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Social Security
Official Social Security Website
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at Social Security
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Social Security
Official Social Security Website
Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA)
Your Access To Social Security Administration Information
Guide to FOIA at SSA
The FOIA allows members of the public to request records from Federal
agencies. The Federal government established FOIA to promote
transparency and prevent agencies from having secret policies.
This guide to FOIA Requests at SSA explains how to request information
and records from us, details information that we can not disclose, and
outlines the fees involved with a request.
How to Search for Public Information before Making A Request
SSA prepares many documents for public distribution through its
website - such as leaflets about our benefits programs, press releases,
reports, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Click on Make a
FOIA Request
Make a FOIA Request
Privacy Information
System of Records Notices
(SORNs)
Privacy Impact Assessments
(PIAs)
Internet Privacy Policy
Government Data Exchanges
Also, the information you are requesting may also be located in our
Electronic FOIA Reading Room or in our recent FOIA releases section.
Lastly, we designed SSA’s Open Government portal to help point the
public to SSA datasets and information that may help answer your
questions about our programs and operations.
PLEASE NOTE
Check these sources prior to making a FOIA request because we
do not process requests for public information materials as
Freedom of Information Act requests.
Records We May Not Release
The FOIA does not require agencies to disclose all records. Some
examples of records we may not disclose are:
• Classified records;
• Information that is confidential by law;
• Internal personnel rules;
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at Social Security
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• Personal information about living people;
• Records of investigations; or
• Trade secrets or confidential financial information.
Your Request and the Privacy Act
Your Own Record
If you are requesting your own record(s), we will process your request
under the Privacy Act as well as the under FOIA.
Someone Else’s Records
If you are requesting another living person’s record, you need the
person’s written consent to disclose the record to you. In these cases,
send your request, with the signed consent, to your local Social Security
office.
Records Needed for a Social Security Benefit Application
If you need your records in connection with your claim for Social
Security benefits, or if you are a representative of someone pursuing a
claim for Social Security benefits, send your request to your local Social
Security office.
Learn more about SSA's commitment to Privacy
The FOIA Process at SSA
Tab 1
We try to handle your request within 20 days from the date we receive
it. Sometimes it may take us longer depending on the difficulty of
finding the record and how much other work we have. We process
requests on a “first in, first out” basis using the following categories:
Normal
Simple requests where the receiving office has all the information it
needs for the answer. These requests will take the least amount of time
to process.
Longer
These requests often require the receiving office to obtain more
information from another SSA office(s).
Longest
Requests that require:
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at Social Security
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• More information or records from another SSA office or another
government office(s);
• a voluminous amount of records, or
• Additional decisions on releasing records from these offices.
These requests take the longest to answer.
• Learn more about how we process your requests
Tab 2
We provide expedited handling when the request:
• Involves an imminent threat to a person’s life or physical safety,
or
• Is made by a member of the media to obtain information that
the public has an urgent need to know and the records would
cover actual or alleged Federal Government activity.
If you think we should expedite your request, please explain your
reasons fully in your request. Within 10 days from the date of your
request, we will decide whether we will expedite it and notify you of our
decision.
Tab 3
Sometimes we cannot disclose some or all of the records you
requested. When we cannot disclose some or all of the records you
requested, we will send you a written denial, explaining our reason(s)
and your appeal rights.
If you disagree with our decision, you may request a review. Mail your
appeal within 30 days after you receive this letter to the Executive
Director for the Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Social Security
Administration, 617 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21235. Mark the envelope “Freedom of
Information Appeal.”
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/
6/16/2015
Make a FOIA Request
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Social Security
Official Social Security Website
Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA)
Your Access To Social Security Administration Information
FOIA Home / Make a FOIA Request
FOIA Request Methods and Fees
Click on the link for
online Form
SSA-711
Online Social Security Electronic Freedom of Information (eFOIA)
for Frequently Requested Records
Now you can make a request online.
You can request a copy of the following, using online Form SSA-711.
• Social Security Number Application (Form SS-5) of a deceased
person.
• A computer extract of the Social Security number application
(Numident) of a deceased person.
