Notice2025-15844
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
Primary source
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Published
August 20, 2025
Effective
September 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify an existing system of records entitled, Administrative Law Judge/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints System (60-0356), last published on February 10, 2010. This notice publishes details of the modified system as set forth below under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 159 (Wednesday, August 20, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40694-40696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15844]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2025-0017]
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing
public notice of our intent to modify an existing system of records
entitled, Administrative Law Judge/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints
System (60-0356), last published on February 10, 2010. This notice
publishes details of the modified system as set forth below under the
caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
DATES: The system of records notice (SORN) is applicable upon its
publication in today's Federal Register, with the exception of the new
routine uses, which are effective September 19, 2025.
We invite public comment on the routine uses or other aspects of
this SORN. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are providing
the public a 30-day period in which to submit comments. Therefore,
please submit any comments by September 19, 2025.
ADDRESSES: The public, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and
Congress may comment on this publication by writing to the Executive
Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General
Counsel, SSA, Room G-401 West High Rise, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, or through the Federal e-Rulemaking
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Please reference docket number
SSA-2025-0017. All comments we receive will be available for public
inspection at the above address and we will post them to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tristin Dorsey, Government Information
Specialist, Privacy Implementation Division, Office of Privacy and
Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, SSA, Room G-401 West High
Rise, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401,
telephone: (410) 966-5855, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81cec6c2afced1c5afd2ced3cfc1f2f2e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="59161e1a7716091d770a160b17192a2a38773e362f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are updating the system location and
manager to reflect the accurate SSA office. We are revising the
purpose, categories of individuals, and existing routine use Nos. 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 for easier reading.
In addition, we are revising the categories of records and policies
and practices for the retrieval of records to remove gender references,
in compliance with Executive Order 14168, Defending Women from Gender
Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal
Government. We are revising the policies and practices for the
retention and disposal of records to reflect the accurate records
schedule.
Lastly, we are modifying the administrative, technical, and
physical safeguards for easier reading. We are modifying the notice
throughout to correct miscellaneous stylistic formatting and
typographical errors of the previously published notice, and to ensure
the language reads consistently across multiple systems. We are
republishing the entire notice for ease of reference.
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), we have provided a report to
OMB and Congress on this modified system of records.
Matthew Ramsey,
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the
General Counsel.
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
Administrative Law Judge/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints
System (ALJ/PAMC), 60-0356.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
Unclassified.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
All SSA Office of Hearings Operations regional offices and the
Office of Chief Administrative Law Judge (See Appendix F at <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/privacy/sorn/app_f.htm">https://www.ssa.gov/privacy/sorn/app_f.htm</a> for hearings and appeals addresses).
SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
Social Security Administration, Deputy Commissioner for Disability
[[Page 40695]]
Adjudication, Office of Hearings Operations, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, (410) 966-5855.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
Sections 205 and 1631(d)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended.
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
We use the information in this system of records to manage,
monitor, and respond to complaints filed against ALJs. We will also use
the information to process, review, or investigate complaints filed;
improve customer service; reduce manual work; and identify patterns of
improper ALJ behavior that may require further review and action, and
may assist SSA in deterring recurring incidences of ALJ bias or
misconduct.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
This system maintains information on ALJs accused of misconduct or
bias in connection with processing a claimant's case and the claimant
who was the subject of the alleged misconduct or bias. If the
claimant's advocate or representative files a complaint that an ALJ is
biased against them, it may also cover a claimant's advocate or
representative.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
This system maintains records on the complainant and their advocate
or representative. This includes, but is not limited to name, Social
Security number (SSN), date of birth, address, relevant claims-related
information, sex, and race and ethnicity (if provided and is a basis
for the complaint).
This system maintains records on the ALJ associated with the
complaint, including, but not limited to name, ALJ assigned number, and
internal agency tracking and control log numbers.
This system also maintains records on complaints filed against
ALJs; information gathered in processing, reviewing, or investigating
such complaints; results of the review or investigation; case analyses;
information related to the hearings office, regional office, and the
ALJ's duty station; information related to the alleged complaint; the
Federal court, if a complaint is raised at the Federal court level; and
copies of relevant correspondence.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
We obtain information in this system from the complaint filed by
the claimant or their advocate or representative, if any; a
congressional office regarding a claimant and a particular ALJ;
documentation that SSA develops during our review or investigation of a
complaint; and SSA's Appeals Council.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
We will disclose records pursuant to the following routine uses;
however, we will not disclose any information defined as ``return or
return information'' under 26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code
(IRC), unless authorized by a statute, the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS), or IRS regulations.
1. To the Office of the President, in response to an inquiry from
that office made on behalf of, and at the request of, the subject of
the record or a third party acting on the subject's behalf.
2. To a congressional office in response to an inquiry from that
office made on behalf of, and at the request of, the subject of the
record.
3. To the Department of Justice (DOJ), a court or other tribunal,
or another party before such court or tribunal, when:
(a) SSA, or any component thereof; or
(b) any SSA employee in the employee's official capacity; or
(c) any SSA employee in the employee's individual capacity where
DOJ (or SSA, where it is authorized to do so) has agreed to represent
the employee; or
(d) the United States or any agency thereof where we determine the
litigation is likely to affect SSA or any of its components, SSA is a
party to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and SSA
determines that the use of such records by DOJ, a court or other
tribunal, or another party before the tribunal is relevant and
necessary to the litigation, provided, however, that in each case, we
determine that such disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which
the records were collected.
4. To student volunteers, individuals working under a personal
services contract, and other workers who technically do not have the
status of Federal employees, when they are performing work for us, as
authorized by law, and they need access to personally identifiable
information (PII) in our records in order to perform their assigned
agency functions.
