The Social Security Administration (SSA) will now accept electronic signatures from commercial software products on certain forms.  The signature must affix the signer’s name in the signature area of the form, and affix the date and time the form was signed.   The date and time can be on an appended page submitted with the form.  The submitter must ensure that the commercial product can generate an audit trail and must maintain a digital certificate.  The submitter must keep the audit trail and digital certificate for three years.

Commercial electronic signatures may be used on the following forms: SSA-1696 Appointment of Representative, SSA-1693 fee agreement, SSA-16 application for SSDI,. SSA-8000 or 8001 application for SSI, and SSA-820 and 821 Work Activity Reports.

SSA will accept commercial electronic signatures on forms received on or after January 18, 2025.  For forms submitted before January 18, 2025, SSA will accept forms that have been previously verified or forms that meet the commercial electronic signature requirements.

If a form does not meet the commercial electronic signature requirements, SSA will not process it.  SSA will notify the submitter that the form is rejected and explain why.  (POMS DI 11005.017, December 10, 2025)

Social Security can use Vocational Specialists (VS) and Vocational Experts (VE) as sources of job-related evidence.  Since 2000, SSR 00-4p required adjudicators to identify and explain any conflicts between VS and VE testimony and the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, and explain how any conflicts are resolved.

While Social Security continues to recognize the Dictionary of Occupational Titles as a valid and reliable source of information, it is not the only reliable source of information.  Other sources of occupational information that use the Standard Occupational Classification system such as U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and the Occupational Requirements Survey.  VEs and VSs may use any reliable source of occupational information that is commonly used by vocational professionals.  Adjudicators must weigh the VE or VS evidence in the context of the overall record and determine whether it can support a conclusion about whether the claimant can perform their past relevant work, or whether the claimant can adjust to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.

VSs and VEs must identify the sources of the data they use and explain their general approach to estimating job numbers.  The Dictionary of Occupational Titles uses a different classification system than the Standard Occupational Classification system.  VEs need to explain their general approach of how they compared the Dictionary of Occupational Titles data to the data about job numbers in the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. A more detailed inquiry into their sources of data or approaches is not usually required.

At the hearing level, when a claimant is represented, the representative must raise any relevant questions or challenges about the VEs testimony at the time of the hearing and to assist in developing the record through appropriate questioning of the VE.  If the VS or VE does not provide the expected information and explanation, the adjudication will usually need to develop the record with sufficient evidence to make a supported finding about whether the claimant can perform their past relevant work, or whether the claimant can adjust to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.

SSR 00-04p is rescinded.  (SSR 24-3p, January 6, 2025.)

The Social Security Administration has issued a new form to request payment continuation, that is, that benefits continue while reconsideration or a hearing is pending.  The form is called the SSA-792.  It is a mandatory form to request payment continuation.  (Social Security letter, June 18, 2025.)

Effective April 25, 2025, the default withholding amount from ongoing Title II (Social Security Disability and derivative) benefits to recoup overpayments will be 50% of the monthly benefit.  The 50% rate will begin unless the individual requests a lower rate of repayment, reconsideration, or waiver of the overpayment within 90 days.

Prior overpayments will continue to have the 10% withholding rate.  The 50% percent withholding rate will apply to individuals who incur a new overpayment and have a prior outstanding overpayment.

The overpayment recovery rate for Title XVI cases (Supplemental Security Income) will remain at 10%.   (EM 25029, April 25, 2025.)

Effective immediately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has restarted debt collecting using the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) for debts that accrued before March, 2020.  TOP is operated by the Department of the Treasury.  It intercepts federal payments to pay federal debts, including debts owed to the Social Security Administration.  TOP was suspended because of COVID-19.

The Social Security Administrative estimates that 280,000 people will be subject to collection through TOP.  (Social Security Matters, March 20, 2025.)