[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 1647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-538]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Rate for Attorney Fee Assessment Beginning in 2003

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration is announcing that the 
attorney fee assessment rate under section 206(d) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 
406(d), is 6.3 percent for 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John B. Watson, Social Security 
Administration, Office of the General Counsel, Phone: (410) 965-3137, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 406 of Pub. L. 106-170, the Ticket 
to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, established an 
assessment for the services required to determine and certify payments 
to attorneys from the benefits due claimants under Title II of the Act. 
This provision is codified in section 206 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 406). 
The legislation set the assessment for calendar year 2000 at 6.3 
percent of the amount that would be required to be certified for direct 
payment to the attorney under section 206(a)(4) or 206(b)(1) before the 
application of the assessment. For subsequent years, the legislation 
requires the Commissioner of Social Security to determine the 
percentage rate necessary to achieve full recovery of the costs of 
determining and certifying fees to attorneys, but not in excess of 6.3 
percent. The Commissioner of Social Security has determined, based on 
the best available data, that the current rate of 6.3 percent will 
continue for 2003. We will continue to review our costs on a yearly 
basis.

    Dated: January 3, 2003.
Dale W. Sopper,
Acting Deputy Commissioner for Finance Assessment and Management.
[FR Doc. 03-538 Filed 1-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P