Editorial Notes
Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–74, § 813(b)(3), inserted before period at end of concluding provisions “, except that in the case of a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this subchapter (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or former employee of the Social Security Administration), or who is a physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such determination, such person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined under title 18, or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 114–74, § 813(a)(3), added par. (5).

2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–203, § 209(c)(2), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–203, § 209(c)(1), (3), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c), struck out “(2)” before “Any person”, and struck out par (1) which read as follows: “If a person or entity violates subsection (a) of this section in the person’s or entity’s role as, or in applying to become, a representative payee under section 1383(a)(2) of this title on behalf of another individual (other than the person’s eligible spouse), and the violation includes a willful misuse of funds by the person or entity, the court may also require that full or partial restitution of funds be made to such other individual.”

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–296, § 206(c)(1), inserted closing provisions and struck out former closing provisions which read as follows: “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–296, § 206(c)(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows:

“(b)(1) Any person or other entity who is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) of this section, if such violation is committed by such person or entity in his role as, or in applying to become, a payee under section 1383(a)(2) of this title on behalf of another individual (other than such person’s eligible spouse), in lieu of the penalty set forth in subsection (a) of this section—

“(A) upon his first such conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both; and

“(B) upon his second or any subsequent such conviction, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

“(2) In any case in which the court determines that a violation described in paragraph (1) includes a willful misuse of funds by such person or entity, the court may also require that full or partial restitution of such funds be made to the individual for whom such person or entity was the certified payee.

“(3) Any person or entity convicted of a felony under this section or under section 408 of this title may not be certified as a payee under section 1383(a)(2) of this title.”

1984—Pub. L. 98–460 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–203 applicable with respect to violations occurring on or after Mar. 2, 2004, see section 209(d) of Pub. L. 108–203, set out as a note under section 408 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–296, title II, § 206(c)(3), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1514, provided that: “The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to conduct occurring on or after October 1, 1994.”

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–460 effective Oct. 9, 1984, and applicable with respect to violations occurring on or after such date, see section 16(d) of Pub. L. 98–460, set out as a note under section 405 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 92–603, title III, § 301, Oct. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 1465, provided that this section is effective Jan. 1, 1974.

Application to Northern Mariana Islands

For applicability of this section to the Northern Mariana Islands, see section 502(a)(1) of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America and Proc. No. 4534, Oct. 24, 1977, 42 F.R. 6593, set out as notes under section 1801 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

Puerto Rico, Guam, and Virgin Islands

Enactment of provisions of Pub. L. 92–603, eff. Jan. 1, 1974, not applicable to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, see section 303(b) of Pub. L. 92–603, set out as a note under section 301 of this title.