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Sometimes, claimants whom I have successfully represented in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims may change addresses without paying my fee or notifying me of the move.  Can the Social Security Administration (SSA) provide me with a current address so that I can contact the claimant?

SSA's authority to disclose information to an appointed representative is based on the signed form SSA-1696-U4 (Appointment of Representative) or equivalent written statement, and a Privacy Act routine use allowing disclosure to the representative to pursue a claim on the claimant's behalf. Once the representative's services have ended, SSA's authority to disclose information without the specific written consent of the claimant also expires. SSA presumes that a representative's services end at the earliest point that one of the following occurs:

• SSA has made a determination or decision and issued any required notices, and the appeals period has expired;
• The representative submits a fee petition and declares that his or her services have ended; the claimant advises SSA that he or she has revoked the representative's authority;
• The representative advises SSA of withdrawal from the case; or
• A decision by SSA to suspend or disqualify the representative has become final.