Qualifications
See if you are allowed to serve as a representative by reviewing these qualifications:
Appointment of Representative
Authorized representatives must submit the Appointment Of Representative – Form SSA-1696 directly to the Social Security Administration, and it must be signed by the individual applying for benefits.
NOTE: Do not submit this form to the Disability Determination Services.
Status Updates for Representatives
To receive bi-weekly electronic status reports for closed and pending claims from The Virginia DDS, complete a Claim Status Report Registration Form and email it to VA.DDS.claims.status@ssa.gov.
Please note that this inbox only accepts incoming emails and is designated specifically for the submission of the Claim Status Report Registration Form. We are unable to respond to any inquiries or other requests sent to this email address. In addition, routine status on claims is not provided via fax or phone calls.
Get more information on what the status report will include here:
Virginia Disability Advocacy Committee (VDAC)
The Virginia Disability Advocacy Committee (VDAC) is an initiative established by The Virginia DDS to facilitate enhanced communication and collaboration among authorized representatives, VA DDS leadership, and Social Security Administration (SSA) components. VDAC holds biannual meetings, which are open to authorized representatives, congressional and senatorial offices, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders interested in the Social Security Disability process. In the past, the VA DDS Professional Relations Team has presented on various topics based on the attendees’ interests to include ERE, work history forms, 1696 forms, failure to cooperate policy, consultative examinations, as well as the life of a case.
These meetings provide a forum for sharing updates on workload processes, addressing current challenges, and fostering collaborative discussions aimed at developing innovative solutions to better serve the disability community in Virginia. Since the inception of VDAC, all attendees have reported a reduction in phone inquiries and an overall improvement in customer satisfaction. VDAC has enhanced representatives access within ERE and inspired the creation of the Virginia DDS authorized representative report, which is provides representatives with updates on the status of their pending and closed cases. Building strong relationships with local representatives and advocates supports mutual success in serving our community.
The next VDAC meeting is scheduled for November 5, 2026. If you are interested learning more or would like to sign-up to attend virtually or in-person at one of our DDS offices, please email our Professional Relations Manager, Kyle Lawrence.
This program is managed by the Disability Determination Services division.