


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Effective date 

The provision is effective as soon as practicable after the date of 

enactment. 

III. VOTES OF THE COMMITTEE 

In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the following statement is made concerning the votes of the Committee on Ways and Means in its consideration of H.R. 5320, a bill to protect Americans from identity 

theft. 

The Chairman’s amendment in the nature of a substitute was 

adopted by a voice vote (with a quorum being present). 

The bill, H.R. 5320, was ordered favorably reported to the House 

of Representatives as amended by a voice vote (with a quorum 

being present). 

IV. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES 

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee states that the bill involves no new budget authority or tax expenditure budget authority. 

V. COST ESTIMATE PREPARED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL 

BUDGET OFFICE 

In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, requiring a cost estimate prepared by 

the CBO, the Committee sets forth the following estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, July 20, 2016. 

Hon. KEVIN BRADY, 

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5320, the Social Security 

Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2016. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Emily Stern. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 5320—Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 

2016 

H.R. 5320 would require the Social Security Administration 

(SSA) to remove complete Social Security Numbers (SSN) from documents sent by mail as soon as practicable, unless the agency determines the inclusion of such number is necessary. SSA is currently working to gradually remove SSNs from mailings and because the legislation would provide flexibility, CBO expects that 


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SSA would continue with its current plan. The bill also would require SSA to report to Congress on its progress implementing those 

changes. SSA has compiled information about mailings with SSNs 

for previous audits, reports, and workgroups, and CBO expects that 

this information would be used to meet the reporting requirements 

imposed by the bill. Therefore, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 

5320 would have no effect on the budget. 

Enacting H.R. 5320 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates 

that enacting H.R. 5320 would not increase net direct spending or 

on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. 

H.R. 5320 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Emily Stern. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

VI. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED UNDER THE 

RULES OF THE HOUSE 

A. COMMITTEE FINDING AND OVERSIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS

With respect to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the findings 

and recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the description portions of this report. 

B. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises 

that H.R. 5230 does not authorize funding, therefore no statement 

of general performance goals and objectives is required. 

C. APPLICABILITY OF HOUSE RULE XXI 5(b) 

Rule XXI 5(b) of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides, in part, that ‘‘A bill or joint resolution, amendment, or conference report carrying a Federal income tax rate increase may not 

be considered as passed or agreed to unless so determined by a 

vote of not less than three-fifths of the Members voting, a quorum 

being present.’’ The Committee has carefully reviewed the bill, and 

states that the bill does not involve any Federal income tax rate 

increases within the meaning of the rule. 

D. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND

LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS

With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has carefully reviewed the provisions of the bill, and states that the provisions of the bill do not 

contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited 

tariff benefits within the meaning of the rule. 


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E. DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

In compliance with Sec. 3(g)(2) of H. Res. 5 (114th Congress), the 

Committee states that no provision of the bill establishes or reauthorizes: (1) a program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program; (2) a program included in any 

report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139; or (3) a program related 

to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, published pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act (Pub. L. No. 95–220, as amended by Pub. L. No. 98– 

169). 

F. DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

In compliance with Sec. 3(i) of H. Res. 5 (114th Congress), the 

following statement is made concerning directed rule makings: The 

Committee estimates that the bill requires no directed rule makings within the meaning of such section. 

VII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS 

REPORTED 

A. TEXT OF EXISTING LAW AMENDED OR REPEALED BY THE BILL, AS

REPORTED

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives, the text of each section proposed to 

be amended or repealed by the bill, as reported, is shown below: 

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE II—FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY 

INSURANCE BENEFITS 

* * * * * * * 

EVIDENCE, PROCEDURE, AND CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT

SEC. 205. (a) The Commissioner of Social Security shall have full 

power and authority to make rules and regulations and to establish 

procedures, not inconsistent with the provisions of this title, which 

are necessary or appropriate to carry out such provisions, and shall 

adopt reasonable and proper rules and regulations to regulate and 

provide for the nature and extent of the proofs and evidence and 

the method of taking and furnishing the same in order to establish 

the right to benefits hereunder. 

(b)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security is directed to make 

findings of fact, and decisions as to the rights of any individual applying for a payment under this title. Any such decision by the 

Commissioner of Social Security which involves a determination of 

disability and which is in whole or in part unfavorable to such individual shall contain a statement of the case, in understandable language, setting forth a discussion of the evidence, and stating the 


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Commissioner’s determination and the reason or reasons upon 

which it is based. Upon request by any such individual or upon request by a wife, divorced wife, widow, surviving divorced wife, surviving divorced mother, surviving divorced father, husband, divorced husband, widower, surviving divorced husband, child, or 

parent who makes a showing in writing that his or her rights may 

be prejudiced by any decision the Commissioner of Social Security 

has rendered, the Commissioner shall give such applicant and such 

other individual reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing 

with respect to such decision, and, if a hearing is held, shall, on 

the basis of evidence adduced at the hearing, affirm, modify, or reverse the Commissioner’s findings of fact and such decision. Any 

such request with respect to such a decision must be filed within 

sixty days after notice of such decision is received by the individual 

making such request. The Commissioner of Social Security is further authorized, on the Commissioner’s own motion, to hold such 

hearings and to conduct such investigations and other proceedings 

as the Commissioner may deem necessary or proper for the administration of this title. In the course of any hearing, investigation, 

or other proceeding, the Commissioner may administer oaths and 

affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive evidence. Evidence 

may be received at any hearing before the Commissioner of Social 

Security even though inadmissible under rules of evidence applicable to court procedure. 

(2) In any case where— 

(A) an individual is a recipient of disability insurance benefits, or of child’s, widow’s, or widower’s insurance benefits 

based on disability, 

(B) the physical or mental impairment on the basis of which 

such benefits are payable is found to have ceased, not to have 

existed, or to no longer be disabling, and 

(C) as a consequence of the finding described in subparagraph (B), such individual is determined by the Commissioner 

of Social Security not to be entitled to such benefits, 

any reconsideration of the finding described in subparagraph (B), 

in connection with a reconsideration by the Commissioner of Social 

Security (before any hearing under paragraph (1) on the issue of 

such entitlement) of the Commissioner’s determination described in 

subparagraph (C), shall be made only after opportunity for an evidentiary hearing, with regard to the finding described in subparagraph (B), which is reasonably accessible to such individual. Any 

reconsideration of a finding described in subparagraph (B) may be 

made either by the State agency or the Commissioner of Social Security where the finding was originally made by the State agency, 

and shall be made by the Commissioner of Social Security where 

the finding was originally made by the Commissioner of Social Security. In the case of a reconsideration by a State agency of a finding described in subparagraph (B) which was originally made by 

such State agency, the evidentiary hearing shall be held by an adjudicatory unit of the State agency other than the unit that made 

the finding described in subparagraph (B). In the case of a reconsideration by the Commissioner of Social Security of a finding described in subparagraph (B) which was originally made by the 

Commissioner of Social Security, the evidentiary hearing shall be 


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held by a person other than the person or persons who made the 

finding described in subparagraph (B). 

(3)(A) A failure to timely request review of an initial adverse determination with respect to an application for any benefit under 

this title or an adverse determination on reconsideration of such an 

initial determination shall not serve as a basis for denial of a subsequent application for any benefit under this title if the applicant 

demonstrates that the applicant, or any other individual referred 

to in paragraph (1), failed to so request such a review acting in 

good faith reliance upon incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information, relating to the consequences of reapplying for benefits in 

lieu of seeking review of an adverse determination, provided by any 

officer or employee of the Social Security Administration or any 

State agency acting under section 221. 

(B) In any notice of an adverse determination with respect to 

which a review may be requested under paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social Security shall describe in clear and specific language the effect on possible entitlement to benefits under this title 

of choosing to reapply in lieu of requesting review of the determination. 

(c)(1) For the purposes of this subsection— 

(A) The term ‘‘year’’ means a calendar year when used with 

respect to wages and a taxable year when used with respect to 

self-employment income. 

(B) The term ‘‘time limitation’’ means a period of three years, 

three months, and fifteen days. 

(C) The term ‘‘survivor’’ means an individual’s spouse, surviving divorced wife, surviving divorced husband, surviving divorced mother, surviving divorced father, child, or parent, who 

survives such individual. 

(D) The term ‘‘period’’ when used with respect to self-employment income means a taxable year and when used with respect 

to wages means— 

(i) a quarter if wages were reported or should have been 

reported on a quarterly basis on tax returns filed with the 

Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate under section 

6011 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or regulations 

thereunder (or on reports filed by a State under section 

218(e) (as in effect prior to December 31, 1986) or regulations thereunder), 

(ii) a year if wages were reported or should have been 

reported on a yearly basis on such tax returns or reports, 

or 

(iii) the half year beginning January 1 or July 1 in the 

case of wages which were reported or should have been reported for calendar year 1937. 

(2)(A) On the basis of information obtained by or submitted to 

the Commissioner of Social Security, and after such verification 

thereof as the Commissioner deems necessary, the Commissioner of 

Social Security shall establish and maintain records of the amounts 

of wages paid to, and the amounts of self-employment income derived by, each individual and of the periods in which such wages 

were paid and such income was derived and, upon request, shall 

inform any individual or his survivor, or the legal representative 

of such individual or his estate, of the amounts of wages and selfVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:30 Jul 26, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR702.XXX HR702

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employment income of such individual and the periods during 

which such wages were paid and such income was derived, as 

shown by such records at the time of such request. 

(B)(i) In carrying out the Commissioner’s duties under subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (F), the Commissioner of Social Security shall take affirmative measures to assure that social security 

account numbers will, to the maximum extent practicable, be assigned to all members of appropriate groups or categories of individuals by assigning such numbers (or ascertaining that such numbers have already been assigned): 

(I) to aliens at the time of their lawful admission to the 

United States either for permanent residence or under other 

authority of law permitting them to engage in employment in 

the United States and to other aliens at such time as their status is so changed as to make it lawful for them to engage in 

such employment; 

(II) to any individual who is an applicant for or recipient of 

benefits under any program financed in whole or in part from 

Federal funds including any child on whose behalf such benefits are claimed by another person; and 

(III) to any other individual when it appears that he could 

have been but was not assigned an account number under the 

provisions of subclauses (I) or (II) but only after such investigation as is necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, the identity of such individual, the 

fact that an account number has not already been assigned to 

such individual, and the fact that such individual is a citizen 

or a noncitizen who is not, because of his alien status, prohibited from engaging in employment; 

and, in carrying out such duties, the Commissioner of Social Security is authorized to take affirmative measures to assure the 

issuance of social security numbers: 

(IV) to or on behalf of children who are below school age at 

the request of their parents or guardians; and 

(V) to children of school age at the time of their first enrollment in school. 

(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall require of applicants for social security account numbers such evidence as may be 

necessary to establish the age, citizenship, or alien status, and true 

identity of such applicants, and to determine which (if any) social 

security account number has previously been assigned to such individual. With respect to an application for a social security account 

number for an individual who has not attained the age of 18 before 

such application, such evidence shall include the information described in subparagraph (C)(ii). 

(iii) In carrying out the requirements of this subparagraph, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall enter into such agreements 

as may be necessary with the Attorney General and other officials 

and with State and local welfare agencies and school authorities 

(including nonpublic school authorities). 

(C)(i) It is the policy of the United States that any State (or political subdivision thereof) may, in the administration of any tax, general public assistance, driver’s license, or motor vehicle registration 

law within its jurisdiction, utilize the social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the purpose 


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of establishing the identification of individuals affected by such 

law, and may require any individual who is or appears to be so affected to furnish to such State (or political subdivision thereof) or 

any agency thereof having administrative responsibility for the law 

involved, the social security account number (or numbers, if he has 

more than one such number) issued to him by the Commissioner 

of Social Security. 

(ii) In the administration of any law involving the issuance of a 

birth certificate, each State shall require each parent to furnish to 

such State (or political subdivision thereof) or any agency thereof 

having administrative responsibility for the law involved, the social 

security account number (or numbers, if the parent has more than 

one such number) issued to the parent unless the State (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Social Security) finds good cause for not requiring the furnishing of such 

number. The State shall make numbers furnished under this subclause available to the Commissioner of Social Security and the 

agency administering the State’s plan under part D of title IV in 

accordance with Federal or State law and regulation. Such numbers shall not be recorded on the birth certificate. A State shall not 

use any social security account number, obtained with respect to 

the issuance by the State of a birth certificate, for any purpose 

other than for the enforcement of child support orders in effect in 

the State, unless section 7(a) of the Privacy Act of 1974 does not 

prohibit the State from requiring the disclosure of such number, by 

reason of the State having adopted, before January 1, 1975, a statute or regulation requiring such disclosure. 

(iii)(I) In the administration of section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018) involving the determination of the 

qualifications of applicants under such Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may require each applicant retail store or wholesale food 

concern to furnish to the Secretary of Agriculture the social security account number of each individual who is an officer of the store 

or concern and, in the case of a privately owned applicant, furnish 

the social security account numbers of the owners of such applicant. No officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture shall 

have access to any such number for any purpose other than the establishment and maintenance of a list of the names and social security account numbers of such individuals for use in determining 

those applicants who have been previously sanctioned or convicted 

under section 12 or 15 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2021 or 2024). 

(II) The Secretary of Agriculture may share any information contained in any list referred to in subclause (I) with any other agency 

or instrumentality of the United States which otherwise has access 

to social security account numbers in accordance with this subsection or other applicable Federal law, except that the Secretary 

of Agriculture may share such information only to the extent that 

such Secretary determines such sharing would assist in verifying 

and matching such information against information maintained by 

such other agency or instrumentality. Any such information shared 

pursuant to this subclause may be used by such other agency or 

instrumentality only for the purpose of effective administration and 

enforcement of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 or for the purpose of investigation of violations of other Federal laws or enforcement of such laws. 


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(III) The Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any other 

agency or instrumentality referred to in this subclause, shall restrict, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, access to social security account numbers obtained pursuant to this 

clause only to officers and employees of the United States whose 

duties or responsibilities require access for the purposes described 

in subclause (II). 

(IV) The Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any agency or 

instrumentality with which information is shared pursuant to 

clause (II), shall provide such other safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary or appropriate 

to protect the confidentiality of the social security account numbers. 

(iv) In the administration of section 506 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation may require 

each policyholder and each reinsured company to furnish to the insurer or to the Corporation the social security account number of 

such policyholder, subject to the requirements of this clause. No officer or employee of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation shall 

have access to any such number for any purpose other than the establishment of a system of records necessary for the effective administration of such Act. The Manager of the Corporation may require each policyholder to provide to the Manager, at such times 

and in such manner as prescribed by the Manager, the social security account number of each individual that holds or acquires a 

substantial beneficial interest in the policyholder. For purposes of 

this clause, the term ‘‘substantial beneficial interest’’ means not 

less than 5 percent of all beneficial interest in the policyholder. The 

Secretary of Agriculture shall restrict, to the satisfaction of the 

Commissioner of Social Security, access to social security account 

numbers obtained pursuant to this clause only to officers and employees of the United States or authorized persons whose duties or 

responsibilities require access for the administration of the Federal 

Crop Insurance Act. The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide 

such other safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary or appropriate to protect the confidentiality of such social security account numbers. For purposes of this 

clause the term ‘‘authorized person’’ means an officer or employee 

of an insurer whom the Manager of the Corporation designates by 

rule, subject to appropriate safeguards including a prohibition 

against the release of such social security account number (other 

than to the Corporation) by such person. 

(v) If and to the extent that any provision of Federal law heretofore enacted is inconsistent with the policy set forth in clause (i), 

such provision shall, on and after the date of the enactment of this 

subparagraph, be null, void, and of no effect. If and to the extent 

that any such provision is inconsistent with the requirement set 

forth in clause (ii), such provision shall, on and after the date of 

the enactment of such subclause, be null, void, and of no effect. 

(vi)(I) For purposes of clause (i) of this subparagraph, an agency 

of a State (or political subdivision thereof) charged with the administration of any general public assistance, driver’s license, or motor 

vehicle registration law which did not use the social security account number for identification under a law or regulation adopted 

before January 1, 1975, may require an individual to disclose his 


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or her social security number to such agency solely for the purpose 

of administering the laws referred to in clause (i) above and for the 

purpose of responding to requests for information from an agency 

administering a program funded under part A of title IV or an 

agency operating pursuant to the provisions of part D of such title. 

