Question 1

How long is Form SSA-827 valid?

Accepted Answer

12 months from the date you sign it. It covers records created before you sign and during the following 12 months.

Question 2

Does the SSA-827 need a witness?

Accepted Answer

No, unless you sign with a mark instead of your signature or a particular source requires one. Federal law doesn't require a witness.

Question 3

Why did Social Security send me another SSA-827?

Accepted Answer

A new one is needed at each level of your claim and whenever the old one is about to expire after 12 months. Some states and providers also require a separate form naming them.

Question 4

Can I sign Form SSA-827 online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Adults filing their own disability application or appeal online can sign it by clicking submit, and you can also complete or upload it from Social Security's forms page after signing in.

Question 5

Will my therapy notes be released?

Accepted Answer

Psychotherapy notes, a therapist's separate notes about the content of sessions, are excluded. The rest of your mental health record, such as diagnosis, symptoms, treatment and progress, is released.

Question 6

Can my representative sign the SSA-827 for me?

Accepted Answer

Not on the basis of being your appointed representative or payee. A parent of a minor, a legal guardian, or a personal representative with health care authority under state law can sign.

Question 7

What happens if I don't sign the SSA-827?

Accepted Answer

Social Security may not be able to get your records, and after a deadline and a follow-up, it can decide your claim on the evidence it has, which may mean a denial.

Letters, Notices & Forms

What Is Form SSA-827, and Do You Have to Sign It?