WASHINGTON – Senators Mike Braun and Bob Casey Jr. sent a letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) on their lack of compliance with congressional and executive direction to allow electronic signatures to complete transactions when possible.
Not only does an outdated wet signature requirement add an avoidable burden to SSA employees, but it also burdens anyone filling out forms.
“We write regarding reports of the Social Security Administration (SSA) departing from congressional and executive direction to federal agencies on the use of electronic signatures (e-signatures) for the completion of vital transactions when possible,” the Senators wrote. “We are especially concerned that outdated SSA wet signature requirements for some forms are burdensome for SSA employees and are contributing to ongoing backlogs and delays in access to benefits for recipients and potential recipients with disabilities.”
“There are four recent congressional and executive branch authorizations providing federal agencies with flexibility to allow and facilitate the use of e-signatures. One such action is President Biden’s December 16, 2021, executive order directing SSA, to the extent practicable, to remove and revise regulations requiring physical signatures. Yet there have been reports of SSA offices still requiring completion of many forms with a wet signature of blue or black ink and requiring submission by mail rather than electronically,” the Senators continued.
“SSA employees are currently struggling to meet service demands because of various factors. Outdated technology may be one contributory factor, making it even more necessary that SSA provide e-signature and digital options to recipients who choose to utilize that technology. This is not without precedent; SSA effectively enacted the adoption of e-signatures during the pandemic with reported success. We urge SSA to provide greater flexibility, consistent with congressional and executive policy, and provide the option of e-signatures on all documents possible,” the Senators concluded.
