2025 EDPNA Examination

We are holding the 2025 EDPNA examination from June 4 through June 7, 2025, utilizing online proctors. The examination will be held remotely only, in the examinee's home or other remote location.

The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Social Security Rulings, and the Direct Payment to Eligible Non-Attorney Representatives webpage will be provided to you during the examination, which you may refer to as needed. You should familiarize yourself with these materials before the examination. The examination will not refer to Acquiescence Rulings.

Examinees may choose from available time slots at 11:00am and 5:00pm EDT (8:00am and 2:00pm PDT) each day of testing. Approved applicants must register for a timeslot by May 28, 2025. Each session is limited to 30 examinees. Late registrations will not be accepted.

The application period begins February 1 and ends February 28, 2025. The SSA-1691 application form is available here. For more information about application and examination go to the EDPNA page.

Appeals and Appointed Representative Processing Services

11/18/24 - The new Appeals and Appointed Representative Processing Services (AARPS) online portal is an electronic service option for Appointed Representatives (ARs). AARPS saves time for representatives by reducing the need to call for status of claims, appointment related forms, and fee payments. The link to the AARPS online portal is also available on the left navigation bar under Online Services.

10/18/24 - We published a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) page for the final rule. We will update the FAQs as needed.

Pre-Approval for EDPNA Ethics Course Providers

10/10/2024 - Eligible organizations that provide ethics training now have the option of submitting up to three ethics course syllabi per year for pre-approval.  Please see the Approval for Ethics Course Providers if you are an organization and would like pre-approval of your CE ethics courses. 

9/12/24 - We published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 21, 2024: Changes to the Administrative Rules for Claimant Representation and Provisions for Direct Payment to Entities. We revised our regulations consistent with the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP v. Collins, 6 F.4th 150 (1st Cir. 2021). Click here for more information relating to key features, important dates, and implementation details of the new rule.

Help Avoid Delays for Disability Claims: Incomplete forms and applications cause delays and require time-consuming follow ups

9/12/2024 - Incomplete forms and applications cause delays and require time-consuming follow ups. We have made significant enhancements to our Appointed Representative Services (ARS) tool which we hope will help reduce the time you spend contacting our offices. Please watch this brief video on how you can help.

ARS enhancements

8/29/2024 - We are pleased to announce enhancements to the Appointed Representatives Services (ARS) application. ARS gives appointed representatives access to information for cases pending at the initial, reconsideration, hearings, and appeals levels. Information available includes case level, receipt date, and claims status. Representatives may also download a list of their claimants.
Please watch this brief video to learn more or visit the AR Status Reports User Guide (instructions are on pages 14 and 15).

EDPNA Examination

We are holding the 2024 EDPNA examination from June 6 through June 12 utilizing online proctors. the examination will be held remotely only, in the examinee's home or other remote location.

Examiness may choose from available time slots at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm EDT (8:00am and 2:00pm PDT) each day of testing. Approved applicants must register for a timeslot by June 1, 2024. Each session is limited to 30 examinees. Late registrations will not be accepted.

The application period begins February 1 through February 28. the application form is available at SSA-1691. For more information about application and examination go to EDPNA page.

EDPNA continuing education courses

The required 2024 continuing education courses for EDPNAs are now available. To remain eligible for direct payment, an EDPNS must certify the completion of each of these courses by email to StratComm, Inc. on or before September 30, 2024.

12/28/2023 - You can register as a Social Security representative today as an attorney or non-attorney. Representatives do not need to have pending cases with us to register, but registration has many advantages. by registering as a representative, you will:

• Have access to active electronic folders that contain information about your clients' cases.
• Receive some notices electronically.
• receive notification of new representative related services as we develop them.

To register, print, complete, and fax the completed form SSA-1699, Registration for Appointed Representative Services and direct Payment to us at 1-877-268-3827. This fax number is exclusively for form SSA-1699. We cannot process any other documents received at this fax number.

Please note that we recently mailed letted to several unregistered representatives communicating this same information. However, this letter listed an incorrect, non-working fax number for submission of Form SSA-1699. We apologize for this error and encourage you to use the correct fax number listed above (1-877-268-3827)

You can learn more at:

• Registration for Access to Electronic Service, Direct Payment, and Annual Tax Statements.
• Social Security Online - SSA-1699 registration of Individuals and Staff for Appointed Representative Services.

You may also want to subscribe to receive regular updates to our Representatives Social Security Claimants webpage.

Our fax number for the submission of Form SSA-1694 (Request for Business Entity Taxpayer Information) has changed! Please make a note that the new number is 1-833-597-1429.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations require us to report any fees we pay of $600 or more to a representative in a calendar year. To help representatives and their employers or affiliated entities reconcile their financial accounts for tax purposes, we issue IRS Forms 1099-MISC or -NEC to the representatives and entities as appropriate. However, we can do that only if the entity is registered. As this year is ending, we encourage all representatives who work for or are affiliated with an entity to register it so that we can issue them the appropriate Form IRS-1099.

