ChatGPT and U.S. Agencies (IRS, USCIS, Medicaid, SSA): What You Can Safely Do and What You Shouldn't

ChatGPT can assist with letters from the IRS, USCIS, Medicaid, or Social Security. It works best as a translator and explainer: it clarifies the meaning of specific terms and helps formulate questions before visiting a specialist. However, there are things you should not do with it. Below, we clearly outline what is permissible, what is not, where to find official information, and what to do if sensitive data has already been included in the conversation.

This text is for informational purposes only. It does not replace legal, tax, immigration, or medical advice. Verify decisions regarding official matters on the official agency website or with a licensed specialist.

Key Points in 30 Seconds

Three Rules for Every Agency

1. Rule 1: ChatGPT helps understand, does not decide

   It will explain what “Notice CP2000” or “RFE” means and suggest what to ask a lawyer. However, it should not determine whether to appeal, which deduction to claim, or whether you qualify for benefits. That is the job of a licensed specialist or information from the official agency website.

2. Rule 2: Do not paste sensitive data

   SSN, A-Number, card numbers, passwords, birth date along with your name, passport scans: none of this should be included in the chat. If you want ChatGPT to analyze a letter, first redact the data. A specific list can be found in the section “How to Safely Paste a Document.”

3. Rule 3: Verify every fact at the source

   The model can cite last year's amounts, confuse program names, or overlook regulatory changes. Verify numbers, forms, thresholds, and procedures at irs.gov, uscis.gov, medicaid.gov, medicare.gov, or ssa.gov. These sites are free and updated by the agencies themselves.

IRS: What is Allowed, What is Not

What You Can Do Safely

• Translate an IRS letter into Polish, after redacting personal data.
• Understand the codes in letters. According to the IRS: CP2000 is a proposal for changes to your return because data from your employer or bank does not match what you reported (this is not a bill); CP14 is a notice of unpaid tax; CP504 is a notice of intent to levy for still unpaid debts.
• Prepare a list of questions for a CPA or enrolled agent.
• Understand the purpose of forms: 1040 (annual return), W-2 (wages from an employer), 1099 (other income, e.g., from freelance work).
• Summarize a long letter to know what you are actually responding to.

What Not to Do

• Do not paste your own W-2 or 1099 with your name and SSN.
• Do not ask “how much tax do I owe.” Thresholds and deductions change every year, and the model may provide outdated figures with full confidence.
• Do not ask “am I eligible for deduction X.” The answer depends on your entire financial situation.
• Do not act solely based on the chat's response. Verify it on irs.gov or with a specialist.

Safe Example: Asking About an IRS Letter

Where to seek help: The IRS runs a free VITA program. According to the IRS, many VITA sites serve individuals earning approximately up to $70,244 annually, people with disabilities, and taxpayers with limited English proficiency; individuals aged 60+ can use the TCE program. Details and a locator for sites can be found on the IRS free assistance page. For more serious matters, it is safest to talk to a CPA or enrolled agent.

USCIS: What is Allowed, What is Not

What You Can Do Safely

• Translate a decision, letter, or RFE (Request for Evidence).
• Explain general concepts: Green Card, naturalization, adjustment of status, priority date, Visa Bulletin.
• Understand the purpose of the form: I-90 (renewal or replacement of Green Card), I-130 (petition for a family member), I-485 (adjustment of status), N-400 (naturalization).
• Prepare a list of questions before your first consultation with a lawyer.
• Understand the terms and next steps described in the letter.

What Not to Do

• Do not write responses to RFEs on your own with ChatGPT. This is a formal request, and a poor response may lead to denial.
• Do not ask “is my case strong.” This requires an analysis of your entire immigration history.
• Do not input A-Number, passport number, birth date with your name, or status details.
• Do not fill out forms solely based on the chat. Each form has official instructions on uscis.gov/forms.
• Do not check processing times in the chat; check on uscis.gov instead.

