Wage Reporting Proof of Concept (POC) Update

In order to generate timely action on wages reported through the Social Security (SSA) Ticket Portal, SSA implemented the Wage Reporting Proof of Concept (POC) in October 2016.

Background

Employment Networks (ENs) currently submit requests for payment through the Ticket Portal. While this system provides a channel for ENs to submit wage reports and paystubs for payment, the current system does not provide SSA Field Offices and Payment Centers with all of the information that they need to complete work evaluations. The Wage Reporting POC was designed to provide Field Offices and Payment Centers with the information necessary to initiate work determinations. We are intensifying our efforts to expand the use of our systems technology to reduce the improper payments made under the Ticket to Work Program to disabled Title II, XVI and concurrent Title II/Title XVI beneficiaries. Appropriate, timely action taken on reported wages reduces the likelihood of improper payments.

Upon review of the earnings that we received from participating ENs since the implementation of the POC, we concluded that many of the wages entered were for monthly earnings at or below trial work levels. One of our primary objectives has been to reduce improper payments by generating timely action on wages reported through the Portal. Another objective is to allow as many ENs as possible to submit wage evidence through the POC so that our payment centers can make timely decisions based on reported work activity. As such, In January 2018, we changed the protocol of the Wage Reporting POC to better meet these objectives.

Since that time, we have entered earnings information submitted through the Ticket Portal for Phase 2 Milestone and Outcome #1 payment requests in situations where the beneficiary is in a current payment status. We no longer restrict the earnings that we process based on the EN. All payment requests that meet these criteria are now entered through the POC, as long as they are submitted with primary earnings documentation (i.e. paystubs, work number report, etc.). This subset of payment requests represents wage earners who have a high probability of current overpayment activity. Prioritizing these cases and sending them to our payment centers for adjudication will ensure that we make the best use of POC resources, and reduce improper payments for as many wage earners as possible. It also ensures participation in the POC by all ENs who submit payment requests that meet these criteria.

To ensure that we identify/process earnings for those beneficiaries that have a high probability of current overpayment activity, effective this week, we will not process any earnings under the Wage Reporting POC that fall below Substantial Gainful Activity. TPM will continue to process earnings below SGA and at Trial Work Level (TWL) or above during our regular payment process. This means that TPM will enter these earnings into SSA’s system for Ticket to Work and make a payment determination. SSA payment centers and field offices subsequently will process these earnings under the Wage Reporting process.

We continue to encourage you to inform your clients to submit wage information to SSA through the wage reporting application, which allows you to ensure that SSA receives earnings submitted that do not meet the POC criteria. Please direct any questions to Melanie Porter at ORDES.Wagereporting.POC@ssa.gov.

We thank you for your participation, and look forward to working with you as we continue to improve this initiative.