EN Payments Processing Update

To ensure that we provide the highest quality of service to Employment Networks (ENs) and their Ticketholders, effective immediately the Social Security Administration (SSA) will implement the following changes to the EN Payments business process: (1) align EN payments earnings verification with Agency standards, (2) simplify case processing to first in first out (FIFO), (3) remove Phase 1 Milestone 4 from Proof of Relationship review (PoR), and (4) eliminate outreach from the PoR process. It is SSA and TPM’s expectation that these changes will simplify the current business process and speed up payment processing.

1.  Remove Phase 1 Milestone 4 from Proof of Relationship (PoR) review
   The Ticket Program Manager  (TPM) will exclude Phase 1 Milestone 4 from the PoR review. However, Phase 1 Milestone 4 will not be included in the ePay file and the EN must submit these payment requests through the Ticket Portal.
   
   
2. Align EN payments earnings verification with Agency standards
   TPM will no longer perform an additional check for monthly earnings and potentially diary cases even though ENs see the Portal message, “earnings already proven”.  In this circumstance, TPM will validate these payment requests and either pay or deny the case based on SSA evidence. However, SSA encourages ENs to continue to submit primary evidence (i.e., pay stubs or Work Number reports) where available.
   
   
3. Simplify case processing to first in first out (FIFO)
   TPM will process cases on a first in first out basis with no other prioritization (i.e., the oldest cases will be processed first). All cases will continue to be evaluated (approved for payment, denied, or placed in diary) within 30 days of receipt. As a reminder, it may take 7-10 business days after a payment is approved before ENs receive payment. If you have a request that is currently in diary for PoR and TPM has reached out to you for more information, then those cases will continue with that process. If you have a Phase 1 Milestone 4 in a diary status and we have sufficient earnings, those cases will be paid.
   
   
4. Eliminate outreach from the Proof of Relationship process (PoR)
   The Certification of Services (COS) form will be replaced with the PoR form for Phase 1 Milestone 1-3 payment requests, which is attached for your convenience. If an EN neglects to provide a pay stub or a sufficient PoR form with the payment request for Phase 1 Milestones 1-3, we will deny the case. You will receive notification of the denial code reason in the Ticket Portal, as is the current business process. If you have additional questions regarding the denial, you should contact the payments help desk at ENPaymentsHelpdesk@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov.
   
   You may resubmit the payment request when you have the required documentation. If an EN fails to provide the required information the second time, the case will get elevated to a quality review team and you will be contacted. Ultimately, if you cannot provide proof of a relationship then there is a chance that the Ticket may be unassigned.  

SSA encourages ENs to continue to submit primary evidence (i.e., pay stubs or Work Number reports) for payment requests when earnings are at or above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level and beneficiaries continue to receive a monthly benefit payment. TPM will input these earnings into SSA’s systems for field offices to perform work Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR). Completion of these work CDRs may result in the cessation of monthly beneficiary payments and place beneficiaries in a suspense status due to work and earnings. This suspense payment status due to work and earnings along with earnings at or above SGA level will qualify ENs for outcome payments.

We encourage you to continue to offer services and supports to all Ticketholders regardless of their stages in the employment process by helping them achieve self-sufficiency.

If you have any questions please contact ENPaymentsHelpdesk@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov

• Employment Network (EN) Proof of Relationship (PoR) Form.pdf