The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced progress this year to reduce customer burden by transitioning wet (physical) signature requirements to digital signatures for over 30 forms as well as removing the signature requirements altogether for 13 forms. These actions simplify application processes for people, including removing a potential reason for claims to be sent back or denied.
SSA will now allow an electronic signature rather than a wet signature for more than 30 forms, which make up 90% of the most commonly used forms by SSA customers in local field offices. Collectively, these forms represent about 14 million signed forms submitted annually.
These efforts complement other initiatives to modernize and streamline operations. The agency is expanding paperless communication options for the millions of my Social Security users so they can see their online Social Security Statement, track the status of their claims, and calculate potential retirement benefits. Notices from across 60 categories are now provided through my Social Security for easy online access by customers, including the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, their SSA-1099, Benefit Rate Increases, Appointment Confirmations, and more.
To hear directly from Commissioner O’Malley and learn more about the efforts to remove wet signature requirements, visit the agency’s YouTube page.
For more information on online services visit SSA Online Services.
See the SSA press release here.