Safe Example: Understanding a USCIS Letter

Where to seek help: USCIS explains on its legal services page who can represent you (an attorney or an accredited representative from a recognized organization) and refers to the Department of Justice list. One of these is the list of organizations providing free or low-cost assistance. Before hiring an attorney, check their license with the state bar association. Polish consulates do not handle immigration matters in the USA.

Medicaid and Medicare: What is Allowed, What is Not

These two programs are often confused. Medicaid is insurance for low-income individuals, and its rules vary by state. Medicare is federal insurance primarily for individuals aged 65+ and some younger individuals with disabilities.

What You Can Do Safely

• Explain the difference between Medicaid and Medicare.
• Understand a letter (Notice of Action) from the Medicaid agency in your state.
• Learn about Medicare parts A, B, C, and D.
• Translate a benefits letter into Polish.
• Prepare questions for a counselor at a community health center or SHIP counselor.

What Not to Do

• Do not ask “am I eligible for Medicaid in state X.” Income thresholds are state-specific, and other programs (e.g., CHIP for children, Medicare Savings programs) also operate alongside Medicaid.
• Do not input your name, address, and health data together.
• Do not submit an application solely based on the chat. Incorrectly reported income can have serious consequences.
• Do not ask the chat about drug interactions. That is a question for a pharmacist or doctor.

Where to seek help: For Medicare, state SHIP programs provide free counseling; you can find contact information for your state's program at shiphelp.org. For Medicaid, seek assistance with your application at the nearest community health center (locator: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov) or at your state Medicaid agency.

Social Security (SSA): What is Allowed, What is Not

What You Can Do Safely

• Explain the general difference: SSDI is based on work history and paid contributions, while SSI is for low-income individuals with limited assets. Check specific conditions at ssa.gov.
• Understand the Award Letter: what the amounts mean and when payments start.
• Translate a denial decision and understand the procedural steps it describes.
• Prepare questions before talking to SSA.

What Not to Do

• Do not input your full SSN in any form, with or without dashes.
• Do not provide your name, birth date, and address together.
• Do not submit an application solely based on the chat. Errors can delay your case.
• Do not ask “how much will my pension be.” The model does not know your earnings history. You can see an estimate by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov.

Where to seek help: You can find your local SSA office at ssa.gov. If SSDI is denied, you can appoint a representative, such as an attorney; SSA describes the rules. SSA also provides a free interpreter, including Polish (more in the language assistance section).

How to Safely Paste a Document into ChatGPT

The simplest rule: to explain a letter, ChatGPT needs its content, not your data.

What to Redact Before Pasting

• First and last name
• SSN (Social Security Number)
• A-Number (Alien Registration Number), starts with the letter A
• ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
• Passport number, PESEL, ID card number
• Card numbers, CVV, passwords
• Account numbers and routing number
• Full birth date (if important for the case, just the year is sufficient)
• Address, phone number, personal email
• USCIS case number (Receipt Number, starts with three letters, e.g., MSC, EAC, WAC, IOE)
• Specific income amounts next to your name

How to Redact in Practice

1. Step 1: Make a text copy

   Copy the content of the letter into an editor (Notepad, Word, Pages). You will redact the copy, not the original.

2. Step 2: Redact everything on the list

   Replace each item with a marker [REDACTED] or a descriptive one: [SSN], [A-NUMBER], [NAME]. The model understands that these are intentionally hidden data.

3. Step 3: Read it again

   Review the redacted version from start to finish. Phone number in the footer? Address in the header? Email? Redact those too.

4. Step 4: Only then paste

   Ask a specific question: “what does this mean,” “what deadlines does the letter specify,” “explain in Polish.” Leave the question “what should I do” for the specialist.

An additional layer of protection is the temporary chat (Temporary Chat). According to OpenAI, such conversations do not enter history, do not create memories, and are not used for training models, but the company may retain them for up to 30 days for security reasons. Temporary chat does not replace redaction.

