Appointment of Representative

Recipients use Form SSA-1696 to appoint a representative to handle their claim before SSA. Recipients’ representatives use the Form SSA-1696 to indicate whether they will charge a fee, and, if so, specify their eligibility for direct fee payment. The representatives also use Form SSA 1696 to indicate their disbarment or suspension from a court or bar in which they previously admitted to practice, or their disqualification from participating in or appearing before a Federal program or agency. SSA recognizes the recipient’s representative as the individual named in a notice of appointment (or written statement), which the recipient signed and filed at an SSA office. The SSA 1696 (or written statement) documents the appointment of a representative. We also use this form to collect the business affiliation and EIN of the representatives. Our regulations also require that if the representative is a non attorney, they must sign the form or equivalent written statement. In addition, respondents use the SSA 1696-SUP1 to revoke their appointment of a representative, and representatives use the SSA 1696-SUP2 to withdraw their acceptance of the appointment. SSA uses this information to document the revocation and withdrawal of a representative. Respondents are applicants for, or recipients of, Social Security disability benefits (SSDI); SSI payments; or anyone pursuing a benefit or invoking a right under SSA programs, who are notifying SSA they have appointed a person to represent them in their dealings with SSA, and their non attorney representatives who need to sign the form.

The latest form for Appointment of Representative expires 2026-07-31 and is listed under ICR 202203-0960-001.

Appointment of Representative - SSA-1696 and SSA-1696-App

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Income Security - General Retirement and Disability

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