(II) Any State or political subdivision thereof (and any person 

acting as an agent of such an agency or instrumentality), in the administration of any driver’s license or motor vehicle registration 

law within its jurisdiction, may not display a social security account number issued by the Commissioner of Social Security (or 

any derivative of such number) on any driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, or personal identification card (as defined in section 7212(a)(2) of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 

2004), or include, on any such license, registration, or personal 

identification card, a magnetic strip, bar code, or other means of 

communication which conveys such number (or derivative thereof). 

(vii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘‘State’’ includes 

the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 

Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. 

(viii)(I) Social security account numbers and related records that 

are obtained or maintained by authorized persons pursuant to any 

provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990, shall be confidential, and no authorized person shall disclose any such social 

security account number or related record. 

(II) Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 7213(a) of the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply with respect to the unauthorized 

willful disclosure to any person of social security account numbers 

and related records obtained or maintained by an authorized person pursuant to a provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 

1990, in the same manner and to the same extent as such paragraphs apply with respect to unauthorized disclosures of return 

and return information described in such paragraphs. Paragraph 

(4) of section 7213(a) of such Code shall apply with respect to the 

willful offer of any item of material value in exchange for any such 

social security account number or related record in the same manner and to the same extent as such paragraph applies with respect 

to offers (in exchange for any return or return information) described in such paragraph. 

(III) For purposes of this clause, the term ‘‘authorized person’’ 

means an officer or employee of the United States, an officer or employee of any State, political subdivision of a State, or agency of a 

State or political subdivision of a State, and any other person (or 

officer or employee thereof), who has or had access to social security account numbers or related records pursuant to any provision 

of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. For purposes of this 

subclause, the term ‘‘officer or employee’’ includes a former officer 

or employee. 

(IV) For purposes of this clause, the term ‘‘related record’’ means 

any record, list, or compilation that indicates, directly or indirectly, 

the identity of any individual with respect to whom a social security account number or a request for a social security account number is maintained pursuant to this clause. 

(ix) In the administration of the provisions of chapter 81 of title 

5, United States Code, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ 


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Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), the Secretary of Labor 

may require by regulation that any person filing a notice of injury 

or a claim for benefits under such provisions provide as part of 

such notice or claim such person’s social security account number, 

subject to the requirements of this clause. No officer or employee 

of the Department of Labor shall have access to any such number 

for any purpose other than the establishment of a system of records 

necessary for the effective administration of such provisions. The 

Secretary of Labor shall restrict, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, access to social security account numbers 

obtained pursuant to this clause to officers and employees of the 

United States whose duties or responsibilities require access for 

the administration or enforcement of such provisions. The Secretary of Labor shall provide such other safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary or appropriate 

to protect the confidentiality of the social security account numbers. 

(x) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Exchanges established under section 1311 of the Patient Protection 

and Affordable Care Act, are authorized to collect and use the 

names and social security account numbers of individuals as required to administer the provisions of, and the amendments made 

by, the such Act. 

(xi) No Federal, State, or local agency may display the Social Security account number of any individual, or any derivative of such 

number, on any check issued for any payment by the Federal, 

State, or local agency. 

(xii) No Federal, State, or local agency may employ, or enter into 

a contract for the use or employment of, prisoners in any capacity 

that would allow such prisoners access to the Social Security account numbers of other individuals. For purposes of this clause, the 

term ‘‘prisoner’’ means an individual confined in a jail, prison, or 

other penal institution or correctional facility pursuant to such individual’s conviction of a criminal offense. 

(xiii) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish costeffective procedures to ensure that a Social Security account number (or derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on 

the Medicare card issued to an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII or enrolled under part B of title 

XVIII and that any other identifier displayed on such card is not 

identifiable as a Social Security account number (or derivative 

thereof). 

(D)(i) It is the policy of the United States that— 

(I) any State (or any political subdivision of a State) and any 

authorized blood donation facility may utilize the social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the purpose of identifying blood donors, and 

(II) any State (or political subdivision of a State) may require 

any individual who donates blood within such State (or political subdivision) to furnish to such State (or political subdivision), to any agency thereof having related administrative responsibility, or to any authorized blood donation facility the social security account number (or numbers, if the donor has 


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more than one such number) issued to the donor by the Commissioner of Social Security. 

(ii) If and to the extent that any provision of Federal law enacted 

before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph is inconsistent with the policy set forth in clause (i), such provision shall, 

on and after such date, be null, void, and of no effect. 

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph— 

(I) the term ‘‘authorized blood donation facility’’ means an 

entity described in section 1141(h)(1)(B), and 

(II) the term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. 

(E)(i) It is the policy of the United States that— 

(I) any State (or any political subdivision of a State) may utilize the social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the additional purposes described 

in clause (ii) if such numbers have been collected and are otherwise utilized by such State (or political subdivision) in accordance with applicable law, and 

(II) any district court of the United States may use, for such 

additional purposes, any such social security account numbers 

which have been so collected and are so utilized by any State. 

(ii) The additional purposes described in this clause are the following: 

(I) Identifying duplicate names of individuals on master lists 

used for jury selection purposes. 

(II) Identifying on such master lists those individuals who 

are ineligible to serve on a jury by reason of their conviction 

of a felony. 

(iii) To the extent that any provision of Federal law enacted before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph is inconsistent 

with the policy set forth in clause (i), such provision shall, on and 

after that date, be null, void, and of no effect. 

(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘‘State’’ has the 

meaning such term has in subparagraph (D). 

(F) The Commissioner of Social Security shall require, as a condition for receipt of benefits under this title, that an individual furnish satisfactory proof of a social security account number assigned 

to such individual by the Commissioner of Social Security or, in the 

case of an individual to whom no such number has been assigned, 

that such individual make proper application for assignment of 

such a number. 

(G) The Commissioner of Social Security shall issue a social security card to each individual at the time of the issuance of a social 

security account number to such individual. The social security 

card shall be made of banknote paper, and (to the maximum extent 

practicable) shall be a card which cannot be counterfeited. 

(H) The Commissioner of Social Security shall share with the 

Secretary of the Treasury the information obtained by the Commissioner pursuant to the second sentence of subparagraph (B)(ii) and 

to subparagraph (C)(ii) for the purpose of administering those sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which grant tax benefits based on support or residence of children. 


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(3) The Commissioner’s record shall be evidence for the purpose 

of proceedings before the Commissioner of Social Security or any 

court of the amounts of wages paid to, and self-employment income 

derived by, an individual and of the periods in which such wages 

were paid and such income was derived. The absence of an entry 

in such records as to wages alleged to have been paid to, or as to 

self-employment income alleged to have been derived by, an individual in any period shall be evidence that no such alleged wages 

were paid to, or that no such alleged income was derived by, such 

individual during such period. 

(4) Prior to the expiration of the time limitation following any 

year the Commissioner of Social Security may, if it is brought to 

the Commissioner’s attention that any entry of wages or self-employment income in the Commissioner’s records for such year is erroneous or that any item of wages or self-employment income for 

such year has been omitted from such records, correct such entry 

or include such omitted item in his records, as the case may be. 

After the expiration of the time limitation following any year— 

(A) the Commissioner’s records (with changes, if any, made 

pursuant to paragraph (5)) of the amounts of wages paid to, 

and self-employment income derived by, an individual during 

any period in such year shall be conclusive for the purposes of 

this title; 

(B) the absence of an entry in the Commissioner’s records as 

to the wages alleged to have been paid by an employer to an 

individual during any period in such year shall be presumptive 

evidence for the purposes of this title that no such alleged 

wages were paid to such individual in such period; and 

(C) the absence of an entry in the Commissioner’s records as 

to the self-employment income alleged to have been derived by 

an individual in such year shall be conclusive for the purposes 

of this title that no such alleged self-employment income was 

derived by such individual in such year unless it is shown that 

he filed a tax return of his self-employment income for such 

year before the expiration of the time limitation following such 

year, in which case the Commissioner of Social Security shall 

include in the Commissioner’s records the self-employment income of such individual for such year. 

(5) After the expiration of the time limitation following any year 

in which wages were paid or alleged to have been paid to, or selfemployment income was derived or alleged to have been derived 

by, an individual, the Commissioner of Social Security may change 

or delete any entry with respect to wages or self-employment income in the Commissioner’s records of such year for such individual or include in the Commissioner’s records of such year for 

such individual any omitted item of wages or self-employment income but only— 

(A) if an application for monthly benefits or for a lump-sum 

death payment was filed within the time limitation following 

such year; except that no such change, deletion, or inclusion 

may be made pursuant to this subparagraph after a final decision upon the application for monthly benefits or lump-sum 

death payment; 

(B) if within the time limitation following such year an individual or his survivor makes a request for a change or deletion, 


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or for an inclusion of an omitted item, and alleges in writing 

that the Commissioner’s records of the wages paid to, or the 

self-employment income derived by, such individual in such 

year are in one or more respects erroneous; except that no such 

change, deletion, or inclusion may be made pursuant to this 

subparagraph after a final decision upon such request. Written 

notice of the Commissioner’s decision on any such request shall 

be given to the individual who made the request; 

(C) to correct errors apparent on the face of such records; 

(D) to transfer items to records of the Railroad Retirement 

Board if such items were credited under this title when they 

should have been credited under the Railroad Retirement Act 

of 1937 or 1974, or to enter items transferred by the Railroad 

Retirement Board which have been credited under the Railroad 

Retirement Act of 1937 or 1974 when they should have been 

credited under this title; 

(E) to delete or reduce the amount of any entry which is erroneous as a result of fraud; 

(F) to conform the Commissioner’s records to— 

(i) tax returns or portions thereof (including information 

returns and other written statements) filed with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue under title VIII of the Social 

Security Act, under subchapter E of chapter 1 or subchapter A of chapter 9 of the Internal Revenue Code of 

1939, under chapter 2 or 21 of the Internal Revenue Code 

of 1954 or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or under 

regulations made under authority of such title, subchapter, 

or chapter; 

(ii) wage reports filed by a State pursuant to an agreement under section 218 or regulations of the Commissioner 

of Social Security thereunder; or 

(iii) assessments of amounts due under an agreement 

pursuant to section 218 (as in effect prior to December 31, 

1986), if such assessments are made within the period 

specified in subsection (q) of such section (as so in effect), 

or allowances of credits or refunds of overpayments by a 

State under an agreement pursuant to such section; 

except that no amount of self-employment income of an individual for any taxable year (if such return or statement was 

filed after the expiration of the time limitation following the 

taxable year) shall be included in the Commissioner’s records 

pursuant to this subparagraph; 

(G) to correct errors made in the allocation, to individuals or 

periods, of wages or self-employment income entered in the 

records of the Commissioner of Social Security; 

(H) to include wages paid during any period in such year to 

an individual by an employer; 

(I) to enter items which constitute remuneration for employment under subsection (o), such entries to be in accordance 

with certified reports of records made by the Railroad Retirement Board pursuant to section 5(k)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 or section 7(b)(7) of the Railroad Retirement 

Act of 1974; or 

(J) to include self-employment income for any taxable year, 

up to, but not in excess of, the amount of wages deleted by the 


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Commissioner of Social Security as payments erroneously included in such records as wages paid to such individual, if such 

income (or net earnings from self-employment), not already included in such records as self-employment income, is included 

in a return or statement (referred to in subparagraph (F)) filed 

before the expiration of the time limitation following the taxable year in which such deletion of wages is made. 

(6) Written notice of any deletion or reduction under paragraph 

(4) or (5) shall be given to the individual whose record is involved 

or to his survivor, except that (A) in the case of a deletion or reduction with respect to any entry of wages such notice shall be given 

to such individual only if he has previously been notified by the 

Commissioner of Social Security of the amount of his wages for the 

period involved, and (B) such notice shall be given to such survivor 

only if he or the individual whose record is involved has previously 

been notified by the Commissioner of Social Security of the amount 

of such individual’s wages and self-employment income for the period involved. 

(7) Upon request in writing (within such period, after any change 

or refusal of a request for a change of the Commissioner’s records 

pursuant to this subsection, as the Commissioner of Social Security 

may prescribe), opportunity for hearing with respect to such change 

or refusal shall be afforded to any individual or his survivor. If a 

hearing is held pursuant to this paragraph the Commissioner of 

Social Security shall make findings of fact and a decision based 

upon the evidence adduced at such hearing and shall include any 

omitted items, or change or delete any entry, in the Commissioner’s 

records as may be required by such findings and decision. 

(8) A translation into English by a third party of a statement 

made in a foreign language by an applicant for or beneficiary of 

monthly insurance benefits under this title shall not be regarded 

as reliable for any purpose under this title unless the third party, 

under penalty or perjury— 

(A) certifies that the translation is accurate; and 

(B) discloses the nature and scope of the relationship between the third party and the applicant or recipient, as the 

case may be. 

(9) Decisions of the Commissioner of Social Security under this 

subsection shall be reviewable by commencing a civil action in the 

United States district court as provided in subsection (g). 

(d) For the purpose of any hearing, investigation, or other proceeding authorized or directed under this title, or relative to any 

other matter within the Commissioner’s jurisdiction hereunder, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall have power to issue subpenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the 

production of any evidence that relates to any matter under investigation or in question before the Commissioner of Social Security. 

Such attendance of witnesses and production of evidence at the 

designated place of such hearing, investigation, or other proceeding 

may be required from any place in the United States or in any Territory or possession thereof. Subpenas of the Commissioner of Social Security shall be served by anyone authorized by the Commissioner (1) by delivering a copy thereof to the individual named 

therein, or (2) by registered mail or by certified mail addressed to 

such individual at his last dwelling place or principal place of busiVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:30 Jul 26, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR702.XXX HR702

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ness. A verified return by the individual so serving the subpena 

setting forth the manner of service, or, in the case of service by registered mail or by certified mail, the return post-office receipt 

therefor signed by the individual so served, shall be proof of service. Witnesses so subpenaed shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United 

States. 

(e) In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena duly 

served upon, any person, any district court of the United States for 

the judicial district in which said person charged with contumacy 

or refusal to obey is found or resides or transacts business, upon 

application by the Commissioner of Social Security, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and 

give testimony, or to appear and produce evidence, or both; any 

failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by said 

court as contempt thereof. 

(g) Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner 

of Social Security made after a hearing to which he was a party, 

irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of 

such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after 

the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further 

time as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow. Such action shall be brought in the district court of the United States for 

the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides, or has his principal place of business, or, if he does not reside or have his principal place of business within any such judicial district, in the 

United States District Court for the District of Columbia. As part 

of the Commissioner’s answer the Commissioner of Social Security 

shall file a certified copy of the transcript of the record including 

the evidence upon which the findings and decision complained of 

are based. The court shall have power to enter, upon the pleadings 

and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or 

reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with 

or without remanding the cause for a rehearing. The findings of the 

Commissioner of Social Security as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive, and where a claim has been 

denied by the Commissioner of Social Security or a decision is rendered under subsection (b) hereof which is adverse to an individual 

who was a party to the hearing before the Commissioner of Social 

Security, because of failure of the claimant or such individual to 

submit proof in conformity with any regulation prescribed under 

subsection (a) hereof, the court shall review only the question of 

conformity with such regulations and the validity of such regulations. The court may, on motion of the Commissioner of Social Security made for good cause shown before the Commissioner files 

the Commissioner’s answer, remand the case to the Commissioner 

of Social Security for further action by the Commissioner of Social 

Security, and it may at any time order additional evidence to be 

taken before the Commissioner of Social Security, but only upon a 

showing that there is new evidence which is material and that 

there is good cause for the failure to incorporate such evidence into 

the record in a prior proceeding; and the Commissioner of Social 

Security shall, after the case is remanded, and after hearing such 

additional evidence if so ordered, modify or affirm the Commissioner’s findings of fact or the Commissioner’s decision, or both, 


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and shall file with the court any such additional and modified findings of fact and decision, and, in any case in which the Commissioner has not made a decision fully favorable to the individual, a 

transcript of the additional record and testimony upon which the 

Commissioner’s action in modifying or affirming was based. Such 

additional or modified findings of fact and decision shall be reviewable only to the extent provided for review of the original findings 

of fact and decision. The judgment of the court shall be final except 

that it shall be subject to review in the same manner as a judgment in other civil actions. Any action instituted in accordance 

with this subsection shall survive notwithstanding any change in 

the person occupying the office of Commissioner of Social Security 

or any vacancy in such office. 

