[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 89 (Monday, May 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25904-25909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10668]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended; Proposed Alteration to an
Existing Privacy Act System of Records, Housekeeping Changes, and New
Routine Uses
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Altered system of records, housekeeping changes, and routine
uses.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and
(e)(11)) we are issuing public notice of our intent to alter an
existing system of records, make housekeeping and other miscellaneous
changes, and add routine uses applicable to our system of records
entitled the Representative Disqualification/Suspension Information
System (60-0219), hereinafter referred to as the Representative
Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File.
We propose the following changes:
Expand the existing category of representatives covered by
the Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition
Information File system of records to include persons who allegedly
fail to meet our qualifications to serve as a claimant's
representative.
Expand the category of records we maintain in the system
to include the name, Social Security number (SSN), date of birth,
address, and other relevant information about persons who want to serve
as representatives for our claimants. The expanded category will also
include information about representatives, such as the representative's
date of birth, SSN, representative identification number, telephone and
facsimile (fax) numbers, and e-mail address.
We will also include the type of representative (e.g., attorney,
non-attorney, eligible direct pay non- attorney), attorney status
(e.g., suspended, disqualified, convicted of a violation), bar, court,
and Federal agency program admission information (e.g., year admitted,
license number, present standing, and disciplinary history), and
employer identification number.
Expand the record storage medium to house records in paper
and electronic form.
Change the system of records name from the Representative
Disqualification/Suspension Information System to the Representative
Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File to
more accurately reflect the persons and representatives covered by the
system of records.
Add new routine uses 2-4, 6, and 8-10 to allow us to
release information about persons who allegedly fail to meet our
qualifications to serve as a claimant's representative, representatives
whom we have disqualified or suspended from representing claimants and
beneficiaries before us, and pursue the investigation of, and
litigation against, representatives alleged to have violated the
provisions of the Social Security Act or our regulations. We are also
adding our data protection routine use to the system of records. The
routine use, listed as number 12 in this system of records, will allow
us to respond to incidents involving the unintentional release of our
records.
Make edits throughout the document to ensure a more
reader-friendly document and correct miscellaneous and stylistic format
errors.
We discuss the system of records, housekeeping changes, and new routine
uses in the Supplementary Information section below. We invite public
comments on this proposal.
DATES: We filed a report of the Representative Disqualification,
Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File system of records and
new routine use disclosures with the Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Chairman of the
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Director,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), on April 29, 2010. The altered Representative
Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File
system of records and new routine uses will become effective on June 7,
2010, unless we receive comments before that date that would result in
a contrary determination.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons may comment on this publication by
writing to the Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure,
Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, Room 3-
A-6 Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland
21235-6401. All comments we receive will be available for public
inspection at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine W. Johnson, Social Insurance
Specialist (Senior Analyst), Disclosure Policy Development and Services
Division I, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General
Counsel, Social Security Administration, 3-A-6 Operations Building,
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, telephone:
(410) 965-8563 or e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Purpose of the Representative Disqualification,
Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File System of Records
A. General Background
The Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-
Recognition Information File system of records allows us to collect,
maintain, and use information about persons who fail to meet our
qualifications to serve as representatives for our claimants and
beneficiaries, representatives about whom we have received complaints
alleging that they have violated the provisions of the Social Security
Act or regulations, and representatives who we have disqualified or
suspended from representing claimants and beneficiaries in matters
before us.
We require the information covered by this system of records to
efficiently administer the disqualified or suspended representative
business process. For example, the information enables us to identify
and monitor persons who fail to meet the criteria to represent our
claimants and beneficiaries, determine whether a violation has
occurred, investigate alleged violations, and administratively
prosecute disciplinary actions against representatives, in a more
efficient and timely manner.
B. Discussion of Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-
Recognition Information File System of Records
The proposed alteration will significantly strengthen the
disqualified
[[Page 25905]]
and suspended representative business process. The alteration brings
together key information that will not only increase our communication
and response efficiency, it will also improve accuracy and efficiency
in the way we administer the overall disqualified and suspended
representative process.
