124 lines
18 KiB
HTML
124 lines
18 KiB
HTML
<!doctype html>
|
||
<html class="no-js" lang="en">
|
||
|
||
<head>
|
||
<!-- REQUIRED META INFORMATION -->
|
||
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />
|
||
|
||
<!-- DOCUMENT TITLE -->
|
||
<title>FOIA - About</title>
|
||
|
||
<!-- OCOMM META INFORMATION -->
|
||
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOffice" content="OGC/OPD" />
|
||
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOwner" content="OGC/OPD" />
|
||
<meta name="DCTERMS:coderOffice" content="OGC/ITRMS" />
|
||
<meta name="DCTERMS:coder" content="rnakielny/mcrafton" />
|
||
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCertified" content="2019-02-26" />
|
||
<meta name="description" content="SSA’s centralized website for privacy-related information and resources" />
|
||
<meta name="DCTERMS:required" content="OMB:M-17-06:1" />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<!-- OCOMM STYLES & SCRIPTS -->
|
||
<link href="/framework/css/phoenix.css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" />
|
||
<!-- SSA INTERNET HEAD SCRIPTS -->
|
||
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.head.js"></script>
|
||
|
||
<!-- CUSTOM STYLES & SCRIPTS -->
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<script>(window.BOOMR_mq=window.BOOMR_mq||[]).push(["addVar",{"rua.upush":"false","rua.cpush":"false","rua.upre":"false","rua.cpre":"false","rua.uprl":"false","rua.cprl":"false","rua.cprf":"false","rua.trans":"","rua.cook":"false","rua.ims":"false","rua.ufprl":"false","rua.cfprl":"false","rua.isuxp":"false","rua.texp":"norulematch","rua.ceh":"false","rua.ueh":"false","rua.ieh.st":"0"}]);</script>
|
||
<script>!function(e){var n="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if("False"=="True")e.BOOMR_config=e.BOOMR_config||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams=e.BOOMR_config.PageParams||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams.pci=!0,n="https://s2.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if(window.BOOMR_API_key="LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB",function(){function e(){if(!o){var e=document.createElement("script");e.id="boomr-scr-as",e.src=window.BOOMR.url,e.async=!0,i.parentNode.appendChild(e),o=!0}}function t(e){o=!0;var n,t,a,r,d=document,O=window;if(window.BOOMR.snippetMethod=e?"if":"i",t=function(e,n){var t=d.createElement("script");t.id=n||"boomr-if-as",t.src=window.BOOMR.url,BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),e=e||d.body,e.appendChild(t)},!window.addEventListener&&window.attachEvent&&navigator.userAgent.match(/MSIE [67]\./))return window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="s",void t(i.parentNode,"boomr-async");a=document.createElement("IFRAME"),a.src="about:blank",a.title="",a.role="presentation",a.loading="eager",r=(a.frameElement||a).style,r.width=0,r.height=0,r.border=0,r.display="none",i.parentNode.appendChild(a);try{O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}catch(_){n=document.domain,a.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+n+"';void(0);",O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}if(n)d._boomrl=function(){this.domain=n,t()},d.write("<bo"+"dy onload='document._boomrl();'>");else if(O._boomrl=function(){t()},O.addEventListener)O.addEventListener("load",O._boomrl,!1);else if(O.attachEvent)O.attachEvent("onload",O._boomrl);d.close()}function a(e){window.