113 STAT. 1912
PUBLIC LAW 106-170—DEC. 17, 1999
reimbursement for such assessment from the claimant whose
claim gave rise to the assessment.
"(5) DISPOSITION OF ASSESSMENTS. —Assessments on attorneys collected under this subsection shall be credited to the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the
Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as appropriate.
"(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—The assessments
authorized under this section shall be collected and available
for obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided
in advance in appropriations Acts. Amounts so appropriated
are authorized to remain available until expended, for administrative expenses in carrying out this title and related laws.".
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(A) Section 206(a)(4)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
406(a)(4)(A)) is amended by inserting "and subsection (d)"
after "subparagraph (B)".
(B) Section 206(b)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
406(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ", but subject to subsection (d) of this section" after "section 205(i)".
(b) ELIMINATION OF 15-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR PAYMENT
OF FEES. — Section 206(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(4)), as
amended by subsection (a)(2)(A) of this section, is amended—
(1) by striking "(4)(A)" and inserting "(4)";
(2) by striking "subparagraph (B) and"; and
(3) by striking subparagraph (B).
42 USC 406 note.
(c) GAG STUDY AND REPORT.—
(1) STUDY.— The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study that—
(A) examines the costs incurred by the Social Security
Administration in administering the provisions of subsection (a)(4) and (b)(1) of section 206 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 406) and itemizes the components of such
costs, including the costs of determining fees to attorneys
from the past-due benefits of claimants before the Commissioner of Social Security and of certif5ang such fees;
(B) identifies efficiencies that the Social Security
Administration could implement to reduce such costs;
(C) examines the feasibility and advisability of linking
the payment of, or the amount of, the assessment under
section 206(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406(d))
to the timeliness of the payment of the fee to the attorney
as certified by the Commissioner of Social Security pursuant to subsection (a)(4) or (b)(1) of section 206 of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 406);
(D) determines whether the provisions of subsection
(a)(4) and (b)(1) of section 206 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
406) should be applied to claimants under title XVI of
such Act (42 U.S.C 1381 et seq.);
(E) determines the feasibility and advisability of
stating fees under section 206(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
406(d)) in terms of a fixed dollar amount as opposed to
a percentage;
(F) determines whether the dollar limit specified in
section 206(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
406(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II)) should be raised; and
(G) determines whether the assessment on attorneys
required under section 206(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(d))
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