Privacy Information
System of Records Notices
(SORNs)
Privacy Impact Assessments
(PIAs)
Internet Privacy Policy
Government Data Exchanges
SS-5 requests involving extreme age:
• Please Note: We will not disclose information about any person
in our records who is under 120 years old, except in those cases
where we have acceptable proof of death (e.g., death certificate,
obituary, newspaper article, or police report).
• Also, under our current policy, we do not release the parents’
names on an SS-5 application unless the parents' are proven
deceased, have a birth date more than 120 years ago, or the
number holder on the SS-5 is at least 100 years of age.
You can make payment online with a secure online payment via
pay.gov. You can use these credit cards:
•
•
•
•
•
MasterCard
Visa
Discover
American Express, and
Diner’s Club
Make An Online Request using Form SSA-711
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/request.html
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Make a FOIA Request
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Fees for Frequently Requested Records
The fee schedule below covers requests for records of Social Security
number (SSN) holders, claimants, and wage earners.
Many numident records of older individuals, primarily those born in
1910 or earlier, are abbreviated records that do not contain the names
of the individual’s parents and may not contain the place of birth.
The Social Security Administration did not begin keeping records until
November 1936.
We cannot search for the SSN of anyone born before 1865.
Fees For Processing Requests For Individual’s Social Security
Record
$27
Request for copy of Original Application for Social
Security Card (Form SS-5), SSN Provided (Printout from
microfilm)
$29
Request for copy of Original Application for Social
Security Card (Form SS-5), SSN Not Provided (Printout
from microfilm)
$16
Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number
Application, SSN Provided (*Numident only requested)
$18
Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number
Application, SSN Not Provided (*Numident only
requested)
$16
Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN
Provided (SSA does not usually have place of death,
burial, or cause of death)
$18
Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN
Not Provided (SSA does not usually have place of death,
burial, or cause of death)
*
As of May 19, 2014, we discontinued Letter Forwarding
services.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/request.html
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Make a FOIA Request
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Other Online FOIA Requests
If you would like to make an online FOIA request for records other than
a photocopy of an application for a Social Security Card (SS-5) or a
computer extract of a Social Security Card Application (Numident), you
may make your request online using the eForm. However, we may
charge a fee for this information. After we receive your request, we will
let you know if there is a fee. You cannot pay this fee online.
How Do I Get This Information?
1. Complete the eForm request to tell us what information you
want. Please note that the eForm limits space to 2000 characters.
2. Complete the requester’s information.
Is There A Fee For This Information?
• We will let you know if there is a fee for the information that you
request before we start a search. We base the FOIA fees on the
grade of the employees doing the work and the amount of time
we spend on your request, plus 10 cents per page for
photocopying.
Online service for eFOIA is available during the following time
periods:
• Monday through Friday: 5:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. EST
• Saturday: 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. EST
• Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. EST
Make an Online Request for Other SSA Records
Fees for Other SSA Record Requests
There may be a fee for information you requested. We will let you know
if your request will cost more than $250 before we start a search. We
base the FOIA fees on the grade of the employees doing the work and
the amount of time we spend on your request, plus 10 cents per page
for photocopying.
The Hourly Fees for Search and Review Are:
Search by Grade:
GS-1 through GS-8
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/request.html
$16.00
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Make a FOIA Request
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GS-9 through GS-14
$33.00
GS-15 or above
$59.00
Mail In FOIA Requests
It is easy to make a written FOIA request by mail. You do not need a
form. We process FOIA requests in two locations, depending on the
type of request. Mark both the envelope and its contents: “FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION REQUEST” or “INFORMATION REQUEST.” Be sure to
include your name and address on your request. It is a good idea to
include a daytime phone number or e-mail address in case we need to
contact you about your request. Do not include a return envelope.
Mail your request to:
Social Security Administration
Office of Privacy and Disclosure
617 Altmeyer Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235
to request a deceased person’s
You may use Form SSA-711
application for a Social Security Number (Form SS-5); however you do
not need to use the Form SSA-711. To obtain a deceased person’s
Form SS-5, send your request to:
Social Security Administration
OEO FOIA Workgroup
6100 Wabash Ave.
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290-3022
You can use Form SSA-714
to pay by credit card.