(h) The findings and decision of the Commissioner of Social Security after a hearing shall be binding upon all individuals who were 

parties to such hearing. No findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner of Social Security shall be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency except as herein provided. No action 

against the United States, the Commissioner of Social Security or 

any officer or employee thereof shall be brought under section 1331 

or 1346 of title 28, United States Code, to recover on any claim 

arising under this title. 

(i) Upon final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, or 

upon final judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, that 

any person is entitled to any payment or payments under this title, 

the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify to the Managing 

Trustee the name and address of the person so entitled to receive 

such payment or payments, the amount of such payment or payments, and the time at which such payment or payments should 

be made, and the Managing Trustee, through the Fiscal Service of 

the Department of the Treasury, and prior to any action thereon 

by the General Accounting Office, shall make payment in accordance with the certification of the Commissioner of Social Security 

(except that in the case of (A) an individual who will have completed ten years of service (or five or more years of service, all of 

which accrues after December 31, 1995) creditable under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 or the Railroad Retirement Act of 

1974, (B) the wife or husband or divorced wife or divorced husband 

of such an individual, (C) any survivor of such an individual if such 

survivor is entitled, or could upon application become entitled, to 

an annuity under section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, 

and (D) any other person entitled to benefits under section 202 of 

this Act on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of 

such an individual (except a survivor of such an individual where 

such individual did not have a current connection with the railroad 

industry, as defined in the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, at the 

time of his death), such certification shall be made to the Railroad 

Retirement Board which shall provide for such payment or payments to such person on behalf of the Managing Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974): 

Provided, That where a review of the Commissioner’s decision is or 

may be sought under subsection (g) the Commissioner of Social Security may withhold certification of payment pending such review. 

The Managing Trustee shall not be held personally liable for any 


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payment or payments made in accordance with a certification by 

the Commissioner of Social Security. 

Representative Payees 

(j)(1)(A) If the Commissioner of Social Security determines that 

the interest of any individual under this title would be served 

thereby, certification of payment of such individual’s benefit under 

this title may be made, regardless of the legal competency or incompetency of the individual, either for direct payment to the individual, or for his or her use and benefit, to another individual, or 

an organization, with respect to whom the requirements of paragraph (2) have been met (hereinafter in this subsection referred to 

as the individual’s ‘‘representative payee’’). If the Commissioner of 

Social Security or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that 

a representative payee has misused any individual’s benefit paid to 

such representative payee pursuant to this subsection or section 

807 or 1631(a)(2), the Commissioner of Social Security shall 

promptly revoke certification for payment of benefits to such representative payee pursuant to this subsection and certify payment 

to an alternative representative payee or, if the interest of the individual under this title would be served thereby, to the individual. 

(B) In the case of an individual entitled to benefits based on disability, the payment of such benefits shall be made to a representative payee if the Commissioner of Social Security determines that 

such payment would serve the interest of the individual because 

the individual also has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition 

(as determined by the Commissioner) and the individual is incapable of managing such benefits. 

(2)(A) Any certification made under paragraph (1) for payment of 

benefits to an individual’s representative payee shall be made on 

the basis of— 

(i) an investigation by the Commissioner of Social Security 

of the person to serve as representative payee, which shall be 

conducted in advance of such certification and shall, to the extent practicable, include a face-to-face interview with such person, and 

(ii) adequate evidence that such certification is in the interest of such individual (as determined by the Commissioner of 

Social Security in regulations). 

(B)(i) As part of the investigation referred to in subparagraph 

(A)(i), the Commissioner of Social Security shall— 

(I) require the person being investigated to submit documented proof of the identity of such person, unless information 

establishing such identity has been submitted with an application for benefits under this title, title VIII, or title XVI, 

(II) verify such person’s social security account number (or 

employer identification number), 

(III) determine whether such person has been convicted of a 

violation of section 208, 811, or 1632, 

(IV) obtain information concerning whether such person has 

been convicted of any other offense under Federal or State law 

which resulted in imprisonment for more than 1 year, 

(V) obtain information concerning whether such person is a 

person described in section 202(x)(1)(A)(iv), and 


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(VI) determine whether certification of payment of benefits 

to such person has been revoked pursuant to this subsection, 

the designation of such person as a representative payee has 

been revoked pursuant to section 807(a), or payment of benefits to such person has been terminated pursuant to section 

1631(a)(2)(A)(iii) by reason of misuse of funds paid as benefits 

under this title, title VIII, or title XVI. 

(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and 

maintain a centralized file, which shall be updated periodically and 

which shall be in a form which renders it readily retrievable by 

each servicing office of the Social Security Administration. Such file 

shall consist of— 

(I) a list of the names and social security account numbers 

(or employer identification numbers) of all persons with respect 

to whom certification of payment of benefits has been revoked 

on or after January 1, 1991, pursuant to this subsection, whose 

designation as a representative payee has been revoked pursuant to section 807(a), or with respect to whom payment of benefits has been terminated on or after such date pursuant to 

section 1631(a)(2)(A)(iii), by reason of misuse of funds paid as 

benefits under this title, title VIII, or title XVI, and 

(II) a list of the names and social security account numbers 

(or employer identification numbers) of all persons who have 

been convicted of a violation of section 208, 811, or 1632. 

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 552a of title 5, 

United States Code, or any other provision of Federal or State law 

(other than section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 

section 1106(c) of this Act), the Commissioner shall furnish any 

Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, upon the written 

request of the officer, with the current address, social security account number, and photograph (if applicable) of any person investigated under this paragraph, if the officer furnishes the Commissioner with the name of such person and such other identifying information as may reasonably be required by the Commissioner to 

establish the unique identity of such person, and notifies the Commissioner that— 

(I) such person is described in section 202(x)(1)(A)(iv), 

(II) such person has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct the officer’s official duties, and 

(III) the location or apprehension of such person is within 

the officer’s official duties. 

(C)(i) Benefits of an individual may not be certified for payment 

to any other person pursuant to this subsection if— 

(I) such person has previously been convicted as described in 

subparagraph (B)(i)(III), 

(II) except as provided in clause (ii), certification of payment 

of benefits to such person under this subsection has previously 

been revoked as described in subparagraph (B)(i)(VI) the designation of such person as a representative payee has been revoked pursuant to section 807(a), or payment of benefits to 

such person pursuant to section 1631(a)(2)(A)(ii) has previously 

been terminated as described in section 1631(a)(2)(B)(ii)(VI), 

(III) except as provided in clause (iii), such person is a creditor of such individual who provides such individual with goods 

or services for consideration, 


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(IV) such person has previously been convicted as described 

in subparagraph (B)(i)(IV), unless the Commissioner determines that such certification would be appropriate notwithstanding such conviction, or 

(V) such person is a person described in section 

202(x)(1)(A)(iv). 

(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe regulations under which the Commissioner of Social Security may grant 

exemptions to any person from the provisions of clause (i)(II) on a 

case-by-case basis if such exemption is in the best interest of the 

individual whose benefits would be paid to such person pursuant 

to this subsection. 

(iii) Clause (i)(III) shall not apply with respect to any person who 

is a creditor referred to therein if such creditor is— 

(I) a relative of such individual if such relative resides in the 

same household as such individual, 

(II) a legal guardian or legal representative of such individual, 

(III) a facility that is licensed or certified as a care facility 

under the law of a State or a political subdivision of a State, 

(IV) a person who is an administrator, owner, or employee 

of a facility referred to in subclause (III) if such individual resides in such facility, and the certification of payment to such 

facility or such person is made only after good faith efforts 

have been made by the local servicing office of the Social Security Administration to locate an alternative representative 

payee to whom such certification of payment would serve the 

best interests of such individual, or 

(V) an individual who is determined by the Commissioner of 

Social Security, on the basis of written findings and under procedures which the Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe by regulation, to be acceptable to serve as a representative payee. 

(iv) The procedures referred to in clause (iii)(V) shall require the 

individual who will serve as representative payee to establish, to 

the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, that— 

(I) such individual poses no risk to the beneficiary, 

(II) the financial relationship of such individual to the beneficiary poses no substantial conflict of interest, and 

(III) no other more suitable representative payee can be 

found. 

(v) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (1)(B), 

when selecting such individual’s representative payee, preference 

shall be given to— 

(I) certified community-based nonprofit social service agencies (as defined in paragraph (10)), 

(II) a Federal, State, or local government agency whose mission is to carry out income maintenance, social service, or 

health care-related activities, 

(III) a State or local government agency with fiduciary responsibilities, or 

(IV) a designee of an agency (other than of a Federal agency) 

referred to in the preceding subclauses of this clause, if the 

Commissioner of Social Security deems it appropriate, 


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unless the Commissioner of Social Security determines that selection of a family member would be appropriate. 

(D)(i) Subject to clause (ii), if the Commissioner of Social Security 

makes a determination described in the first sentence of paragraph 

(1) with respect to any individual’s benefit and determines that direct payment of the benefit to the individual would cause substantial harm to the individual, the Commissioner of Social Security 

may defer (in the case of initial entitlement) or suspend (in the 

case of existing entitlement) direct payment of such benefit to the 

individual, until such time as the selection of a representative 

payee is made pursuant to this subsection. 

(ii)(I) Except as provided in subclause (II), any deferral or suspension of direct payment of a benefit pursuant to clause (i) shall 

be for a period of not more than 1 month. 

(II) Subclause (I) shall not apply in any case in which the individual is, as of the date of the Commissioner’s determination, legally incompetent, under the age of 15 years, or described in paragraph (1)(B). 

(iii) Payment pursuant to this subsection of any benefits which 

are deferred or suspended pending the selection of a representative 

payee shall be made to the individual or the representative payee 

as a single sum or over such period of time as the Commissioner 

of Social Security determines is in the best interest of the individual entitled to such benefits. 

(E)(i) Any individual who is dissatisfied with a determination by 

the Commissioner of Social Security to certify payment of such individual’s benefit to a representative payee under paragraph (1) or 

with the designation of a particular person to serve as representative payee shall be entitled to a hearing by the Commissioner of 

Social Security to the same extent as is provided in subsection (b), 

and to judicial review of the Commissioner’s final decision as is 

provided in subsection (g). 

(ii) In advance of the certification of payment of an individual’s 

benefit to a representative payee under paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social Security shall provide written notice of the Commissioner’s initial determination to certify such payment. Such notice shall be provided to such individual, except that, if such individual— 

(I) is under the age of 15, 

(II) is an unemancipated minor under the age of 18, or 

(III) is legally incompetent, 

then such notice shall be provided solely to the legal guardian or 

legal representative of such individual. 

(iii) Any notice described in clause (ii) shall be clearly written in 

language that is easily understandable to the reader, shall identify 

the person to be designated as such individual’s representative 

payee, and shall explain to the reader the right under clause (i) of 

such individual or of such individual’s legal guardian or legal representative— 

(I) to appeal a determination that a representative payee is 

necessary for such individual, 

(II) to appeal the designation of a particular person to serve 

as the representative payee of such individual, and 

(III) to review the evidence upon which such designation is 

based and submit additional evidence. 


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(3)(A) In any case where payment under this title is made to a 

person other than the individual entitled to such payment, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall establish a system of accountability monitoring whereby such person shall report not less 

often than annually with respect to the use of such payments. The 

Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and implement statistically valid procedures for reviewing such reports in order to 

identify instances in which such persons are not properly using 

such payments. 

(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the other 

person to whom such payment is made is a State institution. In 

such cases, the Commissioner of Social Security shall establish a 

system of accountability monitoring for institutions in each State. 

(C) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the individual entitled to such payment is a resident of a Federal institution and the other person to whom such payment is made is the 

institution. 

(D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), the Commissioner of Social Security may require a report at any time from 

any person receiving payments on behalf of another, if the Commissioner of Social Security has reason to believe that the person receiving such payments is misusing such payments. 

(E) In any case in which the person described in subparagraph 

(A) or (D) receiving payments on behalf of another fails to submit 

a report required by the Commissioner of Social Security under 

subparagraph (A) or (D), the Commissioner may, after furnishing 

notice to such person and the individual entitled to such payment, 

require that such person appear in person at a field office of the 

Social Security Administration serving the area in which the individual resides in order to receive such payments. 

(F) The Commissioner of Social Security shall maintain a centralized file, which shall be updated periodically and which shall be in 

a form which will be readily retrievable by each servicing office of 

the Social Security Administration, of— 

(i) the address and the social security account number (or 

employer identification number) of each representative payee 

who is receiving benefit payments pursuant to this subsection, 

section 807, or section 1631(a)(2), and 

(ii) the address and social security account number of each 

individual for whom each representative payee is reported to 

be providing services as representative payee pursuant to this 

subsection, section 807, or section 1631(a)(2). 

(G) Each servicing office of the Administration shall maintain a 

list, which shall be updated periodically, of public agencies and certified community-based nonprofit social service agencies (as defined 

in paragraph (10)) which are qualified to serve as representative 

payees pursuant to this subsection or section 807 or 1631(a)(2) and 

which are located in the area served by such servicing office. 

(4)(A)(i) Except as provided in the next sentence, a qualified organization may collect from an individual a monthly fee for expenses (including overhead) incurred by such organization in providing services performed as such individual’s representative payee 

pursuant to this subsection if such fee does not exceed the lesser 

of— 

(I) 10 percent of the monthly benefit involved, or 


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(II) $25.00 per month ($50.00 per month in any case in 

which the individual is described in paragraph(1)(B)). 

A qualified organization may not collect a fee from an individual 

for any month with respect to which the Commissioner of Social 

Security or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that 

the organization misused all or part of the individual’s benefit, and 

any amount so collected by the qualified organization for such 

month shall be treated as a misused part of the individual’s benefit 

for purposes of paragraphs (5) and (6). The Commissioner shall adjust annually (after 1995) each dollar amount set forth in subclause 

(II) under procedures providing for adjustments in the same manner and to the same extent as adjustments are provided for under 

the procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under section 

215(i)(2)(A), except that any amount so adjusted that is not a multiple of $1.00 shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1.00. 

(ii) In the case of an individual who is no longer currently entitled to monthly insurance benefits under this title but to whom all 

past-due benefits have not been paid, for purposes of clause (i), any 

amount of such past-due benefits payable in any month shall be 

treated as a monthly benefit referred to in clause (i)(I). 

Any agreement providing for a fee in excess of the amount permitted under this subparagraph shall be void and shall be treated 

as misuse by such organization of such individual’s benefits. 

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘qualified organization’’ means any State or local government agency whose mission 

is to carry out income maintenance, social service, or health carerelated activities, any State or local government agency with fiduciary responsibilities, or any certified community-based nonprofit 

social service agency (as defined in paragraph (10)), if such agency, 

in accordance with any applicable regulations of the Commissioner 

of Social Security— 

(i) regularly provides services as the representative payee, 

pursuant to this subsection or section 807 or 1631(a)(2), concurrently to 5 or more individuals, 

(ii) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of 

Social Security that such agency is not otherwise a creditor of 

any such individual. 

The Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe regulations 

under which the Commissioner of Social Security may grant an exception from clause (ii) for any individual on a case-by-case basis 

if such exception is in the best interests of such individual. 

(C) Any qualified organization which knowingly charges or collects, directly or indirectly, any fee in excess of the maximum fee 

prescribed under subparagraph (A) or makes any agreement, directly or indirectly, to charge or collect any fee in excess of such 

maximum fee, shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United 

States Code, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. 

(5) In cases where the negligent failure of the Commissioner of 

Social Security to investigate or monitor a representative payee results in misuse of benefits by the representative payee, the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify for payment to the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s alternative representative payee an 

amount equal to such misused benefits. In any case in which a representative payee that— 


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(A) is not an individual (regardless of whether it is a ‘‘qualified organization’’ within the meaning of paragraph (4)(B)); or 

(B) is an individual who, for any month during a period 

when misuse occurs, serves 15 or more individuals who are 

beneficiaries under this title, title VIII, title XVI, or any combination of such titles; 

misuses all or part of an individual’s benefit paid to such representative payee, the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify 

for payment to the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s alternative representative payee an amount equal to the amount of such benefit 

so misused. The provisions of this paragraph are subject to the limitations of paragraph (7)(B). The Commissioner of Social Security 

shall make a good faith effort to obtain restitution from the terminated representative payee. 

