On August 22, SSA issued the following “Dear Colleague Letter” entitled “Faxed Applications No Longer Being Accepted.”

Faxed Applications No Longer Being Accepted

Date: August 22, 2023

Dear Colleague,

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily accepted faxed applications as valid signed applications to expedite the application process. Since the Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023, please note that we are longer accepting faxed applications as valid.

Applications must meet the following criteria to be considered valid:

• On an agency-prescribed form;
• Signed beneath the penalty clause by a proper applicant;
• Filed with SSA; and
• The claimant must be alive when the application is filed unless:
  • Before death, there was a written statement of intent to claim benefits.
  • Before death, a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) oral inquiry was received.
  • Within 3 months after the month of death, a title II disability application is filed.

You may find more information on valid applications here.

Please share this information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties.

Sincerely,

Dawn Bystry
Deputy Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
oea.net.post@ssa.gov
@SSAOutreach