When it comes to signed forms Social Security has always been a stickler about its wet signature requirements on documents, but a new executive order from President Joe Biden will force the agency to limit its wet signature requirement to improve customer service at federal agencies.
The move by the Biden Administration may not seem like a big deal, but Social Security’s wet signature requirement has made it even more difficult to apply for benefits and to obtain effective customer service. The need for this executive order was really highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused all of us to change how we operate in some form or fashion. Below is the portion of Biden’s executive order that addresses Social Security’s signature requirements on documents.
(k) The Commissioner of Social Security shall:
(i) within 120 days of the date of this order, provide a report to the Director of OMB that analyzes all services of the Social Security Administration that currently require original or physical documentation or in-person appearance as an element of identity or evidence authentication, and that identifies potential opportunities for policy reforms that can support modernized customer experiences while ensuring original or physical documentation requirements remain where there is a statutory or strong policy rationale;
(ii) develop a mobile-accessible, online process so that any individual applying for or receiving services from the Social Security Administration can upload forms, documentation, evidence, or correspondence associated with their transaction without the need for service-specific tools or traveling to a field office;
(iii) consistent with applicable law and to the extent practicable, maintain a public policy of technology neutrality with respect to acceptable forms of electronic signatures;
(iv) consistent with applicable law and to the extent practicable, revise any necessary regulations, forms, instructions, or other sources of guidance (to include the Program Operations Manual System of the Social Security Administration) to remove requirements that members of the public provide physical signatures; and
(v) to the maximum extent permitted by law, support applicants and beneficiaries to identify other benefits for which they may be eligible and integrate Social Security Administration data and processes with those of other Federal and State entities whenever possible.
