Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question
Why did the end-user continue to receive a “name
failure” when all verifications attempts imply the name is correct?
Answer
All identifying information must match the
SSN provided. If the SSN is a valid number SSA assumes it’s correct and begins
to match against
the other identifying information; such as Name and Date of Birth. The SSN
provided could belong to a different individual in which case the name would not match.
The user should re-check the SSN as well as the name before resubmitting.
Here are some helpful hints in finding the
right SSN:
• Always take the SSN from
the Social Security Card of the decedent, when possible.
• If
the SSN provided is from SSA correspondence or the Medicare Card of the
decedent, use only when A, T, TA, M or M1 follows the number.
• Other documents that may show the SSN of the
decedent are marriage certificate, driver’s license, birth certificate of the decedent’s children, income tax
statements, bank statements etc.
Question
What should the end-user do if they continue to
receive a failed SSN response?
Answer
The SSN that was provided is incorrect. A
failed SSN response code is returned only when the SSN provided has never been
issued by SSA.
Here are some helpful hints in finding the
right SSN:
• Always take the SSN from
the Social Security Card of the decedent, when possible.
• If
the SSN provided is from SSA correspondence or the Medicare Card of the
decedent, use only when A, T, TA, M or M1 follows the number.
• Other documents that may show the SSN of the
decedent are marriage certificate, driver’s license, birth certificate of the decedent’s children, income tax
statements, bank statements etc.
Question
If the correct gender code is provided, why does
the end-user continue to receive a gender failure response?
Answer
If the SSA record has a gender code of “U”
for (unknown), a fail SSN response code will be returned regardless of the
gender code input by the user. In this
situation the death certificate will have to be processed as non-EDRS case.
Question
The end-user received a response that the system is
down or unavailable. When will it be available?
Answer
Question
The end-user used several name variations
for the same SSN and now the submission won’t process. How can the end-user
get the system to
process their submission?
Answer
SSA allows the end-user five chances to
successfully verify an SSN. If they are unsuccessful after the fifth attempt
the death certificate
will have to be processed as a non-EDRS case.