TN 3 (12-85)
NL 00711.140 Confidentiality Paragraphs
7301. GENERAL — ATTORNEYS — NON-SOCIAL SECURITY MATTER
Section 1106(a) of the Social Security Act prohibits the disclosure of information
in the social security records except as prescribed by regulations. Regulation No.
1 of the Social Security Administration does not permit us to disclose information
to you for the purpose you described.
7303. PLEDGE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
The Social Security Administration is required by law to preserve the privacy of its
records. Therefore, we have assured the public that personal information furnished
in connection with the administration of the social security program will be held
in confidence.
7305. NO AUTHORIZATION OR ADDRESS FURNISHED
The information you requested from the social security record of (a) is confidential and cannot be released to you without a statement from (b) him, her authorizing us to send you the information.
If you will send us (a)'s address we will be glad to send the information to (b) him, her . If however, (c) he, she prefers that we send it to you, please send us the required authorization with your
next request.
7307. NO AUTHORIZATION BUT ADDRESS KNOWN
The information you requested from the social security earnings record of (a) is confidential. It cannot be released to you without a signed statement by (b) him, her authorizing us to send you the information. We have, therefore, sent it directly
to (c) .
7307.1 INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THIRD PARTY
Enclosed is the information from your social security record that was requested by
(a) requestor's name and address .
(a) Requestor's name and address has requested that we furnish (b) him, her (c) give nature of request . Information in the social security files is confidential by law; therefore, we
could not send (d) name of requestor the information without a statement from you authorizing us to do so. We have notified
(e) him, her that the information (f) he, she requested has been sent directly to you.
7310.1 WE HAVE ADDRESS
We are willing to try to forward a letter from you to (a) . If you want us to do so, you may send us the letter in a plain unsealed envelope
showing only (b) name. Do not enclose anything of value.
If we forward your letter, we will not be able to tell you whether it was delivered.
7310.2 LETTER FORWARDED AS RESULT OF OUR OFFER — HUMANITARIAN PURPOSE
We have forwarded the letter you sent us to the latest address we have for (a) . However, we cannot assure you that (b) will receive it.
7310.3 REQUEST FOR WHEREABOUTS — MEETS HUMANITARIAN TEST
While we can understand your desire for information about (name or relationship) , we are not permitted to give you the information you requested. Social security
records are confidential and information from them may be disclosed only as provided
by law and regulations.
We may, however, try to forward a letter from you to (a) . If you want us to do so, you may send us your letter to (b) in a plain unsealed envelope showing only (c) name. Do not enclose anything of value.
If we forward the letter for you, we will not be able to tell you whether it is delivered.
7310.4 ADVISING REQUESTER WE HAVE SENT MESSAGE — MEETS HUMANITARIAN TEST
Information from the social security record is confidential by law and may be disclosed
only as provided by regulations. Under our regulations, we are not permitted to give
you information about (a) .
We have, however, written to (b) saying that you wish to get in touch with (c) . We can give no assurance that our letter will be received or that you will get
a response. In any case, we will not send a second letter.
7310.5 MESSAGE TO MISSING PERSON
Name, address, wishes to get in touch with you. Since the records of the Social Security
Administration are confidential, we have not revealed your address, nor will we inform
(a) whether this letter is actually delivered. Therefore, you may get in touch with (b) or not, as you choose. You need not notify us of your decision.
7310.6 FORWARDING SERVICE REFUSED — HUMANITARIAN PURPOSE DOES NOT MEET TEST
While it is true that we forward some letters, we do so only in very restricted circumstances.
We must consider the person's right to privacy when we are asked to help get in touch
with him. As a service to him, we would forward a letter when he is apparently unaware
of a matter of considerable significance to him. Thus, our policy is limited to forwarding
only those letters containing information of great importance about which the persons
would want to be notified.
Since your letter to (a) does not meet our forwarding requirements, we cannot help you get in touch with (b) . We are sorry that we cannot be helpful.
7310.7 REQUEST FOR FORWARDING — DOES NOT MEET HUMANITARIAN TEST
We are sorry we cannot help you by forwarding the enclosed letter to (a) .
While it is true that we forward some letters, we do so only in very restricted circumstances.
We must consider the person's right to privacy when we are asked to help get in touch
with him. As a service to him, we would forward a letter when he is apparently unaware
of a matter of considerable significance to him. Thus, our policy is limited to forwarding
only those letters containing information of great importance about which the persons
would want to be notified.
We can understand your desire to reach (b) , but, since your letter does not meet our forwarding requirements, we cannot help
you get in touch with (c) .
7310.8 REQUEST FOR FORWARDING — DOES NOT MEET MONETARY TEST
We are unable to help you by forwarding the enclosed letter to (a) .
We can forward letters only in very restricted circumstances. We will forward a letter
only as a service to the missing person and only when it is clear that he is unaware
of a matter of great importance to him.
We can understand your desire to reach (b) , but, since your letter does not meet our forwarding requirements, we cannot help
you get in touch with (c) .
7310.9 FORWARDING SERVICE REFUSED — MONETARY PURPOSE DOES NOT MEET TEST
We can forward letters only in very restricted circumstances. We will forward a letter
only as a service to the missing person and only when it is clear that he is unaware
of a matter of great importance to him.
Since your letter to (a) does not meet our forwarding requirements, we cannot help you get in touch with (b) . We are sorry that we cannot be helpful.
7311.1 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING DEATH OF MISSING PERSON
Our records do not show that (a) has died. This fact alone should not be taken as proof that (b) is alive because we are not always told of a person's death. Therefore, we are unable
to tell you whether (a) is dead or alive.
7311.2 NO SSN FURNISHED
If our records show that (a) has died, we may give you this information. But first, we must identify (b) social security record. (Add A or B.)
7311.2.A IDENTIFYING INFORMATION REQUESTED
Please enter (b) social security number, if known, on the bottom of this letter and return it. If
you do not know the number, give us the date and place of (b) birth, and parent's names. With this information we will try to locate (b) record and see if we have any information that we can give you.
7311.2.B INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED
To do this, we need (b) social security number, or the date and place of (b) birth and (b) parent's names. Since you could not give us the information we need to check the
records, we cannot determine whether we have the requested information.
7314. ADVISING REQUESTER OF A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BASED ON DENIAL OF REQUEST
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to request a formal administrative
review. To obtain the review, you should submit a written request indicating why you
believe you are entitled to the information. You will receive notice of the result
of the review from our headquarters staff.