New York Elder Law Attorney
In an effort to make life easier for Social Security beneficiaries, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced a change to how signatures are gathered. On 30 forms, electronic i signatures will be accepted and no signature will be required at all for 13 forms. The intent is to make applications simpler and remove one less reason for claims to be sent back or denied.
The 30 forms make up 90% of the most frequently used forms in SSA field offices, which represent approximately 14 million signed forms annually.
The signature requirement for 13 of the most commonly forms, which make up about 1 million form submissions annual, has been removed. Signatures are no longer needed for these forms:
- SSA-787, Statement of Patient’s Capability to Manage Benefits
- SSA-L4201, Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information
- SSA-789, Request for Reconsideration for Disability Cessation
- SSA-3885, Government Pension Questionnaire
- SSA-150, Modified Benefits Formula Questionnaire
These are among the forms that may be signed and submitted electronically:
- SSA-827, Authorization to Disclose Information to Social Security Administration
- SSA-820/821, Work Activity Reports
- SSA-632, Request for a Waiver of Overpayment Recovery
- SSA-634, Request for Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate
SSA reports that additional signature requirements are being reviewed with the goal of making life easier for recipients. As an early technology adapter, we are pleased to see any efforts to streamline any government agency, and especially one that so many depend upon.