Adds subsection (h), titled “Access by political appointees and special government employees,” to section 1106 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1306).

Notwithstanding any other subsection, an individual who is a political appointee (as defined in section 4(a) of the Edward ‘Ted’ Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015) or a special government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code) may not access a beneficiary data system. The provision appears as new subsection (h)(1).

Defines the term “beneficiary data system” to mean a system maintained by the Social Security Administration for administering the Social Security Act that: (A) issues or records social security account numbers; (B) is used to determine eligibility for benefits under the Act; (C) is used to pay benefits under the Act; or (D) otherwise contains personally identifiable information about individuals receiving or applying for a benefit under the Act. It explicitly lists covered systems including: (i) the Master Files of Social Security Number Holders and SSN Applications (Numident); (ii) the Master Beneficiary Record; (iii) the Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits; (iv) the National Disability Determination Services File; (v) the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System; and (vi) any other system accessible through the Enterprise Data Warehouse. This appears as new subsection (h)(2).

Adds a new subsection (i) to Section 1106 of the Social Security Act creating civil penalties and related rules for unauthorized access or disclosure of information in violation of subsection (a) or (h).

If any officer or employee of the United States negligently discloses or accesses any information that pertains to an individual in violation of subsection (a) or (h), the individual may bring a civil action for damages against the United States in a United States district court.