Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Rule - Changes to the Administrative Rules for Claimant Representation
 and Provisions for Direct Payment to Entities

Availability of Forms

• Question: When will the new versions of Forms SSA-1694, SSA-1696, and SSA-1699 be available?

Response: The new versions of Forms SSA-1694 and SSA-1699 were available beginning September 30, 2024. The new version of Form SSA-1696 will be available on or about December 9, 2024.

Completion of Forms

• Question: Is it a requirement that representatives who always waive fees (e.g., non-profit organizations, legal aid representatives) complete Form SSA-1699?

Response: Yes.  As indicated in the final rule and at 2024 New Rule | Representing SSA Claimants | SSA, starting September 30, 2024, anyone who has not previously registered with us and who wants to be appointed as a representative must register with us using Form SSA-1699 before we will recognize a new appointment.

• Question: The new version of Form SSA-1699 requires the individual representative to list a bank account of which they are the owner or co-owner. How should this section of the form be completed if the individual representative assigning direct payment of fees to an entity is not the owner or co-owner of that entity's bank account?

Response: In general, the new rule will not change how we use the banking information provided on Form SSA-1699. If an individual representative does not designate an affiliate entity for a case on a Form SSA-1696, we will use the banking information provided in Section IV of Form SSA-1699 for direct payments to that representative.

If an individual representative designates an affiliate entity on a Form SSA-1696 but does not assign direct payment to the entity or if the assignment cannot be processed (e.g., the assignment was not timely or the entity was not eligible for direct payment), we will use the banking information provided in Section V of Form SSA-1699 for direct payments to that representative.

If an individual representative validly assigns direct payment of their fee to an eligible entity, we will use the banking information the entity provided on Form SSA-1694 when processing the payment.

Submission of Forms

• Question: How should representatives submit Form SSA-1699?

Response: Representatives should complete and fax Form SSA-1699 to us at 1-877-268-3827. We cannot process any other documents received at this number. We cannot process Form SSA-1699 if other forms are attached to the submission.

• Question: How should entities submit Form SSA-1694?

Response: Entities should complete and fax Form SSA-1694 to us at 1-833-597-1429.

• Question: How should representatives follow up to ensure that their registrations and their entity’s re-registrations have been properly processed after submission?

Response: We will send a notice to individuals confirming registration as a representative once we process their Form SSA-1699, even if they are registering only to serve as an entity Point of Contact (POC). This notice includes the individual’s unique Representative Identification (Rep ID). If we are unable to process their Form SSA-1699, we will notify the individual. Individuals should allow two to three weeks to receive one of these notices.

For more information, individuals may call 1-800-772-6270 or visit our website at www.ssa.gov/ar. If the individual is hearing impaired, they may call our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778. The individual may also visit their local Social Security office.

We will also send a notice to entities confirming registration once we process a Form SSA-1694 to establish or update an entity’s registration. If we are unable to process their Form SSA-1694, we will notify the entity. Entities should allow two to three weeks to receive one of these notices.

For more information, the entity POC may call 1-800-772-6270 or visit our website at www.ssa.gov/ar. If the POC is hearing impaired, they may call our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778. If a representative (who is not the entity POC) has a question about an entity’s registration, they should contact the entity.

• Question: If a representative submitted an appointment signed by the claimant before December 9, 2024, that the representative did not sign, do they need to replace this with a signed Form SSA-1696 in each case?

Response: No, as long as the claimant signed the appointment before December 9, 2024, even if the appointment is submitted to the agency after December 9, 2024, a representative does not need to submit a new Form SSA-1696 unless they want to update information relating to that claim. Claimants and representatives must use the new version of Form SSA-1696 only for new or updated appointments signed by the claimant on or after December 9, 2024. For each new appointment signed by the claimant on or after December 9, 2024, we will require both the claimant and the representative to sign Form SSA-1696 regardless of whether the representative is an attorney or non-attorney.

• Question: If a representative wishes to assign direct payment of a fee to an entity for a pending case, do they need to submit a new Form SSA-1696 for each pending case?

Response: Yes. Beginning on December 9, 2024, if a representative wants to assign direct payment of fees in a case that is pending, the representative must file a new Form SSA-1696 before the date we notify the claimant of our first favorable determination or decision.

Registration Deadlines

• Question: Is there a deadline for representatives to complete registration using Form SSA-1699?

Response: We encourage representatives who have not yet registered with us to do so as soon as possible. Representatives have the option to affiliate with one or more entities during the registration process. A representative must affiliate with an entity before the representative can assign direct payment of their fee to that entity starting December 9, 2024.

Representatives who have already affiliated with an entity do not need to update their registration unless their information has changed.

In addition, anyone who intends to be an entity’s Point of Contact (POC) must register as a representative using Form SSA-1699 before an entity can designate them to be a POC.