At a semi-annual meeting of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) modernization project in April, agency team leaders provided the latest information on systems used by payroll professionals and employers.
As part of the modernization project, SSA collected information from the regulated community on problems with current systems. These included the lack of options for communication methods with customers, outdated Business Services Online screens, no real-time information other than receipt, and wait times of at least 24 hours before employers could learn if SSA processed their electronic Forms W-2.
SSA interviewed and tested different modules and screens with APA members and other groups to establish modernization project goals. The benefits of the goals include creating a user-friendly application to encourage employers to file electronically and a guided, intuitive journey to offer more help and information to employers to reduce calls to the SSA. A new interface was created to enable employers to more easily correct and upload wage files, reducing and eliminating SSA’s need to send resubmission notices to electronic filers.
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Alice P. Jacobsohn, Esq., is Director of Government Relations for the APA.
