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Penalties for Violations

The SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) can impose civil monetary penalties against those who violate Section 1140. The penalty rate, which is adjusted each year for inflation, is currently set at $13,132 for each violative communication. If the violation is in the form of a generally aired broadcast the penalty rate is $65,653 per airing.

For example, if the violative communication is in the form of a postal mailing or website, each piece of mail or each viewing of the website is subject to a separate penalty. Likewise, each violative sale of a SSA form or publication or each charging of a fee for a free SSA service, is subject to a separate penalty. Each viewing of a YouTube or other Internet video is considered a separate violation and is subject to a penalty up to $13,132.

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