[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-59]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Rate for Attorney Fee Assessment Beginning in 2004

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 2004.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 406 of Public Law No. 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 the 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 2004. We will continue to review our 
costs on a yearly basis.

    Dated: December 29, 2003.
Dale W. Sopper,
Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management.
[FR Doc. 04-59 Filed 1-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P