SSA Updates

SSA has finalized their proposed regulation to apply the In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) rental subsidy exception to all states.

SSA has decreased Social Security beneficiaries' default overpayment withholding rate.

The Appointed Representatives Services (ARS) application has been enhanced.

SSA is no longer accepting faxed SSI/SSDI applications.

The SSA-3288: Disclosure of Records Protected Under the Privacy Act can now be submitted online.

SSA has announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions.

Adult beneficiaries who do not have a representative payee can now complete the medical Continuing Disability Review Report (Form SSA-454) using their personal my Social Security account.

On April 14, 2022, SSA revised their internal policies, known as Program Operations Manual System (POMS), for Presumptive Disability and Presumptive Blindness (PD/PB).

SSA is now evaluating the long-term effects of COVID-19 when determining disability. On April 16, 2021, SSA issued an Emergency Message (EM) with guidance to its employees for evaluating adult disability cases that include an allegation or diagnosis of COVID-19. Here are the key points of the EM as well as tips for SOAR practitioners to effectively represent SSI/SSDI applicants whose functioning is impacted by COVID-19.

SSA updated the list of options on the Adult Online Disability Benefit Application to indicate who is completing the application.