SSA makes progress with electronic filing, IG says
The Social Security Administration has successfully implemented several programs to boost electronic filing of appeals, a report states.
More than half of the appeals of disability benefits decisions made by the Social Security Administration are being filed electronically due to the agency’s progress in implementing the iAppeals application, according to a report.
In the first eight months of fiscal 2011, the SSA’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review recorded 52 percent of appeals filed electronically through iAppeals, up from 30 percent in fiscal 2008, according to the report from SSA's Office of Inspector General released Aug. 22.
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For example, SSA also maintains electronic copies of hearing-related notices in its eFolders application. For at least one type of notice, it generates them automatically, reducing the time spent by hearing office staff members on such tasks, the report states.
“SSA has made progress in its efforts to provide electronic services to claimant representatives,” the report concluded, citing iAppeals, eFolders and other programs.
Future efforts should focus on expanding those services, allowing for online registration, increasing the amount of data available in the eFolders, and reducing the amount of data produced on paper and compact discs, the report said.