Increasing access to programs and improving service are the main goals of the updated Equity Action Plan released by the Social Security Administration (SSA) today.
“We will administer our programs equitably by reducing administrative burdens and reaching underserved people,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.
In 2022, SSA released its first Equity Action Plan, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
The updated SSA Equity Action Plan includes several new focus areas:
- Ensure language does not pose barriers to apply for benefits and access services;
- Reduce pending Supplemental Security Income (SSI) underpayments and assess root causes of improper payments; and
- Increase awareness of survivors benefits, especially among people disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
The new Equity Action Plan also builds on progress made since 2022 to:
- Simplify the SSI application;
- Update the agency’s systems and Social Security number business processes; and
- Provide more demographic data to the public to further identify, monitor, and address where there are service inequities.
For more information about the actions outlined in the Equity Action Plan, please visit www.ssa.gov/equity.