Make checks or money orders payable to the Social Security
Administration.
DO NOT SEND CASH
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/request.html
6/16/2015
Form SSA-711. Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security Record
Social Security Online
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Electronic Freedom of Information Act
www.socialsecurity.gov
Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security
Record
Form SSA-711 Internet Request
OMB No. 0960-0665
Paperwork Reduction Act
Important Notice
Did you know that many records are available on our Reading Room?
Our Reading Room has a wealth of information in which you may be
interested. Visit us any time.
For information on how to complete this form, follow the form
instructions.
Request Type and Fee
Photocopy of Original Application for a Social
Security Card (SS-5)
$27.00, SSN of deceased individual is provided
$29.00, SSN of deceased individual is not provided
Computer Extract of Social Security Card Application
$16.00, SSN of deceased individual is provided
$18.00, SSN of deceased individual is not provided
Certification is required, adds $10.00 to fee
Deceased Individual's Information
We use the "120 year rule" when disclosing information from our records for
extremely aged persons when no date of death exists. We normally do not
assume that an individual is deceased without proof of death (e.g., death
certificate, obituary, newspaper article, or police report).
Also, under our current policy, we do not release the parents' names unless
they are proven deceased, have a birth date more than 120 years ago, or the
number holder on the SS-5 is at least 100 years of age.
Name of individual at birth
First
Middle
Last
Name(s) of individual (if other than above/other name
(s) used)
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp
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Form SSA-711. Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security Record
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Social Security Number
Date of birth
Month
Day
Year
Gender
Male
Female
Deceased Individual's Parents' Information
Mother's maiden name
First
Middle
Last
Mother's married name(s)
Father's name
First
Middle
Last
Middle
Last
Requester's Information
Name
First
Address
Street Address 1
Street Address 2
City
State
Zip
-
Telephone
Fax
E-mail
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp
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Form SSA-711. Request for Deceased Individual's Social Security Record
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Cancel
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PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Privacy Policy | Website Policies & Other Important Information |
Site Map
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp
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Paperwork Reduction Act: SSA-711
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Paperwork Reduction Act: SSA-711
Last reviewed or modified 03/24/2015
PRA-SSA711
This information collection meets the requirements of 44 U.S.C. (United States Code) 3507, as amended by
section 2 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do not need to answer these questions unless we
display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
The OMB control number for this form is 0960-0665. The expiration date is November 30, 2015.
We estimate it will take about 7 minutes to read the instructions, gather the facts and answer the questions.
You may send comments on our time estimate to:
Social Security Administration
6401 Security Blvd. (Boulevard)
Baltimore, MD (Maryland) 21235-0001
Send only comments on our time estimate to this address, not the completed form.
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/pr-act/pra-ssa711.htm
6/16/2015
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Social Security Online
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Electronic Freedom of Information Act
www.socialsecurity.gov
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Collection and Use of Personal Information
The Freedom of Information Act at 5 U.S.C. § 552 and our regulations at 20
C.F.R. § 402.130 authorize us to collect this information. We will use this
information to respond to your request.
Furnishing us the information is voluntary. However, failing to provide us with
all or part of the requested information may prevent us from accurately
responding to your request.
We rarely use this information for any purpose other than to respond to requests
for our information. However, we may use the information for the administration
of our programs including sharing information:
1.
To comply with Federal laws requiring the release of information from our
records (e.g., to the Government Accountability Office and the
Department of Veterans Affairs); and,
2.
To facilitate statistical research, audit and investigatory activities
necessary to ensure the integrity and improvement of our programs (e.g.,
to the Bureau of the Census and to private entities under contract with us).
A complete list of when we may share your information with others, called
routine uses, is available in our Privacy Act Systems of Records Notices, entitled
Electronic Freedom of Information Act (eFoia) System (60-0340). Additional
information about this and other system of records notices and our programs is
available online at www.socialsecurity.gov or at any local Social Security office.
Privacy Policy | Website Policies & Other Important Information |
Site Map
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp?action=Privacy
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6/16/2015
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ |
| Author | 177717 |
| File Modified | 2015-06-16 |
| File Created | 2015-06-16 |