What You Can Leave

• Codes and form names (CP2000, I-130, SS-5). These are public designations.
• Dates from the letter, if there are no personal data next to them (e.g., “deadline: 30 days from the date of the letter”).
• Amounts without information about whose they are (“total amount: $X” says less than “your salary: $X”).
• The substantive content of the letter, meaning what the agency wrote about the case.

If you are just starting with ChatGPT, check out the guide ChatGPT for Beginners. We discuss how to ask precise questions in the text Effective Prompts for ChatGPT.

Pasted Data: Quick Path

Indicate what data was included in the conversation, and the flowchart will suggest initial steps; details are in the section below.

What to Do If You Already Pasted Sensitive Data

It happens: haste, stress, data copied along with the rest of the text. Stay calm, and proceed step by step.

Step by Step in ChatGPT

1. Delete the conversation. According to OpenAI, deleted chats are scheduled for permanent deletion within 30 days unless the company must retain them longer for security or legal reasons. This does not reverse the fact that data passed through the servers, but it limits further exposure.
2. Check memories (Memory). Deleting the conversation does not remove any memory that ChatGPT may have saved from it. Go into settings, personalization section, and in memory management, delete everything that contains your data.
3. Check data settings. In the “Data controls” settings, the option “Improve the model for everyone” determines whether conversations can be used for training models. On private accounts, this is enabled by default; turning it off applies to new conversations. You can find the current description in the OpenAI article Data controls in ChatGPT.
4. If you want, export your data. In the same place, there is “Export data.” A link to the file will arrive by email (according to OpenAI, this may take up to 7 days) and expires after 24 hours. The file contains your conversations, so store it carefully.
5. If it involves SSN, card, or account, act as if there has been a data breach. Such data can be misused long after the fact, so it’s better to secure yourself immediately.

Steps in the USA

• Credit freeze. This prevents opening new credit in your name. According to the FTC, it is free; you must set it up separately with each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and it lasts until you lift it.
• Fraud alert. A milder option: you contact one bureau, and it passes the alert to the other two. The basic alert lasts for one year.
• Credit reports. The official site is annualcreditreport.com. According to the FTC, the three bureaus have permanently enabled free access to reports once a week. Look for accounts and inquiries you do not recognize.
• Card or account. Call the bank using the number on the back of the card or from the app and request a new card with a different number.
• SSN or ITIN: IRS Identity Protection PIN. This is a six-digit code without which no one can file a return using your number. According to the IRS, anyone with an SSN or ITIN can obtain it and verify their identity; the quickest way is through an online account at irs.gov. The PIN is valid for the calendar year, and you receive a new one each year (IRS page on IP PIN).
• Data misuse. If someone has already used your data, report it at identitytheft.gov, the FTC site that prepares a plan for further steps.

Steps in Poland

• Block your PESEL. Free of charge. Online at mObywatel.gov.pl (login with trusted profile, e-ID, or through banking) or in person at any municipal office. From June 1, 2024, banks and other financial institutions must check the block when entering into a credit or loan agreement. With a blocked PESEL, you can still go to the doctor, fill prescriptions, withdraw money from ATMs, make transfers, travel abroad, and handle official matters. The block can be temporarily lifted (service description).
• Card from a Polish bank. Block it in the bank's app or via its hotline.
• Lost or stolen ID card should be reported at the municipality or, if you live in the USA, at the consulate (information from Polish consulates in the USA). Just pasting a scan into the chat does not count as losing a document, so in this case, start with blocking your PESEL.
• Credit application alerts. The Credit Information Bureau offers a paid service, BIK Alerts, which sends an SMS when someone submits a credit application using your data. This is an additional option; blocking your PESEL is free.

No panic, but no delay

Pasting data into the chat does not mean someone has already used it. Most protective steps are free and take just a few minutes, so there is no reason to wait. Just remember that deleting the conversation does not reverse the fact that data passed through the company's servers.