C. Discussion of New Routine Uses
New routine uses 2-4, 6, and 8-10 will enhance our ability to
investigate and administratively prosecute disciplinary actions against
representatives whom we suspect have violated the Social Security Act
or regulations. The routine uses will also expand our ability to inform
members of the public and other interested parties that we have
disqualified or suspended a representative, or not recognized a person
as a claimant's representative.
New data protection routine use number 12 will allow us to disclose
information in connection with response and remediation efforts in the
event of unintentional release of agency information (a data security
breach). Such a routine use serves to protect the interests of the
people whose information is at risk by allowing us to take appropriate
steps to facilitate a timely and effective response to a data breach.
(See 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007).)
Accordingly, we are establishing routine uses 2-4, 6, 8-10, and 12
in the Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition
Information File system of records:
2. To a Federal court, State court, administrative tribunal, or bar
disciplinary authority in the Federal jurisdiction(s) or State(s) in
which an attorney is admitted to practice that we have disqualified or
suspended the attorney from representing claimants or beneficiaries
before us, and the basis for our action.
We will disclose information under this routine use to Federal and
State entities for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary, to
inform the entity about the status of, and infractions against,
attorneys that we have prohibited from representing our claimants and
beneficiaries. We may also disclose information under this routine use
for the purpose of assisting the entity to carry out its own
investigative and administrative actions.
3. To an official or employee of a Federal, State, or local agency
that we have disqualified or suspended a representative from
representing claimants and beneficiaries before us, and the basis for
our action in order to permit that agency to perform its official
duties related to representation of parties before that agency.
We will disclose information under this routine use to a Federal,
State, or local entity for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary,
to inform the entity about the status of, and infractions against,
representatives that we have prohibited from representing our
claimants. We may also disclose information under this routine use for
the purpose of enabling the entity to determine whether to take
independent action.
4. To any person or entity from which we need information to pursue
the investigation or litigation of any action against a representative,
to the extent necessary to identify the representative about whom the
record is maintained, inform the person or entity of the purpose(s) of
the request, and identify the type of information needed.
We will disclose information under this routine use to any person
or entity for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary, to identify
the representative of record, explain the purpose of our request, and
identify the type of information we need to facilitate our
investigation of, or litigation against, the representative.
6. To the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Offices of United States Attorneys, and other Federal
law enforcement agencies, for investigation and potential prosecution
of violations of the Social Security Act.
We will disclose information under this routine use to the above
Federal entities for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary, to
effectively represent us in matters concerning violations of the Social
Security Act.
8. To the public via our Internet Web site located at http://www.socialsecurity.gov that we have disqualified or suspended a
representative from representation before us, or not recognized a
person as a claimant's representative.
We will disclose certain information under this routine use to the
public for the purpose of informing the public about persons and
representatives not authorized to represent claimants before us. We
disclose this type information to allow the public to make more
informed decisions about potential representatives and to prevent
ineligible representatives from representing our claimants.
9. To persons, groups, organizations, or government entities that
routinely refer potential claimants or beneficiaries to attorneys or
persons other than attorneys for the purpose of putting such persons,
groups, organizations, or government entities on notice that we have
disqualified or suspended a representative from representation before
us, or not recognized a person as a claimant's representative.
We will disclose information under this routine use to persons,
groups, organizations, or government entities for the purpose of, and
to the extent necessary, to inform them about the status of, and
infractions against, representatives that we have prohibited from
representing our claimants. We disclose information under this routine
use for the purpose of ensuring that only qualified persons and
representatives are referred to our claimants and beneficiaries.
10. To any person or entity with whom the representative is
affiliated or has indicated that he or she wants to be affiliated in
representing claimants before us, for notifying them that we have
disqualified or suspended the affiliated or potentially affiliated
representative from representation before us, or not recognized that
person as a claimant's representative.
We will disclose information under this routine use to current and
prospective affiliations of the representative for the purpose of, and
extent necessary, to convey that the representative has lost the
privilege to represent our claimants or failed to meet our criteria to
be recognized as a claimant's representative.
12. To the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies,
entities, and persons when: (1) We suspect or confirm that the security
or confidentiality of information in this system of records has been
compromised; (2) we determine that as a result of the suspected or
confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property
interests, risk of identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security or
integrity of this system or other systems or programs that rely upon
the compromised information; and (3) we determine that disclosing the
information to such agencies, entities, and persons is necessary to
assist in our efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed
compromise and prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm. We will use this
routine use to respond to those incidents involving an unintentional
release of our records.
