81 FR 67414 - Charging Standard Administrative Fees for Non-Program Information Requests for Detailed Social Security Earnings

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)

On November 8, 2013,\1\ we announced in the Federal Register a new administrative fee we charge to the public for detailed yearly Social Security earnings information. We charge administrative fees to recover our full costs when we provide information and related services for non-program purposes. We are announcing an update to the previously published fee ($136) for detailed yearly Social Security earnings information.\2\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 67414]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23741]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2016-0046]


Charging Standard Administrative Fees for Non-Program Information 
Requests for Detailed Social Security Earnings

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of updated schedule of standardized administrative fees.

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SUMMARY: On November 8, 2013,\1\ we announced in the Federal Register a 
new administrative fee we charge to the public for detailed yearly 
Social Security earnings information. We charge administrative fees to 
recover our full costs when we provide information and related services 
for non-program purposes. We are announcing an update to the previously 
published fee ($136) for detailed yearly Social Security earnings 
information.\2\
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    \1\ 78 FR 67210, November 8, 2013.
    \2\ 79 FR 66445, November 7, 2014.
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    The updated standard fee schedule is part of our continuing effort 
to standardize fees for non-program information requests. We reserve 
the right to review and update the published standard fees as 
necessary, but no less than every two years, to ensure the agency 
recovers the full cost of providing non-program services. Standard fees 
provide consistency and ensure we recover the full cost of supplying 
information when we receive a request for a purpose not directly 
related to the administration of a program under the Social Security 
Act (Act).

DATES: The changes described in this notice are effective for requests 
we receive on or after October 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristina Poist, Social Security 
Administration, Office of Finance, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
MD 21235-6401, (410) 597-1977. For information on eligibility or filing 
for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 
1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at 
http://socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1106 of the Act and the Privacy Act 
\3\ authorize the Commissioner of Social Security to promulgate 
regulations regarding agency records and information and to charge fees 
for providing information and related services. Our regulations and 
operating instructions identify when we will charge fees for 
information.\4\ 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.
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    \3\ 42 U.S.C. 1306 and 5 U.S.C. 552a, respectively.
    \4\ See 20 CFR 402.170, 402.175; Program Operations Manual 
System (POMS) GN 03311.005.
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    New Information: Based on the most recent cost analysis, we 
determined the new standard fee for detailed yearly Social Security 
Earnings information is $115 for each request. We will certify the 
detailed earnings information for an additional $33. Note: 
Certification is usually not necessary. We based this updated standard 
fee on our most recent cost calculations for supplying this information 
and the standard fee methodology previously published in the Federal 
Register. A requester can obtain certified and non-certified detailed 
yearly Social Security earnings information by completing the Form SSA-
7050, Request for Social Security Earnings Information. A requester can 
continue to obtain non-certified, yearly earnings totals (Form SSA-
7004, Request for a Social Security Statement) through our free online 
service my Social Security, http://socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/, a 
personal online account for Social Security information and services. 
Online Social Security Statements display uncertified, yearly earnings, 
free of charge, and do not show any employer information. Certified 
yearly Social Security earnings totals cost $33, available by 
completing Form SSA-7050.
    We will continue to evaluate all standard fees at least every two 
years to ensure we capture the full costs associated with providing 
information for non-program purposes. We require nonrefundable advance 
payment of the standard fee by check, money order, or credit card. We 
do not accept cash. Only one form of payment is acceptable in the full 
amount of the standard fee. If we revise any of the standard fees, we 
will publish another notice in the Federal Register. For other non-
program requests for information not addressed here or within the 
current schedule of standardized administrative fees, we will continue 
to charge fees calculated on a case-by-case basis to recover our full 
cost of supplying the information.

Additional Information

    Additional information is available on our Web site at http://socialsecurity.gov/pgm/business.htm or by written request to: Social 
Security Administration, Office of Public Inquiries, Windsor Park 
Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.

Carolyn W. Colvin,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 2016-23741 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P