Social Security Launches New Conversational Approach for Filling Out Forms
Earlier this summer, the Social Security Administration (SSA) updated its online digital services with new webforms which allow users to use plain language and step-by-step digital prompts to make filing for benefits and managing them easier. With this new AI-driven approach, the SSA says, “form items will be presented as questions to the customer in a more easily understood, conversational style.” Using simpler everyday language, the system guides users through questions one at a time rather than presenting a long, confusing form.
The SSA goes on to explain that “[a]lthough form questions will be presented in a new conversational manner, the resulting PDF generated after submission will be identical to the paper and fillable PDF versions of the form. Customers will be presented with a preview of the final PDF prior to submission to see how their responses to conversational form questions are reflected on the form, and to observe how form items corresponded to the conversational webform questions on screen. Customers will have the opportunity to edit any responses prior to submission.”
SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano characterized the change as one of several technological changes designed to provide a “streamlined customer experience.” This new method of filling out forms is part of Bisignano’s objective, laid out in congressional testimony in July, to remake the SSA into a “digital-first” organization using technology to “rapidly transform our service delivery model to improve customer service across all channels,” which he claims will make filing and managing your benefits easier.
But Be Careful
Nash Attorney Lawrence Mabes cautions, “the SSA sends out a lot of tedious forms which can affect the benefits you have rightfully earned. It is in your best interest not to just do them yourself online or otherwise. You know the answers, but we, as an experienced disability law firm, can help guide you through them so that your situation is properly explained. To protect your interests, it is far more important that you fill out the SSA’s forms correctly rather than easily.”
If you’re struggling to get the disability benefits you have earned, you don’t need to take on Social Security alone. The expert disability attorneys at Nash Disability Law will fight for your rights. Contact us today for a free and honest evaluation of your disability claim and when you hire us, we only get paid when you win your case.
