Appointed Representative Services (ARS)

Appointed Representative Services (ARS)

Appointed Representative Services (ARS) is "an application that allows appointed representatives to view electronic folder (eFolder) documents in real time, to download eFolder contents including multimedia files, and upload medical evidence and other documents directly into a claimant's eFolder.

Using ARS will give you real time and up-to-date access to your claimant's electronic folders for cases pending at the initial, reconsideration, hearings, and appeals levels. Representatives may also download status reports with key information regarding their pending and recently closed cases at the hearings and appeals levels.

Appointed Representative Rep ID

Eligibility and Access

• Anyone who serves as an Appointed Representative for disability claimants must register as a Representative by faxing the SSA-1699: Representative Registration form to 1-877-268-3827. (Read more about Representative Registration).
• Representatives who do not request direct payment of authorized fees (i.e., SOAR providers) are encouraged to review this annotated SSA-1699 form for guidance on completion.

Key Uses

• The Appointed Representative Rep ID is required for the SSA-1696. The Rep ID helps SSA with a streamlined process for adding the representative to the claim in their electronic system. 
• This helps to ensure that SSA and the state Disability Determination Services (DDS) are aware of who is serving as the representative and should get copies of notices sent to the claimant.

Appeals and Appointed Representative Processing Services (AARPS) Portal

Eligibility and Access

• Representatives who have an Appointed Representative Rep ID can register with the AARPS portal. 
• To use AARPS, representatives must be in good standing, registered as an Appointed Representative, and have an active or past association with a claimant. 
• Representatives will need a Login.gov or ID.me account to access the AARPS portal. If they do not have one of these accounts, they will be prompted to create one. 

Key Uses

• AARPS allows representatives to view their current claimant appointments, check the status of their claims and appeals, and create and print reports of selected appointments. There are additional features for business and fee payment information that will not apply to SOAR providers. 

Electronic Folder (eFolder)

Eligibility and Access

• Representatives who have assisted with at least one Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing (or higher level of appeal) can obtain eFolder access for all disability claims they assist with.
• Only those listed as the primary representative on the SSA-1696 can access a claimant’s eFolder.
• Representatives that assist with ALJ appeals and do not request direct pay (e.g., SOAR providers) are not required to enroll in ARS for eFolder access but are still encouraged to do so.
• Providers that only represent disability claims at the initial or reconsideration levels are not eligible to receive eFolder access. 
• Read more about ARS and enrolling in eFolder access.

Key Uses

• eFolder access gives representatives up-to-date access to a disability claimant’s eFolder for disability claims pending at the initial, reconsideration, hearing, and Appeals Council levels.
• Representatives can upload medical evidence and other documents (e.g., SOAR Medical Summary Report) into the eFolder and download eFolder contents (e.g., listings and status reports with key information regarding pending and recently closed claims).