5. To the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, when requested
in connection with an investigation into alleged or possible
discriminatory practices in the Federal sector, examination of Federal
affirmative employment programs, compliance by Federal agencies with
Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, or other functions
vested in the Commission.
6. To the Federal Labor Relations Authority, its General Counsel,
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Federal Service
Impasses Panel, or an arbitrator when information is requested in
connection with investigations of allegations of unfair practices,
matters before an arbitrator or the Federal Service Impasses Panel.
7. To the Office of Personnel Management, the Merit Systems
Protection Board, or the Office of the Special Counsel, when they
request information in connection with appeals, special studies of the
civil service and other merit systems, review of those agencies' rules
and regulations, investigation of alleged or possible prohibited
personnel practices, and for other such functions of these agencies as
may be authorized by law.
8. To Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and
private security contractors, as appropriate, information necessary:
(a) to enable them to ensure the safety of our employees and
customers, the security of our workplace, and the operation of our
facilities; or
(b) to assist investigations or prosecutions with respect to
activities that affect such safety and security or activities that
disrupt the operation of our facilities.
9. To contractors and other Federal agencies, as necessary, for
assisting SSA in the efficient administration of its programs. We will
disclose information under this routine use only in situations in which
SSA may enter into a contractual or similar agreement with a third
party to assist in accomplishing an agency function relating to this
system of records.
10. To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when:
(a) SSA suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of
the system of records;
(b) SSA has determined that, as a result of the suspected or
confirmed breach, there is a risk of harm to individuals, SSA
(including its information systems, programs, and operations), the
Federal Government, or national security; and
(c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is
reasonably necessary to assist in connection with SSA's efforts to
respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize,
or remedy such harm.
11. To an appropriate licensing organization or Bar association
responsible for investigating,
[[Page 40696]]
prosecuting, enforcing or implementing standards for maintaining a
professional licensing or Bar membership, if SSA becomes aware of a
violation or potential violation of professional licensing or Bar
association requirements.
12. To a Federal, State, or local agency maintaining civil,
criminal, or other relevant enforcement records or other pertinent
records, such as current licenses, if necessary, to obtain a record
relevant to an Agency decision concerning the hiring or retention of an
employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the awarding of a
contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit.
13. To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C.
chapter 71 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive
representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters
affecting conditions of employment.
14. To the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
15. To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when we determine
that information from this system of records is reasonably necessary to
assist the recipient agency or entity in:
(a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach; or
(b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to
individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information
systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national
security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
We maintain records in this system in paper and electronic form.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
We will retrieve records by the name of the ALJ (who is the subject
of the complaint), the ALJ's assigned numerical identifier, and the
hearings or regional office where the ALJ is stationed; the claimant's
name, SSN, date of birth, address, sex, and race or ethnic background,
if the information is available; the advocate or representative's name
(if any) and any other identifiable information pertaining to the
complaint filed; tracking number and complaint/claims-related
information; the congressional office associated with the complaint;
and Appeals Council code.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
In accordance with NARA rules codified at 36 CFR 1225.16, we
maintain records in accordance with approved NARA General Records
Schedule 4.1, item 150.
ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
We retain electronic and paper files containing personal
identifiers in secure storage areas accessible only by authorized
individuals, including our employees and contractors, who have a need
for the information when performing their official duties. Security
measures include, but are not limited to, the use of codes and
profiles, personal identification numbers and passwords, and personal
identification verification cards. We restrict access to specific
correspondence within the system based on assigned roles and authorized
users. We use audit mechanisms to record sensitive transactions as an
additional measure to protect information from unauthorized disclosure
or modification.
We annually provide authorized individuals, including our employees
and contractors, with appropriate security awareness training that
includes reminders about the need to protect PII and the criminal
penalties that apply to unauthorized access to, or disclosure of, PII
(5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1)). Furthermore, authorized individuals with access
to databases maintaining PII must annually sign a sanctions document
that acknowledges their accountability for inappropriately accessing or
disclosing such information.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Individuals may submit requests for information about whether this
system contains a record about them by submitting a written request to
the system manager at the above address, which includes their name,
SSN, or other information that may be in this system of records that
will identify them. Individuals requesting notification of, or access
to, a record by mail must include: (1) a notarized statement to us to
verify their identity; or (2) must certify in the request that they are
the individual they claim to be and that they understand that the
knowing and willful request for, or acquisition of, a record pertaining
to another individual under false pretenses is a criminal offense.
Individuals requesting notification of, or access to, records in
person must provide their name, SSN, or other information that may be
in this system of records that will identify them, as well as provide
an identity document, preferably with a photograph, such as a driver's
license. Individuals lacking identification documents sufficient to
establish their identity must certify in writing that they are the
individual they claim to be and that they understand that the knowing
and willful request for, or acquisition of, a record pertaining to
another individual under false pretenses is a criminal offense.
These procedures are in accordance with our regulations at 20 CFR
401.40 and 401.45.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Same as record access procedures. Individuals should also
reasonably identify the record, specify the information they are
contesting, and state the corrective action sought and the reasons for
the correction with supporting justification showing how the record is
incomplete, untimely, inaccurate, or irrelevant. These procedures are
in accordance with our regulations at 20 CFR 401.65(a).
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Same as records access procedures. These procedures are in
accordance with our regulations at 20 CFR 401.40 and 401.45.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
73 FR 8171 (February 23, 2010), Administrative Law Judge/Public
Alleged Misconduct Complaints.
83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018), Administrative Law Judge/Public
Alleged Misconduct Complaints.
[FR Doc. 2025-15844 Filed 8-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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