Hands Off Our Social Security Act — Full text

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hands Off Our Social Security Act.

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to ensure the continued effective operation of the Social Security Administration and to protect Social Security services for all Americans by prohibiting tampering with benefits, unauthorized data mining, privatization efforts, workforce reductions, office closures, and communication changes that hinder access to Social Security benefits.

(a) No Federal officer, special government employee, or contractor shall alter, withhold, or delay Social Security benefits in any manner that is not authorized by law.

(b) Any action to modify Social Security benefits shall require an Act of Congress.

(a) No Federal officer, special government employee, or contractor shall collect, share, or use Social Security data or personally identifiable information of beneficiaries or applicants for any purpose other than administering Social Security programs consistent with existing privacy laws.

(b) Any data mining or use of Social Security or personal data for commercial, political, or unauthorized purposes is prohibited.

(c) Violations of this section shall be subject to investigation and penalties under applicable Federal privacy and data protection laws.

(a) No action shall be taken to privatize, outsource, or otherwise transfer Social Security benefits administration or services to private entities without express approval by an Act of Congress.

(b) The Social Security Administration shall remain a Federal agency responsible for the administration and delivery of Social Security benefits.

(a) No officer or special government employee of the Federal Government shall implement or authorize any reduction in the workforce of the Social Security Administration without approval from an Act of Congress.

(b) Any reduction in SSA staffing levels shall require a detailed report to Congress, including the anticipated impact on service delivery and plans to maintain adequate service levels.

(a) The closure or consolidation of any Social Security Administration office or field office shall be prohibited unless expressly authorized by an Act of Congress.

(b) The SSA shall maintain a minimum number of fully operational field offices in each state proportional to the population served.

(a) The Social Security Administration shall maintain its existing telephone and in-person communication services and ensure its effectiveness as essential channels for beneficiary assistance.

(b) Any changes to communication methods, including use of social media platforms such as Twitter, shall be supplementary and not replace existing official communication channels.

(c) No communication services essential to SSA beneficiaries shall be terminated or diminished without prior approval by an Act of Congress.

(a) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall conduct annual audits of SSA workforce levels, office operations, and communication services to ensure compliance with this Act.

(b) The Comptroller General shall report findings to Congress, including any noncompliance and recommendations for corrective action.

Section 10. Severability

If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof, to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act, and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.