Welcome to our blog, where today we’ll discuss the procedure for assessing and collecting fees when providing records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/402/402-0180.htm
Let’s go through the process step by step.
1. Initial Request and Fee Agreement When you send a request, we’ll assume you agree to pay for the required services. You may set a spending limit, and we’ll notify you if the cost exceeds that limit. Generally, we’ll inform you of the exact or estimated charge before starting work on your request.
2. Past Due Fees and Large Requests If you have unpaid past bills or if your request’s estimated fees exceed $250, we may require payment of past due fees, estimated fees, or a deposit before starting the search. Administrative time limits will begin only after we reach a payment agreement or decide on a fee waiver or reduction.
3. Payment Before Record Delivery Normally, you’ll need to pay all fees before we furnish the records. However, at our discretion, we may send you a bill along with or after providing the records, especially if you have a history of prompt payment.
4. Aggregating Charges We may aggregate charges for specific time periods to avoid sending numerous small bills to frequent requesters or their representatives. For example, we might send a monthly bill.
5. Payment Method Fees should be paid as instructed by the person responding to your requests. Payments must be made via check or money order, payable to “Social Security Administration.”
That’s it for our breakdown of the procedure for assessing and collecting fees for FOIA records. Stay tuned for more informative posts on a variety of topics!