Received this alert today on another list.  The information is valid.
The link works.  Fees are doubling or more for some Social Security
record searches beginning 7/1/01. Other types of fees for searches of
records under the Freedom of Information Act are based on the GS level
of the employee who does the search (like that's something the requester
would be able to predict to budget his request!). The only good news is
that the per-page copy charge (once the record is found) remains a very
reasonable ten cents.

The fees appear designed to encourage the requester to accept "computer
extractions" of the Social Security applications. Does anyone know
whether those are imaged records or transcripts?  We all know the
problem with transcripts...that different people can read the same
handwritten name or word differently, especially if they don't know the
family or the area.

"Listers" - please do not respond to the list (or me) to simply chime in
with complaints about the fees, but if you have additional information
(like what a "computer extraction" of a record contains) I'm sure
everyone would appreciate it.

- Rosanna Bencoach


From the Federal website (cited below):

Fees For Processing Requests For Individual’s Social Security Record -
Effective July 1, 2001

Request for copy of Original Application for Social Security Card (Form
SS-5), SSN Provided $27
Request for copy of Original Application for Social Security Card (Form
SS-5), SSN Not Provided $29
Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number Application, SSN
Provided $16
Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number Application, SSN
Not Provided $18
Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN Provided  $16
Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN Not Provided
$18

----<Original message>-----
from another list, but of general interest --

I just thought I would spread the word that the fees for getting a copy
of a Social Security Application are going up drastically on 1 July
2001.  If you apply before then you will be charged the old amount which
is now $7 if you know the number, and $16.50 if you do not.

The new fees are posted at:
http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm

It appears that the increases are more than substantial, they are
gigantic. This means that the time for procrastination is over.

The address you need to send them to is:
Social Security Administration
Office of Central Records Operation
Attention: Freedom of Information Workgroup
PO Box 17772
300 N. Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21290
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