SSA and the US government have been saying it for a long time: all benefits

Social Security and the United States Government have been promoting a new initiative called Payroll Information Exchange (PIE). This system seeks to improve the administration of benefit programs and reduce improper payments.

PIE is an automated system that allows the Social Security Administration (SSA) to obtain information about wages and employment directly from payroll data providers, such as Equifax. This is done by automatically comparing SSA records with those of these providers.

SSA warns: Payroll Information Exchange benefits you greatly

The goal of PIE is to prevent incorrect payments in programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI. Errors in income information, whether due to late or incorrect reports, are a common cause of improper payments.

These errors can lead beneficiaries to have to return money, which creates financial difficulties. With PIE, SSA can access accurate and up-to-date data on beneficiaries' income, allowing timely payment adjustments and reducing the need for reimbursements.

Many are already taking advantage: take note of SSA

Many beneficiaries have chosen to authorize the SSA to access their payroll information through PIE. This allows them to reduce the burden of manually reporting their income and decreases the risk of errors that could result in improper payments.

Additionally, those who authorize the use of PIE can benefit from reduced liability in case of errors in the information provided by data providers. To participate in PIE, beneficiaries must grant authorization to SSA to access their payroll information.

How to give permission to SSA?

This authorization can be provided during the benefits application process or at any later time. It is important to note that granting this authorization doesn't affect eligibility to receive benefits.

SSA provides detailed information on how to grant this authorization and the associated privacy rights in its Program Operations Manual.

Payroll Information Exchange is a tool that offers multiple benefits for both SSA and beneficiaries. Authorizing the use of PIE is a decision that can simplify beneficiaries' lives and provide them with greater financial security.