Improving Access to Social Security Services Act

Bill: 113-s-2742
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicare
Public participation and lobbying
Right of privacy
Social Security Administration
Social security and elderly assistance
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Improving Access to Social Security Services Act - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit the Commissioner of Social Security from imposing any reduction in public access on a Social Security Administration field or hearing office without a public comment period meeting specified deadlines, including at least one public hearing.
 
Requires each field office to provide services necessary for: (1) Social Security number printout services until August 1, 2015, and (2) benefit verification letter services until October 1, 2015.
 
Directs the Commissioner to conduct an outreach campaign to notify Social Security beneficiaries and other interested parties of plans to phase out such services and their online availability. 
 
Requires each office that ceases to offer, or reduces the availability of, such services to give notice to key local organizations whose members or patrons may be affected by such cessation or reduction.
 
Requires the Commissioner to establish a system providing live-chat assistance for online users of the Administration website.
 
Directs the Commissioner to establish: (1) a process whereby an eligible individual may apply for a reduction or waiver of Administration service fees, and (2) an automated notification system to alert Social Security beneficiaries of changes made to their information for direct deposit to a financial institution of their Social Security benefits.
 
Prohibits any person from displaying another individual's Social Security number to the general public without the individual's affirmatively expressed consent, or selling or purchasing that number without such consent.
 
Directs the Attorney General to study all uses of Social Security numbers permitted, required, authorized, or excepted under any federal law. 
 
Prohibits any person from obtaining an individual's Social Security number for purposes of locating or identifying the individual with the intent to physically injure, harm, or use the identity of the individual for any illegal purpose.
 
Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to prescribe criminal sanctions for the knowing and willful display, sale, or purchase of a Social Security number without meeting the prerequisites for consent.
 
Extends to any electronic communication the prohibitions, subject to criminal penalties, relating to references to Social Security or Medicare.
 
Authorizes a private cause of action in state court for injunctive relief or up to $500 in actual damages by any individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act or any of its amendments.
 
Subjects any person the Attorney General determines has violated any provisions of this Act to a civil penalty of up to: (1) $5,000 for each violation, and (2) $50,000 if the violation has occurred with such frequency as to constitute a general business practice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate