The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced significant updates to its procedures for processing subpoenas and court orders, effective May 27, 2026. These revisions aim to clarify existing policies and reflect current agency business processes following an internal reorganization.
Key changes include the deletion of several outdated procedural points from GN 03330.010 B, such as those concerning unspecified recipients, records in other offices, receipt by Teleservice Centers, and Disability Determination Service (DDS) jurisdiction. The SSA also updated office names and removed references to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), emphasizing its status as an independent agency since 1994.
Further clarifications specify that all subpoenas and court orders received by mail must now be forwarded to Program, Fiscal, and Disclosure Law (PFDL). For matters involving Medicare information, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should be consulted. Additionally, the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) jurisdiction has been refined, directing DDS-related inquiries and non-Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level cases to PFDL. Advice regarding personnel information will now be sought from the HR Front Office. These updates streamline the handling of legal requests across the agency.