[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 21831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08808]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. 2013-0049]


Elimination of the Social Security Administration's Letter 
Forwarding Service

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of discontinuation of the letter forwarding service.

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SUMMARY: Letter Forwarding is a service we provided to the public since 
1945. It is not a program related activity under the Social Security 
Act (Act). Therefore, we will stop the letter forwarding service.

DATES: The cessation date for letter forwarding services is May 19, 
2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Esset Tate, Office of Public Service 
and Operations Support, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, [410-966-8502].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We provided the letter forwarding service to 
the public since 1945. The inquirer can be an individual, private 
organization, or government agency. We provide limited service if it 
does not interfere with the Agency's ability to effectively and 
efficiently carry out its statutory responsibilities under the Act. SSA 
processes the following types of letter forwarding requests (free and 
for a fee).
     Humanitarian (free)--when the health or welfare of an 
individual is at risk and the requestor provides a compelling reason to 
show the person would want to be aware of the circumstances. In 
addition, when an immediate family member (e.g., parent, sibling) is 
seeking to re-establish contact with another immediate family member.
     Monetary purpose (fee $35 in fiscal year (FY) 2013)--
situations in which the individual sought is due something of value, 
and it is reasonable to assume that he or she is not aware that the 
asset is due.
    New Information: In recent years, the internet offers a rapid 
expansion of locator resources via free social media Web sites and for 
pay locator services. The public now has widespread access to the 
Internet and the ability to locate individuals without relying on our 
letter forwarding services. Based on the availability of the 
alternative locator resources and the effects it would be as a cost 
saving measure, we are discontinuing the letter forwarding service. 
This decision is in line with the Internal Revenue Service, which 
successfully eliminated part of its letter forwarding workload as of 
August 31, 2012.

    Dated: April 11, 2014.
Esset Tate,
Project Manager, Office of Public Service and Operations Support.
[FR Doc. 2014-08808 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P