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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-06-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0960-AH64</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201410</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the 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>Returning Evidence at the Appeals Council Level (3844I)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[We propose to revise our rules regarding returning evidence at the Appeals Council level. Our current regulations require the Appeals Council to return to the claimant additional evidence when the Appeals Council finds that the evidence does not relate to the period on or before the date of the administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing decision. With the availability and use of our electronic services, and because the current procedures are not administratively efficient or cost effective, these rules would no longer require us to return any additional evidence when the Appeals Council determines the additional evidence does not relate to the period on or before the date of the ALJ decision, except in rare circumstances. We are not proposing any changes to how the Appeals Council considers additional evidence or when the Appeals Council gives protective filing based on the receipt of additional evidence.]]></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>Undetermined</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.976</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1476</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 401(j)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 404(f)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(b)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(d) to (h)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(j)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405 note</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 421</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 421 note</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 423(i)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 425</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 902(a)(5)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 902 note</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1383</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1383b</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>01/00/2015</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <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>Maren</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Weight</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Appeals Officer</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>703 605-7100</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Appellate Operations, 5107 Leesburg Pike,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Falls Church</CITY>
                    <STATE>VA</STATE>
                    <ZIP>22041</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Brian</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Rudick</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>J.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Social Insurance Specialist, Regulations Writer</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 965-7102</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>brian.rudick@ssa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Regulations and Reports Clearance, 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>
