Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act

Key Points

• The bill would bar political appointees and special government employees from accessing Social Security systems that hold beneficiary records, including Social Security numbers, benefit payment data, and disability files.
• Anyone whose Social Security data is improperly accessed or shared could sue for at least $5,000 per violation, or more if the person can show actual damages, and even more if the violation was willful or grossly negligent.
• The Social Security Administration would have to notify individuals if their information was accessed or disclosed unlawfully, including the date of the incident and their legal rights.
• The SSA Inspector General would be required to investigate every violation and report details to Congress within 30 days, including any risk to privacy, national security, or benefit payments.
• Current federal privacy regulations for Social Security records, as they existed on January 19, 2025, would be locked into law so they can't be easily rolled back through regulatory changes alone.
• The Government Accountability Office would have to study how the new rules are working and report to Congress within a year, with monthly interim updates until then.