Social Security Seeks Online EngagementSocial Security Seeks Online Engagement

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Social Security Seeks Online Engagement

"We need to drive that up substantially," said Social Security CIO Frank Baitman, in a recent interview at the agency's headquarters in Woodlawn, Md. "As customer expectations are changing, they expect to do business with Social Security online."

Last year, 53 million Americans received $703 billion in retirement, disability, and survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration. The agency's Web site, SSA.gov, lets users estimate and apply for benefits and appeal decisions. In an effort to drive down costs while improving service, Baitman aims to add new functionality to the site and get the public to make more use of what's already there.

Social Security stands to save millions of dollars by shifting more of its interactions online, according to a recent presentation by Karen Palm, the agency's associate CIO of innovation. For example, it can save $4.5 million annually for every 1% shift in the number of address and status changes that get completed online.

Last year, the agency brought in design consultancy Ideo to advise on ways to improve its online services. Ideo created a mock-up site around a process of first learning about the retirement process, then planning for it, and finally applying for benefits.

Ideo determined that users' comfort level rose when it was clear that applications would be processed by a person, not just a computer. SSA.gov now displays "online services hours of operation," much like you would find in a walk-in center. The site is open for transactions for 20 hours a day during the workweek and for 18 hours of the day on weekends and holidays.

The agency unveiled a home page redesign in November, with easy-to-locate links to key services and a rotating carousel that highlights new initiatives and features, such as a Spanish-language benefits calculator. The American Customer Satisfaction Index last year gave high marks to three of the agency's online services: its benefit application, its retirement estimator, and an application that helps Medicare beneficiaries determine who qualifies for help with prescription drug costs.

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