Effective Dates: 06/18/2025 - Present Previous | Next

TN 149 (06-25)

GN 00204.150 Authorization to Obtain Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Programs

CITATIONS:

Public Law 114-74, The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Section 824; Social Security Act §§ 225, 1184(a), 1631 (42 U.S.C. §§ 425, 1320e-3, 1383) 20 CFR 404.702, 404.703, 404.1588, 416.701, 416.702, 416.708, 416.709, 416.988, 422.150.

A. Background on obtaining wage and employment information from payroll data providers through an information exchange

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 amended sections 225, 1184, and 1631(e) of the Social Security Act (Act). The law authorizes the Commissioner to enter into information exchanges with payroll data providers (PDPs) to:

  • •

    improve administration of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs; and

  • •

    prevent improper payments under these programs.

PDPs are defined in the law as payroll providers, wage verification companies, and other commercial or non-commercial entities that collect and maintain data regarding employment and wages, without regard to whether the entity provides such data for a fee or without a cost. Information exchanges, as used here, are defined as the automated comparison of our system of records with records of PDPs.

The Payroll Information Exchange (PIE) is the automated process that allows the agency to receive timely and accurate wage and employment reports from a PDP through an information exchange. On December 31, 2024, the agency published regulations describing the agency’s procedures for implementing access to and use of information held by payroll providers.

To obtain the person’s wage and employment information through the information exchange, the law authorizes the Commissioner to request authorization from:

  • •

    any person filing for or receiving SSDI or SSI benefits;

  • •

    any SSI deemor; and

  • •

    SSI ineligible children.

Providing wage and employment information authorization (WEIA) is optional, meaning we cannot use a refusal or revocation of authorization to deny or suspend benefits. If a person refuses or revokes their authorization, we will not obtain their wage and employment information through PIE or by contacting PDPs through manual requests to SSA-approved wage verification companies. However, we will still verify wages as needed using other wage verification methods (e.g., as described in SI 00820.130 for SSI or DI 10505.005 for SSDI).

Individuals provide WEIA on the SSA-8240. When an individual provides WEIA and we obtain information from their employer(s) through PIE:

  • •

    their reporting responsibilities will be reduced;

  • •

    they will not be subject to penalties pursuant to section 1129A of the Act related to information we receive from an employer(s) (see GN 02604.405); and

  • •

    we will find good cause under section 1631(e)(2) of the Act for a failure of, or delay by, an individual reporting a change in employer (see GN 00204.150B.4).

Individuals will not get reduced reporting responsibilities or relief from certain penalties until we notify them that we are getting their wage and employment information through PIE.

NOTE: 

The SSA-8240 form or, the WEIA pages in the Modernized Claim System (MCS), the SSI Claims system, and the Wage and Employment Information Authorization application (WEIA application), is the only means of obtaining WEIA.. Authorization for third party disclosure on the Personal Information Authorization page in the SSI Claims system (i.e., SSA-8510 - Authorization For The Social Security Administration to Obtain Personal Information) does not qualify as a WEIA, as discussed in this section. Similarly, authorization to contact employers on the SSA-820/821 does not constitute WEIA.

B. Policy for requesting WEIA

Request WEIA from the individual who has the legal authority to provide it. Providing WEIA is not a factor of entitlement or eligibility. Therefore, an individual’s refusal or revocation of authorization does not affect SSDI entitlement or SSI eligibility.

1. When to request WEIA

Request WEIA during the following claim events:

  • •

    SSDI initial claims;

  • •

    Expedited Reinstatements (EXR);

  • •

    Work continuing disability reviews (CDR);

  • •

    SSI full and deferred initial claims; and

  • •

    SSI redeterminations.

If the person is filing a concurrent SSDI/SSI claim or has concurrent SSDI/SSI entitlement, you must request WEIA for each program separately.

You may choose to request WEIA during other post-entitlement (PE) events. Requesting authorization during claim events not listed above is optional.

You can also obtain WEIA if the individual asks to provide it.

For instructions on how to request WEIA, see GN 00204.150C in this section.

2. Who can provide WEIA

Request WEIA from any person who is:

  • •

    Applying for or receiving SSDI benefits for disabled worker, disabled surviving spouse, and based on childhood disability (DIB, DWB, and CDB);

  • •

    Applying for or receiving any SSI payments;

  • •

    An SSI deemor;

  • •

    An SSI ineligible child; or

  • •

    An SSDI beneficiary or SSI recipient who has turned age 18 since the last time we collected authorization from their parent or legal guardian.

