Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative
Official owner Social Security Administration
SSA’s form for appointing or updating a representative for a matter before the agency.
What problem this helps solve
SSA’s form for appointing or updating a representative for a matter before the agency.
Who completes it: The claimant and proposed representative complete their respective sections under SSA’s current instructions.
What this does not prove
This form appoints a representative before SSA. It does not locate one, confirm representation, waive or approve a fee, extend a deadline, or affect the claim outcome.
NOLO source confidence
Official destination checked
SSA’s official form page and December 2024 PDF opened. The PDF states that prior editions are discontinued.
Last checked August 5, 2026. This label describes NOLO’s source knowledge, not agency quality or service availability.
Direct document
Before downloading, confirm the agency, form number, and revision date match the summary below.
Open official documentForm record
- Official title
- Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative
- Form number
- SSA-1696
- Program
- Representation before Social Security
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Revision date
- December 1, 2024
- Who completes it
- The claimant and proposed representative complete their respective sections under SSA’s current instructions.
- Signature
- Both claimant and representative signatures are required under the current appointment instructions; use the electronic or paper workflow as directed.
- Submission methods
- Electronic SSA-1696 started by the representative, Paper form by mail, fax, or delivery to SSA under the current form-page instructions
- Supporting documents
- • Representative registration, qualification, affiliation, and fee information may apply under the current form; general help does not itself create an appointment.
- Languages
- English PDF observed; confirm other language and assistance options with SSA.
- Accessibility
- SSA provides an electronic appointment route; ask SSA for accessible completion assistance when needed.
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Source note: This form appoints a representative before SSA. It does not locate one, confirm representation, waive or approve a fee, extend a deadline, or affect the claim outcome.
NOLO does not process this form, receive your answers, decide eligibility, or represent the agency. A destination check does not confirm current funding, acceptance, or an outcome.
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