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Client Service September 5, 2024
Social Security Administration Reduces Signature Requirements to Streamline Services
The shift, including accepting more electronic signatures, is part of a larger effort to streamline application processes.
Reported by Natalie Lin
The Social Security Administration is allowing the submission of digital signatures instead of physical ones for commonly used forms and removing signature requirements altogether for others as part of a broader effort to reduce customer burden and simplify the application process.
More than 30 of the SSA’s most-used forms now accept electronic signatures, representing about 90% of the forms submitted by customers in local field offices, totaling roughly 14 million signed forms each year. Additionally, the agency has completely removed signature requirements for 13 forms, which account for approximately 1 million submissions annually.
Among these forms are Form SSA-787 (Medical Source Opinion of Patient’s Capability to Manage Benefits), with an annual volume of 768,000, and Form SSA-L4201 (Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information), with 133,000 annual submissions.
“Across forms that Americans use most often, we’re eliminating as many pain points as possible, from helping people sign at the click of a button to reducing the need to drive or mail something in whenever possible,” Martin O’Malley, the Social Security Administration Commissioner, said in a statement. “This means faster and more error-free processing and better service for our customers, who deserve a government that meets their needs efficiently and effectively.”
As part of these efforts, customers can now upload many of the forms online, further reducing the need for in-person visits or mail-in submissions. Looking ahead, the SSA is considering removing signature requirements for additional forms, potentially easing requirements for another 1 million transactions.
These changes are part of the SSA’s broader initiative to modernize its services, which includes expanding paperless communication options for users of the “my Social Security” portal. Through the portal, customers can access their Social Security statements, track claims and calculate retirement benefits.
Notices from 60 categories, including cost-of-living adjustments, SSA-1099 forms and benefit rate increases, are now available online. New account holders can opt for online-only communication with a single click, while existing users are encouraged to make the switch.
The SSA’s efforts align with the federal government’s push to improve public service delivery through the Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience, along with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.
According to the SSA, while eliminating unnecessary requirements, these new efforts will continue to uphold strong anti-fraud measures. In August, the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General sent a warning to workplaces that hybrid scams are on the rise and employees should be aware of messages from criminals posing as Social Security Administration employees.
Scammers’ tactics include using fake Amazon or PayPal tech support emails and text messages to connect people with a fake SSA employee; that person will try to convince users that their Social Security number or record was compromised, according to the inspector general’s alert.
