The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application is going through a makeover. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced they’re making major changes. Soon, the application will be easier and faster to complete, making a tedious and terrifying prospect just a little simpler.
What to Expect from the New SSI Online Application
The current application for SSI must be completed on paper. The savviest applicants work with an experienced SSI attorney to make sure they do every part of the application correctly. With the changes, instead of a drawn-out process, SSA has expanded the online portal iClaim. This intuitive application allows individuals to:
- Complete the SSI application wholly online.
- Apply for other Social Security benefits.
- Read plain-language questions.
- Select from prepopulated answers.
- Work through step-by-step transitions.
- Not miss a thing.
Saving Time and Securing Benefits Faster
The Social Security Commissioner and team have asked SSI applicants, advocates, and SSA employees how they would make the SSI application process easier. Their suggestions, concerns, and hopes resulted in iClaim upgrades as the first step to making things better. Here are other perks of the system that save time and get applicants their benefits faster:
- Smart: Claimants are only asked questions that are relevant to them.
- Empathetic: Help those with a debilitating illness that negatively impacts their ability to work with a far less burdensome system.
- Accessible: If you have a computer or phone, you can look at this application from either and see whether the online format is right for you.
Flaws in the Upgrade
There are, of course, some drawbacks and bugs to work out as the SSI system launches, but taking the application process online is still a major perk. Some annoyances:
- Once the online application is complete, the SSA mails a copy of the SSI application to the applicant. The application must be signed and mailed back to take its position in the queue. This makes some potential applicants concerned about the U.S. mail and delays.
- Basic eligibility questions for SSI are the focus, which may concern applicants who are eager to highlight their unique circumstances to improve their likelihood of being approved.
- Rollout for the new program is scheduled to begin in December 2024 and is only available to first-time applicants between the ages of 18 and 65 who never married and are applying for Social Security benefits simultaneously.
Get Help in Real Time from an SSI Attorney
Remember, no matter what type of Social Security disability benefits you seek, it is smart to work with an attorney who can guide you the entire way through and increase your chances of achieving full benefits. As outlined above, there are flaws in every system and rules that may not apply to you, so instead of waiting for the SSA to expand their online offerings to all applicants, get moving on your SSI application right now with live help.
Over two million SSI applications are filed every year – don’t get lost in the mix. Contact Thurswell Law to support you. Schedule a consultation by calling (248) 354-2222 today. We do not charge any fees until we win.