Please DO NOT send any representational forms, communications, or other documents to this fax number as it may delay or prevent the processing of the registration and other documents.

Appeals Council Change of address

11/3/2023 - The address for the Appeals Council has changed. To avoid processing delays, please use the following address for submitting appeals or fee petitions (Form SSA-1560):

Social Security Administration
Office of Appellate Operations
Attn: Attorney Fee Branch
6401 Security Blvd Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

As a reminder, the preferred method to request an Appeals Council Review of an Administrative Law Judge decision or dismissal is by using the SSA secure online process available at AC iAppeal Online.

e1696 Portal update

5/15/2023 - We updated the e1696 portal, which allows the online completion, signing, and submission of the SSA-1696, Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative form. Claimant representatives can now complete most sections of the electronic notice of appointment form. Submission of the form is still a two-step process, but claimants only need to decide on the disclosure option and sign the form. Additionally, the submission was previously accessible for five days after which representatives had to restart their submissions. The form is now accessible and available to the parties for 15 days.

Representing Social Security Claimants

New online service - Electronic filing of a representative's fee agreement  

5/4/2023 - The EDPNA examination for this year will be held from June 8 through June 14, 2023 and can be taken through a proctored online portal, either remotely (at home or another private location that meets our requirements) or at the testing center at Georgia Gwinnett College in Atlanta on Monday, June 12, 2023.

For more information, please visit Representing SSA Claimants - Direct Payment to Eligible Non-Attorney Representatives.

2/1/2023 - The required 2023 continuing education courses for EDPNAs are now available. To remain eligible for direct payment, an EDPNA must certify the completion of each of these courses by September 30, 2023. For more information, please visit Representing SSA Claimants - Direct Payment to Eligible Non-Attorney Representatives.

Announcement of the 2023 EDPNA Application and Examination

01/26/2023 - The EDPNA examination for this year will be held from June 8 through June 14, 2023. The examination can be taken through a proctored online portal, either remotely (at home or another private location that meets our requirements) or at a testing center. Testing centers will be located in the greater Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta areas. Access to your choice of one of these testing centers will be based on demand and availability.

Please specify if you want to take the exam remotely or if you want to go to a testing center when completing the form SSA-1691, under Section C.

We will accept applications received or postmarked between February 1 and February 28, 2023.

For more information, please visit Representing SSA Claimants - Direct Payment to Eligible Non-Attorney Representatives.

Representing Social Security Claimants

11/7/2022 - The EDPNA Program is now being serviced by StratComm, Inc. As part of the new contract, we have revised the EDPNA webpage Representing SSA Claimants - Direct Payment to Eligible Non-Attorney Representatives, which is accessible through the left-side tab "Information About Representation – Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorneys". All information about the EDPNA program is housed on this site, including links to continuing education courses and updated information regarding the annual examination, as it becomes available.

Increase in maximum fee for the fee agreement process

On June 30, 2022, we announced in the Federal Register that the maximum fee under the fee agreement process will increase to $7,200 beginning November 30, 2022. At that time, we may approve a fee agreement up to the new maximum fee limit if the fee agreement meets the statutory conditions for approval, no exceptions to the fee agreement process exist, and the favorable determination or decision is issued on or after this date.

Tips and Best Practices for Appointed Representatives

On April 12, 2022, we published a revised “Tips and Best Practices for Appointed Representatives” document. It is located under the Resources, Fact Sheets and Guides tab on this landing page. The fact sheet includes updated information about registration for direct fees, appointment procedure, and fee payment options.

EDPNA Examination

We are holding the 2024 EDPNA examination from June 6 through June 12 utilizing online proctors. The examination will be held remotely only, in the examinee's home or other remote location.

Examinees may choose from available time slots at 11:00am and 5:00pm EDT (8:00am and 2:00pm PDT) each day of testing. Approved applicants must register for a timeslot by June 1, 2024. Each session is limited to 30 examinees. Late registrations will not be accepted.

The application period begins February 1 through February 28. The application form is available at SSA-1691. For more information about application and examination go to EDPNA page.

On October 18, 2021, we released a new service to allow appointed representatives to initiate an electronic fee agreement (e1693). As with the e1696, representatives and their claimants can use this process to complete, sign, and submit the e1693 form entirely electronically. This is a multi-step process and allows the claimant and up to six representatives to sign the same fee agreement. The e1693 cannot be used if more than six representatives need to sign the fee agreement on a single claim.   We developed this service to provide added flexibility to our customers, but we will continue to accept paper submissions of fee agreements via mail, eFax, or uploaded through our filing portals and Electronic Records Express. The link to the e1693 is located near the top left of this page if you would like to bookmark it for future use.

