The federal agency announced that starting in December 2024, the SSI application process will move entirely online through the iClaim platform.
This tool will be available for individuals aged 18 to 65 applying for both retirement and SSI benefits. It features user-friendly questions, pre-filled responses, clear instructions, and simple language to speed up the process.
The goal is to reduce the time needed for claim processing and initial decisions.
Over the past year, the agency gathered input from applicants, advocates, and staff to improve the SSI application. Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley stated that this is a significant first step.
The initial phase will launch in December 2024, with the second phase, covering all claimants, set for late 2025. In July alone, 4.9 mn people received SSI benefits, while an additional 65 mn received retirement benefits.
The federal agency expects iClaim to shorten the application process for millions of SSI recipients. The second phase aims to include all claimants by late 2025.
Future updates will integrate lessons from iClaim to streamline applications across paper, phone, mobile, and in-person formats. The government also plans to create a simplified application for children, using feedback from its customer experience team, particularly from low-income communities, to improve communication between applicants and Social Security staff.
In addition to iClaim, the government will revise its SSDI and SSI evaluation processes. Applicants must meet disability requirements and have at least 40 work credits.
A new rule, effective June 2024, will streamline disability claims by focusing on recent work history and reducing unnecessary data collection. This change aims to improve case processing times and customer service by limiting the evaluation of work history to five years and prioritizing current work activity for SSI payments.
by Yana Keller
