Applicants adapting to the social security office closed during COVID-19 – Retirement Research Center

When Covid swept, the U.S. Social Security responded quickly and closed its on-site offices on March 27, 2020. They remained closed for two years, largely canceling face-to-face options for federal disability benefits applications.

So, what do those who need to apply do instead? How does closing affect application flow? Are some disabled people unable to apply at all?

The new study answers these questions by analyzing the online, telephone and face-to-face apps of Social Security to assess the impact of this unprecedented disruption in the institution’s face-to-face service.

Researchers estimate that in-person suspensions have resulted in a 6% drop in all disability applications submitted to the institution within two years.

However, eliminating face-to-face options resulted in a 48% increase in applications submitted in phone calls to counties with on-site office closures in counties. In counties without on-site offices, the increase in phone apps is also significant – 27%. In many cases, applicants in these counties are already close enough to another county’s office to drive there and choose a cell phone.

The total number of disability applications has decreased for a variety of reasons. There is no doubt that isolation and economic difficulties during the pandemic have led to this decline. But the researchers found that nearly half of the decline was related to closures, suggesting that “not everyone who wants to apply in person is able to use other models.”

In contrast to the phone app, online apps have hardly increased after closing. One reason may be that people who tend to apply in person do not meet the profile of a typical online applicant. Online applicants have more education and are much more likely to apply in person. Historically, face-to-face applicants are less likely to speak English.

There are obvious advantages to contacting a social security representative in person, which will help submit an application. Researchers noted that they can make sure paperwork is filled out correctly, or observe physical disabilities and record them in the app. It may be easier to overcome the language barrier in person. Phone apps also have the same advantages, which can explain a larger shift to phones rather than online apps.

Despite the benefits of applying in person, researchers found little evidence of disproportionate impacts on individual groups, such as those with less education, older applicants and applicants who do not speak English.

In fact, the share of applicants initially approved without appeal increased slightly during the pandemic. Yes, office closures are a deterrent. But the higher approval rate[s] Applicants who suspend disproportionately discouraged are unlikely to qualify. ”

Read this study Monica Farid, Michael Anderson, Gina Freeman and Christopher Earles, see “In the Social Security Bureau Field Office” Impact of suspension of on-site services for persons with disabilities applications and allowances”.

The research reported in this article was conducted based on grants from the U.S. Social Security Agency (SSA) funded by a part of the Retirement and Disability Research Alliance. The opinions and conclusions expressed are merely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or policies of the SSA or any agency of the federal government. Neither the U.S. Government nor any of its agencies, nor any of its employees, has any legal liability or liability for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the contents of this report. References herein to any particular commercial product, process or service, by trademark, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise, do not necessarily constitute or imply the endorsement, advice or preference of the U.S. Government or any of its institutions.