NOTE: 

Competent adults and emancipated children may provide their own authorization.

a. WEIA for minor children, SSI ineligible children, and legally incompetent adults

Minor children and legally incompetent adults cannot give us WEIA. For a beneficiary, recipient, or claimant who is a minor child and for an SSI ineligible child, a parent or legal guardian must give us authorization on the child’s behalf. For a legally incompetent adult, a legal guardian must give us authorization on their behalf.

b. WEIA from representative payees

A person’s status as a representative payee alone provides no authority for the person to provide WEIA on behalf of a competent claimant, recipient, or beneficiary. Representative payees can only give us authorization on behalf of a claimant, recipient, or beneficiary, if they are also the parent or legal guardian. For example, a representative payee can provide WEIA when the claimant, recipient, or beneficiary is:

  • •

    a minor child and the payee is a parent of the child;

  • •

    a minor child and the payee is the legal guardian of the child; or

  • •

    an incompetent adult and the payee is the legal guardian of the incompetent adult.

Thus, a legal guardian who is a representative payee may provide WEIA, but only because the person is the legal guardian, not because the person is the representative payee. Competent adults must give us WEIA even if they have a representative payee.

3. Providing the scope and duration, and the Privacy Act Statement for WEIA

Before you request WEIA, you must inform the individual about the scope and duration of the authorization and the Privacy Act Statement regarding the authorization. For more information on what information to provide, see GN 00204.150C.2.b in this section.

After the individual provides WEIA, you must provide a printed notice, “Receipt for Wage and Employment Information Authorization,” which provides the authorization scope and duration statement and the Privacy Act Statement to the individual. For more information on providing these notices, see GN 00204.150B.6 in this section.

When an individual revokes their WEIA, you must provide them with the printed notice, “Important Information – Revocation of Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information.” For more information on revocations, see GN 00204.150D in this section.

4. Potential penalty relief and reduced reporting responsibilities

a. Penalty relief

Generally, beneficiaries are subject to certain penalties for errors or omissions in wage and employment information they are obligated to report to us. However, we will not subject individuals who give WEIA to administrative sanction penalties under section 1129A of the Act for errors or omissions in wage and employment information that is provided by the PDP through PIE. Specifically, the individual is not subject to the 1129A-penalty of non-payment of SSDI benefits or ineligibility for SSI. For more information on these penalties, which we refer to as administrative sanctions, see GN 02604.405.

Additionally, for SSI cases where an individual has provided WEIA, we will find good cause if the claimant or recipient fails or delays to report a change in their employer and we will not subject the claimant or recipient to a penalty under 1631(e)(2). For more information on SSI penalties, see SI 02301.100.

b. Reduced reporting responsibilities

When we notify SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who gave us a WEIA that we are getting their wage information for certain employers, they will have reduced reporting obligations. Those SSDI and SSI recipients will not have to report increases in the amount of their work or when their earnings increase, and SSI recipients will not have to report changes in their wages paid in cash, as defined in SI 00820.100 for any employer(s) we receive wage and employment information through PIE. We will notify individuals when we are getting, or no longer getting, information from each of their employers through PIE and how that impacts their reporting responsibilities. See SI 00820.148C.4 for more information about PIE notices.

NOTE: 

If we do not receive wage and employment information for an individual through PIE, the SSDI and SSI recipients must continue to report their wages and employment information for all employers. Also, certain reporting responsibilities are never reduced. SSDI and SSI recipients must always continue to report when their condition improves, they have a new employer, or they return to work, and SSI recipients continue to have the additional reporting requirements described in SI 02301.005 (SSI Posteligibility - Recipient Reporting).

5. Terminating events for WEIA

WEIA is valid until a terminating event occurs. Terminating events apply separately for SSDI and SSI, except for a revocation of WEIA, which terminates the authorization for both programs. All terminating events apply prospectively only and do not invalidate the use of information before the terminating event.

a. Terminating events for WEIA under the SSDI program

For SSDI, the individual’s authorization will remain effective until the earliest of the following occurs:

  • •

    the individual revokes their authorization and their revocation is processed by SSA;

  • •

    the individual’s entitlement(s) to SSDI benefits has terminated, the period for appealing any adverse decision has lapsed and no appeal was filed, and no other SSDI claim(s) are pending;

  • •

    there has been an adverse decision on the individual’s SSDI claim, the period for appealing the adverse decision has lapsed and no appeal was filed, and there are no other entitlements or claims pending; or

  • •

    the individual turns 18 years of age, is not a legally incompetent adult, and previous authorization was given by a parent or legal guardian.