We will disclose information under this routine use specifically in
connection with response and remediation efforts in the event of an
unintentional release of agency information, otherwise known as a
``data security breach.'' This routine use will protect the interests
of the people whose information is at risk by allowing us to take
appropriate steps to facilitate a
[[Page 25906]]
timely and effective response to a data breach. The routine use will
also help us improve our ability to prevent, minimize, or remedy any
harm that may result from a compromise of data covered by this system
of records.
II. Compatibility of Proposed Routine Uses
New routine uses 2-4, 6, and 8-10 will allow us to release
information about representatives whom we have disqualified or
suspended from representing claimants and persons we have not
recognized as a claimant's representative. The routine uses will also
improve our ability to investigate and administratively prosecute
actions against representatives whom we suspect have violated the
Social Security Act or our regulations. In accordance with the Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(7) and (b)(3)) and our disclosure regulations (20
CFR part 401), we can disclose information maintained in a system of
records pursuant to a published routine use when the use is compatible
with the purpose for which we collected the information. These routine
uses meet the relevant regulatory criteria.
New data protection routine use number 12 will allow us to respond
to incidents involving the unintentional release of our records. As
mandated by OMB and recommended by the President's Identity Theft Task
Force, and in accordance with the Privacy Act and our disclosure
regulations, we are permitted to release information under a published
routine use for a compatible purpose. Section 401.120 of our
regulations provides that we will disclose information required by law.
Since OMB has mandated its publication, this routine use is appropriate
and meets the relevant statutory and regulatory criteria. In addition,
we disclose to other agencies, entities, and persons, when necessary,
to respond to an unintentional release. These disclosures are
compatible with the reasons we collect the information, as helping to
prevent and minimize the potential for harm is consistent w ith taking
appropriate steps to protect information entrusted to us. See 5 U.S.C.
552a(e)(10).
III. Records Storage Medium and Safeguards for the Information Covered
by the Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition
Information File System of Records
We will maintain, in paper and electronic form, information covered
by the Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition
Information File system of records. We will keep paper records in
locked cabinets or in other secure areas. We will safeguard the
security of the electronic information covered by the Representative
Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File
system of records by requiring the use of access codes to enter the
computer system that will house the data.
We annually provide all our employees and contractors with
appropriate security awareness training that includes reminders about
the need to protect personally identifiable information and the
criminal penalties that apply to unauthorized access to, or disclosure
of, personally identifiable information. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1).
Employees and contractors with access to databases maintaining
personally identifiable information must sign a sanction document
annually, acknowledging their accountability for inappropriately
accessing or disclosing such information.
IV. Effects of the Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and
Non-Recognition Information File System of Records and Routine Use
Disclosures on the Rights of Individuals
A. Discussion Relating to the Alteration
We propose altering the Representative Disqualification,
Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File system of records as
part of our responsibilities in continuing to expand our business
processes and protecting our claimants. We will adhere to all
applicable statutory requirements, including those under the Social
Security Act and the Privacy Act, in carrying out our responsibilities.
Therefore, we do not anticipate that the proposed alteration to this
system of records will have any adverse effect on the privacy or other
rights of the persons or representatives covered by the system of
records.
B. Discussion Relating to the New Routine Uses
The new routine uses will enable us to investigate and take action
against disqualified or suspended representatives, expand our ability
to inform members of the public and other interested parties that we
have disqualified, suspended, or not recognized a person as a
claimant's representative, and serve to protect the interests of
representatives whose information could be at risk. As a result, we do
not anticipate that the new routine uses will have any adverse effect
on the rights of persons or representatives whose data might be
disclosed.
V. Housekeeping and Other Miscellaneous Changes in the Representative
Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-Recognition Information File
System of Records
We are making housekeeping changes that include changing the system
of records name from Representative Disqualification/Suspension
Information System to the Representative Disqualification, Suspension,
and Non-Recognition Information File system of records to more
accurately reflect the persons and representatives covered by the
system. The changes also include editing throughout the document to
ensure a more reader-friendly document and correcting miscellaneous and
stylistic format errors.
