The Social Security Administration is hoping to make applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) a whole lot easier, announcing it will start offering online, streamlined applications for some applicants.
The SSA is looking to simplify the process by introducing the iClaim expansion, which aims to establish a fully online application.
The “iClaim Expansion for SSI” release is the first step to address longstanding requests from the public and the advocate community to make the SSI application easier and more accessible. This release will:
- Add SSI specific questions to determine basic eligibility.
- Prepopulate answers based on information already in our records and provided by the applicant.
- Remove the non-U.S. citizen online filing exclusion.
- Clarify the application process by incorporating new screens focused on Income and Resources information.
The much-needed improvements mentioned are just for the first phase of SSI simplification.
“Over the past year, we have asked many applicants and advocates—as well as our workforce—how we could make the SSI application process easier and simpler. Now, we are taking an important first step to do just that,” said Martin O’Malley, commissioner of Social Security, in a news release. “People in our communities who need this crucial safety net deserve the dignity of an application process that is less burdensome and more accessible than what we now have, and we’re committed to achieving that vision over the next few years.”
The rollout of the iClaim expansion will generally be available to first-time applicants between 18 and almost 65 who never married and are concurrently applying for Social Security benefits and SSI. A goal of the second phase—currently targeted for late 2025—is to expand to include all applicants.
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I did this streamlined process and they made a mistake on my application. Now I have had two appointments with my local SSA office to try to get this corrected and their in no big hurry to fix what they messed up. Which means that my retirement plans will more than likely be pushed back until they decide to correct their mistake. My local office informed me that my first mistake was filling out my retirement application online. Local cannot fix what the online folks mess up. Take that for what it is worth.
Good idea, let’s try to drain the system even more, we wouldn’t want the SS be solvent.
@Paul;
I love the 1st Amendment too. I just choose to learn and understand more about the particulars before posting my comments. Earlier in life, I did agree with the basis of your perspective and shared the same view for many many years. It’s only in more recent years with failing health, becoming “unemployable” and lack of other options that I am just now realizing the benefits of all my years hard work and the intended value of the system. I am only now realizing the short-sighted view that I carried for so many years and thee false stigma that I have associated with SSI and the people that collect it. I won’t get into currency depreciation/inflation or any of that, as there are far too many sources of info on that. But this mere increase of pennies on the dollar is at a lesser curve versus inflation. Seriously, do the research.
Now I am not writing this to be facetious (jerk/troll) or anything like that, but rather that I had the same perspective until I finally began to learn more. I encourage everyone to do the same! On the flip side of the same coin, while working through the “system” I have seen plenty of abuse of the program. So obviously not an infallible system and plenty of room for improvement. Have a great day sir. :-)
“Social security” was originally supposed to be a supplemental pension/retirement program for older/retired workers which would be secondary to their company pension and/or savings they conscientiously stashed away during their working years.
But as with ALL government “programs” it starts out small and slow and metastasizes into a monster. Just like the personal income tax which started at 1% and only for the extremely wealthy, now most people are ensnared.
SSI, while compassionate in theory, is destroying basic SS. It is so easy to qualify for permanent “disability” now. Just navigate with the right paper work and you too can join the club. It’s like a life boat selflessly taking on more and more people until it sinks and all die.