The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) near-term tech priorities feature website improvements, implementation of e-signatures capabilities, and creation of a new web portal.
Released on Aug. 14, SSA’s 2024 Action Plan includes 170 items intended to improve call services and electronic accessibility, and to simplify identity authentication and authorization.
The action plan, the agency said, “lays out SSA’s top priorities for the remainder of 2024 and points to the road beyond.”
Among other tech-driven items, SSA said it aims to take advantage of the United States Web Design System (USWDS) to guide its website work. USWDS is run by the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Technology Transformation Services organization and features a library of principles, guidance, and code that makes it easier to build accessible government websites.
In addition to the website update, SSA wants to simplify first and third-party identification authentication and authorization to conduct market research with other agencies and the private sector to ensure compliance with the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) guidelines, improving data cybersecurity while allowing easy access for users.
SSA’s digital identity program allows users to access electronic services using the “my Social Security” portal, with enhancements such as driver’s license verification and integration with Login.gov to streamline registration and increase usability across government agencies.
Improvements to this system aim to expand online services in the portal, allowing users to update supplemental security income information, submit documents, track claim statuses, and complete forms online.
Electronic verification will be enabled for third-party representatives who can access a planned new Appeals and Appointed Representative Processing Services (AARPS) portal.
These priorities will include “control improvements” that align best with NIST’s latest digital identity guidelines for improved cyber and data security, said SSA.
In March, SSA launched an e-signature and document upload tool across local offices which currently requires the help of an SSA technician to use. The agency’s 2024 Action Plan says that SSA wants to make the use of e-signatures a self-service option and enable the service to be used for additional forms – currently 50 forms and 79 “evidence types” are able to be signed using an electronic signature. Thirteen new forms have already been approved for e-signatures.
Continued user access through planned improved and expanded online services include self-service appointment management, secure messaging with SSA staff, more detailed claim status trackers, and automatic address update syncing.
SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley has requested additional funding from Congress in the fiscal year 2025 budget request to enact the action plan, which was put together from 5,000 recommendations from employees and additional agency stakeholders.
SSA’s Office of Transformation is in charge of coordinating and tracking progress on the latest tech priorities.