b. Terminating events for WEIA under the SSI program

For SSI, the individual’s authorization will remain effective until the earliest of the following occurs:

  • •

    the individual revokes their authorization and their revocation is processed by SSA;

  • •

    the individual’s eligibility to SSI benefits has terminated, the period for appealing any adverse decision has lapsed and no appeal was filed, and no other SSI claim(s) are pending;

  • •

    there has been an adverse decision on the individual’s SSI claim, the period for appealing the adverse decision has lapsed and no appeal was filed, and there are no other claims pending;

  • •

    the deeming relationship ends; or

  • •

    the individual turns 18 years of age, is not a legally incompetent adult, and previous authorization was given by a parent or legal guardian.

NOTE: 

If the SSDI or SSI record terminates or the appeal period has expired, but you are able to reopen the record under the rules of administrative finality, the previous authorization is invalid and you will need to request WEIA. See SI 00820.148B for WEIA considerations when SSI appeals are involved.

c. Revocation of WEIA

Individuals may revoke WEIA in writing at any time. A revocation applies to both programs. For example, if an individual requests to revoke authorization under the SSI program, the revocation will also apply to the SSDI program if there is an active authorization for SSDI. The individual’s SSDI benefits or SSI payments are not affected by their decision to revoke authorization. See GN 00204.150D in this section for instructions on processing a revocation request.

6. WEIA Receipts

a. Authorization receipt

When an individual’s WEIA is recorded in the WEIA application, the application generates a notice, “Receipt for Wage and Employment Information Authorization.” This receipt provides:

  • •

    information about the scope and duration of the authorization;

  • •

    potential penalty relief information;

  • •

    potential changes to reporting responsibilities; and

  • •

    a Privacy Act statement.

Technicians must hand or mail the receipt to the authorizing individual. This notice is also available in the Document Processing System (DPS) for non-SSI Claims system cases.

b. Revocation receipt

When the agency annotates an individual’s request to revoke WEIA in the WEIA application, the application generates a notice, “Important Information – Revocation of Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information.” This receipt provides:

  • •

    information about the changes to the individual’s reporting responsibilities; and

  • •

    penalty relief status resulting from the revocation.

Technicians must hand or mail the receipt to the individual revoking authorization. This notice is also available in DPS for non-SSI Claims system cases.

C. Procedure for requesting and recording WEIA

Request WEIA from the appropriate individual and record the response in the WEIA application during:

  • •

    SSDI initial claims;

  • •

    SSI full and deferred initial claims;

  • •

    SSI redeterminations;

  • •

    work CDRs; and

  • •

    EXRs.

Requesting authorization for other PE events is optional.

1. How to access the WEIA Application

During SSDI initial claims, SSI full and deferred initial claims, and SSI redeterminations, the WEIA application pages will appear automatically in the Modernized Claim System (MCS) and the SSI Claims system path when we need to request authorization. If we have the individual’s active authorization on file, the authorization screens will not appear in the claim path.

During work CDRs, eWork will not automatically display the WEIA authorization pages when we need to request authorization. When initiating a Work Report or Work Review in eWork, you can access the WEIA authorizations pages from the Work Review Summary page or the eWork Related Links page. Additionally, you may access the WEIA application from iMain.

To determine whether you need to request WEIA for work CDR cases, EXR cases, during other PE events, or when the individual requests to provide authorization, access the WEIA application to query the authorization status.

You may access the WEIA application through:

  • •

    I-Main,

  • •

    option #18 in the Post-entitlement Online System (POS) Selection Menu, or

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    the left navigation list for the General Identification tab in CCE, or the Application Programmatic Wage Authorization page (APWA).

  • •

    from the eWork Work Review Summary page or the eWork Related Links page.

If you need to request WEIA, follow the instructions in GN 00204.150C.2 or GN 00204.150C.3 in this section.

NOTE: POS will display alerts when we do not have an active authorization on file to remind you that you should request authorization.

2. Steps for requesting and recording WEIA

Take the following actions to obtain WEIA:

  1. a. 

    Determine whether the appropriate person to provide WEIA is available. For more information on who can provide authorization, see GN 00204.150B.2 in this section. If the authorizing person is not available, see GN 00204.150C.3 in this section.

  2. b. 

    Read the following information before asking for WEIA:

    English Language Script

    • •

      The Social Security Act allows us to collect your authorization. We use your authorization to ask payroll data providers to give us information about your wages and employment through an information exchange or through manual information requests.