(6)(A) In addition to such other reviews of representative payees 

as the Commissioner of Social Security may otherwise conduct, the 

Commissioner shall provide for the periodic onsite review of any 

person or agency located in the United States that receives the 

benefits payable under this title (alone or in combination with benefits payable under title VIII or title XVI) to another individual 

pursuant to the appointment of such person or agency as a representative payee under this subsection, section 807, or section 

1631(a)(2) in any case in which— 

(i) the representative payee is a person who serves in that 

capacity with respect to 15 or more such individuals; 

(ii) the representative payee is a certified community-based 

nonprofit social service agency (as defined in paragraph (10) of 

this subsection or section 1631(a)(2)(I)); or 

(iii) the representative payee is an agency (other than an 

agency described in clause (ii)) that serves in that capacity 

with respect to 50 or more such individuals. 

(B) Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of 

the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the 

Senate a report on the results of periodic onsite reviews conducted 

during the fiscal year pursuant to subparagraph (A) and of any 

other reviews of representative payees conducted during such fiscal 

year in connection with benefits under this title. Each such report 

shall describe in detail all problems identified in such reviews and 

any corrective action taken or planned to be taken to correct such 

problems, and shall include— 

(i) the number of such reviews; 

(ii) the results of such reviews; 

(iii) the number of cases in which the representative payee 

was changed and why; 

(iv) the number of cases involving the exercise of expedited, 

targeted oversight of the representative payee by the Commissioner conducted upon receipt of an allegation of misuse of 

funds, failure to pay a vendor, or a similar irregularity; 

(v) the number of cases discovered in which there was a misuse of funds; 

(vi) how any such cases of misuse of funds were dealt with 

by the Commissioner; 

(vii) the final disposition of such cases of misuse of funds, including any criminal penalties imposed; and 


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(viii) such other information as the Commissioner deems appropriate. 

(7)(A) If the Commissioner of Social Security or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a representative payee that is 

not a Federal, State, or local government agency has misused all 

or part of an individual’s benefit that was paid to such representative payee under this subsection, the representative payee shall be 

liable for the amount misused, and such amount (to the extent not 

repaid by the representative payee) shall be treated as an overpayment of benefits under this title to the representative payee for all 

purposes of this Act and related laws pertaining to the recovery of 

such overpayments. Subject to subparagraph (B), upon recovering 

all or any part of such amount, the Commissioner shall certify an 

amount equal to the recovered amount for payment to such individual or such individual’s alternative representative payee. 

(B) The total of the amount certified for payment to such individual or such individual’s alternative representative payee under 

subparagraph (A) and the amount certified for payment under 

paragraph (5) may not exceed the total benefit amount misused by 

the representative payee with respect to such individual. 

(8) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘benefit based on 

disability’’ of an individual means a disability insurance benefit of 

such individual under section 223 or a child’s, widow’s, or widower’s insurance benefit of such individual under section 202 based 

on such individual’s disability. 

(9) For purposes of this subsection, misuse of benefits by a representative payee occurs in any case in which the representative 

payee receives payment under this title for the use and benefit of 

another person and converts such payment, or any part thereof, to 

a use other than for the use and benefit of such other person. The 

Commissioner of Social Security may prescribe by regulation the 

meaning of the term ‘‘use and benefit’’ for purposes of this paragraph. 

(10) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘certified community-based nonprofit social service agency’’ means a communitybased nonprofit social service agency which is in compliance with 

requirements, under regulations which shall be prescribed by the 

Commissioner, for annual certification to the Commissioner that it 

is bonded in accordance with requirements specified by the Commissioner and that it is licensed in each State in which it serves 

as a representative payee (if licensing is available in the State) in 

accordance with requirements specified by the Commissioner. Any 

such annual certification shall include a copy of any independent 

audit on the agency which may have been performed since the previous certification. 

(k) Any payment made after December 31, 1939, under conditions set forth in subsection (j), any payment made before January 

1, 1940, to, or on behalf of, a legally incompetent individual, and 

any payment made after December 31, 1939, to a legally incompetent individual without knowledge by the Commissioner of Social 

Security of incompetency prior to certification of payment, if otherwise valid under this title, shall be a complete settlement and satisfaction of any claim, right, or interest in and to such payment. 

(l) The Commissioner of Social Security is authorized to delegate 

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tration designated by him any of the powers conferred upon him 

by this section, and is authorized to be represented by his own attorneys in any court in any case or proceeding arising under the 

provisions of subsection (e). 

(n) The Commissioner of Social Security may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, certify to the Managing Trustee any two or 

more individuals of the same family for joint payment of the total 

benefits payable to such individuals for any month, and if one of 

such individuals dies before a check representing such joint payment is negotiated, payment of the amount of such unnegotiated 

check to the surviving individual or individuals may be authorized 

in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury; except that appropriate adjustment or recovery shall be made under 

section 204(a) with respect to so much of the amount of such check 

as exceeds the amount to which such surviving individual or individuals are entitled under this title for 

Crediting of Compensation Under the Railroad Retirement Act 

(o) If there is no person who would be entitled, upon application 

therefor, to an annuity under section 2 of the Railroad Retirement 

Act of 1974, or to a lump sum payment under section 6(b) of such 

Act, with respect to the death of an employee (as defined in such 

Act), then, notwithstanding section 210(a)(9) of this Act, compensation (as defined in such Railroad Retirement Act, but excluding 

compensation attributable as having been paid during any month 

on account of military service creditable under section 3(i) of such 

Act if wages are deemed to have been paid to such employee during 

such month under subsection (a) or (e) of section 217 of this Act) 

of such employee shall constitute remuneration for employment for 

purposes of determining (A) entitlement to and the amount of any 

lump sum death payment under this title on the basis of such employee’s wages and self employment income and (B) entitlement to 

and the amount of any monthly benefit under this title, for the 

month in which such employee died or for any month thereafter, 

on the basis of such wages and self employment income. For such 

purposes, compensation (as so defined) paid in a calendar year before 1978 shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be presumed to have been paid in equal proportions with respect to all 

months in the year in which the employee rendered services for 

such compensation. 

Special Rules in Case of Federal Service 

(p)(1) With respect to service included as employment under section 210 which is performed in the employ of the United States or 

in the employ of any instrumentality which is wholly owned by the 

United States, including service, performed as a member of a uniformed service, to which the provisions of subsection (l)(1) of such 

section are applicable, and including service, performed as a volunteer or volunteer leader within the meaning of the Peace Corps Act, 

to which the provisions of section 210(o) are applicable, the Commissioner of Social Security shall not make determinations as to 

the amounts of remuneration for such service, or the periods in 

which or for which such remuneration was paid, but shall accept 

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priate Federal agency or instrumentality, and of such agents as 

such head may designate, as evidenced by returns filed in accordance with the provisions of section 3122 of the Internal Revenue 

Code of 1954 and certifications made pursuant to this subsection. 

Such determinations shall be final and conclusive. Nothing in this 

paragraph shall be construed to affect the Commissioner’s authority to determine under sections 209 and 210 whether any such 

service constitutes employment, the periods of such employment, 

and whether remuneration paid for any such service constitutes 

wages. 

(2) The head of any such agency or instrumentality is authorized 

and directed, upon written request of the Commissioner of Social 

Security, to make certification to the Commissioner with respect to 

any matter determinable for the Commissioner of Social Security 

by such head or his agents under this subsection, which the Commissioner of Social Security finds necessary in administering this 

title. 

(3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be applicable 

in the case of service performed by a civilian employee, not compensated from funds appropriated by the Congress, in the Army 

and Air Force Exchange Service, Army and Air Force Motion Picture Service, Navy Exchanges, Marine Corps Exchanges, or other 

activities, conducted by an instrumentality of the United States 

subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, at installations of the Department of Defense for the comfort, pleasure, contentment, and mental and physical improvement of personnel of 

such Department; and for purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) the 

Secretary of Defense shall be deemed to be the head of such instrumentality. The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be applicable also in the case of service performed by a civilian employee, 

not compensated from funds appropriated by the Congress, in the 

Coast Guard Exchanges or other activities, conducted by an instrumentality of the United States subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Homeland Security, at installations of the Coast Guard 

for the comfort, pleasure, contentment, and mental and physical 

improvement of personnel of the Coast Guard; and for purposes of 

paragraphs (1) and (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall be 

deemed to be the head of such instrumentality. 

Expedited Benefit Payments 

(q)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and 

put into effect procedures under which expedited payment of 

monthly insurance benefits under this title will, subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, be made as set forth in paragraphs (2) 

and (3) of this subsection. 

(2) In any case in which— 

(A) an individual makes an allegation that a monthly benefit 

under this title was due him in a particular month but was not 

paid to him, and 

(B) such individual submits a written request for the payment of such benefit— 

(i) in the case of an individual who received a regular 

monthly benefit in the month preceding the month with 

respect to which such allegation is made, not less than 30 

days after the 15th day of the month with respect to which 


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such allegation is made (and in the event that such request is submitted prior to the expiration of such 30-day 

period, it shall be deemed to have been submitted upon the 

expiration of such period), and 

(ii) in any other case, not less than 90 days after the 

later of (I) the date on which such benefit is alleged to 

have been due, or (II) the date on which such individual 

furnished the last information requested by the Commissioner of Social Security (and such written request will be 

deemed to be filed on the day on which it was filed, or the 

ninetieth day after the first day on which the Commissioner of Social Security has evidence that such allegation 

is true, whichever is later), 

the Commissioner of Social Security shall, if he finds that benefits 

are due, certify such benefits for payment, and payment shall be 

made within 15 days immediately following the date on which the 

written request is deemed to have been filed. 

(3) In any case in which the Commissioner of Social Security determines that there is evidence, although additional evidence might 

be required for a final decision, that an allegation described in 

paragraph (2)(A) is true, he may make a preliminary certification 

of such benefit for payment even though the 30-day or 90-day periods described in paragraph (2)(B)(i) and (B)(ii) have not elapsed. 

(4) Any payment made pursuant to a certification under paragraph (3) of this subsection shall not be considered an incorrect 

payment for purposes of determining the liability of the certifying 

or disbursing officer. 

(5) For purposes of this subsection, benefits payable under section 228 shall be treated as monthly insurance benefits payable 

under this title. However, this subsection shall not apply with respect to any benefit for which a check has been negotiated, or with 

respect to any benefit alleged to be due under either section 223, 

or section 202 to a wife, husband, or child of an individual entitled 

to or applying for benefits under section 223, or to a child who has 

attained age 18 and is under a disability, or to a widow or widower 

on the basis of being under a disability. 

Use of Death Certificates to Correct Program Information 

(r)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security shall undertake to establish a program under which— 

(A) States (or political subdivisions thereof) voluntarily contract with the Commissioner of Social Security to furnish the 

Commissioner of Social Security periodically with information 

(in a form established by the Commissioner of Social Security 

in consultation with the States) concerning individuals with respect to whom death certificates (or equivalent documents 

maintained by the States or subdivisions) have been officially 

filed with them; and 

(B) there will be (i) a comparison of such information on such 

individuals with information on such individuals in the records 

being used in the administration of this Act, (ii) validation of 

the results of such comparisons, and (iii) corrections in such 

records to accurately reflect the status of such individuals. 

(2) Each State (or political subdivision thereof) which furnishes 

the Commissioner of Social Security with information on records of 


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deaths in the State or subdivision under this subsection may be 

paid by the Commissioner of Social Security from amounts available for administration of this Act the reasonable costs (established 

by the Commissioner of Social Security in consultations with the 

States) for transcribing and transmitting such information to the 

Commissioner of Social Security. 

(3) In the case of individuals with respect to whom federally 

funded benefits are provided by (or through) a Federal or State 

agency other than under this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall to the extent feasible provide such information through 

a cooperative arrangement with such agency, for ensuring proper 

payment of those benefits with respect to such individuals if— 

(A) under such arrangement the agency provides reimbursement to the Commissioner of Social Security for the reasonable 

cost of carrying out such arrangement, and 

(B) such arrangement does not conflict with the duties of the 

Commissioner of Social Security under paragraph (1). 

(4) The Commissioner of Social Security may enter into similar 

agreements with States to provide information for their use in programs wholly funded by the States if the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) are met. 

(5) The Commissioner of Social Security may use or provide for 

the use of such records as may be corrected under this section, subject to such safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines are necessary or appropriate to protect the information 

from unauthorized use or disclosure, for statistical and research activities conducted by Federal and State agencies. 

(6) Information furnished to the Commissioner of Social Security 

under this subsection may not be used for any purpose other than 

the purpose described in this subsection and is exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, and from the 

requirements of section 552a of such title. 

(7) The Commissioner of Social Security shall include information on the status of the program established under this section 

and impediments to the effective implementation of the program in 

the 1984 report required under section 704 of this Act. 

(8)(A) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, upon the request of the official responsible for a State driver’s license agency 

pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002— 

(i) enter into an agreement with such official for the purpose 

of verifying applicable information, so long as the requirements 

of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) are met; and 

(ii) include in such agreement safeguards to assure the maintenance of the confidentiality of any applicable information disclosed and procedures to permit such agency to use the applicable information for the purpose of maintaining its records. 

(B) Information provided pursuant to an agreement under this 

paragraph shall be provided at such time, in such place, and in 

such manner as the Commissioner determines appropriate. 

(C) The Commissioner shall develop methods to verify the accuracy of information provided by the agency with respect to applications for voter registration, for whom the last 4 digits of a social 

security number are provided instead of a driver’s license number. 


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(9)(A) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, upon the 

request of the Secretary or the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services— 

(i) enter into an agreement with the Secretary or such 

Inspector General for the purpose of matching data in the 

system of records of the Social Security Administration 

and the system of records of the Department of Health and 

Human Services; and 

(ii) include in such agreement safeguards to assure the 

maintenance of the confidentiality of any information disclosed. 

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘system of 

records’’ has the meaning given such term in section 552a(a)(5) 

of title 5, United States Code. 

(D) For purposes of this paragraph— 

(i) the term ‘‘applicable information’’ means information regarding whether— 

(I) the name (including the first name and any family 

forename or surname), the date of birth (including the 

month, day, and year), and social security number of an 

individual provided to the Commissioner match the information contained in the Commissioner’s records, and 

(II) such individual is shown on the records of the Commissioner as being deceased; and 

(ii) the term ‘‘State driver’s license agency’’ means the State 

agency which issues driver’s licenses to individuals within the 

State and maintains records relating to such licensure. 

(E) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to require the 

provision of applicable information with regard to a request for a 

record of an individual if the Commissioner determines there are 

exceptional circumstances warranting an exception (such as safety 

of the individual or interference with an investigation). 

(F) Applicable information provided by the Commission pursuant 

to an agreement under this paragraph or by an individual to any 

agency that has entered into an agreement under this paragraph 

shall be considered as strictly confidential and shall be used only 

for the purposes described in this paragraph and for carrying out 

an agreement under this paragraph. Any officer or employee or 

former officer or employee of a State, or any officer or employee or 

former officer or employee of a contractor of a State who, without 

the written authority of the Commissioner, publishes or communicates any applicable information in such individual’s possession 

by reason of such employment or position as such an officer, shall 

be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined or 

imprisoned, or both, as described in section 208. 

Notice Requirements 

(s) The Commissioner of Social Security shall take such actions 

as are necessary to ensure that any notice to one or more individuals issued pursuant to this title by the Commissioner of Social Security or by a State agency— 

(1) is written in simple and clear language, and 

(2) includes the address and telephone number of the local 

office of the Social Security Administration which serves the 

recipient. 


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In the case of any such notice which is not generated by a local 

servicing office, the requirements of paragraph (2) shall be treated 

as satisfied if such notice includes the address of the local office of 

the Social Security Administration which services the recipient of 

the notice and a telephone number through which such office can 

be reached. 

Same-Day Personal Interviews at Field Offices In Cases Where 

Time Is of The Essence 

(t) In any case in which an individual visits a field office of the 

Social Security Administration and represents during the visit to 

an officer or employee of the Social Security Administration in the 

office that the individual’s visit is occasioned by— 

(1) the receipt of a notice from the Social Security Administration indicating a time limit for response by the individual, 

or 

(2) the theft, loss, or nonreceipt of a benefit payment under 

this title, 

the Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure that the individual is granted a face-to-face interview at the office with an officer or employee of the Social Security Administration before the 

close of business on the day of the visit. 

