Technical Bulletin: New Ticket Portal

Throughout the summer, we communicated on monthly calls concerning the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) new Ticket Portal.  The purpose of this message is to recap the information we’ve shared, in case you missed some of it, and assure you that we will provide continual communication and training materials related to your transition to the new Ticket Portal.  SSA is piloting this new portal beginning in October 2014 and expects to implement the portal in stages beginning January 2015 through March 2015. 

The Ticket Portal will allow Employment Networks (EN) and State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRA) to upload, request and receive information, as well as track all interactions regarding the Ticket to Work Program (Ticket Program) using a secure web-based interface that interacts with the Internet Ticket Operations Provider Support System (iTOPSS), the system SSA uses to process Ticket Program actions.

Below is the basic information of which you should be aware and actions you should take to prepare for the new portal.

1. Who can access the new Ticket Portal?

You must have SSA’s authorization to use the Ticket Portal based on having:

• verified employment with a State VR agency or with an EN that has an active contract/agreement with SSA;
• an active SSA suitability clearance which has not expired; and
• completed security awareness training in the last year;

2. How will SSA verify that I am the person authorized to access the Ticket Portal?

SSA’s system will verify the identity of Ticket Portal users via the electronic access registration process used to access your mySocialSecurity account. Users will be instructed that they must request "Extra Security" so that they receive a code in the form of a text message to their cell phone.  This will require the user to have a working mobile device capable of timely receipt of text messages. 

There will be no shared credential for the iTOPSS Ticket Portal; each user must log in using their own mysocialsecurity PIN and password.  The link to create or use your account is https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do.  Make sure you register for your account with extra security.

3. How is this portal different from the one I am currently using?

Currently, ENs and state VR agencies may use the Secure Provider Portal (SPP) administered by the Operations Support Manager, MAXIMUS. SSA is implementing the new Internet Ticket Operations Provider Support System (iTOPPS) Ticket Portal. The SPP Portal will no longer be available following full implementation of the iTOPSS Ticket Portal around March 2015.

4. If I am not participating in the pilot, will this immediately affect me?

Because the Pilot is limited to small number of predetermined ENs, most ENs are not immediately affected.

5. How will ENs and VR agencies report who will be the iTOPSS Ticket Portal user?

ENs will designate personnel with the appropriate security clearance to access the new portal and inform their ENSB specialist by email.  When an employee leaves the EN organization, it is the responsibility of the EN to report to their ENSB specialist within 24 hours to ensure access is revoked.

6. Will there be any additional suitability or security requirements to access the iTOPSS Ticket Portal?

There are no new suitability requirements for those who currently have a favorable suitability determination from SSA. However as noted in number 2, each user will be required to register for an account at MySSA.gov, making sure to select the option for extra security.  There will be no shared credential for the iTOPSS EN Portal; each user must log in using their own MySSA PIN and password.  The link to create or use your account is https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do

7. Do I need a smart phone to access the iTOPSS Ticket Portal?

No, you only need a cell phone that accepts Short Message Service (SMS), in other words, a text message. The text message cannot be sent to any other type device.

8. Will there be any special access requirements? 

Each user must have a workstation with one of the browsers shown below that meets federal security standards. 

Operating System	Browser
Windows XP	Chrome v30 and above Firefox v24 - v26, Firefox v27 and above Opera v17 and above
Windows 7 or later	Chrome v30 and above Firefox v24-v26, Firefox v27 and above Internet Explorer v8-v10, Internet Explorer v11 and above Opera v17 and above
Android	Chrome v30 and above Firefox v24-v26, Firefox v27 and above
iOS	Chrome v30 and above Safari v5 and above
Mac OS X	Chrome v30 and above Firefox v24-v26, Firefox v27 and above Opera v17 and above Safari v7 and above
Linux	Chrome v30 and above Firefox v24-v26, Firefox v27 and above Opera v17 and above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. What training will I receive? 

You recently received an invitation to attend training on October 9 about Suitability clearance.  In addition, we will provide a self-paced module about registering for your mySocialSecurity account.  However, you may register at any time at https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do.  Make sure you register with extra security.