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetStart=(new Date).getTime(),window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0,window.BOOMR.snippetVersion=12,window.BOOMR.url=n+"LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB";var i=document.currentScript||document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o=!1,r=document.createElement("link");if(r.relList&&"function"==typeof r.relList.supports&&r.relList.supports("preload")&&"as"in r)window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="p",r.href=window.BOOMR.url,r.rel="preload",r.as="script",r.addEventListener("load",e),r.addEventListener("error",function(){t(!0)}),setTimeout(function(){if(!o)t(!0)},3e3),BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),i.parentNode.appendChild(r);else t(!1);if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",a,!1);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",a)}}(),"".length>0)if(e&&"performance"in e&&e.performance&&"function"==typeof e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize)e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize();!function(){if(BOOMR=e.BOOMR||{},BOOMR.plugins=BOOMR.plugins||{},!BOOMR.plugins.AK){var n=""=="true"?1:0,t="",a="vht6pfix22vgcz6v4o2q-f-3f0e98d33-clientnsv4-s.akamaihd.net",i="false"=="true"?2:1,o={"ak.v":"39","ak.cp":"1204614","ak.ai":parseInt("728289",10),"ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":3,"ak.ipv":4,"ak.proto":"http/1.1","ak.rid":"e56151","ak.r":35636,"ak.a2":n,"ak.m":"dsca","ak.n":"essl","ak.bpcip":"169.231.231.0","ak.cport":39646,"ak.gh":"23.214.170.79","ak.quicv":"","ak.tlsv":"tls1.3","ak.0rtt":"","ak.0rtt.ed":"","ak.csrc":"-","ak.acc":"bbr","ak.t":"1742070709","ak.ak":"hOBiQwZUYzCg5VSAfCLimQ==+AgAR1VbGktD3jixPaIndbc2t9rqSZke1mUBhn7KIG69gM39euNzS9c2LKIVxyby2Tz1GtdkDgYRxgGROJL+MncgMRdglYa4ccv7BXVMCCnfqLZPLRwQMfN3x5sogpGoxz7WYHU7synJTFL19ABeF+CU0DpyKnbsdXcEmBMZpUayEn/NljqurnLYZEZF26tWksro681R1KaS2wJtEH8yTLEb7yi3qkLFPDzOROGe+4SpX59TCrjWD9r1g2jc4njlplnq27M8UcZDlx9CSeEcvkpi5sXBNIQoUFXaxBBzjmsp6hGsTXCtNqrRbOFCRm4l2/NA5IYprZC7QtggGjBdMEcTaQRoanJ2PNMBmTbMyiuyOSVsK5y6dsuucvoCfvOxHg/GhkeQVwOjf7xfwU906JI/nJtjWddiGdtAwBbgPV8=","ak.pv":"98","ak.dpoabenc":"","ak.tf":i};if(""!==t)o["ak.ruds"]=t;var r={i:!1,av:function(n){var t="http.initiator";if(n&&(!n[t]||"spa_hard"===n[t]))o["ak.feo"]=void 0!==e.aFeoApplied?1:0,BOOMR.addVar(o)},rv:function(){var e=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.tlsv","ak.0rtt","ak.0rtt.ed","ak.r","ak.acc","ak.t","ak.tf"];BOOMR.removeVar(e)}};BOOMR.plugins.AK={akVars:o,akDNSPreFetchDomain:a,init:function(){if(!r.i){var e=BOOMR.subscribe;e("before_beacon",r.av,null,null),e("onbeacon",r.rv,null,null),r.i=!0}return this},is_complete:function(){return!0}}}}()}(window);</script></head>
|
||
|
||
<body>
|
||
<!-- PAGE CONTAINER -->
|
||
<div id="page">
|
||
|
||
<!-- PAGE HEADER -->
|
||
<div class="bg-dark-gray accessibility" id="accessibility"><a id="skip-navigation" href="#content">Skip to main content</a></div><ssa-header class="print-hide"><noscript><header class="banner-neo" id="banner" role="banner" style="background-color: #0b4778;"><div class="banner-wrapper"><h1 class="banner-logo"><a class="banner-logo__link" href="/">Social Security</a></h1><nav class="banner-nav" id="banner-nav"><a class="banner-nav__link banner-search" href="https://search.ssa.gov/search?affiliate=ssa" title="Search" target="_blank"><svg class="banner-nav__icon" focusable="false" width="24" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M 10 23 C 11.219 23 12.384 22.762 13.496 22.285 C 14.608 21.808 15.565 21.169 16.367 20.367 C 17.169 19.565 17.808 18.608 18.285 17.496 C 18.762 16.384 19 15.219 19 14 C 19 12.953 18.829 11.951 18.488 10.992 C 18.147 10.033 17.661 9.164 17.031 8.383 L 22.711 2.711 C 22.904 2.518 23 2.281 23 2 C 23 1.713 22.905 1.475 22.715 1.285 C 22.525 1.095 22.287 1 22 1 C 21.719 1 21.482 1.096 21.289 1.289 L 15.617 6.969 C 14.836 6.339 13.966 5.853 13.008 5.512 C 12.05 5.171 11.047 5 10 5 C 8.781 5 7.616 5.238 6.504 5.715 C 5.392 6.192 4.435 6.831 3.633 7.633 C 2.831 8.435 2.192 9.392 1.715 10.504 C 1.238 11.616 1 12.781 1 14 C 1 15.219 1.238 16.384 1.715 17.496 C 2.192 18.608 2.831 19.565 3.633 20.367 C 4.435 21.169 5.392 21.808 6.504 22.285 C 7.616 22.762 8.781 23 10 23 Z M 10 21 C 9.052 21 8.146 20.815 7.281 20.445 C 6.416 20.075 5.672 19.578 5.047 18.953 C 4.422 18.328 3.925 17.584 3.555 16.719 C 3.185 15.854 3 14.948 3 14 C 3 13.052 3.185 12.146 3.555 11.281 C 3.925 10.416 4.422 9.672 5.047 9.047 C 5.672 