(u)(1)(A) The Commissioner of Social Security shall immediately 

redetermine the entitlement of individuals to monthly insurance 

benefits under this title if there is reason to believe that fraud or 

similar fault was involved in the application of the individual for 

such benefits, unless a United States attorney, or equivalent State 

prosecutor, with jurisdiction over potential or actual related criminal cases, certifies, in writing, that there is a substantial risk that 

such action by the Commissioner of Social Security with regard to 

beneficiaries in a particular investigation would jeopardize the 

criminal prosecution of a person involved in a suspected fraud. 

(B) When redetermining the entitlement, or making an initial determination of entitlement, of an individual under this title, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall disregard any evidence if 

there is reason to believe that fraud or similar fault was involved 

in the providing of such evidence. 

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), similar fault is involved with 

respect to a determination if— 

(A) an incorrect or incomplete statement that is material to 

the determination is knowingly made; or 

(B) information that is material to the determination is 

knowingly concealed. 

(3) If, after redetermining pursuant to this subsection the entitlement of an individual to monthly insurance benefits, the Commissioner of Social Security determines that there is insufficient evidence to support such entitlement, the Commissioner of Social Security may terminate such entitlement and may treat benefits paid 

on the basis of such insufficient evidence as overpayments. 

* * * * * * * 


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B. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW PROPOSED BY THE BILL, AS

REPORTED

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the 

bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in 

italics and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown 

in roman): 

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE II—FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY 

INSURANCE BENEFITS 

* * * * * * * 

EVIDENCE, PROCEDURE, AND CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT

SEC. 205. (a) The Commissioner of Social Security shall have full 

power and authority to make rules and regulations and to establish 

procedures, not inconsistent with the provisions of this title, which 

are necessary or appropriate to carry out such provisions, and shall 

adopt reasonable and proper rules and regulations to regulate and 

provide for the nature and extent of the proofs and evidence and 

the method of taking and furnishing the same in order to establish 

the right to benefits hereunder. 

(b)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security is directed to make 

findings of fact, and decisions as to the rights of any individual applying for a payment under this title. Any such decision by the 

Commissioner of Social Security which involves a determination of 

disability and which is in whole or in part unfavorable to such individual shall contain a statement of the case, in understandable language, setting forth a discussion of the evidence, and stating the 

Commissioner’s determination and the reason or reasons upon 

which it is based. Upon request by any such individual or upon request by a wife, divorced wife, widow, surviving divorced wife, surviving divorced mother, surviving divorced father, husband, divorced husband, widower, surviving divorced husband, child, or 

parent who makes a showing in writing that his or her rights may 

be prejudiced by any decision the Commissioner of Social Security 

has rendered, the Commissioner shall give such applicant and such 

other individual reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing 

with respect to such decision, and, if a hearing is held, shall, on 

the basis of evidence adduced at the hearing, affirm, modify, or reverse the Commissioner’s findings of fact and such decision. Any 

such request with respect to such a decision must be filed within 

sixty days after notice of such decision is received by the individual 

making such request. The Commissioner of Social Security is further authorized, on the Commissioner’s own motion, to hold such 

hearings and to conduct such investigations and other proceedings 

as the Commissioner may deem necessary or proper for the administration of this title. In the course of any hearing, investigation, 

or other proceeding, the Commissioner may administer oaths and 

affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive evidence. Evidence 


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may be received at any hearing before the Commissioner of Social 

Security even though inadmissible under rules of evidence applicable to court procedure. 

(2) In any case where— 

(A) an individual is a recipient of disability insurance benefits, or of child’s, widow’s, or widower’s insurance benefits 

based on disability, 

(B) the physical or mental impairment on the basis of which 

such benefits are payable is found to have ceased, not to have 

existed, or to no longer be disabling, and 

(C) as a consequence of the finding described in subparagraph (B), such individual is determined by the Commissioner 

of Social Security not to be entitled to such benefits, 

any reconsideration of the finding described in subparagraph (B), 

in connection with a reconsideration by the Commissioner of Social 

Security (before any hearing under paragraph (1) on the issue of 

such entitlement) of the Commissioner’s determination described in 

subparagraph (C), shall be made only after opportunity for an evidentiary hearing, with regard to the finding described in subparagraph (B), which is reasonably accessible to such individual. Any 

reconsideration of a finding described in subparagraph (B) may be 

made either by the State agency or the Commissioner of Social Security where the finding was originally made by the State agency, 

and shall be made by the Commissioner of Social Security where 

the finding was originally made by the Commissioner of Social Security. In the case of a reconsideration by a State agency of a finding described in subparagraph (B) which was originally made by 

such State agency, the evidentiary hearing shall be held by an adjudicatory unit of the State agency other than the unit that made 

the finding described in subparagraph (B). In the case of a reconsideration by the Commissioner of Social Security of a finding described in subparagraph (B) which was originally made by the 

Commissioner of Social Security, the evidentiary hearing shall be 

held by a person other than the person or persons who made the 

finding described in subparagraph (B). 

(3)(A) A failure to timely request review of an initial adverse determination with respect to an application for any benefit under 

this title or an adverse determination on reconsideration of such an 

initial determination shall not serve as a basis for denial of a subsequent application for any benefit under this title if the applicant 

demonstrates that the applicant, or any other individual referred 

to in paragraph (1), failed to so request such a review acting in 

good faith reliance upon incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information, relating to the consequences of reapplying for benefits in 

lieu of seeking review of an adverse determination, provided by any 

officer or employee of the Social Security Administration or any 

State agency acting under section 221. 

(B) In any notice of an adverse determination with respect to 

which a review may be requested under paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social Security shall describe in clear and specific language the effect on possible entitlement to benefits under this title 

of choosing to reapply in lieu of requesting review of the determination. 

(c)(1) For the purposes of this subsection— 


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(A) The term ‘‘year’’ means a calendar year when used with 

respect to wages and a taxable year when used with respect to 

self-employment income. 

(B) The term ‘‘time limitation’’ means a period of three years, 

three months, and fifteen days. 

(C) The term ‘‘survivor’’ means an individual’s spouse, surviving divorced wife, surviving divorced husband, surviving divorced mother, surviving divorced father, child, or parent, who 

survives such individual. 

(D) The term ‘‘period’’ when used with respect to self-employment income means a taxable year and when used with respect 

to wages means— 

(i) a quarter if wages were reported or should have been 

reported on a quarterly basis on tax returns filed with the 

Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate under section 

6011 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or regulations 

thereunder (or on reports filed by a State under section 

218(e) (as in effect prior to December 31, 1986) or regulations thereunder), 

(ii) a year if wages were reported or should have been 

reported on a yearly basis on such tax returns or reports, 

or 

(iii) the half year beginning January 1 or July 1 in the 

case of wages which were reported or should have been reported for calendar year 1937. 

(2)(A) On the basis of information obtained by or submitted to 

the Commissioner of Social Security, and after such verification 

thereof as the Commissioner deems necessary, the Commissioner of 

Social Security shall establish and maintain records of the amounts 

of wages paid to, and the amounts of self-employment income derived by, each individual and of the periods in which such wages 

were paid and such income was derived and, upon request, shall 

inform any individual or his survivor, or the legal representative 

of such individual or his estate, of the amounts of wages and selfemployment income of such individual and the periods during 

which such wages were paid and such income was derived, as 

shown by such records at the time of such request. 

(B)(i) In carrying out the Commissioner’s duties under subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (F), the Commissioner of Social Security shall take affirmative measures to assure that social security 

account numbers will, to the maximum extent practicable, be assigned to all members of appropriate groups or categories of individuals by assigning such numbers (or ascertaining that such numbers have already been assigned): 

(I) to aliens at the time of their lawful admission to the 

United States either for permanent residence or under other 

authority of law permitting them to engage in employment in 

the United States and to other aliens at such time as their status is so changed as to make it lawful for them to engage in 

such employment; 

(II) to any individual who is an applicant for or recipient of 

benefits under any program financed in whole or in part from 

Federal funds including any child on whose behalf such benefits are claimed by another person; and 


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(III) to any other individual when it appears that he could 

have been but was not assigned an account number under the 

provisions of subclauses (I) or (II) but only after such investigation as is necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, the identity of such individual, the 

fact that an account number has not already been assigned to 

such individual, and the fact that such individual is a citizen 

or a noncitizen who is not, because of his alien status, prohibited from engaging in employment; 

and, in carrying out such duties, the Commissioner of Social Security is authorized to take affirmative measures to assure the 

issuance of social security numbers: 

(IV) to or on behalf of children who are below school age at 

the request of their parents or guardians; and 

(V) to children of school age at the time of their first enrollment in school. 

(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall require of applicants for social security account numbers such evidence as may be 

necessary to establish the age, citizenship, or alien status, and true 

identity of such applicants, and to determine which (if any) social 

security account number has previously been assigned to such individual. With respect to an application for a social security account 

number for an individual who has not attained the age of 18 before 

such application, such evidence shall include the information described in subparagraph (C)(ii). 

(iii) In carrying out the requirements of this subparagraph, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall enter into such agreements 

as may be necessary with the Attorney General and other officials 

and with State and local welfare agencies and school authorities 

(including nonpublic school authorities). 

(C)(i) It is the policy of the United States that any State (or political subdivision thereof) may, in the administration of any tax, general public assistance, driver’s license, or motor vehicle registration 

law within its jurisdiction, utilize the social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the purpose 

of establishing the identification of individuals affected by such 

law, and may require any individual who is or appears to be so affected to furnish to such State (or political subdivision thereof) or 

any agency thereof having administrative responsibility for the law 

involved, the social security account number (or numbers, if he has 

more than one such number) issued to him by the Commissioner 

of Social Security. 

(ii) In the administration of any law involving the issuance of a 

birth certificate, each State shall require each parent to furnish to 

such State (or political subdivision thereof) or any agency thereof 

having administrative responsibility for the law involved, the social 

security account number (or numbers, if the parent has more than 

one such number) issued to the parent unless the State (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Social Security) finds good cause for not requiring the furnishing of such 

number. The State shall make numbers furnished under this subclause available to the Commissioner of Social Security and the 

agency administering the State’s plan under part D of title IV in 

accordance with Federal or State law and regulation. Such numbers shall not be recorded on the birth certificate. A State shall not 


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use any social security account number, obtained with respect to 

the issuance by the State of a birth certificate, for any purpose 

other than for the enforcement of child support orders in effect in 

the State, unless section 7(a) of the Privacy Act of 1974 does not 

prohibit the State from requiring the disclosure of such number, by 

reason of the State having adopted, before January 1, 1975, a statute or regulation requiring such disclosure. 

(iii)(I) In the administration of section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018) involving the determination of the 

qualifications of applicants under such Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may require each applicant retail store or wholesale food 

concern to furnish to the Secretary of Agriculture the social security account number of each individual who is an officer of the store 

or concern and, in the case of a privately owned applicant, furnish 

the social security account numbers of the owners of such applicant. No officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture shall 

have access to any such number for any purpose other than the establishment and maintenance of a list of the names and social security account numbers of such individuals for use in determining 

those applicants who have been previously sanctioned or convicted 

under section 12 or 15 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2021 or 2024). 

(II) The Secretary of Agriculture may share any information contained in any list referred to in subclause (I) with any other agency 

or instrumentality of the United States which otherwise has access 

to social security account numbers in accordance with this subsection or other applicable Federal law, except that the Secretary 

of Agriculture may share such information only to the extent that 

such Secretary determines such sharing would assist in verifying 

and matching such information against information maintained by 

such other agency or instrumentality. Any such information shared 

pursuant to this subclause may be used by such other agency or 

instrumentality only for the purpose of effective administration and 

enforcement of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 or for the purpose of investigation of violations of other Federal laws or enforcement of such laws. 

(III) The Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any other 

agency or instrumentality referred to in this subclause, shall restrict, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, access to social security account numbers obtained pursuant to this 

clause only to officers and employees of the United States whose 

duties or responsibilities require access for the purposes described 

in subclause (II). 

(IV) The Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any agency or 

instrumentality with which information is shared pursuant to 

clause (II), shall provide such other safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary or appropriate 

to protect the confidentiality of the social security account numbers. 

(iv) In the administration of section 506 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation may require 

each policyholder and each reinsured company to furnish to the insurer or to the Corporation the social security account number of 

such policyholder, subject to the requirements of this clause. No officer or employee of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation shall 

have access to any such number for any purpose other than the esVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:30 Jul 26, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR702.XXX HR702

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tablishment of a system of records necessary for the effective administration of such Act. The Manager of the Corporation may require each policyholder to provide to the Manager, at such times 

and in such manner as prescribed by the Manager, the social security account number of each individual that holds or acquires a 

substantial beneficial interest in the policyholder. For purposes of 

this clause, the term ‘‘substantial beneficial interest’’ means not 

less than 5 percent of all beneficial interest in the policyholder. The 

Secretary of Agriculture shall restrict, to the satisfaction of the 

Commissioner of Social Security, access to social security account 

numbers obtained pursuant to this clause only to officers and employees of the United States or authorized persons whose duties or 

responsibilities require access for the administration of the Federal 

Crop Insurance Act. The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide 

such other safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary or appropriate to protect the confidentiality of such social security account numbers. For purposes of this 

clause the term ‘‘authorized person’’ means an officer or employee 

of an insurer whom the Manager of the Corporation designates by 

rule, subject to appropriate safeguards including a prohibition 

against the release of such social security account number (other 

than to the Corporation) by such person. 

(v) If and to the extent that any provision of Federal law heretofore enacted is inconsistent with the policy set forth in clause (i), 

such provision shall, on and after the date of the enactment of this 

subparagraph, be null, void, and of no effect. If and to the extent 

that any such provision is inconsistent with the requirement set 

forth in clause (ii), such provision shall, on and after the date of 

the enactment of such subclause, be null, void, and of no effect. 

(vi)(I) For purposes of clause (i) of this subparagraph, an agency 

of a State (or political subdivision thereof) charged with the administration of any general public assistance, driver’s license, or motor 

vehicle registration law which did not use the social security account number for identification under a law or regulation adopted 

before January 1, 1975, may require an individual to disclose his 

or her social security number to such agency solely for the purpose 

of administering the laws referred to in clause (i) above and for the 

purpose of responding to requests for information from an agency 

administering a program funded under part A of title IV or an 

agency operating pursuant to the provisions of part D of such title. 

(II) Any State or political subdivision thereof (and any person 

acting as an agent of such an agency or instrumentality), in the administration of any driver’s license or motor vehicle registration 

law within its jurisdiction, may not display a social security account number issued by the Commissioner of Social Security (or 

any derivative of such number) on any driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, or personal identification card (as defined in section 7212(a)(2) of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 

2004), or include, on any such license, registration, or personal 

identification card, a magnetic strip, bar code, or other means of 

communication which conveys such number (or derivative thereof). 

(vii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘‘State’’ includes 

the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 

Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. 


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(viii)(I) Social security account numbers and related records that 

are obtained or maintained by authorized persons pursuant to any 

provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990, shall be confidential, and no authorized person shall disclose any such social 

security account number or related record. 

(II) Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 7213(a) of the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply with respect to the unauthorized 

willful disclosure to any person of social security account numbers 

and related records obtained or maintained by an authorized person pursuant to a provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 

1990, in the same manner and to the same extent as such paragraphs apply with respect to unauthorized disclosures of return 

and return information described in such paragraphs. Paragraph 

(4) of section 7213(a) of such Code shall apply with respect to the 

willful offer of any item of material value in exchange for any such 

social security account number or related record in the same manner and to the same extent as such paragraph applies with respect 

to offers (in exchange for any return or return information) described in such paragraph. 

(III) For purposes of this clause, the term ‘‘authorized person’’ 

means an officer or employee of the United States, an officer or employee of any State, political subdivision of a State, or agency of a 

State or political subdivision of a State, and any other person (or 

officer or employee thereof), who has or had access to social security account numbers or related records pursuant to any provision 

of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. For purposes of this 

subclause, the term ‘‘officer or employee’’ includes a former officer 

or employee. 

(IV) For purposes of this clause, the term ‘‘related record’’ means 

any record, list, or compilation that indicates, directly or indirectly, 

the identity of any individual with respect to whom a social security account number or a request for a social security account number is maintained pursuant to this clause. 

