Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced progress this year to reduce customer burden by transitioning wet (physical) signature requirements to digital signatures for over 30 forms as well as removing the signature requirements altogether for 13 forms. These actions simplify application processes for people, including removing a potential reason for claims to be sent back or denied.
“Across forms that Americans use most often, we’re eliminating as many pain points as possible, from helping people sign at the click of a button to reducing the need to drive or mail something in whenever possible,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “This means faster and more error-free processing and better service for our customers, who deserve a government that meets their needs efficiently and effectively.”
As a result of this work, SSA will now allow an electronic signature rather than a wet signature for more than 30 forms, which make up 90% of the most commonly used forms by SSA customers in local field offices. Collectively, these forms represent about 14 million signed forms submitted annually.
Furthermore, also this year, SSA has removed the signature requirement entirely for 13 of its most commonly used forms totaling about 1 million submissions in volume annually. This includes removing the signature requirement for the Medical Source Opinion of Patient’s Capability to Manage Benefits (Form SSA-787, which has a total annual volume of 768,000), the Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information (Form SSA-L4201, which has an annual volume of 133,000), and Request for Reconsideration/Disability Cessation Right to Appear (Form SSA-789, which has an annual volume of 49,000). Customers may also upload many of the 13 forms online, further reducing the burden felt by customers.
To build on this progress, SSA is considering removal of signature requirements on other forms that would ease requirements on about 1 million additional transactions.
Social Security works to pay the right people at the right time in the correct amount. These efforts ensure we maintain strong anti-fraud protections while removing onerous requirements that are not serving their intended purposes.
These efforts also complement other initiatives to modernize and streamline operations. The agency is expanding paperless communication options for millions of my Social Security users so they can see their online Social Security Statement, track the status of their claims, and calculate potential retirement benefits. Notices from across 60 categories are now provided through mySocial Security for easy online access by customers, including the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, their SSA-1099, Benefit Rate Increases, Appointment Confirmations, and more.
New my Social Security account holders can choose online-only communications with one click, and others are encouraged to transition for an enhanced experience.
Social Security is undertaking this work in alignment with the Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government (E.O. 14058), the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) guidance Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience (M-23-22), and OMB guidance Improving Access to Public Benefits Programs Through the Paperwork Reduction Act (M-22-10).
To hear directly from Commissioner O'Malley and learn more about the efforts to remove wet signature requirements, visit the agency’s YouTube page.
Please review the proposed amendments for the following MPOs: KHCGCC, MACOG, MCCOG, NIRCC and NIRPC here. You can use this map to find out if you live in an MPO area and which one. To access the project list, scroll to the bottom of the page and find the link under the heading "Draft STIP Documents." The link to the comment form is just below the amendment link.
Check out this map to view current and future INDOT construction projects in your area of interest!
The public comment period is open through Thursday, Sept. 5th, 2024. Please share your comments by using this form, emailing to
INDOT Attn: Cat Seely, Planning Public Outreach Manager 100 N. Senate Ave., IGCN 758-TE Indianapolis, IN 46204
What is the STIP?
The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is Indiana’s four planning and construction document that lists all projects, and project phases, expected to be funded within 5 years with federal funds as well as state-funded projects that has been deemed Regionally Significant. It is prepared in cooperation with local government entities throughout Indiana, including Transportation Planning Regions (TPRs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs). The STIP identifies the funding and the scheduling of transportation projects and programs by fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). It includes all state and local transportation projects funded with federal highway and/or federal transit funding along with 100 percent state funded transportation projects (including highway, passenger rail, freight, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian, and projects in the national parks).
The STIP is the culmination of INDOT’s and the MPO's planning processes and translates the objectives set forth in INDOT’s long-range transportation plans, the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) and Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP), asset lifecycle strategies, and Asset Teams’ business rules into committed projects for the upcoming four-year period.
The STIP is developed on a two-year cycle, amended monthly, and must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Indiana is currently operating under the 2022-2026 STIP. Visit the STIP web page to learn more!
Why is it being amended?
Periodically, changes are made to a project’s scope, cost and year of proposed construction. Changes are made with either amendment or an administrative modification to the STIP.