8.422 6.416 7.925 7.281 7.555 C 8.146 7.185 9.052 7 10 7 C 10.948 7 11.854 7.185 12.719 7.555 C 13.584 7.925 14.328 8.422 14.953 9.047 C 15.578 9.672 16.075 10.416 16.445 11.281 C 16.815 12.146 17 13.052 17 14 C 17 14.948 16.815 15.854 16.445 16.719 C 16.075 17.584 15.578 18.328 14.953 18.953 C 14.328 19.578 13.584 20.075 12.719 20.445 C 11.854 20.815 10.948 21 10 21 Z" transform="matrix(-1, 0, 0, -1, 24.000001, 24.000001)" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span>Search</span> </a><a class="banner-nav__link banner-menu" href="/menu" id="ssa-menu" title="Menu"><svg class="banner-nav__icon" focusable="false" width="24" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M3 5h18q.414 0 .707.293T22 6t-.293.707T21 7H3q-.414 0-.707-.293T2 6t.293-.707T3 5zm0 12h18q.414 0 .707.293T22 18t-.293.707T21 19H3q-.414 0-.707-.293T2 18t.293-.707T3 17zm0-6h18q.414 0 .707.293T22 12t-.293.707T21 13H3q-.414 0-.707-.293T2 12t.293-.707T3 11z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span>Menu</span> </a><a class="banner-nav__link banner-languages" href="/es" id="ssa-languages" title="Español" hreflang="es"><svg class="banner-nav__icon" focusable="false" width="24" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M12 0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12s5.373 12 12 12c.812 0 1.604-.08 2.37-.235-.31-.147-.343-1.255-.037-1.887.34-.703 1.406-2.485.35-3.08-1.053-.6-.76-.868-1.405-1.56-.644-.692-.38-.796-.422-.974-.14-.61.62-1.523.656-1.616.035-.094.035-.446.023-.55-.012-.107-.48-.387-.597-.4-.117-.01-.176.188-.34.2-.164.012-.88-.433-1.03-.55-.154-.117-.224-.398-.435-.61-.21-.212-.235-.047-.562-.175-.327-.13-1.382-.516-2.19-.844-.81-.33-.88-.79-.892-1.114-.012-.325-.492-.797-.718-1.137-.225-.342-.267-.81-.348-.705-.082.106.422 1.336.34 1.37-.083.037-.26-.338-.493-.643-.235-.304.245-.14-.505-1.617-.75-1.476.235-2.23.282-3 .048-.77.633.28.328-.21-.304-.493.023-1.524-.21-1.9-.235-.374-1.57.423-1.57.423.034-.363 1.17-.985 1.99-1.56.82-.573 1.322-.128 1.982.083.66.21.703.142.48-.07-.222-.21.094-.316.61-.235.516.082.656.704 1.442.645.784-.06.08.152.186.35.105.2-.117.177-.633.53-.516.35.012.35.926 1.02.913.667.632-.447.538-.94-.094-.49.668-.105.668-.105.563.375.46.02.87.15.408.13 1.52 1.07 1.52 1.07-1.395.762-.516.844-.282 1.02.235.175-.48.515-.48.515-.294-.293-.34.012-.528.117-.187.105-.012.375-.012.375-.97.153-.75 1.173-.738 1.418.012.247-.62.622-.786.973-.164.35.423 1.113.117 1.16-.305.048-.61-1.148-2.25-.703-.495.134-1.593.703-1.008 1.863.585 1.16 1.558-.328 1.886-.164.33.163-.093.902-.023.913.07.012.927.033.974 1.032.048 1 1.3.914 1.57.938.27.023 1.173-.74 1.3-.774.13-.035.646-.47 1.77.175 1.126.644 1.7.55 2.086.82.387.27.117.81.48.985.365.176 1.818-.058 2.18.54.364.597-1.5 3.597-2.085 3.925-.586.328-.856 1.078-1.442 1.558-.69.563-1.418 1.076-2.18 1.535-.684.407-.807 1.137-1.112 1.367C19.984 22.52 24 17.73 24 12c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12zm2.813 11.262c-.165.047-.504.352-1.336-.14-.832-.494-1.406-.4-1.477-.48 0 0-.07-.2.293-.236.747-.072 1.688.692 1.9.704.21.012.315-.21.69-.09.375.12.094.195-.07.242zM10.887 1.196c-.082-.06.068-.128.157-.246.05-.07.013-.182.078-.246.175-.177 1.043-.423.874.058-.17.48-.98.527-1.11.434zm2.098 1.523c-.293-.013-.983-.086-.856-.212.494-.492-.188-.633-.61-.668-.423-.036-.598-.27-.388-.294.21-.024 1.055.013 1.196.13.14.117.902.422.95.644.047.223 0 .41-.293.4zm2.542-.083c-.234.188-1.413-.673-1.64-.867-.985-.844-1.513-.563-1.72-.703-.206-.142-.132-.33.184-.61.318-.282 1.21.094 1.724.152.516.058 1.113.457 1.125.93.01.474.562.91.327 1.097z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span>Español</span> </a><a class="banner-nav__link banner-signin" href="https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.action" id="ssa-signin" title="Sign in" target="_blank"><svg class="banner-nav__icon" focusable="false" width="24" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M12 17.016q-.797 0-1.406-.61t-.61-1.405.61-1.405 1.406-.61 1.406.61.61 1.406-.61 1.407-1.406.61zm6 3V9.986H6v10.03h12zm-6-17.11q-1.266 0-2.18.914T8.906 6H9v2.016h6.094V6q0-1.266-.914-2.18T12 2.906zm6 5.11q.797 0 1.406.586t.61 1.383v10.03q0 .798-.61 1.384T18 21.984H6q-.797 0-1.406-.586t-.61-1.384V9.986q0-.798.61-1.384T6 8.016h.984V6q0-2.063 1.477-3.54T12 .985t3.54 1.477T17.015 6v2.016H18z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span>Sign in</span></a></nav></div></header></noscript></ssa-header><script src="https://www.ssa.gov/legacy/components/dist/ssa-header.js"></script>