(ix) In the administration of the provisions of chapter 81 of title 

5, United States Code, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ 

Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), the Secretary of Labor 

may require by regulation that any person filing a notice of injury 

or a claim for benefits under such provisions provide as part of 

such notice or claim such person’s social security account number, 

subject to the requirements of this clause. No officer or employee 

of the Department of Labor shall have access to any such number 

for any purpose other than the establishment of a system of records 

necessary for the effective administration of such provisions. The 

Secretary of Labor shall restrict, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, access to social security account numbers 

obtained pursuant to this clause to officers and employees of the 

United States whose duties or responsibilities require access for 

the administration or enforcement of such provisions. The Secretary of Labor shall provide such other safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary or appropriate 

to protect the confidentiality of the social security account numbers. 

(x) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Exchanges established under section 1311 of the Patient Protection 

and Affordable Care Act, are authorized to collect and use the 


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names and social security account numbers of individuals as required to administer the provisions of, and the amendments made 

by, the such Act. 

(xi) No Federal, State, or local agency may display the Social Security account number of any individual, or any derivative of such 

number, on any check issued for any payment by the Federal, 

State, or local agency. 

(xii) No Federal, State, or local agency may employ, or enter into 

a contract for the use or employment of, prisoners in any capacity 

that would allow such prisoners access to the Social Security account numbers of other individuals. For purposes of this clause, the 

term ‘‘prisoner’’ means an individual confined in a jail, prison, or 

other penal institution or correctional facility pursuant to such individual’s conviction of a criminal offense. 

(xiii) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish costeffective procedures to ensure that a Social Security account number (or derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on 

the Medicare card issued to an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII or enrolled under part B of title 

XVIII and that any other identifier displayed on such card is not 

identifiable as a Social Security account number (or derivative 

thereof). 

(xiv)(I) The Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure that no 

document sent by mail by the Social Security Administration includes a complete social security account number unless the Commissioner determines that inclusion of such complete number is necessary. 

(II) Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this 

clause and not later than each of March 31 and September 30 of 

each of the first 6 years following the year in which such date of 

enactment occurs, the Commissioner of Social Security shall submit 

to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the 

implementation of subclause (I). Such report shall include— 

(aa) the title and identification number of each document 

used by the Social Security Administration during the previous 

year on which is printed an individual’s complete social security account number; 

(bb) the most recent date on which each such document was 

updated; and 

(cc) the projected date on which complete social security account numbers will be removed from each such document, or if 

the Commissioner determines that inclusion of such complete 

number is necessary, the rationale for such determination. 

(D)(i) It is the policy of the United States that— 

(I) any State (or any political subdivision of a State) and any 

authorized blood donation facility may utilize the social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the purpose of identifying blood donors, and 

(II) any State (or political subdivision of a State) may require 

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cial security account number (or numbers, if the donor has 

more than one such number) issued to the donor by the Commissioner of Social Security. 

(ii) If and to the extent that any provision of Federal law enacted 

before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph is inconsistent with the policy set forth in clause (i), such provision shall, 

on and after such date, be null, void, and of no effect. 

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph— 

(I) the term ‘‘authorized blood donation facility’’ means an 

entity described in section 1141(h)(1)(B), and 

(II) the term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. 

(E)(i) It is the policy of the United States that— 

(I) any State (or any political subdivision of a State) may utilize the social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of Social Security for the additional purposes described 

in clause (ii) if such numbers have been collected and are otherwise utilized by such State (or political subdivision) in accordance with applicable law, and 

(II) any district court of the United States may use, for such 

additional purposes, any such social security account numbers 

which have been so collected and are so utilized by any State. 

(ii) The additional purposes described in this clause are the following: 

(I) Identifying duplicate names of individuals on master lists 

used for jury selection purposes. 

(II) Identifying on such master lists those individuals who 

are ineligible to serve on a jury by reason of their conviction 

of a felony. 

(iii) To the extent that any provision of Federal law enacted before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph is inconsistent 

with the policy set forth in clause (i), such provision shall, on and 

after that date, be null, void, and of no effect. 

(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘‘State’’ has the 

meaning such term has in subparagraph (D). 

(F) The Commissioner of Social Security shall require, as a condition for receipt of benefits under this title, that an individual furnish satisfactory proof of a social security account number assigned 

to such individual by the Commissioner of Social Security or, in the 

case of an individual to whom no such number has been assigned, 

that such individual make proper application for assignment of 

such a number. 

(G) The Commissioner of Social Security shall issue a social security card to each individual at the time of the issuance of a social 

security account number to such individual. The social security 

card shall be made of banknote paper, and (to the maximum extent 

practicable) shall be a card which cannot be counterfeited. 

(H) The Commissioner of Social Security shall share with the 

Secretary of the Treasury the information obtained by the Commissioner pursuant to the second sentence of subparagraph (B)(ii) and 

to subparagraph (C)(ii) for the purpose of administering those sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which grant tax benefits based on support or residence of children. 


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(3) The Commissioner’s record shall be evidence for the purpose 

of proceedings before the Commissioner of Social Security or any 

court of the amounts of wages paid to, and self-employment income 

derived by, an individual and of the periods in which such wages 

were paid and such income was derived. The absence of an entry 

in such records as to wages alleged to have been paid to, or as to 

self-employment income alleged to have been derived by, an individual in any period shall be evidence that no such alleged wages 

were paid to, or that no such alleged income was derived by, such 

individual during such period. 

(4) Prior to the expiration of the time limitation following any 

year the Commissioner of Social Security may, if it is brought to 

the Commissioner’s attention that any entry of wages or self-employment income in the Commissioner’s records for such year is erroneous or that any item of wages or self-employment income for 

such year has been omitted from such records, correct such entry 

or include such omitted item in his records, as the case may be. 

After the expiration of the time limitation following any year— 

(A) the Commissioner’s records (with changes, if any, made 

pursuant to paragraph (5)) of the amounts of wages paid to, 

and self-employment income derived by, an individual during 

any period in such year shall be conclusive for the purposes of 

this title; 

(B) the absence of an entry in the Commissioner’s records as 

to the wages alleged to have been paid by an employer to an 

individual during any period in such year shall be presumptive 

evidence for the purposes of this title that no such alleged 

wages were paid to such individual in such period; and 

(C) the absence of an entry in the Commissioner’s records as 

to the self-employment income alleged to have been derived by 

an individual in such year shall be conclusive for the purposes 

of this title that no such alleged self-employment income was 

derived by such individual in such year unless it is shown that 

he filed a tax return of his self-employment income for such 

year before the expiration of the time limitation following such 

year, in which case the Commissioner of Social Security shall 

include in the Commissioner’s records the self-employment income of such individual for such year. 

(5) After the expiration of the time limitation following any year 

in which wages were paid or alleged to have been paid to, or selfemployment income was derived or alleged to have been derived 

by, an individual, the Commissioner of Social Security may change 

or delete any entry with respect to wages or self-employment income in the Commissioner’s records of such year for such individual or include in the Commissioner’s records of such year for 

such individual any omitted item of wages or self-employment income but only— 

(A) if an application for monthly benefits or for a lump-sum 

death payment was filed within the time limitation following 

such year; except that no such change, deletion, or inclusion 

may be made pursuant to this subparagraph after a final decision upon the application for monthly benefits or lump-sum 

death payment; 

(B) if within the time limitation following such year an individual or his survivor makes a request for a change or deletion, 


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or for an inclusion of an omitted item, and alleges in writing 

that the Commissioner’s records of the wages paid to, or the 

self-employment income derived by, such individual in such 

year are in one or more respects erroneous; except that no such 

change, deletion, or inclusion may be made pursuant to this 

subparagraph after a final decision upon such request. Written 

notice of the Commissioner’s decision on any such request shall 

be given to the individual who made the request; 

(C) to correct errors apparent on the face of such records; 

(D) to transfer items to records of the Railroad Retirement 

Board if such items were credited under this title when they 

should have been credited under the Railroad Retirement Act 

of 1937 or 1974, or to enter items transferred by the Railroad 

Retirement Board which have been credited under the Railroad 

Retirement Act of 1937 or 1974 when they should have been 

credited under this title; 

(E) to delete or reduce the amount of any entry which is erroneous as a result of fraud; 

(F) to conform the Commissioner’s records to— 

(i) tax returns or portions thereof (including information 

returns and other written statements) filed with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue under title VIII of the Social 

Security Act, under subchapter E of chapter 1 or subchapter A of chapter 9 of the Internal Revenue Code of 

1939, under chapter 2 or 21 of the Internal Revenue Code 

of 1954 or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or under 

regulations made under authority of such title, subchapter, 

or chapter; 

(ii) wage reports filed by a State pursuant to an agreement under section 218 or regulations of the Commissioner 

of Social Security thereunder; or 

(iii) assessments of amounts due under an agreement 

pursuant to section 218 (as in effect prior to December 31, 

1986), if such assessments are made within the period 

specified in subsection (q) of such section (as so in effect), 

or allowances of credits or refunds of overpayments by a 

State under an agreement pursuant to such section; 

except that no amount of self-employment income of an individual for any taxable year (if such return or statement was 

filed after the expiration of the time limitation following the 

taxable year) shall be included in the Commissioner’s records 

pursuant to this subparagraph; 

(G) to correct errors made in the allocation, to individuals or 

periods, of wages or self-employment income entered in the 

records of the Commissioner of Social Security; 

(H) to include wages paid during any period in such year to 

an individual by an employer; 

(I) to enter items which constitute remuneration for employment under subsection (o), such entries to be in accordance 

with certified reports of records made by the Railroad Retirement Board pursuant to section 5(k)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 or section 7(b)(7) of the Railroad Retirement 

Act of 1974; or 

(J) to include self-employment income for any taxable year, 

up to, but not in excess of, the amount of wages deleted by the 


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Commissioner of Social Security as payments erroneously included in such records as wages paid to such individual, if such 

income (or net earnings from self-employment), not already included in such records as self-employment income, is included 

in a return or statement (referred to in subparagraph (F)) filed 

before the expiration of the time limitation following the taxable year in which such deletion of wages is made. 

(6) Written notice of any deletion or reduction under paragraph 

(4) or (5) shall be given to the individual whose record is involved 

or to his survivor, except that (A) in the case of a deletion or reduction with respect to any entry of wages such notice shall be given 

to such individual only if he has previously been notified by the 

Commissioner of Social Security of the amount of his wages for the 

period involved, and (B) such notice shall be given to such survivor 

only if he or the individual whose record is involved has previously 

been notified by the Commissioner of Social Security of the amount 

of such individual’s wages and self-employment income for the period involved. 

(7) Upon request in writing (within such period, after any change 

or refusal of a request for a change of the Commissioner’s records 

pursuant to this subsection, as the Commissioner of Social Security 

may prescribe), opportunity for hearing with respect to such change 

or refusal shall be afforded to any individual or his survivor. If a 

hearing is held pursuant to this paragraph the Commissioner of 

Social Security shall make findings of fact and a decision based 

upon the evidence adduced at such hearing and shall include any 

omitted items, or change or delete any entry, in the Commissioner’s 

records as may be required by such findings and decision. 

(8) A translation into English by a third party of a statement 

made in a foreign language by an applicant for or beneficiary of 

monthly insurance benefits under this title shall not be regarded 

as reliable for any purpose under this title unless the third party, 

under penalty or perjury— 

(A) certifies that the translation is accurate; and 

(B) discloses the nature and scope of the relationship between the third party and the applicant or recipient, as the 

case may be. 

(9) Decisions of the Commissioner of Social Security under this 

subsection shall be reviewable by commencing a civil action in the 

United States district court as provided in subsection (g). 

(d) For the purpose of any hearing, investigation, or other proceeding authorized or directed under this title, or relative to any 

other matter within the Commissioner’s jurisdiction hereunder, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall have power to issue subpenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the 

production of any evidence that relates to any matter under investigation or in question before the Commissioner of Social Security. 

Such attendance of witnesses and production of evidence at the 

designated place of such hearing, investigation, or other proceeding 

may be required from any place in the United States or in any Territory or possession thereof. Subpenas of the Commissioner of Social Security shall be served by anyone authorized by the Commissioner (1) by delivering a copy thereof to the individual named 

therein, or (2) by registered mail or by certified mail addressed to 

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ness. A verified return by the individual so serving the subpena 

setting forth the manner of service, or, in the case of service by registered mail or by certified mail, the return post-office receipt 

therefor signed by the individual so served, shall be proof of service. Witnesses so subpenaed shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United 

States. 

(e) In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena duly 

served upon, any person, any district court of the United States for 

the judicial district in which said person charged with contumacy 

or refusal to obey is found or resides or transacts business, upon 

application by the Commissioner of Social Security, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and 

give testimony, or to appear and produce evidence, or both; any 

failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by said 

court as contempt thereof. 

(g) Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner 

of Social Security made after a hearing to which he was a party, 

irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of 

such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after 

the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further 

time as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow. Such action shall be brought in the district court of the United States for 

the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides, or has his principal place of business, or, if he does not reside or have his principal place of business within any such judicial district, in the 

United States District Court for the District of Columbia. As part 

of the Commissioner’s answer the Commissioner of Social Security 

shall file a certified copy of the transcript of the record including 

the evidence upon which the findings and decision complained of 

are based. The court shall have power to enter, upon the pleadings 

and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or 

reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with 

or without remanding the cause for a rehearing. The findings of the 

Commissioner of Social Security as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive, and where a claim has been 

denied by the Commissioner of Social Security or a decision is rendered under subsection (b) hereof which is adverse to an individual 

who was a party to the hearing before the Commissioner of Social 

Security, because of failure of the claimant or such individual to 

submit proof in conformity with any regulation prescribed under 

subsection (a) hereof, the court shall review only the question of 

conformity with such regulations and the validity of such regulations. The court may, on motion of the Commissioner of Social Security made for good cause shown before the Commissioner files 

the Commissioner’s answer, remand the case to the Commissioner 

of Social Security for further action by the Commissioner of Social 

Security, and it may at any time order additional evidence to be 

taken before the Commissioner of Social Security, but only upon a 

showing that there is new evidence which is material and that 

there is good cause for the failure to incorporate such evidence into 

the record in a prior proceeding; and the Commissioner of Social 

Security shall, after the case is remanded, and after hearing such 

additional evidence if so ordered, modify or affirm the Commissioner’s findings of fact or the Commissioner’s decision, or both, 


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and shall file with the court any such additional and modified findings of fact and decision, and, in any case in which the Commissioner has not made a decision fully favorable to the individual, a 

transcript of the additional record and testimony upon which the 

Commissioner’s action in modifying or affirming was based. Such 

additional or modified findings of fact and decision shall be reviewable only to the extent provided for review of the original findings 

of fact and decision. The judgment of the court shall be final except 

that it shall be subject to review in the same manner as a judgment in other civil actions. Any action instituted in accordance 

with this subsection shall survive notwithstanding any change in 

the person occupying the office of Commissioner of Social Security 

or any vacancy in such office. 

(h) The findings and decision of the Commissioner of Social Security after a hearing shall be binding upon all individuals who were 

parties to such hearing. No findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner of Social Security shall be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency except as herein provided. No action 

against the United States, the Commissioner of Social Security or 

any officer or employee thereof shall be brought under section 1331 

or 1346 of title 28, United States Code, to recover on any claim 

arising under this title. 

(i) Upon final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, or 

upon final judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, that 

any person is entitled to any payment or payments under this title, 

the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify to the Managing 

Trustee the name and address of the person so entitled to receive 

such payment or payments, the amount of such payment or payments, and the time at which such payment or payments should 

be made, and the Managing Trustee, through the Fiscal Service of 

the Department of the Treasury, and prior to any action thereon 

by the General Accounting Office, shall make payment in accordance with the certification of the Commissioner of Social Security 

(except that in the case of (A) an individual who will have completed ten years of service (or five or more years of service, all of 

which accrues after December 31, 1995) creditable under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 or the Railroad Retirement Act of 

1974, (B) the wife or husband or divorced wife or divorced husband 

of such an individual, (C) any survivor of such an individual if such 

survivor is entitled, or could upon application become entitled, to 

an annuity under section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, 

and (D) any other person entitled to benefits under section 202 of 

this Act on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of 

such an individual (except a survivor of such an individual where 

such individual did not have a current connection with the railroad 

industry, as defined in the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, at the 

time of his death), such certification shall be made to the Railroad 

Retirement Board which shall provide for such payment or payments to such person on behalf of the Managing Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974): 

Provided, That where a review of the Commissioner’s decision is or 

may be sought under subsection (g) the Commissioner of Social Security may withhold certification of payment pending such review. 

