Submit a Privacy Act Request for Your or Another Person's Records

Under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)), you have the right to request access to, or amendment of records about yourself that are in our systems of records.

Under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)), you may provide consent for the Social Security Administration to disclose to another person or entity records about yourself that are in our systems of records.

Additional information is available in 20 CFR Part 401 – Privacy and Disclosure of Official Records and Information.

Below are instructions for common requests.

Your Own Records

  1. Requesting your Own Record for Release to You

    Claim File(s)

    To request information from your own claim file for release directly to you, please visit your local Social Security office. Your local office has jurisdiction over the records necessary to process your request. When you visit the office, please bring proper identification. To locate the appropriate servicing office, visit https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp, and input your zip code.

    Earnings Records

    If you want your earnings records, please complete and submit Form SSA-7050-F4 (Request for Social Security Earning Information). Please follow the instructions on the form to submit your request.

    Original Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5)/Numident Record (computer extract of the SS-5)

    If you are seeking a copy of your original SS-5 or Numident, we need you to provide the following information: Name; Address; Signature; Social Security number; and a signed statement that you are the individual to whom the record pertains and you understand there are criminal penalties for making a knowing and willful request for access to records concerning another individual under false pretenses. You may submit your request using Form SSA-L996. Please submit your request with payment to: Social Security Administration (SSA), OEIO, FOIA Workgroup, 6100 Wabash Ave, P.O. Box 33022, Baltimore, MD 21290-3022. The fee for a copy of the SS-5 is $30.00. The fee for a copy of the Numident is $28.00. If you require certification of the SS-5 or Numident, the certification fee is an additional $10.00 per record requested. We will not process your request without exact payment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Diner’s Club. To pay by credit card, complete and sign the SSA-714. Be sure to include your credit card number and expiration date. We also accept checks or money orders payable to the Social Security Administration.

  2. Requesting your Own Record for Release to Another Person or Entity

    Claim File(s)

    If you would like to submit an electronic request for the Social Security Administration to disclose records from your claim file(s) to another person or entity, please click here. You may not be able to use the online form to request disclosure of certain records. If you do not want to or you are unable to submit your request electronically, please submit a paper consent form to your local servicing office. You may use the Form SSA-3288 (Consent for Release of Information) or any other paper consent that meets our consent requirements. See our policy at Program Operations Manual System (POMS) GN 03305.003.D.

    You may hand deliver, mail, or fax your completed and signed paper consent to your local Social Security office. To locate the appropriate servicing office, visit https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp, and input your zip code.

    Earnings Records

    If you would like the Social Security Administration to disclose a copy of your earnings records to another person or entity, please complete and submit Form SSA-7050-F4. Please follow the instructions on the form to submit your request.

    Original Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5)/Numident Record (computer extract of the SS-5)

    If you would like the Social Security Administration to disclose a copy of your original SS-5 or Numident to another person or entity, please submit a proper consent. You may use the Form SSA-3288 or any other paper consent that meets our consent requirements. See our policy at POMS GN 03305.003.D. Please write “Numident” or “Original Form SS-5” in the “other” section of the Form SSA-3288, as applicable. Please send your request with payment and proper consent to Social Security Administration, OEIO, FOIA Workgroup, 6100 Wabash Ave, P.O. Box 33022, Baltimore, MD 21290-3022. The fee for a copy of the SS-5 is $30.00. The fee for a copy of the Numident is $28.00. If you require certification of the SS-5 or Numident, the certification fee is an additional $10.00 per record requested. We will not process your request without exact payment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Diner’s Club. To pay by credit card, complete and sign the SSA-714. Be sure to include your credit card number and expiration date. We also accept checks or money orders payable to the Social Security Administration.

Request for Someone Else’s Records

  • The Social Security Act prohibits the disclosure of any file, record, report, or other information concerning a person obtained by Social Security Administration employees in the course of their duties, except as otherwise provided by Federal law and regulations. 42 U.S.C. § 1306.

    Claim File(s)

    If you are seeking Social Security Administration claim file records about another living individual, you must have the individual complete the Form SSA-3288 or any other paper consent that meets our consent requirements to request the individual’s records. See our policy at POMS GN 03305.003.D. If you obtain proper consent, you may request this information from the individual’s local Social Security office. You may hand deliver, mail, or fax the completed paper consent to the local office. Please visit our website at https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp to locate the individual’s local office.

    Original Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5)/Numident Record (computer extract of the SS-5)

    If you are seeking a copy of another living individual’s original SS-5 or Numident, we need you to provide proper consent. Please have the individual complete the SSA-3288 or any other paper consent that meets our consent requirements. See our policy at POMS GN 03305.003.D. Please send your request with payment and proper consent to Social Security Administration, OEIO, FOIA Workgroup, 6100 Wabash Ave, P.O. Box 33022, Baltimore, MD 21290-3022. The fee for a copy of the SS-5 is $30.00. The fee for a copy of the Numident is $28.00. If you require certification of the SS-5 or Numident, the certification fee is an additional $10.00 per record requested. We will not process your request without exact payment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Diner’s Club. To pay by credit card, complete and sign the SSA-714. Be sure to include your credit card number and expiration date. We also accept checks or money orders payable to the Social Security Administration.

    Social Security Administration Employee Records

    If you are seeking the records of a current Social Security Administration employee (regarding payroll, performance, leave, etc.), you should have the employee complete Form SSA-3465 and advise the employee to submit the form to his or her supervisor. When an employee resigns, retires, transfers, or otherwise terminates employment with the Social Security Administration, Form SSA-3465 should be mailed to SSA’s Office of the General Counsel, Office of Privacy and Disclosure at 6401 Security Boulevard, West High Rise, Room G-401, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

    Earnings Records

    If you want the earnings records of another living individual, please have the individual complete Form SSA-705

Records Needed for a Social Security Benefit Application

If you need your records regarding your claim for Social Security benefits, or if you are a representative of someone pursuing a claim for Social Security benefits, send your request to your https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.