Social Security’s authority to disclose information to an appointed representative is based on the signed form SSA-1696-U4 (Appointment of Representative) or equivalent written statement, and a Privacy Act routine use allowing disclosure to the representative to pursue a claim on the claimant's behalf. Once the representative's services have ended, Social Security’s authority to disclose information without the specific written consent of the claimant also expires. Social Security presumes that a representative's services end at the earliest point that one of the following occurs:

• Social Security has made a determination or decision and issued any required notices, and the appeals period has expired;
• The representative submits a fee petition and declares that his or her services have ended; the claimant advises Social Security that he or she has revoked the representative's authority;
• The representative advises Social Security of withdrawal from the case; or
• A decision by Social Security to suspend or disqualify the representative has become final.