The Managing Trustee shall not be held personally liable for any 


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payment or payments made in accordance with a certification by 

the Commissioner of Social Security. 

Representative Payees 

(j)(1)(A) If the Commissioner of Social Security determines that 

the interest of any individual under this title would be served 

thereby, certification of payment of such individual’s benefit under 

this title may be made, regardless of the legal competency or incompetency of the individual, either for direct payment to the individual, or for his or her use and benefit, to another individual, or 

an organization, with respect to whom the requirements of paragraph (2) have been met (hereinafter in this subsection referred to 

as the individual’s ‘‘representative payee’’). If the Commissioner of 

Social Security or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that 

a representative payee has misused any individual’s benefit paid to 

such representative payee pursuant to this subsection or section 

807 or 1631(a)(2), the Commissioner of Social Security shall 

promptly revoke certification for payment of benefits to such representative payee pursuant to this subsection and certify payment 

to an alternative representative payee or, if the interest of the individual under this title would be served thereby, to the individual. 

(B) In the case of an individual entitled to benefits based on disability, the payment of such benefits shall be made to a representative payee if the Commissioner of Social Security determines that 

such payment would serve the interest of the individual because 

the individual also has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition 

(as determined by the Commissioner) and the individual is incapable of managing such benefits. 

(2)(A) Any certification made under paragraph (1) for payment of 

benefits to an individual’s representative payee shall be made on 

the basis of— 

(i) an investigation by the Commissioner of Social Security 

of the person to serve as representative payee, which shall be 

conducted in advance of such certification and shall, to the extent practicable, include a face-to-face interview with such person, and 

(ii) adequate evidence that such certification is in the interest of such individual (as determined by the Commissioner of 

Social Security in regulations). 

(B)(i) As part of the investigation referred to in subparagraph 

(A)(i), the Commissioner of Social Security shall— 

(I) require the person being investigated to submit documented proof of the identity of such person, unless information 

establishing such identity has been submitted with an application for benefits under this title, title VIII, or title XVI, 

(II) verify such person’s social security account number (or 

employer identification number), 

(III) determine whether such person has been convicted of a 

violation of section 208, 811, or 1632, 

(IV) obtain information concerning whether such person has 

been convicted of any other offense under Federal or State law 

which resulted in imprisonment for more than 1 year, 

(V) obtain information concerning whether such person is a 

person described in section 202(x)(1)(A)(iv), and 


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(VI) determine whether certification of payment of benefits 

to such person has been revoked pursuant to this subsection, 

the designation of such person as a representative payee has 

been revoked pursuant to section 807(a), or payment of benefits to such person has been terminated pursuant to section 

1631(a)(2)(A)(iii) by reason of misuse of funds paid as benefits 

under this title, title VIII, or title XVI. 

(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and 

maintain a centralized file, which shall be updated periodically and 

which shall be in a form which renders it readily retrievable by 

each servicing office of the Social Security Administration. Such file 

shall consist of— 

(I) a list of the names and social security account numbers 

(or employer identification numbers) of all persons with respect 

to whom certification of payment of benefits has been revoked 

on or after January 1, 1991, pursuant to this subsection, whose 

designation as a representative payee has been revoked pursuant to section 807(a), or with respect to whom payment of benefits has been terminated on or after such date pursuant to 

section 1631(a)(2)(A)(iii), by reason of misuse of funds paid as 

benefits under this title, title VIII, or title XVI, and 

(II) a list of the names and social security account numbers 

(or employer identification numbers) of all persons who have 

been convicted of a violation of section 208, 811, or 1632. 

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 552a of title 5, 

United States Code, or any other provision of Federal or State law 

(other than section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 

section 1106(c) of this Act), the Commissioner shall furnish any 

Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, upon the written 

request of the officer, with the current address, social security account number, and photograph (if applicable) of any person investigated under this paragraph, if the officer furnishes the Commissioner with the name of such person and such other identifying information as may reasonably be required by the Commissioner to 

establish the unique identity of such person, and notifies the Commissioner that— 

(I) such person is described in section 202(x)(1)(A)(iv), 

(II) such person has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct the officer’s official duties, and 

(III) the location or apprehension of such person is within 

the officer’s official duties. 

(C)(i) Benefits of an individual may not be certified for payment 

to any other person pursuant to this subsection if— 

(I) such person has previously been convicted as described in 

subparagraph (B)(i)(III), 

(II) except as provided in clause (ii), certification of payment 

of benefits to such person under this subsection has previously 

been revoked as described in subparagraph (B)(i)(VI) the designation of such person as a representative payee has been revoked pursuant to section 807(a), or payment of benefits to 

such person pursuant to section 1631(a)(2)(A)(ii) has previously 

been terminated as described in section 1631(a)(2)(B)(ii)(VI), 

(III) except as provided in clause (iii), such person is a creditor of such individual who provides such individual with goods 

or services for consideration, 


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(IV) such person has previously been convicted as described 

in subparagraph (B)(i)(IV), unless the Commissioner determines that such certification would be appropriate notwithstanding such conviction, or 

(V) such person is a person described in section 

202(x)(1)(A)(iv). 

(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe regulations under which the Commissioner of Social Security may grant 

exemptions to any person from the provisions of clause (i)(II) on a 

case-by-case basis if such exemption is in the best interest of the 

individual whose benefits would be paid to such person pursuant 

to this subsection. 

(iii) Clause (i)(III) shall not apply with respect to any person who 

is a creditor referred to therein if such creditor is— 

(I) a relative of such individual if such relative resides in the 

same household as such individual, 

(II) a legal guardian or legal representative of such individual, 

(III) a facility that is licensed or certified as a care facility 

under the law of a State or a political subdivision of a State, 

(IV) a person who is an administrator, owner, or employee 

of a facility referred to in subclause (III) if such individual resides in such facility, and the certification of payment to such 

facility or such person is made only after good faith efforts 

have been made by the local servicing office of the Social Security Administration to locate an alternative representative 

payee to whom such certification of payment would serve the 

best interests of such individual, or 

(V) an individual who is determined by the Commissioner of 

Social Security, on the basis of written findings and under procedures which the Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe by regulation, to be acceptable to serve as a representative payee. 

(iv) The procedures referred to in clause (iii)(V) shall require the 

individual who will serve as representative payee to establish, to 

the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Security, that— 

(I) such individual poses no risk to the beneficiary, 

(II) the financial relationship of such individual to the beneficiary poses no substantial conflict of interest, and 

(III) no other more suitable representative payee can be 

found. 

(v) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (1)(B), 

when selecting such individual’s representative payee, preference 

shall be given to— 

(I) certified community-based nonprofit social service agencies (as defined in paragraph (10)), 

(II) a Federal, State, or local government agency whose mission is to carry out income maintenance, social service, or 

health care-related activities, 

(III) a State or local government agency with fiduciary responsibilities, or 

(IV) a designee of an agency (other than of a Federal agency) 

referred to in the preceding subclauses of this clause, if the 

Commissioner of Social Security deems it appropriate, 


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unless the Commissioner of Social Security determines that selection of a family member would be appropriate. 

(D)(i) Subject to clause (ii), if the Commissioner of Social Security 

makes a determination described in the first sentence of paragraph 

(1) with respect to any individual’s benefit and determines that direct payment of the benefit to the individual would cause substantial harm to the individual, the Commissioner of Social Security 

may defer (in the case of initial entitlement) or suspend (in the 

case of existing entitlement) direct payment of such benefit to the 

individual, until such time as the selection of a representative 

payee is made pursuant to this subsection. 

(ii)(I) Except as provided in subclause (II), any deferral or suspension of direct payment of a benefit pursuant to clause (i) shall 

be for a period of not more than 1 month. 

(II) Subclause (I) shall not apply in any case in which the individual is, as of the date of the Commissioner’s determination, legally incompetent, under the age of 15 years, or described in paragraph (1)(B). 

(iii) Payment pursuant to this subsection of any benefits which 

are deferred or suspended pending the selection of a representative 

payee shall be made to the individual or the representative payee 

as a single sum or over such period of time as the Commissioner 

of Social Security determines is in the best interest of the individual entitled to such benefits. 

(E)(i) Any individual who is dissatisfied with a determination by 

the Commissioner of Social Security to certify payment of such individual’s benefit to a representative payee under paragraph (1) or 

with the designation of a particular person to serve as representative payee shall be entitled to a hearing by the Commissioner of 

Social Security to the same extent as is provided in subsection (b), 

and to judicial review of the Commissioner’s final decision as is 

provided in subsection (g). 

(ii) In advance of the certification of payment of an individual’s 

benefit to a representative payee under paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social Security shall provide written notice of the Commissioner’s initial determination to certify such payment. Such notice shall be provided to such individual, except that, if such individual— 

(I) is under the age of 15, 

(II) is an unemancipated minor under the age of 18, or 

(III) is legally incompetent, 

then such notice shall be provided solely to the legal guardian or 

legal representative of such individual. 

(iii) Any notice described in clause (ii) shall be clearly written in 

language that is easily understandable to the reader, shall identify 

the person to be designated as such individual’s representative 

payee, and shall explain to the reader the right under clause (i) of 

such individual or of such individual’s legal guardian or legal representative— 

(I) to appeal a determination that a representative payee is 

necessary for such individual, 

(II) to appeal the designation of a particular person to serve 

as the representative payee of such individual, and 

(III) to review the evidence upon which such designation is 

based and submit additional evidence. 


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(3)(A) In any case where payment under this title is made to a 

person other than the individual entitled to such payment, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall establish a system of accountability monitoring whereby such person shall report not less 

often than annually with respect to the use of such payments. The 

Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and implement statistically valid procedures for reviewing such reports in order to 

identify instances in which such persons are not properly using 

such payments. 

(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the other 

person to whom such payment is made is a State institution. In 

such cases, the Commissioner of Social Security shall establish a 

system of accountability monitoring for institutions in each State. 

(C) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the individual entitled to such payment is a resident of a Federal institution and the other person to whom such payment is made is the 

institution. 

(D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), the Commissioner of Social Security may require a report at any time from 

any person receiving payments on behalf of another, if the Commissioner of Social Security has reason to believe that the person receiving such payments is misusing such payments. 

(E) In any case in which the person described in subparagraph 

(A) or (D) receiving payments on behalf of another fails to submit 

a report required by the Commissioner of Social Security under 

subparagraph (A) or (D), the Commissioner may, after furnishing 

notice to such person and the individual entitled to such payment, 

require that such person appear in person at a field office of the 

Social Security Administration serving the area in which the individual resides in order to receive such payments. 

(F) The Commissioner of Social Security shall maintain a centralized file, which shall be updated periodically and which shall be in 

a form which will be readily retrievable by each servicing office of 

the Social Security Administration, of— 

(i) the address and the social security account number (or 

employer identification number) of each representative payee 

who is receiving benefit payments pursuant to this subsection, 

section 807, or section 1631(a)(2), and 

(ii) the address and social security account number of each 

individual for whom each representative payee is reported to 

be providing services as representative payee pursuant to this 

subsection, section 807, or section 1631(a)(2). 

(G) Each servicing office of the Administration shall maintain a 

list, which shall be updated periodically, of public agencies and certified community-based nonprofit social service agencies (as defined 

in paragraph (10)) which are qualified to serve as representative 

payees pursuant to this subsection or section 807 or 1631(a)(2) and 

which are located in the area served by such servicing office. 

(4)(A)(i) Except as provided in the next sentence, a qualified organization may collect from an individual a monthly fee for expenses (including overhead) incurred by such organization in providing services performed as such individual’s representative payee 

pursuant to this subsection if such fee does not exceed the lesser 

of— 

(I) 10 percent of the monthly benefit involved, or 


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(II) $25.00 per month ($50.00 per month in any case in 

which the individual is described in paragraph(1)(B)). 

A qualified organization may not collect a fee from an individual 

for any month with respect to which the Commissioner of Social 

Security or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that 

the organization misused all or part of the individual’s benefit, and 

any amount so collected by the qualified organization for such 

month shall be treated as a misused part of the individual’s benefit 

for purposes of paragraphs (5) and (6). The Commissioner shall adjust annually (after 1995) each dollar amount set forth in subclause 

(II) under procedures providing for adjustments in the same manner and to the same extent as adjustments are provided for under 

the procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under section 

215(i)(2)(A), except that any amount so adjusted that is not a multiple of $1.00 shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1.00. 

(ii) In the case of an individual who is no longer currently entitled to monthly insurance benefits under this title but to whom all 

past-due benefits have not been paid, for purposes of clause (i), any 

amount of such past-due benefits payable in any month shall be 

treated as a monthly benefit referred to in clause (i)(I). 

Any agreement providing for a fee in excess of the amount permitted under this subparagraph shall be void and shall be treated 

as misuse by such organization of such individual’s benefits. 

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘qualified organization’’ means any State or local government agency whose mission 

is to carry out income maintenance, social service, or health carerelated activities, any State or local government agency with fiduciary responsibilities, or any certified community-based nonprofit 

social service agency (as defined in paragraph (10)), if such agency, 

in accordance with any applicable regulations of the Commissioner 

of Social Security— 

(i) regularly provides services as the representative payee, 

pursuant to this subsection or section 807 or 1631(a)(2), concurrently to 5 or more individuals, 

(ii) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of 

Social Security that such agency is not otherwise a creditor of 

any such individual. 

The Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe regulations 

under which the Commissioner of Social Security may grant an exception from clause (ii) for any individual on a case-by-case basis 

if such exception is in the best interests of such individual. 

(C) Any qualified organization which knowingly charges or collects, directly or indirectly, any fee in excess of the maximum fee 

prescribed under subparagraph (A) or makes any agreement, directly or indirectly, to charge or collect any fee in excess of such 

maximum fee, shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United 

States Code, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. 

(5) In cases where the negligent failure of the Commissioner of 

Social Security to investigate or monitor a representative payee results in misuse of benefits by the representative payee, the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify for payment to the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s alternative representative payee an 

amount equal to such misused benefits. In any case in which a representative payee that— 


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(A) is not an individual (regardless of whether it is a ‘‘qualified organization’’ within the meaning of paragraph (4)(B)); or 

(B) is an individual who, for any month during a period 

when misuse occurs, serves 15 or more individuals who are 

beneficiaries under this title, title VIII, title XVI, or any combination of such titles; 

misuses all or part of an individual’s benefit paid to such representative payee, the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify 

for payment to the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s alternative representative payee an amount equal to the amount of such benefit 

so misused. The provisions of this paragraph are subject to the limitations of paragraph (7)(B). The Commissioner of Social Security 

shall make a good faith effort to obtain restitution from the terminated representative payee. 

(6)(A) In addition to such other reviews of representative payees 

as the Commissioner of Social Security may otherwise conduct, the 

Commissioner shall provide for the periodic onsite review of any 

person or agency located in the United States that receives the 

benefits payable under this title (alone or in combination with benefits payable under title VIII or title XVI) to another individual 

pursuant to the appointment of such person or agency as a representative payee under this subsection, section 807, or section 

1631(a)(2) in any case in which— 

(i) the representative payee is a person who serves in that 

capacity with respect to 15 or more such individuals; 

(ii) the representative payee is a certified community-based 

nonprofit social service agency (as defined in paragraph (10) of 

this subsection or section 1631(a)(2)(I)); or 

(iii) the representative payee is an agency (other than an 

agency described in clause (ii)) that serves in that capacity 

with respect to 50 or more such individuals. 

(B) Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of 

the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the 

Senate a report on the results of periodic onsite reviews conducted 

during the fiscal year pursuant to subparagraph (A) and of any 

other reviews of representative payees conducted during such fiscal 

year in connection with benefits under this title. Each such report 

shall describe in detail all problems identified in such reviews and 

any corrective action taken or planned to be taken to correct such 

problems, and shall include— 

(i) the number of such reviews; 

(ii) the results of such reviews; 

(iii) the number of cases in which the representative payee 

was changed and why; 

(iv) the number of cases involving the exercise of expedited, 

targeted oversight of the representative payee by the Commissioner conducted upon receipt of an allegation of misuse of 

funds, failure to pay a vendor, or a similar irregularity; 

(v) the number of cases discovered in which there was a misuse of funds; 

(vi) how any such cases of misuse of funds were dealt with 

by the Commissioner; 

(vii) the final disposition of such cases of misuse of funds, including any criminal penalties imposed; and 


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(viii) such other information as the Commissioner deems appropriate. 

