FOIA Annual Report Workbook2012-12-05FOIA Annual ReportSSASocial Security Administration201226 U.S.C. 6103, 6105 Certain tax return information and certain tax convention informationChurch of Scientology v. IRS, 484 U.S. 9, 15 (1987) (26 U.S.C. 6103); Pac. Fisheries, Inc. v. IRS, No. 09-35618, 2010 WL 3611645, at *2 (9th Cir. September 15, 2010) (unpublished disposition); Tax Analysts v. IRS, 217 F. Supp. 2d 23, 27-29 (D.D.C. 2002) (26 U.S.C. 6105)44 U.S.C. 3541, et seq. Information security controls and programs that support Federal operations 42 U.S.C. 405®Death certificates and records pertaining to deaths provided to the Commissioner of the Social Security under this subsectionInt'l Diatonmite Producers Ass'n v. SSA, No. 92-1634, 1993 WL 137286, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 28, 1993), appeal dismissed per stipulation, No. 93-16204 (9th Cir. Oct. 27, 1993)73128453132931584590292181485649NoRecords121Withdrawn2FeeRelated51NotDescribed35NotAgency14Duplicate931584N/A00Ex. 2556Ex. 376Ex. 428Ex. 598Ex. 6987Ex. 7(A)12Ex. 7(C)41Ex. 7(D)6Ex. 7(E)577Ex. 7(F)3We received numerous additional FOIA requests in FY2011 due to a change in the agency's procedure to not include the assigned administrative law judge's (ALJ) name on notices to claimants. We used Exemption 2 to withhold the names of ALJs presiding over Social Security hearings.As noted above, we received numerous additional FOIA requests in FY2011 due to a change in the agency's procedure to not include the assigned ALJ's name on notices to claimants. We also used Exemption 7 (E) to withhold the names of ALJs presiding over Social Security hearings.1486784437The number of appeals received and processed in FY2011 increased significantly due to a change in two procedures and policies. Specifically, withholding parents' names on Social Security number application (SS-5) requests led to an increase in appeals. In addition, withholding the names of ALJs in hearings notices also led to an increase in appeals.In response to the increase in appeals regarding SS-5s and ALJ names, we created template language for these requests and processed the vast majority of them.394723780844The overall number of appeals increased from FY2011 to FY2012. Accordingly, the number of completely reversed/remanded appeals also increased where requestors provided additional death information on appeal, thus enabling us to release parents' names on SS-5s.Ex. 2162Ex. 31Ex. 519Ex. 6336Ex. 7(E)159The overall number of appeals increased from FY2011 to FY2012. Accordingly, the number of completely reversed/remanded appeals also increased where requestors provided additional death information on appeal, thus enabling us to release parents' names on SS-5s.NoRecords47The number of denials on appeal increased from FY2011 to FY2012 because of the increase in SS-5 appeals we received. We were unable to locate records for these appeals because the requestor either did not provide enough information regarding the subject, or the subject never applied for Social Security benefits.000202623102012-05-151012012-06-07842012-06-14792012-06-20752012-06-29702012-07-09622012-07-18552012-07-20532012-07-26492012-08-02441219325741571298SSA grants expedited processing if the request involves an imminent threat to a person's life or physical safety; if a member of the media makes the request to obtain information that the public has an urgent need to know and the records would cover an actual or an alleged Federal Government activity; or if the invdividual explains in detail that he or she may be denied a legal right, benefit, or remedy without the requested information.14253257405532981-202804021-40218141-6040861-8020581-100195101-120124121-1401141-1601161-1800181-2000201-3001301-4000401+0311561-2011121-4011041-606461-805181-10028101-12015121-14015141-16015161-1800181-2006201-30013301-4000401+04281-20021-40041-60061-80081-1000101-1200121-1400141-1600161-1800181-2000201-3000301-4000401+0063191448255002011-11-042382011-11-162302012-01-191842012-02-011752012-03-011542012-03-061512012-04-161222012-05-071072012-05-151012012-05-29910000031188We review requests for fee waivers on a case-by-case basis. Only the SSA FOI Officer may waive or reduce a fee in excess of $7.50. We usually grant a fee waiver when we determine that furnishing the information will primarily benefit the public. We normally grant fee waivers for members of the media and educational and scientific institutions when we need only limited search time to respond.3641774368669840804452749609948.110.13963015011032456313293244531584383098867100844715