Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 86.djvu/1519

 86 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 92-603-OCT. 30, 1972

that they are of good character and in good repute, possessed of the necessary qualifications to enable them to render such claimants valuable service, and otherwise competent to advise and assist such claimants in the presentation of their cases. An attorney in good standing who is admitted to practice before the highest court of the State, Territory, District, or insular possession of his residence or before the Supreme Court of the United States or the inferior Federal courts, shall be entitled to represent claimants before the Secretary. The Secretary may, after due notice and opportunity for hearing, suspend or prohibit from further practice before him any such person, agent, or attorney who refuses to comply with the Secretary's rules and regulations or who violates any provision of this paragraph for which a penalty is prescribed. The Secretary may, by rule and regulation, prescribe the maximum fees which may be charged for services performed in connection with any claim before the Secretary under this title, and any agreement in violation of such rules and r e f l a t i o n s shall be void. Any person who shall, with intent to defraud, m any manner willfully and knowingly deceive, mislead, or threaten any claimant or prospective claimant or beneficiary under this title by word, circular, letter, or advertisement, or who shall knowingly charge or collect directly or indirectly any fee in excess of the maximum fee, or make any agreement directly or indirectly to charge or collect any fee in excess of the maximum fee, prescribed by the Secretary, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall for each offense be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. "Applications and Furnishing of Information " (e)(1)(A) The Secretary shall, subject to subparagraph (B), prescribe such requirements with respect to the filing of applications, the suspension or termination of assistance, the furnishing of other data and material, and the reporting of events and changes in circumstances, as may be necessary for the effective and efficient administration of this title. " (B) The requirements prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall require that eligibility for benefits under this title will not be determined solely on the basis of declarations by the applicant concerning eligibility factors or other relev^ant facts, and that relevant information will be verified from independent or collateral sources and additional information obtained as necessary in order to assure that such benefits are only provided to eligible individuals (or eligible spouses) and that the amounts of such benefits are correct. "(2) I n case of the failure by any individual to submit a report of events and changes in circumstances relevant to eligibility for or amount of benefits under this title as required by the Secretary under paragraph (1), or delay by any individual in submitting a report as so required, the Secretary (in addition to taking any other action he may consider appropriate under paragraph (1)) shall reduce any benefits which may subsequently become payable to such individual under this title by— " (A) $25 in the case of the first such failure or delay, " (B) $50 in the case of the second such failure or delay, and " (C) $100 in the case of the third or a subsequent such failure or delay, except where the individual was without fault or good cause for such failure or delay existed.

1477

Offenses and penalties.

Requirements.

Benefits, feduc-

