Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration

Form SSA-827 is the medical release that lets SSA and the state Disability Determination Services collect the evidence your claim depends on. By signing it, you authorize your doctors, hospitals, clinics, psychologists, schools, employers, and other record holders to disclose your health and related information to SSA for use in deciding your claim. The authorization covers all medical records, including mental health, substance use, and HIV-related information, along with education and vocational records. Without a valid SSA-827 on file, providers cannot legally release your records, and a claim with no obtainable evidence is routinely denied for insufficient documentation, so this short form is one of the most important in the entire process.

Sign the SSA-827 when you file your application; the online process allows electronic signature, and paper filers sign in ink without altering the pre-printed language, since edits can make the release invalid and stall record requests. Only your signature and date are required, plus a witness in limited situations, such as when you sign by mark. A parent signs for a minor child, and a legal guardian or representative payee may sign for an adult who cannot. The authorization generally remains valid for 12 months, so long-running claims and appeals often require a fresh copy; sign new ones promptly when DDS or the hearing office asks. You may revoke the authorization in writing at any time, but doing so usually forces SSA to decide the claim on an incomplete record.