Retention Date: November 08, 2024
A. Purpose
The purpose of this emergency message (EM) is to inform Social Security field office (FO) and Program Service Center (PSC) technicians about new policy and procedures for collecting authorization to obtain wage information from electronic wage verification companies.
B. Background
Historically, technicians were required to have a signed SSA-821-BK or SSA-8510 to obtain wage information for electronic wage verification companies such as The Work Number. Effective immediately, technicians may no longer use a signed form SSA-821-BK or SSA-8510 as authorization to access wage information from electronic verification companies. Effective immediately, you must have signed authorization via the SSA-8240 to obtain wage information from electronic wage verification companies.
C. Procedure
Per the current version of DI 10505.005, a technician may access The Work Number (TWN) and Verify Advantage wage verification companies to obtain wages if there are no higher priority wages available. This EM establishes that only the SSA-8240 may serve as an authorization to obtain wages from electronic wage verification companies. For instructions on obtaining authorization, see GN 00204.150.
NOTE: Under the revised SI 00820.147, the currently approved verification companies are limited to: TWN Express Verification and Verify Advantage.
Updates to DI 10505.005 and DI 10505.035 are forthcoming.
Direct all program-related and technical questions to your Regional Office (RO) support staff using vHelp or Program Service Center (PSC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions, concerns or problems to their Central Office contacts.
References:
DI 10505.005 Determining and Verifying Gross Earnings from Employment
GN 00204.150 Authorization to Obtain Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers via an Information Exchange for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Programs
DI 10505.035 Documenting Employment Cases Using Forms SSA-821-BK (Work Activity Report - Employee) and SSA-823 (Report of SGA Determination - For SSA Use Only)