[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14490-14491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5581]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Notice Announcing Implementation of Sections 302 and 303 of the 
Social Security Protection Act of 2004

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Social 
Security Administration (SSA) has implemented sections 302 and 303 of 
the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA). Section 302 of the 
SSPA extends the current attorney fee withholding and payment process 
under title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) to claims for 
benefits under title XVI of the Act. Section 303 of the SSPA requires 
the Commissioner of Social Security (the Commissioner) to develop and 
implement a five-year nationwide demonstration project that extends to 
certain non-attorney representatives of claimants under titles II and 
XVI of the Act the option to have approved representatives' fees 
withheld and paid directly from a beneficiary's past-due benefits.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Zambonato, Social Security 
Administration, Office of Income Security Programs, 2709 Rolling Road, 
Baltimore, MD 21244, (410) 965-5419.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 303(d) of the SSPA, the 
Commissioner notified Congress on February 28, 2005, of our completion 
of the actions necessary to fully implement the requirements for full 
operation of the demonstration project on fee withholding for non-
attorneys. Accordingly, the five-year period of the demonstration 
project under section 303 began on February 28, 2005. As provided in 
section 302(c) of the SSPA, the extension of the current representative 
fee withholding and payment process under title II of the Act to claims 
for benefits under title XVI of the Act also became effective for 
favorably decided cases effectuated on or after February 28, 2005.
    Additional information on the implementation of section 302 can be 
found in operating instructions that we have issued on fee withholding 
and direct payment of fees under title XVI in the Program Operations 
Manual System (POMS), Subchapters GN 03920, GN 03930, and GN 03940. 
These instructions may be accessed from our Web site at http://www.socialsecurity.gov, using the link to Our Program Rules. You can 
also access these instructions directly at http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/subchapterlist!openview&restricttocategory=02039 restricttocategory=02039.
    In accordance with the provisions of section 303, we will determine 
the eligibility of applicants to participate in the demonstration 
project on fee withholding for non-attorneys through a process by which 
we will determine if applicants satisfy the prerequisites to 
participate in that project. We provided information on the 
prerequisites process in a Federal Register notice published on January 
13, 2005 (70 FR 2447). Additional information on the demonstration 
project and the prerequisites process is available on our Representing 
Claimants Web site at http://www.ba.ssa.gov/representation/.

[[Page 14491]]

    As we explained in our Federal Register notice of January 13, 2005, 
we are using a private contractor to assist us in administering the 
process for determining eligibility to participate in the demonstration 
project. The contractor is CPS Human Resource Services (CPS). CPS has 
established an informational Web site at http://www.cps.ca.gov/tlc/ssa/about.asp that provides general information on eligibility 
requirements, the application process, and deadlines. CPS has also 
established a site for taking applications at http://www.cps.ca.gov/tlc/ssa/signin.asp. CPS can be reached by:
     Mail, sent to: CPS Human Resource Services, SSA Non-
Attorney Representative Demonstration Project, 241 Lathrop Way, Suite 
A, Sacramento, CA 95815-4242.
     E-mail, sent to [email protected].
     Telephone, toll free at 1-800-376-5728. The local number 
in Sacramento is 916-263-3600.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 96.001, Social 
Security-Disability Insurance; 96.002, Social Security-Retirement 
Insurance; 96.004, Social Security-Survivors Insurance; and 96.006, 
Supplemental Security Income)
Fritz Streckewald,
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Program Policy, for Disability and 
Income Security Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-5581 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P