Appoint a Representative with SSA (Form SSA-1696)

Who qualifies

Any claimant or beneficiary with an active or pending Social Security case who wants an authorized person or attorney to act on their behalf before the SSA.

The step-by-step roadmap

1. 1

   Identify Your Representative

   Choose an attorney or eligible non-attorney who agrees to represent you before the Social Security Administration.

   Watch out: Your representative must be an individual person, not an organization or law firm name.

   Common rejection reason: Listing a business entity instead of an individual representative.
2. 2

   Complete Claimant & Representative Info

   Provide personal identifying details, claim type, and contact information for both you and your representative.

   Watch out: Ensure Social Security numbers and phone numbers match official records exactly.

   Common rejection reason: Mismatched SSN or missing claim identifier numbers.
3. 3

   Declare Fee Arrangements

   Specify whether the representative will charge a fee or waives all compensation for their services.

   Watch out: If a fee is expected, an approved SSA fee petition or agreement must follow.

   Common rejection reason: Conflicting fee declarations or leaving the fee waiver section blank.
4. 4

   Sign and Submit to SSA

   Both you and your appointed representative must sign and date the form before filing online or at a local office.

   Watch out: The appointment is not valid until both parties sign.

   Common rejection reason: Missing representative signature or signature dates over 60 days apart.

Documents you'll need

• Government-Issued Photo ID

  State ID, driver's license, or U.S. passport to verify identity.

  Note: Must be valid and unexpired.

• Social Security Number Records

  SSN verification for both the claimant and the representative.

• Written Fee Agreement

  Signed contract outlining fee terms if representative charges for representation.

  Note: Required only if a fee is being charged.