Rules of Conduct and Standards of Responsibility for Appointed Representatives

Individuals appointed to represent claimants before SSA must report to SSA in writing whenever one of the following situations in our revised regulations occurs: • 20 CFR 404.1740(b)(5) and 416.1540(b)(5) – This regulatory section requires representatives to disclose to SSA in writing, at the time a medical or vocational opinion is submitted to SSA, or as soon as the representative is aware of the submission to us, if the representative’s employee or any individual contracting with the representative drafted, prepared, or issued a medical or vocational opinion about a claimant’s disability, or if the representative referred or suggested that the claimant seek an examination from, treatment by, or the assistance of the individual providing opinion evidence; • 20 CFR 404.1740(b)(6) and 416.1540(b)(6) – This regulatory section requires representatives to disclose to SSA immediately if the representative discovers that his or her services are or were used by the claimant to commit fraud against SSA; • 20 CFR 404.1740(b)(7) and 416.1540(b)(7) – This regulatory section requires representatives to disclose to SSA whether the representative is or has been disbarred or suspended from any bar or court to which he or she was previously admitted to practice, including instances in which a bar or court took administrative action to disbar or suspend the representative in lieu of disciplinary proceedings; If the disbarment or suspension occurs after the appointment of the representative, the representative will immediately disclose the disbarment or suspension to SSA; • 20 CFR 404.1740(b)(8) and 416.1540(b)(8) – This regulatory section requires representatives to disclose to SSA whether the representative is or has been disqualified from participating in or appearing before any Federal program or agency, including instances in which a Federal program or agency took administrative action to disqualify the representative in lieu of disciplinary proceedings. If the disqualification occurs after the appointment of the representative, the representative will immediately disclose the disqualification to SSA; and • 20 CFR 404.1740(b)(9) and 416.1540(b)(9) – This regulatory section requires representatives to disclose to SSA whether the representative has been removed from practice or suspended by a professional licensing authority for reasons that reflect on the representative’s character, integrity, judgment, reliability, or fitness to serve as a fiduciary. If the removal or suspension occurs after the appointment of the representative, the representative will immediately disclose the removal or suspension to SSA. A representative’s obligation to report these events is ongoing, and a representative must report any time one or more of these events occurs. We consider this information essential to ensure the integrity of our administrative process and to safeguard the rights of all claimants. Representatives must notify SSA in writing, but there is no prescribed format for these reports. The respondents are individuals appointed to represent claimants before SSA.

The latest form for Rules of Conduct and Standards of Responsibility for Appointed Representatives expires 2021-07-31 and can be found here.

20 CFR 404.1740(b)(5) and 416.1540(b)(5)

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