<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-28-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0960-AG56</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0960</CODE>
            <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Revisions to Rules on Representation of Parties (3396F)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[We will revise our rules on representation of parties in parts 404, 408, 416, and 422 to reflect changes in representatives' business practices, beneficiaries' use of the Internet, and to become more efficient in processing claims for benefits.  These rules will:

o  Recognize entities as representatives;
o  Mandate the use of Form SSA-1696 to appoint a representative or revoke or withdraw an appointment of a representative;
o  Mandate the use of Form SSA-1696 to waive a fee or direct payment of the fee;
o  Define the roles of a principal representative and a professional representative;
o  Require professional representatives to use our electronic services as they become available;
o  Authorize principal representatives to sign and file a claim for benefits for a claimant with us;
o  Require professional representatives to submit certain requests for reconsideration and hearings before an administrative law judge electronically;
o  Require a representative to keep paper copies of certain documents that we may require;
o  Add new definitions or revise existing definitions for:  "disqualify," "electronic media," "Federal agency," "Federal program," "fee petition," "initial disability claim," "person," "principal representative," "professional representative," and "representative;" 
o  Add new affirmative duties and prohibited actions for representatives; and
o  Change references in the representative sanctions rules to reflect a recent delegation of authority and a recent agency reorganization.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.612</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.901</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.903</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.909</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.910</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.933</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.934</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.1700 to 404.1799</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 408.1101</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.315</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1401</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1403</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1409</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1410</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1433</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1434</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1500 to 416.1599</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 422.203</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 422.515</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 406(a)(1)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 810(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 902(a)(5)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1010</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1383(d)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>09/08/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 51963</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>11/07/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/00/2010</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Joann</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Anderson</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Social Insurance Specialist</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 965-6716</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Income Security Programs, 6401 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21235-6401</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Joshua</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Silverman</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>B.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Social Insurance Specialist, Regulations Writer</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 594-2128</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Regulations, 6401 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21235-6401</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