|
||
|
||
<!-- SITE NAVIGATION -->
|
||
|
||
|
||
<!-- PAGE TITLE -->
|
||
<div id="title-bar">
|
||
<h2>Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)<br/><span class="seventypercent">Your Access to Social Security Administration Information</span></h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<!-- PAGE CONTENT -->
|
||
<div id="content" role="main">
|
||
|
||
<!-- GRID SYSTEM -->
|
||
<div class="grid">
|
||
|
||
<!-- BREADCRUMBS -->
|
||
<div class="breadcrumbs" style="padding-bottom: 1rem;"><a href="/foia/index.html">FOIA Home: Guide to the FOIA</a> / The FOIA at SSA</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="row-12">
|
||
|
||
<div class="column-3 menu nav-sidebar" id="nav-sidebar">
|
||
<!-- MENU INCLUDE -->
|
||
<nav role="navigation">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/foia/">FOIA Home: Guide to the FOIA</a></li>
|
||
<!-- <li><a href="/foia/readingroom.html">Reading Room</a></li> -->
|
||
<li><a href="/foia/request.html">Make a FOIA Request</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/foia/annualreports.html">Reports</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/foia/about.html">The FOIA at SSA</a>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li><a href="/foia/privacy.html">Protecting Your Privacy</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/foia/contact.html">Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</nav>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<h2>The FOIA at SSA</h2>
|
||
<div class="column-9">
|
||
<h3>Mission</h3>
|
||
<p>The Office of Privacy and Disclosure (OPD) is one of the major components within the <a href="OGC_Organization_Chart_Final.pdf">Office of the General Counsel</a> (OGC). OPD develops and interprets Social Security Administration (SSA) policy governing the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of personally identifiable information under the Privacy Act, section 1106 of the Social Security Act, section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, and related privacy statutes and regulations. Additionally, OPD develops policy for data exchange agreements governed by the Privacy Act and the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act (CMPPA).<br>
|
||
<br> OPD also directs all FOIA activities within SSA, including developing FOIA policies and procedures, establishing national guidelines for handling FOIA requests, publishing the Annual Report on FOIA activities, and reviewing FOIA and Privacy Act requests and appeals to determine the proper disclosure of records.</p>
|
||
<h3>OPD Organizational Structure</h3>
|
||
<p>SSA employs a “centralized” approach for handling all FOIA requests and appeals submitted to the agency. To accomplish our FOIA mission, <a href="OPD_Organization_Chart_Final.pdf">OPD’s structure</a> includes four Disclosure Policy Development Divisions, each aligned to specific SSA operations. </p>
|
||
<h3>How We Process Requests</h3>
|
||
<p>We receive FOIA requests via the <a href="https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/request">internet</a>, or <a href="https://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/foia/contact.html">by fax, email, and U.S. mail</a>.<br>
|
||