    • •

      Providing your authorization is voluntary and you may revoke it in writing at any time. Refusing or revoking authorization does not affect your entitlement to SSDI or your eligibility for SSI benefits, but may prevent an accurate and timely decision on SSDI and SSI benefits. If you revoke authorization, it is effective when we process the request in our systems.

    • •

      We will use the information we receive from payroll data providers as needed to determine if you can receive or continue to receive benefits under SSDI and SSI and to determine payment amounts for SSI. We may also share your information as the Privacy Act and other Federal laws allow.

    • •

      Your authorization will remain effective until:

      • –

        your application(s)is denied, and no other claims or appeals are pending;

      • –

        your entitlement or eligibility for payments ends and no other claims or appeals are pending;

      • –

        you revoke your authorization and it is processed by SSA; or

      • –

        we no longer count your income and resources to determine the claimant’s SSI eligibility, if you are an SSI deemor.

    • •

      We will record your response electronically in our systems.

    Spanish Language Script

    • •

      La Ley del Seguro Social nos permite obtener su autorización. Utilizaremos su autorización para solicitarle a los proveedores de servicios de nómina que nos proporcionen información sobre su salario y empleo mediante un intercambio de información o solicitudes manuales de información.

    • •

      Su autorización es voluntaria y puede cancelarla por escrito en cualquier momento. Rechazar o cancelar la autorización no afecta su derecho al Seguro por Incapacidad del Seguro Social (SSDI, siglas en inglés), ni su elegibilidad para los beneficios de Seguridad de Ingreso Suplementario (SSI, siglas en inglés), pero podría impedir una decisión precisa y oportuna sobre los beneficios del SSDI y de SSI. Si cancela la autorización, esta entrará en vigor cuando procesemos la solicitud en nuestros sistemas.

    • •

      Utilizaremos la información que recibamos de los proveedores de servicios de nómina según sea necesario para determinar si puede recibir o seguir recibiendo beneficios del SSDI y de SSI, y para determinar las cantidades de pago del SSI. También podríamos compartir su información según lo permitan la Ley de Confidencialidad y otras leyes federales.

    • •

      Su autorización permanecerá vigente hasta que:

      • –

        sus solicitudes sean denegadas y no haya otras reclamaciones o apelaciones pendientes;

      • –

        finalice su derecho o elegibilidad para los pagos y no haya otras reclamaciones o apelaciones pendientes;

      • –

        usted cancele su autorización y el Seguro Social la procese; o

      • –

        ya no contemos sus ingresos y recursos para determinar la elegibilidad del reclamante para el SSI, si usted es la persona que atribuye para SSI.

    • •

      Registraremos su respuesta electrónicamente en nuestros sistemas.

  3. c. 

    Request WEIA for SSDI and SSI if the person is filing a concurrent claim or is receiving concurrent benefits. Otherwise, only request authorization for the benefit they are filing for or receiving, or that is material to an SSI claimant or recipient’s eligibility.

  4. d. 

    Document the individual’s answer in the WEIA application.

  5. e. 

    Select the “attestation” checkbox to attest you heard the authorizing person’s response.

  6. f. 

    Select OK to print the notice, “Receipt for Wage and Employment Information Authorization,” and hand to the authorizing person when face-to-face or mail it to the individual when on the phone.

3. Steps for requesting and recording WEIA when the individual is not available

Take the following actions to obtain WEIA when the appropriate person to provide authorization is not present or available during the interview (i.e., during the initial claim, redetermination, or wage-related contact):

  1. a. 

    Attempt to reach the individual by telephone to get their authorization. If the person provides WEIA, mail the "Receipt for Wage and Employment Information Authorization" notice to their mailing address. If telephone contact is unsuccessful, continue to steps b through d immediately below.

  2. b. 

    If the individual is not accessible by telephone, annotate in the WEIA application that the individual is not available to provide authorization.

  3. c. 

    Print and mail the paper form SSA-8240, Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers, to the individual along with a cover letter indicating the individual should complete, sign, and return the paper form SSA-8240. Use letter L-8240 “Cover Letter for Request of Wage and Employment Information Authorization” in the Document Processing System (DPS) as a cover letter.

  4. d. 

    Once the individual returns the completed and signed paper form SSA-8240, access the WEIA application to record and attest to their response.

    • •

      If the individual provides WEIA, print the "Receipt for Wage and Employment Information Authorization" notice and mail it to the individual along with their signed form for their records.

    • •

      If the individual refused authorization, upload the signed paper form SSA-8240 into the Evidence Portal (EP).