Beginning on 3/11/21 we augmented these temporary procedures to include instructions for technicians to follow when certain additional electronically signed forms (SSA-16, SSA-8000, SSA-8001, SSA-L2, SSA-820, SSA-821, SSA-827, SSA-455) are submitted along with the electronically signed SSA-1696. We also added an additional claimant contact step. After one unsuccessful attempt at reaching the claimant over the telephone, we also will send a call-in letter to the claimant and the prospective representative.

These temporary procedures and more details can be found at COVID-19 Temporary Instructions.

New online service - Electronic filing of a representative's notice of appointment  
On March 8, 2021, we released a new service to allow representatives to initiate an SSA-1696 notice of appointment online where they and their claimants can complete, sign and submit the form electronically with no personal contact. This is a two-step process the representative must initiate. Once the claimant completes the second step and submits the signed document, the service will automatically route the document for processing. This service will help expedite the appointment process and give representatives and claimants flexibility. We will continue to accept submissions of appointment notices via mail, eFax, or uploaded through our filing portals and Electronic Records Express as before. The link to the e1696 is located at the top left of this page, so be sure to bookmark it!

Direct payment to Representatives and Forms IRS 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC

Effective January 2021, we must use the new Forms IRS 1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation) and revised IRS 1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Income) to report aggregate fees of more than $600 that we directly paid appointed representatives in 2020. The PowerPoint presentation on this landing page illustrates these changes and can help readers understand how income will be reported on these tax documents this year and onward.

Temporary procedure announced for written notices of appointment and fee agreements to enhance flexibility during the COVID-19 emergency

On May 21, 2020, we announced temporary procedures to allow claimants to use different methods to sign the notice of appointment of a representative and fee agreement, if the fee agreement is submitted with the new notice of appointment, during the current COVID-19 health emergency. While these procedures are in place, if we receive an appointment document (e.g., Form SSA 1696) and the claimant’s signature does not appear to be in pen-and-ink (e.g., looks like an electronic signature), we will make three attempts to contact the claimant to verify his or her identity and confirm the signature. If we verify the identity and signature, we will process the appointment as usual. If we cannot reach the claimant and he or she does not return our call, or does not verify the signature, we will return the paperwork to the person who submitted it without recognizing the appointment.

We also have temporary procedures in place permitting claimants to verbally appoint a representative during a “remote” telephone hearing with an administrative law judge, if they subsequently submit a written notice of appointment. In this situation, we also will accept an alternate (e.g., electronic) format of the claimant’s signature on the written appointment notice, but without the need for additional telephone contact.

Requiring Electronic Submission of Evidence by Certain Claimant Representatives

On October 5, 2020 we published a Federal Register Notice “Requiring Electronic Submission of Evidence by Certain Claimant Representatives." This notice announces a new requirement that all representatives who request direct fee payment must submit all evidence electronically in Title II and XVI disability claims using either Electronic Records Express (ERE), Appointed Representative Services (ARS) or iAppeals if the case is electronic and is pending at either the hearings or Appeals Council levels. The new requirement will be effective on November 4, 2020, 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Expanded Access to the Electronic File at the Initial and Reconsideration Levels

On 9/19/2020, we expanded access to the electronic claim file (eFolder) to include claims at the initial and reconsideration levels, as well as continuing disability review cases. A representative can now view documents in the Disability Related Development (section E) and Medical Evidence (section F) sections of the eFolder after we receive and process the written notice of appointment. If accessing a case at the initial or the reconsideration level is not possible, it is likely that we have not received or processed the appointment.

Access to documents at these levels is available to all appointed representatives who are already registered for eFolder access. We will continue the current process of registering representatives that have at least one case pending at the hearings level; however, representatives who are only appointed to cases at the initial and reconsideration levels are not eligible to register for eFolder access at this time.

It is important to remember that attempts within a 24-hour period, to access 10 records (Social Security Numbers) to which the representative is not appointed, will result in an account lockout, so representatives are advised to wait until they receive the notice confirming that we received and processed their appointment before accessing a record. A representative whose account has been blocked must contact the Electronic Records Express (ERE) Helpdesk to unblock the account.

Collateral Estoppel

On July 29, 2020, we updated the Program Operations Manual System (POMS) procedures on collateral estoppel determinations that updates and clarifies our policy, including that the jurisdiction lies solely with the Disability Determination Services (DDS) for initial and reconsideration claims.

The updates to collateral estoppel are in sections DI 11011.001, DI 12045.005, and DI 27515.000.  It applies to all new filings and pending claims on or after July 29, 2020.