Dated: April 29, 2010.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner.
Social Security Administration
Notice of System of Records; Required by the Privacy Act of 1974; as
Amended
SYSTEM NUMBER:
60-0219.
SYSTEM NAME:
Representative Disqualification, Suspension and Non-Recognition
Information File, Social Security Administration, Office of the General
Counsel.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
None.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
Social Security Administration, Office of the General Counsel,
Office of General Law, 6401 Security Boulevard, Room 617 Altmeyer
Building, Baltimore MD 21235, and Regional Chief Counsels Offices as
follows:
OGC Boston, Room 625, JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203.
OGC New York, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3904, New York, NY 10278.
OGC Philadelphia, 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor,
Philadelphia, PA 19123.
OGC Atlanta, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Suite
20T45, Atlanta, GA 30303.
OGC Chicago, 200 W. Adams Street, 30th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606.
OGC Dallas, 1301 Young Street, Room A-702, Dallas, TX 75202-5433.
OGC Kansas City, 601 East 12th Street, Room 965, Federal Office
Building, Kansas City, MO 64106.
[[Page 25907]]
OGC Denver, 1961 Stout Street, Federal Office Building, 10th Floor,
Denver, CO 80294.
OGC San Francisco, 333 Market Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA
94105-2116.
OGC Seattle, 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2900 M/S 901, Seattle, WA
98104-7075.
CATEGORIES OF PERSONS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
This system covers persons who allegedly fail to meet our
qualifications to serve as a claimant's representative, as provided by
the Social Security Act or regulations relating to representation of
claimants and beneficiaries before us. It includes representatives
alleged to have violated the provisions of the Social Security Act or
our regulations relating to representation of claimants and
beneficiaries, representatives whom we have found to have committed
such violations and have disqualified or suspended, and representatives
we have investigated, but have not disqualified or suspended because we
resolved the matter without an action to disqualify or suspend the
representative or because we found that a violation did not occur.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
As applicable, the system will contain information about persons
seeking to represent our claimants as well as representatives who have
represented claimants and beneficiaries before us. For example, we
collect name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN),
representative identification number, home or business address(es),
telephone and facsimile (fax) numbers, e-mail address, and type of
representative (e.g., attorney, non-attorney, eligible direct pay non-
attorney).
The system will also contain information about the representative's
legal standing and business affiliations. For example, we collect
status of the representative (e.g., suspended, disqualified), bar,
court, and Federal program or agency admission information (e.g., year
admitted, license number, present standing, and disciplinary history),
copies of all documentation resulting from our investigation and
actions taken due to violations of the Social Security Act and
regulations relating to the representative, and employer identification
number. The system will also maintain relevant claimant and beneficiary
information.
The following are examples of information covered by this system of
records relating to the representation of claimants and beneficiaries:
Documentation resulting from our investigation or actions taken due to
violations of the Social Security Act or our regulations; Documentation
relating to any request for recognition or reinstatement that a non-
recognized person or disqualified or suspended representative files
with us; documentation pertaining to hearings on charges of alleged
violations of the Social Security Act or our regulations; and
representation attestations made and information provided on our paper
and electronic forms.
The system may also contain documentation pertaining to Appeals
Council reviews of the decisions rendered in hearings on charges of
violations of the Social Security Act or our regulations, or of
requests for reinstatement to practice as a claimant's representative
before us; copies of notifications of a representative's
disqualification or suspension or a person's non-recognition;
documentation pertaining to any legal or administrative action that a
disqualified or suspended representative, or non-recognized person
brings against us; and documentation of any disclosures made pursuant
to the routine uses in this system of records.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
Sections 206(a) and 1631(d)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 406(a) and 1383(d)(2)).
PURPOSE(S):
The Representative Disqualification, Suspension, and Non-
Recognition Information File system of records provides us real-time
access to information key to decisionmaking in the disqualified or
suspended representative business process. For example, the records
provide timely access to information we need to make decisions about
whether persons meet our qualifications to serve as a claimant's
representative and whether violations of the provisions of the Social
Security Act or regulations relating to representation have previously
occurred.
