Maybe I missed some announcement but I just discovered that Social Security has an online e-1696 form. The 1696 form is the one that claimants sign to appoint an attorney or other representative. It's basic and important for those of us who represent claimants. Social Security processes hundreds of thousands of them a year.
The only problem I see is that the e-1696 relies upon docusign or something like docusign to get the claimant's signature. I've tried to use docusign for other paperwork and found that it flummoxes my clients. Few of them are able to handle it. I think that may tell you something about the ability of Social Security claimants to handle online systems.
9 comments:
Serious question, no disrespect intended. If they are hiring you for their case, can’t you help them with the docusign? Can someone walk them through it? Can they come in and do it in the office?
Not being able to use docusign is not in anyway indicative of a person’s ability to use online services or work or anything else really.
@10:48....Docusign is used when we cant physically meet with the clients. Otherwise, they would just sign the paper form. So having the person come in and do it at the office defeats the whole purpose.
You may have to change the name of this site to "Social Security OLD News" because this online form has been around for a while.
Our office has used electronic signatures and I am surprised at how well most claimants do with them as long as you guide them through the process over the phone.
@10:48
Agreed, lawyers and SSA staff should help people with Docusign. With such help it will be an accessible service to most people with disabilities.
My opinion differs from yours on what not being able to use Docusign without help may indicate. According to Docusign's website, electronically signing a document is a 7 step process. If a person can't do that without help due to a learning disability or other mental illness, it would be some proof supporting a restriction to jobs with a low reasoning level, and may indicate impaired ability to learn, understand, and use information.
This is nothing new. We've been using this for quite a while. Most claimants can manage to use DocuSign. If they can't, we just mail a paper one to them and a postage-paid return envelope.
I use Hellosign for all e-sigs (which are basically 100% of are signatures at this point). Very few clients have problems with it. E-sign via SSA's docusign system is more time consuming b/c the form does not save attorney data--so you have to fill out in full every single time.
Many SSA employees arent even aware of the e-1696.
Unless you are a true digital native, all of this technology is very confusing. This is especially true as one ages.
SSA's online e-1696 leaves much to be desired, but it's a step in the right direction. It's been around for a while, though.
I've been using Adobe Sign and have had wonderful results. Significantly more clients are able to sign and return paperwork as compared to sending out paper packets in the ever-more-unreliable USPS. It's quite simple to walk clients through the process.
My only complaint is that there are some SSA offices that still refuse to accept e-signatures, despite it being very clear that they are allowed.
I think because when it’s an e-signature we still have to contact the claimant to verify intent. So then it’s essentially worthless to the CS if we can’t reach the claimant. And we can’t reach the claimants a high percentage of the time.
However, I know many CS’s that just don’t care to verify stuff and just accept anything and everything and then bet on the fact it will never be reviewed. Again, a high percentage that it won’t.
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