An individual may consent to disclose their records to a legal aid group or private law firm using the SSA-3288, SSA-3288-OP1, or other written consent form that meets our requirements listed in GN 03305.003. The public can access the SSA-3288-OP1 web-form application at SSA's Privacy Program website.

An individual may appoint a representative to act on their behalf in dealings with us. The individual must appoint the representative using Form SSA-1696. An appointed representative must be an individual, not a firm or entity. Once a valid appointment is established using Form SSA-1696, we can disclose to the appointed representative and their designated associates information that is needed to perform their official duties. These disclosures, made upon routine use authority as set forth in GN 03316.125, do not require the claimant to submit an SSA-3288 or other written consent. Before disclosing claimant information to an appointed representative or designated associate, the technician must verify the identity of the requester, as well as their valid appointment as a representative, or their relationship to the appointed representative of record, per the instructions in GN 03316.125.C and GN 03380.010.B.1 and 2.

We encourage appointed representatives to request records or other information from the appropriate Social Security office (field office or Hearing Office) that services the mailing address ZIP code of their client (See GN 03305.020).

We will honor an individual's request to disclose records to the appointed representative and their designated associates, as long as the appointed representative's appointment has not ended. The appointed representative's appointment ends when:

1. 1. 

   The individual revokes the appointment;

2. 2. 

   The representative withdraws his or her own appointment; or

3. 3. 

   The appointment expires (See GN 03910.060).

If an appointment has ended, the individual must provide written consent for any subsequent disclosure of his or her records to the representative or designated associate.