The records also enable us to more efficiently investigate alleged
administrative or criminal violations; take action against
representatives; respond to the Appeals Council when a representative
has requested reinstatement; provide detailed notice of, and
information on, cases in which we have disqualified or suspended a
representative; and assist the Department of Justice in Federal court
litigation, including that which relates to our decision to disqualify
or suspend a representative or not recognize a person as a claimant's
representative.
routine uses of records covered by the representative disqualification,
suspension, and non-recognition information file system of records
system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses:
Routine use disclosures are indicated below; however, we will not
disclose any information defined as ``return or return information''
under 26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) unless
authorized by the IRC, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or IRS
regulations.
1. To applicants for benefits or payments, claimants, and
beneficiaries to inform them that we have disqualified or suspended the
representative from further representation before us or that the person
was not recognized as a representative, and the basis for our action.
2. To a Federal court, State court, administrative tribunal, or bar
disciplinary authority in the Federal jurisdiction(s) or State(s) in
which an attorney is admitted to practice that we have disqualified or
suspended the attorney from representing claimants or beneficiaries
before us and the basis for our action.
3. To an official or employee of a Federal, State, or local agency
that we have disqualified or suspended a claimant's representative from
representing claimants and beneficiaries before us, and the basis for
our action in order to permit that agency to perform its official
duties related to representation of parties before that agency.
4. To any person or entity from which we need information to pursue
the investigation or litigation of any action against a representative,
to the extent necessary to identify the representative about whom the
record is maintained, inform the person or entity of the purpose(s) of
the request, and identify the type of information needed.
5. To the Department of Justice (DOJ), a court, other tribunal, or
another party before such court or tribunal when:
(a) SSA or any of our components;
(b) Any SSA employee in his or her official capacity;
(c) Any SSA employee in his or her individual capacity when DOJ (or
SSA when we are authorized to do so) has agreed to represent the
employee; or
(d) The United States, or any agency thereof when we determine that
the litigation is likely to affect the operations of SSA or any of its
components, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such
litigation, and we determine that the use of such records
[[Page 25908]]
by DOJ, the court, other tribunal, or another party before such court
or tribunal is relevant and necessary to the litigation. In each case,
however, we must determine that such disclosure is compatible with the
purpose for which we collected the records.
6. To DOJ, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Offices of United
States Attorneys, and other Federal law enforcement agencies, for
investigation and potential prosecution of violations of the Social
Security Act.
7. To a congressional office in response to an inquiry from that
office made at the request of the subject of the record or a third
party on that person's behalf.
8. To the public via our Internet Web site located at http://www.socialsecurity.gov that we have disqualified or suspended a
representative from representation before us, or not recognized a
person as a claimant's representative.
9. To persons, groups, organizations, or government entities that
routinely refer potential claimants or beneficiaries to attorneys or
persons other than attorneys for the purpose of putting such persons,
groups, organizations or government entities on notice that we have
disqualified or suspended a representative from representation before
us, or not recognized a person as a claimant's representative.
10. To any person or entity with whom the representative is
affiliated or has indicated that he or she wants to be affiliated in
representing claimants before us, notice that we have disqualified or
suspended the affiliated or potentially affiliated representative from
representation before us, or not recognized that person as a claimant's
representative.
11. To the General Services Administration and the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and
2906, as amended by the NARA Act, information that is not restricted
from disclosure by Federal law for their use in conducting records
management studies.
12. To the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies,
entities, and persons when: (1) We suspect or confirm that the security
or confidentiality of information in this system of records has been
compromised; (2) we determine that as a result of the suspected or
confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property
interests, risk of identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security or
integrity of this system or other systems or programs that rely upon
the compromised information; and (3) we determine that disclosing the
information to such agencies, entities, and persons is necessary to
assist in our efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed
compromise and prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm. We will use this
routine use to respond only to those incidents involving an
unintentional release of our records.
13. To the Office of the President in response to an inquiry made
at the request of the subject of the record or a third party on that
person's behalf.
14. To student volunteers, persons working under a personal
services contract, and others who are not technically Federal
employees, when they are performing work for us as authorized by law,
and they need access to information in our records in order to perform
their assigned duties.
