• A copy of the applicant's insurance policy for professional liability coverage or equivalent insurance in the minimum amount and type specified;
• Official college and/or university transcript(s) showing the stamp or raised seal of the institution, or otherwise establishing that it is an official copy;
• Official high school transcript or GED certificate or an equivalent graduation record from an official source (e.g., board of education), if the applicant has not attended a college or university;
• Names and complete Social Security numbers of five claimants for whom the applicant has provided representational services and the dates of such services;
• Application Fee payment of $1000.

Applicants, who have submitted their application form and paid the $1000 application fee by the application deadline, will have an additional period of time to perfect an otherwise incomplete application package. See the July 28, 2005 Federal Register Notice (70 FR, 41250, 41251) for additional information about curing defective application packages.

Applicants who fail to submit their application form and pay the fee by the application deadline will have their applications rejected. However, they may re-apply to participate in the demonstration project during a subsequent application period.

1. Read the Instructions.
2. Gather your information early.

Application Fee Payment

3. Pay online, but if you must pay by check, your payment must be by business check, money order or credit card. Personal checks will not be accepted and will be returned. Your application fee is generally not refundable.

Identifying Information

4. We may need to contact you. Be sure your telephone number(s) include the area code, is correct and can be used to contact you, if necessary, during normal business hours.
5. Verify that your email address and social security number are correct.
6. Submit your application on-line, if at all possible. Processing of your application is facilitated when you submit it on line.

High School/College Transcripts

7. Request your transcript(s) early. Don’t wait until the application period opens to request your transcripts. It can take 60 days or more to receive your transcripts.

Representational Experience

8. Provide the full social security number of the five (5) claimants you represented to support the representational experience requirement. Personal contact with SSA can be avoided if you provide copies of documents proving your representational experience. A notice that you received of an initial or reconsideration determination, an ALJ hearing or an ALJ or Appeals Council decision because you were the appointed representative of the claimant can be used as proof of representation. If you received a notice of decision but it does not reflect that you were claimant’s representative, include the SSA-1696 showing your representation at the time the decision was entered. The filing of an application on the claimant’s behalf, if no determination has been made, is not sufficient to count as representational experience for the demonstration project.
9. Remember, your representational experience must have occurred within 24 consecutive months during the 5 years before the date you submit your application. Representational experience after you submitted your application cannot be counted for the current application period.

Work History

10. If your employer has a company processing your payroll or your earnings are reported to the Internal Revenue Service under a parent company name, explain that in the comments section of your application. If the work history on your application does not match that reported to IRS, personal contact will have to be made by either SSA or CPS, which could result in a delay in processing your application.

Insurance

11. You must submit a certificate of insurance, binder of insurance, or the actual policy showing the following:
    • Effective dates of the insurance policy
    • Policy number
    • Limits of liability insurance

Proposals or quotes for insurance are not acceptable. Your liability insurance must be in effect at the time you submit your application and when you receive notification of your test results. If you pass the examination, but your liability insurance has lapsed, you will not be eligible to participate in the demonstration project.