(7)(A) If the Commissioner of Social Security or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a representative payee that is 

not a Federal, State, or local government agency has misused all 

or part of an individual’s benefit that was paid to such representative payee under this subsection, the representative payee shall be 

liable for the amount misused, and such amount (to the extent not 

repaid by the representative payee) shall be treated as an overpayment of benefits under this title to the representative payee for all 

purposes of this Act and related laws pertaining to the recovery of 

such overpayments. Subject to subparagraph (B), upon recovering 

all or any part of such amount, the Commissioner shall certify an 

amount equal to the recovered amount for payment to such individual or such individual’s alternative representative payee. 

(B) The total of the amount certified for payment to such individual or such individual’s alternative representative payee under 

subparagraph (A) and the amount certified for payment under 

paragraph (5) may not exceed the total benefit amount misused by 

the representative payee with respect to such individual. 

(8) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘benefit based on 

disability’’ of an individual means a disability insurance benefit of 

such individual under section 223 or a child’s, widow’s, or widower’s insurance benefit of such individual under section 202 based 

on such individual’s disability. 

(9) For purposes of this subsection, misuse of benefits by a representative payee occurs in any case in which the representative 

payee receives payment under this title for the use and benefit of 

another person and converts such payment, or any part thereof, to 

a use other than for the use and benefit of such other person. The 

Commissioner of Social Security may prescribe by regulation the 

meaning of the term ‘‘use and benefit’’ for purposes of this paragraph. 

(10) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘certified community-based nonprofit social service agency’’ means a communitybased nonprofit social service agency which is in compliance with 

requirements, under regulations which shall be prescribed by the 

Commissioner, for annual certification to the Commissioner that it 

is bonded in accordance with requirements specified by the Commissioner and that it is licensed in each State in which it serves 

as a representative payee (if licensing is available in the State) in 

accordance with requirements specified by the Commissioner. Any 

such annual certification shall include a copy of any independent 

audit on the agency which may have been performed since the previous certification. 

(k) Any payment made after December 31, 1939, under conditions set forth in subsection (j), any payment made before January 

1, 1940, to, or on behalf of, a legally incompetent individual, and 

any payment made after December 31, 1939, to a legally incompetent individual without knowledge by the Commissioner of Social 

Security of incompetency prior to certification of payment, if otherwise valid under this title, shall be a complete settlement and satisfaction of any claim, right, or interest in and to such payment. 

(l) The Commissioner of Social Security is authorized to delegate 

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tration designated by him any of the powers conferred upon him 

by this section, and is authorized to be represented by his own attorneys in any court in any case or proceeding arising under the 

provisions of subsection (e). 

(n) The Commissioner of Social Security may, in the Commissioner’s discretion, certify to the Managing Trustee any two or 

more individuals of the same family for joint payment of the total 

benefits payable to such individuals for any month, and if one of 

such individuals dies before a check representing such joint payment is negotiated, payment of the amount of such unnegotiated 

check to the surviving individual or individuals may be authorized 

in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury; except that appropriate adjustment or recovery shall be made under 

section 204(a) with respect to so much of the amount of such check 

as exceeds the amount to which such surviving individual or individuals are entitled under this title for 

Crediting of Compensation Under the Railroad Retirement Act 

(o) If there is no person who would be entitled, upon application 

therefor, to an annuity under section 2 of the Railroad Retirement 

Act of 1974, or to a lump sum payment under section 6(b) of such 

Act, with respect to the death of an employee (as defined in such 

Act), then, notwithstanding section 210(a)(9) of this Act, compensation (as defined in such Railroad Retirement Act, but excluding 

compensation attributable as having been paid during any month 

on account of military service creditable under section 3(i) of such 

Act if wages are deemed to have been paid to such employee during 

such month under subsection (a) or (e) of section 217 of this Act) 

of such employee shall constitute remuneration for employment for 

purposes of determining (A) entitlement to and the amount of any 

lump sum death payment under this title on the basis of such employee’s wages and self employment income and (B) entitlement to 

and the amount of any monthly benefit under this title, for the 

month in which such employee died or for any month thereafter, 

on the basis of such wages and self employment income. For such 

purposes, compensation (as so defined) paid in a calendar year before 1978 shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be presumed to have been paid in equal proportions with respect to all 

months in the year in which the employee rendered services for 

such compensation. 

Special Rules in Case of Federal Service 

(p)(1) With respect to service included as employment under section 210 which is performed in the employ of the United States or 

in the employ of any instrumentality which is wholly owned by the 

United States, including service, performed as a member of a uniformed service, to which the provisions of subsection (l)(1) of such 

section are applicable, and including service, performed as a volunteer or volunteer leader within the meaning of the Peace Corps Act, 

to which the provisions of section 210(o) are applicable, the Commissioner of Social Security shall not make determinations as to 

the amounts of remuneration for such service, or the periods in 

which or for which such remuneration was paid, but shall accept 

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priate Federal agency or instrumentality, and of such agents as 

such head may designate, as evidenced by returns filed in accordance with the provisions of section 3122 of the Internal Revenue 

Code of 1954 and certifications made pursuant to this subsection. 

Such determinations shall be final and conclusive. Nothing in this 

paragraph shall be construed to affect the Commissioner’s authority to determine under sections 209 and 210 whether any such 

service constitutes employment, the periods of such employment, 

and whether remuneration paid for any such service constitutes 

wages. 

(2) The head of any such agency or instrumentality is authorized 

and directed, upon written request of the Commissioner of Social 

Security, to make certification to the Commissioner with respect to 

any matter determinable for the Commissioner of Social Security 

by such head or his agents under this subsection, which the Commissioner of Social Security finds necessary in administering this 

title. 

(3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be applicable 

in the case of service performed by a civilian employee, not compensated from funds appropriated by the Congress, in the Army 

and Air Force Exchange Service, Army and Air Force Motion Picture Service, Navy Exchanges, Marine Corps Exchanges, or other 

activities, conducted by an instrumentality of the United States 

subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, at installations of the Department of Defense for the comfort, pleasure, contentment, and mental and physical improvement of personnel of 

such Department; and for purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) the 

Secretary of Defense shall be deemed to be the head of such instrumentality. The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be applicable also in the case of service performed by a civilian employee, 

not compensated from funds appropriated by the Congress, in the 

Coast Guard Exchanges or other activities, conducted by an instrumentality of the United States subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Homeland Security, at installations of the Coast Guard 

for the comfort, pleasure, contentment, and mental and physical 

improvement of personnel of the Coast Guard; and for purposes of 

paragraphs (1) and (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall be 

deemed to be the head of such instrumentality. 

Expedited Benefit Payments 

(q)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and 

put into effect procedures under which expedited payment of 

monthly insurance benefits under this title will, subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, be made as set forth in paragraphs (2) 

and (3) of this subsection. 

(2) In any case in which— 

(A) an individual makes an allegation that a monthly benefit 

under this title was due him in a particular month but was not 

paid to him, and 

(B) such individual submits a written request for the payment of such benefit— 

(i) in the case of an individual who received a regular 

monthly benefit in the month preceding the month with 

respect to which such allegation is made, not less than 30 

days after the 15th day of the month with respect to which 


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such allegation is made (and in the event that such request is submitted prior to the expiration of such 30-day 

period, it shall be deemed to have been submitted upon the 

expiration of such period), and 

(ii) in any other case, not less than 90 days after the 

later of (I) the date on which such benefit is alleged to 

have been due, or (II) the date on which such individual 

furnished the last information requested by the Commissioner of Social Security (and such written request will be 

deemed to be filed on the day on which it was filed, or the 

ninetieth day after the first day on which the Commissioner of Social Security has evidence that such allegation 

is true, whichever is later), 

the Commissioner of Social Security shall, if he finds that benefits 

are due, certify such benefits for payment, and payment shall be 

made within 15 days immediately following the date on which the 

written request is deemed to have been filed. 

(3) In any case in which the Commissioner of Social Security determines that there is evidence, although additional evidence might 

be required for a final decision, that an allegation described in 

paragraph (2)(A) is true, he may make a preliminary certification 

of such benefit for payment even though the 30-day or 90-day periods described in paragraph (2)(B)(i) and (B)(ii) have not elapsed. 

(4) Any payment made pursuant to a certification under paragraph (3) of this subsection shall not be considered an incorrect 

payment for purposes of determining the liability of the certifying 

or disbursing officer. 

(5) For purposes of this subsection, benefits payable under section 228 shall be treated as monthly insurance benefits payable 

under this title. However, this subsection shall not apply with respect to any benefit for which a check has been negotiated, or with 

respect to any benefit alleged to be due under either section 223, 

or section 202 to a wife, husband, or child of an individual entitled 

to or applying for benefits under section 223, or to a child who has 

attained age 18 and is under a disability, or to a widow or widower 

on the basis of being under a disability. 

Use of Death Certificates to Correct Program Information 

(r)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security shall undertake to establish a program under which— 

(A) States (or political subdivisions thereof) voluntarily contract with the Commissioner of Social Security to furnish the 

Commissioner of Social Security periodically with information 

(in a form established by the Commissioner of Social Security 

in consultation with the States) concerning individuals with respect to whom death certificates (or equivalent documents 

maintained by the States or subdivisions) have been officially 

filed with them; and 

(B) there will be (i) a comparison of such information on such 

individuals with information on such individuals in the records 

being used in the administration of this Act, (ii) validation of 

the results of such comparisons, and (iii) corrections in such 

records to accurately reflect the status of such individuals. 

(2) Each State (or political subdivision thereof) which furnishes 

the Commissioner of Social Security with information on records of 


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deaths in the State or subdivision under this subsection may be 

paid by the Commissioner of Social Security from amounts available for administration of this Act the reasonable costs (established 

by the Commissioner of Social Security in consultations with the 

States) for transcribing and transmitting such information to the 

Commissioner of Social Security. 

(3) In the case of individuals with respect to whom federally 

funded benefits are provided by (or through) a Federal or State 

agency other than under this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall to the extent feasible provide such information through 

a cooperative arrangement with such agency, for ensuring proper 

payment of those benefits with respect to such individuals if— 

(A) under such arrangement the agency provides reimbursement to the Commissioner of Social Security for the reasonable 

cost of carrying out such arrangement, and 

(B) such arrangement does not conflict with the duties of the 

Commissioner of Social Security under paragraph (1). 

(4) The Commissioner of Social Security may enter into similar 

agreements with States to provide information for their use in programs wholly funded by the States if the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) are met. 

(5) The Commissioner of Social Security may use or provide for 

the use of such records as may be corrected under this section, subject to such safeguards as the Commissioner of Social Security determines are necessary or appropriate to protect the information 

from unauthorized use or disclosure, for statistical and research activities conducted by Federal and State agencies. 

(6) Information furnished to the Commissioner of Social Security 

under this subsection may not be used for any purpose other than 

the purpose described in this subsection and is exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, and from the 

requirements of section 552a of such title. 

(7) The Commissioner of Social Security shall include information on the status of the program established under this section 

and impediments to the effective implementation of the program in 

the 1984 report required under section 704 of this Act. 

(8)(A) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, upon the request of the official responsible for a State driver’s license agency 

pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002— 

(i) enter into an agreement with such official for the purpose 

of verifying applicable information, so long as the requirements 

of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) are met; and 

(ii) include in such agreement safeguards to assure the maintenance of the confidentiality of any applicable information disclosed and procedures to permit such agency to use the applicable information for the purpose of maintaining its records. 

(B) Information provided pursuant to an agreement under this 

paragraph shall be provided at such time, in such place, and in 

such manner as the Commissioner determines appropriate. 

(C) The Commissioner shall develop methods to verify the accuracy of information provided by the agency with respect to applications for voter registration, for whom the last 4 digits of a social 

security number are provided instead of a driver’s license number. 


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(9)(A) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, upon the 

request of the Secretary or the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services— 

(i) enter into an agreement with the Secretary or such 

Inspector General for the purpose of matching data in the 

system of records of the Social Security Administration 

and the system of records of the Department of Health and 

Human Services; and 

(ii) include in such agreement safeguards to assure the 

maintenance of the confidentiality of any information disclosed. 

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘system of 

records’’’ has the meaning given such term in section 552a(a)(5) 

of title 5, United States Code. 

(D) For purposes of this paragraph— 

(i) the term ‘‘applicable information’’ means information regarding whether— 

(I) the name (including the first name and any family 

forename or surname), the date of birth (including the 

month, day, and year), and social security number of an 

individual provided to the Commissioner match the information contained in the Commissioner’s records, and 

(II) such individual is shown on the records of the Commissioner as being deceased; and 

(ii) the term ‘‘State driver’s license agency’’ means the State 

agency which issues driver’s licenses to individuals within the 

State and maintains records relating to such licensure. 

(E) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to require the 

provision of applicable information with regard to a request for a 

record of an individual if the Commissioner determines there are 

exceptional circumstances warranting an exception (such as safety 

of the individual or interference with an investigation). 

(F) Applicable information provided by the Commission pursuant 

to an agreement under this paragraph or by an individual to any 

agency that has entered into an agreement under this paragraph 

shall be considered as strictly confidential and shall be used only 

for the purposes described in this paragraph and for carrying out 

an agreement under this paragraph. Any officer or employee or 

former officer or employee of a State, or any officer or employee or 

former officer or employee of a contractor of a State who, without 

the written authority of the Commissioner, publishes or communicates any applicable information in such individual’s possession 

by reason of such employment or position as such an officer, shall 

be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined or 

imprisoned, or both, as described in section 208. 

Notice Requirements 

(s) The Commissioner of Social Security shall take such actions 

as are necessary to ensure that any notice to one or more individuals issued pursuant to this title by the Commissioner of Social Security or by a State agency— 

(1) is written in simple and clear language, and 

(2) includes the address and telephone number of the local 

office of the Social Security Administration which serves the 

recipient. 


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In the case of any such notice which is not generated by a local 

servicing office, the requirements of paragraph (2) shall be treated 

as satisfied if such notice includes the address of the local office of 

the Social Security Administration which services the recipient of 

the notice and a telephone number through which such office can 

be reached. 

Same-Day Personal Interviews at Field Offices In Cases Where 

Time Is of The Essence 

(t) In any case in which an individual visits a field office of the 

Social Security Administration and represents during the visit to 

an officer or employee of the Social Security Administration in the 

office that the individual’s visit is occasioned by— 

(1) the receipt of a notice from the Social Security Administration indicating a time limit for response by the individual, 

or 

(2) the theft, loss, or nonreceipt of a benefit payment under 

this title, 

the Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure that the individual is granted a face-to-face interview at the office with an officer or employee of the Social Security Administration before the 

close of business on the day of the visit. 

(u)(1)(A) The Commissioner of Social Security shall immediately 

redetermine the entitlement of individuals to monthly insurance 

benefits under this title if there is reason to believe that fraud or 

similar fault was involved in the application of the individual for 

such benefits, unless a United States attorney, or equivalent State 

prosecutor, with jurisdiction over potential or actual related criminal cases, certifies, in writing, that there is a substantial risk that 

such action by the Commissioner of Social Security with regard to 

beneficiaries in a particular investigation would jeopardize the 

criminal prosecution of a person involved in a suspected fraud. 

(B) When redetermining the entitlement, or making an initial determination of entitlement, of an individual under this title, the 

Commissioner of Social Security shall disregard any evidence if 

there is reason to believe that fraud or similar fault was involved 

in the providing of such evidence. 

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), similar fault is involved with 

respect to a determination if— 

(A) an incorrect or incomplete statement that is material to 

the determination is knowingly made; or 

(B) information that is material to the determination is 

knowingly concealed. 

(3) If, after redetermining pursuant to this subsection the entitlement of an individual to monthly insurance benefits, the Commissioner of Social Security determines that there is insufficient evidence to support such entitlement, the Commissioner of Social Security may terminate such entitlement and may treat benefits paid 

on the basis of such insufficient evidence as overpayments. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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