15. To Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and
private security contractors as appropriate, information as necessary:
(a) To enable them to assure the safety of our employees and
customers, and the security of our workplace, and the operation of our
facilities; or
(b) To assist investigations or prosecutions with respect to
activities that affect such safety and security or activities that
disrupt the operation of our facilities.
16. To contractors and other Federal agencies, as necessary, for
the purpose of assisting us in the efficient administration of our
programs. We will disclose information under the routine use only in
situations in which we may enter into a contractual or similar
agreement with a third party to assist in accomplishing an agency
function relating to this system of records.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING,
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
We will store records in this system in paper and electronic form.
RETRIEVABILITY:
We will retrieve records by SSN, representative identification
number, or alphabetically by the representative's name.
SAFEGUARDS:
We retain paper and electronic files with personal identifiers in
secure storage areas accessible only to our authorized employees and
contractors. We limit access to data with personal identifiers from
this system to only authorized personnel who have a need for the
information in the performance of their official duties. We annually
provide all of our employees and contractors with appropriate security
awareness training that includes reminders about the need to protect
personally identifiable information and the criminal penalties that
apply to unauthorized access to, or disclosure of, personally
identifiable information. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(l). Employees and
contractors with access to databases maintaining personally
identifiable information must sign a sanction document annually,
acknowledging their accountability for inappropriately accessing or
disclosing such information.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
For purposes of records management dispositions authority, we
follow the NARA and Department of Defense (DOD) 5015.2 regulations (DOD
Design Criteria Standard for Electronic Records Management Software
Applications). We will retain for 25 years records about the non-
recognition of a person, the disqualification or suspension of a
representative, and the investigation of representatives that we did
not suspend or disqualify because we were able to resolve the matter
without a disqualification or suspension. We will maintain for 2 years
from the date of closure those records that indicate we investigated a
representative, but did not disqualify or suspend the representative
because we found that a violation did not occur. We will erase or
destroy records in electronic form and shred records in paper form.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
Associate General Counsel for General Law, Office of the General
Counsel, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21235. Regional Chief Counsels (see addresses in the
System Location section of this notice).
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Persons can determine if this system contains a record about them
by writing to the system manager at the above address and providing
their name, SSN, or other information in this system of records that
will identify them. Persons requesting notification by mail must
include a notarized statement to us to verify their identity or they
must certify in the request that they are the person they claim to be
and understand that the knowing and willful request for, or acquisition
of, a record pertaining to another person under false pretenses is a
criminal offense.
Persons requesting notification of records in person should provide
the same information, as well as provide an identity document,
preferably with a
[[Page 25909]]
photograph, such as a driver's license. Persons lacking identification
documents sufficient to establish their identity must certify in
writing that they are the person they claim to be and that they
understand that the knowing and willful request for, or acquisition of,
a record pertaining to another person under false pretenses is a
criminal offense.
Persons requesting notification by telephone must verify their
identity by providing identifying information that parallels the
information in the record to which notification is being requested. If
we determine that the identifying information the person provides by
telephone is insufficient, the person will be required to submit a
request in writing or in person. If a person requests information by
telephone on behalf of another person, the subject person must be on
the telephone with the requesting person and us in the same telephone
call. We will establish the subject person's identity (his or her name,
SSN, address, date of birth, and place of birth, along with one other
piece of information, such as mother's maiden name) and ask for his or
her consent to provide information to the requesting person. These
procedures are in accordance with our regulations (20 CFR 401.40 and
401.45).
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Same as notification procedures. Requesters also should reasonably
specify the record contents they are seeking. These procedures are in
accordance with our regulations (20 CFR 401.40(c)).
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Same as notification procedures. Requesters also should reasonably
identify the record, specify the information they are contesting, and
state the corrective action sought and the reasons for the correction
with supporting justification showing how the record is incomplete,
untimely, inaccurate, or irrelevant. These procedures are in accordance
with our regulations (20 CFR 401.65(a)).
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
We obtain information covered by this system of records from
existing records we maintain (e.g., the Claims Folder System, 60-0089),
which contain information relating to the representation of claimants
before us.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
[FR Doc. 2010-10668 Filed 5-7-10; 8:45 am]
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