Appointed Representative Suite Of Services Rolling Out Tomorrow

From the Social Security Administration (the link only works if you are on Social Security's network). -- please note that this is to be implemented in stages:

Identification Number AM-09143 Effective Date: 10/28/2009
Intended Audience: All RCs/ARCs/ADs/FOs/TSCs/PSCs/OCO/ODARHQ
Originating Office: DCO OPSOS
Title: Phase I Appointed Representative Suite of Services (ARSS) – Software Enhancements October 31, 2009
Type: AM - Admin Messages

Program: Title II (RSI); Title XVI (SSI); Disability
Link To Reference: EM-09073

Retention Date: April 28, 2010

This message describes enhancements and changes that are effective with Phase I of the Appointed Representative Suite of Services (ARSS) scheduled for implementation on October 30, 2009.

Appointed Representative Suite of Services (ARSS) – Background
The ARRS project represents SSA’s vision for managing the appointed representative workload. The vision is to create a comprehensive suite of services for representatives to conduct business online, and streamline the appointed representative workload for all services delivery channels.

Planned services include:
Viewing the electronic folder,
Uploading medical evidence,
Seamless completion of initial claims and appeals with appointment questions as one service (e.g. iAppeals and 1696 questions combined),

Online completion and submission of the appointed representative SSA-1696,
Withdrawal of appointment using the online SSA-1696,
Online completion and submission of information for direct payment, receipt of 1099s, acknowledgements and fee arrangements, and

Online responses to requests for claim status and fee payment status.

Due to the complexity of the appointed representative workload, and the changes needed to support the services above, the ARRS project will be implemented in three phases between October 2009 and summer 2010.

Phase I – Main Features:
Effective October 31, 2009, a new form SSA-1699 is required for all representatives. The new form includes information required for online registration, and access to appointed representative services, including Direct Payment.

Invitations will be mailed to a limited number of representatives to register for online services. SSA will authorize, authenticate, and assign these representatives a unique User and Rep ID.

An automated sanctions check will prevent sanctioned representatives from accessing appointed representative services online.

Representatives who are registered, authorized, and authenticated, may view the electronic folder for their claimants represented at the hearings level.

Phase I - Rollout Strategy:
Beginning Monday, November 2, 2009, nine representatives will test the new registration process, and access to electronic folders for their claimants at the hearing level.

SSA will monitor the activity of the first nine representatives for approximately three weeks. Barring unforeseen issues, 50 additional invitations will be mailed around November 30, 2009.

Between December 2009 and mid-March 2010, SSA will mail invitations to 3,100 representatives, inviting them to register online and use our appointed representative services. A list of representatives selected to receive invitations for Phase I can be found on the Front Line Resource Kit at: http://eis.ba.ssa.gov/oesweb/frontline/resource_kits/Disability%20Direct_Resource_Kit.html

Field employees will have the ability to assist appointed representatives registering for services the agency’s Intranet Customer Support Application (CSA) application that mirrors the Internet functionality. This is not an option for those representatives who want access to the electronic folder. Representatives who want electronic folder access must register online.

The Internet 1699 application includes a dedicated line for Internet users to call if they have questions related to the registration process. SSA representatives in the Office of Earnings Operations (OEO) will handle these inquiries.

Phase I - Training:
Training for Phase I will be broadcast following normal monthly transmittal training on Thursday, October 29, 2009. The 15-minute broadcast will be available on Video On Demand (VOD) beginning the week of November 2, 2009 at http://training.ba.ssa.gov/ot/.

Effective October 31, 2009, a new version of the SSA-1699 will be available online to register appointed representatives who request direct payment of fees. As of that date, technicians can no longer process the current version of the SSA-1699.

SSA-1699 forms that have not been processed by 3:00 PM on Friday, October 30, must be returned to the representative with a cover letter generated from the Document Processing System (DPS), along with a copy of the new SSA-1699 for completion.

The new SSA-1699 will be accessed from http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-1699.pdf and from Forms Information and Control System (FICS).

Weekend Systems Availability:
Weekend systems availability will be updated regularly on Info Cast. This release affects the Business Services Online (BSO), Integrated Registration Services (IRES), Electronic Records Express (ERE) and other applications used for appointed representative workloads and accessing the electronic folder. Please check Info Cast periodically for weekend systems availability.

If you have questions about the information in this message, please contact your regional office systems support staff or your processing center operations analysis staff.

Direct all program–related and technical questions to your RO support staff or PSC OA staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions or problems to their Central Office contacts.

AM-09143 - Phase I Appointed Representative Suite of Services (ARSS) – Software Enhancements October 31, 2009 - 10/28/2009