Baltimore, Maryland (October 28, 2024): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), together with plaintiffs Jack C. Stephens and Maryann Murad, is pleased to announce a significant settlement agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the case of NFB et al. v. Martin J. O'Malley (Case No. 20-cv-1160, D.D.C). The agreement marks a victory for blind Americans by providing more accessible options for interacting with the SSA through electronic signatures.  

The lawsuit, filed on May 4, 2020, challenged the SSA’s policies limiting the use of electronic signatures for critical forms related to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The lawsuit alleged that these restrictions created significant barriers for blind and low-vision individuals and other people with disabilities who needed to apply for or access benefits, violating Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  

The terms of the agreement include the following:  

• SSA will accept digital signatures on key forms using commercial software that ensures the integrity and security of each signature.  
• Forms like the SSA-455 (Disability Update Report) and SSA-1693 (Fee Agreement) are now fully available for electronic completion and submission, with more improvements planned.  

The implementation of the new signature processes will commence within thirty days following all required Office of Management and Budget clearances, or sooner if no clearance is required. The plaintiffs will file a joint stipulation of dismissal within ten days after the new policies take effect. The agreement will remain in effect for four years, during which time the SSA will continue to monitor, improve, and adapt its processes to ensure ongoing accessibility. The agency will also implement a new mechanism to assess user satisfaction and verify compliance with the new policies, promoting continuous improvement in accessibility. Additionally, the SSA has agreed to pay $300,000 in attorney fees to the plaintiffs.

“Today’s agreement represents another important milestone in our work since 1940 to eliminate barriers preventing the blind and others with disabilities from accessing the benefits they need and from ensuring compliance with the rules of the SSDI program so that they do not risk losing those benefits,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We commend the agency for collaborating with blind Americans to remove barriers to accessing all of its critically important programs and services.”