Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act in plain language
1: Short title
This section would allow the Act to be called the "Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act."
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act .
2: Single point of contact for identity theft victims
This section would add a new section 714 to title VII of the Social Security Act. It would require the Commissioner of Social Security to set up and carry out procedures so that any individual whose social security account number has been misused is given a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration for the whole time the individual's case is being worked on. The misuse could include using the number to fraudulently get benefits under title II, VIII, or XVI of the Social Security Act, affecting the individual's records at the Social Security Administration in some other way, or leading the individual to ask for a new social security account number. The single point of contact would track the individual's case until it is finished and would coordinate with other units at the agency to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. The single point of contact would be a team or group of specially trained employees who can coordinate with other units to resolve the issues in the individual's case and who stay responsible for the case until it is resolved. The specific employees on that team could change over time as needed to meet the Social Security Administration's needs, but only if the agency has set up procedures to keep the case's records and history continuous and to notify the individual when appropriate. The amendment adding this new section would take effect 180 days after the Act is enacted.
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2. Single point of contact for identity theft victims (a) In general Title VII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 901 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 714. Single point of contact for identity theft victims (a) In general The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and implement procedures to ensure that any individual whose social security account number has been misused (such as to fraudulently obtain benefits under title II, VIII, or XVI of this Act, or in a manner that affects an individual’s records at the Social Security Administration, or in a manner that prompts the individual to request a new social security account number) has a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration throughout the resolution of the individual’s case. The single point of contact shall track the individual’s case to completion and coordinate with other units to resolve issues as quickly as possible. (b) Single point of contact (1) In general For purposes of subsection (a), the single point of contact shall consist of a team or subset of specially trained employees who— (A) have the ability to coordinate with other units to resolve the issues involved in the individual's case, and (B) shall be accountable for the case until its resolution. (2) Team or subset The employees included within the team or subset described in paragraph (1) may change as required to meet the needs of the Social Security Administration, provided that procedures have been established to— (A) ensure continuity of records and case history, and (B) notify the individual when appropriate. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.