Number:  114-15
Date:  October 4, 2016

House Passes H.R. 3779,
the Social Security Fraud Prevention Act of 2016

On September 26, 2016, the House passed H.R. 3779, the Social Security Fraud Prevention Act of 20161, under suspension of the rules.  The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.  The bill would restrict the inclusion of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) on documents sent by mail by the Federal Government. 

H.R. 3779, as passed, includes the following provisions of interest to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Restriction of SSNs on Documents Sent by Mail

• Would provide that no department or agency of the Federal Government may include SSNs on documents sent by mail unless the head of that department or agency determines inclusion of the number is necessary.

Regulations

• Would require each department and agency head to issue regulations, not later than 1 year after enactment, specifying the circumstances under which inclusion of the SSN is necessary on a mailed document.  These regulations would include:
  
  
  • instructions for partial redaction of the SSN where feasible; and
  • a requirement that the SSN not be visible on the outside of any mail.

Effective Date

• Would be effective for documents sent by mail on or after the date that is 1 year after date of enactment.

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1 This bill is similar to H.R. 5320, the MAIL Act.  See Legislative Bulletin 114-14.