... [W]e collect information from individuals and entities, such as other governmental agencies, and then store this information in our systems. ... When we release this information for a purpose not related to implementation of our programs, we consider it a nonprogram-related service. Nonprogram-related services are not within our mission, and we are required to recover the cost of providing those services. ... Under our regulations, whenever we determine a request for information is for any purpose not directly related to the administration of the Social Security programs, we require the requester to pay the full cost of providing the information. ...Let me hasten to say that this appears not to be directed at attorneys and others who represent Social Security claimants since they are involved in a program-related service. However, the notice does not specify how Social Security will determine what is program-related and what is nonprogram-related.
[W]e are implementing standard fees that are calculated to reflect the full cost of providing information for nonprogram-related purposes ...
The new standard fee schedule per request:
Copy an Electronic Folder.................................... $49
Copy a Paper Folder............................................. 86
Letter Forwarding................................................ 35
3rd Party Manual SSN Verification...................... 29
Regional Office Certification............................... 48
Office of Central Operations Certification.......... 32
W2/W3 Requests.................................................. 38
Record Extract.................................................... 33
By the way, let me give an example of how the letter forwarding charge would arise. A woman contacts Social Security to file a widow's claim on the account of her husband who disappeared some years earlier. After seven years, if the absence is unexplained the man may be presumed dead. However, Social Security looks in its records and determines that the man is alive and still working. The woman wants her husband's address so she may contact him but Social Security refuses on Privacy Act grounds. However, Social Security will forward a letter to the husband.
I've been retired a couple of years, but seem to recall that SSA discontinued letter forwarding a while back.
ReplyDelete"I've been retired a couple of years, but seem to recall that SSA discontinued letter forwarding a while back."
ReplyDeleteNo they didn't.
GN 03365.001 Letter Forwarding (LF)
Most of the requests I have seen haven't been benefit related. Person looking for a relative, or a employer looking for a former employee.
The only change here is the standarization of the fees.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a waste of time and resources, given dwindling staff. As a CR, I don't recall getting very many of these, anyway, so it's probably a minor point.
ReplyDelete