When to See a Specialist Instead of ChatGPT

Language Assistance in Agencies

The rules for accessing interpreters in federal administration have changed in recent years. Executive Order No. 14224 of March 1, 2025, designated English as the official language of the USA and revoked the previous Executive Order No. 13166 regarding services for individuals with limited English proficiency, although it did not mandate agencies to withdraw services. In practice, it is easiest to ask for an interpreter at each agency:

• IRS has materials in seven languages (including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian), but Polish is not among them. For other languages, the IRS directs to the number 833-553-9895, where you can request a telephone interpreter (irs.gov/help/languages).
• SSA offers a free interpreter upon request, including Polish. Call ahead (1-800-772-1213) and schedule an appointment with an interpreter.
• USCIS accepts forms filled out in English, and documents in other languages must be submitted with a translation. During the citizenship interview, English proficiency is checked, with exceptions described on uscis.gov.
• Hospitals and Medicaid agencies often have interpreters. Ask for this directly during registration.

ChatGPT can help you prepare for your visit: it can translate letters in advance, formulate questions in English, and suggest useful phrases. However, it cannot replace an interpreter during formal legal proceedings.

ChatGPT and Polish Consulates in the USA

Polish consulates in the USA handle matters such as passport, citizenship, and certain certifications for Polish citizens. Consuls do not issue ID cards; applications are submitted in Poland at any municipal office or online. ChatGPT can help:

• explain in Polish what documents are required for a given application (and still verify this on the consulate's website),
• write an email to the consulate, e.g., asking about an appointment date,
• translate a form or communication from a Polish office. The model is less familiar with Polish procedures than with American ones.

What not to ask:

• “Can I regain Polish citizenship?” The rules are complex and depend on family history. This is a question for the consulate or a Polish lawyer.
• “How long does it take to get a passport at the consulate in Chicago?” Current information is on the consulate's website.
• “Do I have dual citizenship?” This depends on your history. Polish law does not prohibit holding dual citizenship, but you cannot invoke it before Polish authorities: you are treated as a Polish citizen (Article 3 of the Polish Citizenship Act). Therefore, enter and exit Poland on your Polish passport.

More about how ChatGPT handles Polish can be found in the guide ChatGPT in Polish for the Polish Diaspora in the USA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ChatGPT to fill out an IRS form?

To understand what a given point means, yes. For the actual filling out, it’s better not to. Leave that to a CPA, enrolled agent, or a free VITA site. A mistake on the return can mean a penalty or too low a refund.

Can I paste my W-2 for ChatGPT to calculate my tax?

No. With your name and SSN, that is a data breach, and even anonymously, you risk incorrect thresholds and deductions. Use the IRS Free File program: according to the IRS, the guided version is for individuals with an AGI of up to $95,000, and the Fillable Forms are available for any income. As of October 2026, the program is closed and is set to launch in January 2027 (irs.gov).

Can I ask ChatGPT if I qualify for Medicaid?

You can ask about general criteria (income, family size, immigration status), but do not treat the answer as a decision. Thresholds and programs vary by state. Check eligibility with your state Medicaid agency, at medicaid.gov, or at a community health center.

Can I use ChatGPT to translate a letter from USCIS?

Yes, that is one of the best uses. First, redact your name, A-Number, and case number. Ask about meanings, deadlines, and required actions. Keep the original in your documents.

Can ChatGPT replace a CPA or immigration attorney?

No. A specialist has a license, professional liability insurance, and is responsible for their advice. ChatGPT will respond even when it shouldn’t, without guarantees of accuracy and without accountability for the consequences. However, it works well as a tool to prepare a list of questions before a consultation, which shortens the paid visit.

What to do if I overpaid taxes due to a wrong chat response?

You can file an amended return using form 1040-X. The IRS describes deadlines and procedures in the FAQ on amended returns; if in doubt, a CPA, enrolled agent, or VITA site can help. Keep copies of documents and proof of submission.

Sources

As of October 23, 2026. This text is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or medical advice. ChatGPT settings and agency rules may change, so verify current information at the source before taking action.