WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), a fellow Finance Committee member, reintroduced the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act to provide efficient help for Americans whose social security numbers have been stolen.
“Victims of identity theft whose Social Security numbers have been stolen shouldn’t have to deal with a cumbersome and frustrating process to get help from the Social Security Administration,” Hassan said. “This bipartisan legislation is an important way to ensure that Americans whose identities are stolen can access support through a streamlined process and a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration. This is one of the many common-sense proposals in Congress to combat waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds without making it harder for people to access their hard-earned benefits.”
“Millions of Americans suffer from identity theft each year, and Social Security numbers are a top target. Unfortunately, when a victim calls up the Social Security Administration, they can be jerked around from one contact to another, having to reexplain the situation each time. Our bill will help streamline the process by providing a victim of identity theft with a single point of contact at the agency, easing this frustrating and stressful process,” Grassley said.
Background:
Misuse of Social Security numbers is a large problem, and victims who are affected by identity theft face hurdles when trying to resolve issues with large, multi-office agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Currently, a victim may have to engage in multiple procedures and work with numerous representatives at SSA to resolve Social Security related identity-theft issues. The Grassley-Hassan Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act provides a single, focal point of contact at SSA to provide efficient resolution of an identity-theft victim’s issues.
Additional cosponsors include Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.V.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Angus King (I-Maine) and James Lankford (R-Okla.).
The legislation has the endorsement of numerous groups, including: AARP, Social Security Works, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR).
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
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