Notice2024-30543

Rate for Assessment on Direct Payment of Fees to Representatives in 2025

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
December 23, 2024

Issuing agencies

Social Security Administration

Abstract

We are announcing the assessment percentage rate under the Social Security Act (Act) is 6.3 percent for 2025.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 246 (Monday, December 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104601-104602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30543]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2024-0041]


Rate for Assessment on Direct Payment of Fees to Representatives 
in 2025

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are announcing the assessment percentage rate under the 
Social Security Act (Act) is 6.3 percent for 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mona B. Ahmed, Associate General 
Counsel for Program Law, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security 
Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. 
Phone: (410) 965-0600, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#15587a7b743b547d787071556666743b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fd2f0f1feb1def7f2fafbdfececfeb1f8f0e9">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A claimant may appoint a qualified 
individual as a representative to act on their behalf in matters before 
the Social Security Administration (SSA). If the claimant is entitled 
to past-due benefits and was represented either by an attorney or by a 
non-attorney representative who has met certain prerequisites, the Act 
provides that we shall withhold up to 25 percent of the past-due 
benefits and use that money to pay the representative's approved fee 
directly to the representative.
    When we pay the representative's authorized fee directly to the 
representative, we must collect from that fee payment an assessment to 
recover the costs we incur in determining and paying representatives' 
fees. The Act provides that the assessment we collect will be the 
lesser of two amounts: a specified dollar limit; or the amount 
determined by multiplying the fee we are paying by the assessment 
percentage rate. (Sections 206(d), 206(e), and 1631(d)(2) of the Act, 
42 U.S.C. 406(d), 406(e), and 1383(d)(2).)
    The Act initially set the dollar limit at $75 in 2004 and provides 
that the limit will be adjusted annually based on changes in the cost-
of-living. (Sections 206(d)(2)(A) and 1631(d)(2)(C)(ii)(I) of the Act, 
42 U.S.C. 406(d)(2)(A) and 1383(d)(2)(C)(ii)(I).) The maximum dollar 
limit for the assessment currently is $120, as we announced in the 
Federal Register on October 25, 2024 (89 FR 85276).
    The Act requires us each year to set the assessment percentage rate 
at the lesser of 6.3 percent or the percentage rate necessary to 
achieve full recovery of the costs we incur to determine and pay

[[Page 104602]]

representatives' fees. (Sections 206(d)(2)(B)(ii) and 
1631(d)(2)(C)(ii)(II) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 406(d)(2)(B)(ii) and 
1383(d)(2)(C)(ii)(II).)
    Based on the best available data, we have determined that the 
current rate of 6.3 percent will continue for 2025. We will continue to 
review our costs for these services on a yearly basis.

Sean Brune,
Deputy Commissioner, for Budget, Finance, and Management, Social 
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-30543 Filed 12-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on December 23, 2024.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.