If the individual returns the form incomplete (e.g., the form is not signed or the check boxes are not marked), attempt to reach them by telephone to confirm their authorization. If you cannot reach the person by telephone, document the incomplete form as a refusal of authorization and upload the paper form SSA-8240 into the EP.

If the person does not return the form SSA-8240, do not follow up with the person and do not document the non-receipt. Since providing WEIA is optional and it is not a factor of eligibility or entitlement, it does not affect the adjudication of any claim events. Next time you interview the individual, you may request authorization again.

NOTE: 

If there is a systems outage, use the SSA-8240 to obtain WEIA and then load it into the WEIA application once the system is available again.

4. Requesting and recording WEIA for SSDI (Adult Disability, Disabled Surviving Spouse, and Childhood Disability) paper cases

Access the WEIA application through the iMain menu to request and record WEIA from the individual when they are available and follow steps in GN 00204.150C.1. in this section.

5. WEIA for Non-SSI Claims system (i.e., non-MSSICS) cases

For Non-SSI Claims system cases, use the paper form SSA-8240 to request WEIA. Once you have a completed and signed SSA-8240, upload it to the EP and issue a manual receipt using DPS.

When seeding the case into the SSI Claims system, search for the form in the EP and enter the authorization response indicated on the SSA-8240 into the WEIA application.

NOTE: Do not use the WEIA application to request and record WEIA for Non-SSI Claims system cases.

D. Procedure for recording revocations

A person may revoke WEIA in writing at any time.

We accept an individual's revocation request when it is:

  • •

    attested in the WEIA application;

  • •

    submitted using form SSA-8240; or

  • •

    submitted in writing (e.g., a signed letter, a signed SSA-795)

Revocation is effective when it is processed in the WEIA application. For non-SSI Claims system cases, it is effective when we upload the written revocation in EP and issue the receipt notice, “Important Information – Revocation of Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information” revocation receipt in DPS.

1. What information to provide when a person revokes WEIA

When an individual requests to revoke WEIA, explain the following:

  • •

    The revocation will apply to all claims under the SSDI and SSI programs;

  • •

    Although individuals may revoke their authorization at any time, that revocation does not become effective until SSA receives it and processes it in its systems. SSA will process the revocation request promptly. SSA may still receive the individual’s payroll information from a PDP during processing;

  • •

    We may continue to use information we obtained before their revocation was effective;

  • •

    We will stop requesting their wage and employment information from PDPs through an information exchange and through manual information requests to PDPs;

  • •

    They must report all wages accurately and timely;

Additionally, when the person revoking the authorization is the claimant or recipient, explain that:

  • •

    They will no longer have some protection from certain administrative sanctions under 1129A for any errors concerning their wages that affect their SSDI or SSI eligibility and benefits; and

  • •

    We will no longer presume good cause if they report late or fail to report a change in employer, meaning they may be subject to SSI penalties under 1631(e)(2).

For mailed revocation requests, it is not necessary to contact the individual to provide this information prior to accepting the revocation. Instead, you must mail the individual the WEIA application notice, “Important Information – Revocation of Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information.” This receipt provides information about the changes to the individual’s reporting responsibilities and penalty relief status resulting from the revocation.

2. How to document revoked authorizations

Follow these steps when a person contacts us to revoke their WEIA, or mails an SSA-8240 or other written correspondence indicating a request for revocation:

  1. a. 

    Access the WEIA application through the iMain menu, #18 in the POS Selection Menu, or the left navigation list for the General Identification tab in the SSI Claims system.

  2. b. 

    Select the revocation check box under the New Authorization Response section and document the relationship and name of the person providing the revocation.

  3. c. 

    Select the “Attested this response” check box.

  4. d. 

    Select OK to print the notice, “Important Information – Revocation of Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information” and give or mail it to the person.

NOTE: 

For non-SSI Claims system cases, upload the written revocation in EP and issue the receipt notice, “Important Information – Revocation of Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information” revocation receipt in DPS.

E. References

SSA-8240 Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers

  • •

    GN 02604.405 Administrative Sanctions - Policy

  • •

    MS 08108.017 Personal Information Authorization

  • •

    MS 09401.001 Wage Authorization - Overview

  • •

    SI 00820.130 Evidence of Wages or Termination of Wages

  • •

    SI 00820.143 Monthly Wage Reporting

  • •

    SI 00820.147 Evidence of Wages from Wage Verification Companies

  • •

    SI 02301.100 Assessing Penalties

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200204150
GN 00204.150 - Authorization to Obtain Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Programs - 06/18/2025
Batch run: 06/18/2025
Rev:06/18/2025