We may disclose information to a third party contact when the party has, or is expected to have, information relating to an individual’s eligibility for, or entitlement to, benefits under a Social Security program, or capability to manage his or her benefits. We may disclose information under the following circumstances:

Our regulations (20 C.F.R. § 416.936(a)) provide that in order to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), individuals with drug addiction or alcoholism as a material factor in the determination of disability must avail themselves of appropriate treatment for drug addiction or alcoholism at a facility approved by SSA. In these cases, we may disclose information to approved facilities when the information is necessary to determine the best course of treatment for the individual.

See GN 03301.040B for limitations on the disclosure of drug abuse and alcoholism records.

Section 1631(e) of the Act requires SSA to verify eligibility for SSI under Title XVI of the Act other than by declaration (e.g., by using collateral sources). In these cases, information may be disclosed to private parties or to Federal, State or local agencies to obtain relevant information.

Disclosure may be made only from the following systems of records:

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  60-0089—Claims Folders System;

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  60-0103—Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits; and

• •

  60-0320—Electronic Disability (eDIB) Claim File.

SSA or a State Disability Determination Services (DDS) may engage the services of private consultants to prepare for or perform consultative examinations or vocational assessments of individuals applying for disability benefits under sections 221 and 1633 of the Social Security Act. In these cases, SSA and DDS may disclose relevant non-tax return information (including verification of Social Security numbers (SSN)) to medical and vocational consultants.

We may disclose information to medical and vocational consultants under routine uses applicable in, but not limited to, the following systems of records:

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  60-0089—Claims Folders System, or

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  60-0320—eDIB Claim File.

See GN 03325.000 for instructions concerning verification of SSNs.

NOTE: Medical and vocational consultant reports prepared and submitted to us under contract become the property of SSA. In addition, records retained by medical sources pertaining to a consultative examination performed for the Social Security program are subject to our privacy regulations and can be disclosed only as authorized by SSA’s regulations.

We may disclose the current contact information such as address, phone number, email address of the claimant’s representative payee from the system of record, 60-0222—Master Representative Payee File.

We may disclose information to third parties, where necessary, to establish or verify information provided by representative payees or payee applicants. We may disclose relevant information from the following systems of records, including but not limited to:

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  60-0089—Claims Folders System;

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  60-0090—Master Beneficiary Record;

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  60-0103—Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits;

• •

  60-0222—Master Representative Payee File;

• •

  60-0269—Prisoner Update Processing System (PUPS); and

• •

  60-0320—eDIB Claim File.

NOTE: Do not disclose the address of a former payee to the current payee, as this is not necessary to perform his or her duties.

We may disclose information to a third party, where necessary, to obtain information concerning a representative payee or payee applicant. Information we gather includes employment, sources of income, criminal justice records, stability of residence and other information to determine the qualifications and suitability of a representative payee or payee applicant, or their use of the benefits paid to them under section 205(j) of the Act. The disclosure should be limited to the identity of a representative payee or payee applicant; the fact of the individual’s application for or service as payee; and as necessary, the identity of the beneficiary. We may disclose information from the system of records, 60-0222—Master Representative Payee File.

We may only disclose information that would help an agency advise us in selecting a representative payee.

We may disclose information including, but not limited to, the following systems of records:

• •

  60-0089—Claims Folders System;

• •

  60-0090—Master Beneficiary Record;

• •

  60-0103—Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits;

• •

  60-0222—Master Representative Payee File; and

• •

  60-0320—eDIB Claim File.

We may disclose certain information to third party contacts (including consumer reporting agencies and private collection agencies) to assist us in collecting overpayments under the routine use, cited in a number of our systems of records. You can view a full listing of all of our systems of records and their routine uses at https://www.ssa.gov/privacy/sorn.html.

See GN 03316.075 for more information regarding disclosure without consent to consumer reporting agencies.