<br> Regardless of the submission method, we capture all FOIA requests in FOIAonline, the system we use to process the agency’s FOIA requests. We scan and image all paper requests (mail, email, and fax) into FOIAonline. When we enter a request into the system, or when a person submits his/her request directly into FOIAonline, FOIAonline generates an acknowledgement letter. This letter confirms our receipt of the request, and provides a reference number assigned to the case. <br>
|
||
<br> Under FOIA, we may charge fees to process certain FOIA requests. FOIAonline allows requesters to pay online for some requests (e.g., requests for a deceased person’s SS-5 and Numident record), which accelerates our responsiveness to the public and reduces our administrative costs.<br>
|
||
<br> We strive to handle each request within 20 days from the date we receive it. We process requests under a “first in” “first out” basis. However, sometimes it may take us longer depending on the complexity of the request, the amount of records sought, where the documents are located, and how much other work we have.<br>
|
||
<br> A complex request may require us to obtain more information from the requester or from numerous office(s) within SSA. A request may require us to seek paper records that we collectively maintain in multiple geographic locations, or in archived storage.</p>
|
||
<h3>Quality Review</h3>
|
||
<p>Prior to releasing records in response to a FOIA request, OPD conducts a thorough internal review to ensure that we apply SSA’s privacy and disclosure rules and FOIA exemptions consistently and accurately. The complexity and nature of each request determines the level of review we require. OPD partners with other SSA components to ensure that the records we produce are responsive to our requester's needs.</p>
|
||
<h3>Improvement Initiatives</h3>
|
||
<p>SSA continues to strive to improve our capacity and capability to respond to Privacy Act and FOIA requests. </p>
|
||
<h3>Training</h3>
|
||
<ul type="disc">
|
||
<li>OPD instituted an in-house FOIA/Privacy Act training program for analysts that focuses on various technical, legal, and “hands-on” issues involved in processing requests. Some of these sessions focus on the administrative processes that arise under FOIA and that can cause unnecessary delay in responding. This training provides a formal platform to emphasize the importance of presumptive disclosure, to discuss recent disclosures, and to examine new possibilities for additional disclosures.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul type="disc">
|
||
<li>OPD maintains a strong commitment to encourage and provide staff the opportunity to attend outside FOIA training such as that sponsored by, or with, the Department of Justice, university programs, and not-for-profit organizations. During the course of the last year, we participated in training sessions that included all levels of FOIA, including those that focused on basic FOIA overview, presumptive disclosure, and privacy policy. </li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul type="disc">
|
||
<li>OPD continues to provide Privacy Act and FOIA training at an agency level through our annual PrivacyDay activities and Sunshine Week initiatives.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<h3>Technology</h3>
|
||
<p>OPD maintains a commitment to use technology to enhance our capabilities. In 2017, OPD transitioned to FOIAonline, a browser-based application, to process the agency’s FOIA requests. </p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- end .row-12 -->
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- end #content -->
|
||
|
||
<!-- PAGE FOOTER -->
|
||
<ssa-footer class="print-hide"><noscript><footer class="footer" id="footer" role="contentinfo"><a href="/menu#footer">Footer menu</a></footer></noscript></ssa-footer><script src="https://www.ssa.gov/legacy/components/dist/ssa-footer.js"></script>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- end #page -->
|
||
<!-- OCOMM BODY CONTENT -->
|
||
<!-- SSA INTERNET BODY SCRIPTS -->
|
||
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.body.js"></script>
|
||
</body>
|
||
|
||
</html>
|