Going mobile
The order calls for the development of digital and mobile processes that allow people to apply for and receive their Social Security benefits, upload forms, obtain documents, and make inquiries, among other services, online, so they don’t have to travel to a field office or conduct their business by mail.
In addition, it removes the requirement to provide physical signatures, in most cases, in favor of electronic signatures. Furthermore, it allows the SSA to share information with other government agencies and help people find other benefits that they are eligible to receive.
Overall, the order calls for a review of all services within the SSA that “require original or physical documentation or in-person appearance as an element of identity or evidence authentication.” The goal is to look for policy reforms that modernize customer experiences and reduce some of the backlog that currently exists.
“For millions of people who retire each year, you should be able to apply for Social Security benefits without needing to go to a Social Security office and have Medicare proactively reach out to you with the tools you need to manage your health and save money,” Biden said at the Dec. 13 signing ceremony.
