Quote:
Originally Posted by Mz Migraine
Perhaps on permission from your attorney? Is an atty rep you on your appeal? Did you notify your atty of the phone call if you are rep?
In some states, a person and/or company who breaks/does not honor a "Letter Of Representation" can be reported to the State Insurance Commissioner! Those folks do not play! They can make & break companies.  Depending on the case, usually, what happens is that the person who disregarded the LOR is either reprimanded and/or fired along w/their supervisor & the company they work for pays a HUGE fine.
EDIT: I just read your other post & replied.
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There is nothing in the fee agreement (SSA 1696) any prohibition on SSA talking directly to the applicant.
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-1696.pdf
I don't think there is any such prohibition in the regulations either.
Also, SSA is a federal government agency. A State Insurance Commissioner has no authority over a federal agency and cannot impose fines. Federal employees are protected by the Civil Service Act and many belong to the government employees union, AFGE. Employees are not fired for talking to claimants with lawyers.
Lawyers can't answer all questions for you; they don't know your life story including your former employers, your current and former spouses, your living arrangements, the amount of money in your bank. Sure, an attorney can obtain the information and provide it to SSA, but they don't know your life and they cannot file claims without your agreement that is provided to SSA. And they are also not the liable person if you are paid incorrectly based on incorrect information provided. That would be you.