Major changes to the STIP require an amendment with a public comment period. Examples are:
- Adding a new project or phase that was not included in the current STIP
- A significant increase or decrease in project cost
- A change in project scope
What is an Administrative Modification?
Minor changes to the STIP can be made with an Administrative Modification. Examples are:
- A designation number change (this identifies what year the project was accepted into the production schedule)
- A change in project schedule whereas the timing of activities is modified to occur within an adjusted timeframe (within the 4-year funding period)
Administrative modifications are not required to be presented for public comment and are not approved by FHWA and FTA.
Why is this Important?
The STIP must be fiscally constrained. Only projects for which construction and operating funds are available are included. If a project is not included in a STIP, it is not eligible to receive federal funding.
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
A developer whose prior requests for rezoning met resistance has gotten a favorable vote from officials.
The majority vote to change the zoning from R-1, which allows single family homes, to R-3, which allows multiple-family dwellings like townhomes, occurred during the Monday, Aug. 26, meeting of the Salem Plan Commission.
Developer Anthony Mosby, of Pekin, intends to build about 10 single family homes and about 30 townhomes on 5 and a half acres that will be accessible from an entrance along Old State Road 60 east of Eastview Church of Christ.
A controversial entrance from the adjacent Eastview Terrace Subdivision has been eliminated from the plans.
The homes will be sold for around $300,000. Most of the townhomes will be sold and the remaining units will be available for an estimated rent of about $1,100 a month, which Mosby said is comparable to existing rental prices in Salem.
The city’s attorney, Jake Vissing, explained to Commission members that the only decision before them was whether to provide a favorable, unfavorable, or neutral vote to rezone the land.
Several people spoke about the proposed rezoning, with a few stating outright opposition to it. Those opponents maintained that there’s no difference between apartments and townhomes and expressed concerns about the ability of the local infrastructure to serve the development.
David Walker, who has opposed the rezoning at prior meetings, said renters are a transient population with no concern for their neighbors: he prefers homeowners because they “have skin in the game.”
“You’re opening the door to a different society,” Walker said.
Eastview Church of Christ Pastor Aric Russell agreed that the land needs to be developed, but he asked the Plan Commission to consider the impact the development will have on traffic, saying it could endanger the congregation’s children. He also said there is the potential for increased crime.
Plan Commission member Tom Jacobs responded, pointing out that the proposed development is “fairly high end.”
“I think, as I said earlier, Salem is in desperate need of additional housing,” Jacobs said, adding that everyone should have the opportunity to obtain affordable housing.
When concerns were raised about the possibility of mobile homes being installed, Mosby said he has no interest in including those in the development. He said he would be willing to abide by a restriction that would forbid such a use of the property.
Building Commissioner Ronnie Voyles said the reasoning behind the request for R-3 zoning is that it has less of a setback requirement than R-1. That lesser setback requirement allows for the development proposed by Mosby.
Prior to the vote, Commission Vice President Scott Nale – who led the meeting due to the absence of President Anthony Scifres – talked about the potential traffic impact on Old State Road 60. When it came to a vote, he cast the sole vote against the rezoning.
It will now be up to the Salem Common Council to make the final decision about the rezoning request.
If the Common Council approves the rezoning request, Mosby will have to return to the Plan Commission with his development plans for the Commission’s review.
The Common Council will likely consider the rezoning request during the next meeting on Monday, Sept. 9.
It wasn’t the first time Mosby appeared before the Plan Commission requesting the zoning change. His first rezoning request was considered at the Plan Commission’s January 2023 meeting. The matter was tabled, then later the Plan Commission voted to give it an unfavorable recommendation. It went to the Salem Common Council in March 2023, where Mosby presented scaled-back plans with fewer units. The vote was tabled, and he was asked to provide more detailed plans. In April 2023, the Common Council vote resulted in a tie due to the absence of a council member, so it was tabled to May, where it failed in a three-to-one vote.
Mosby has maintained he wants a higher-end development. The quality development – and the prices it commands – will help him to recoup the investment in the property, including the costly infrastructure required like the installation of roads of utility lines.
A 2019 housing study found that Salem has a desperate need for more housing, including luxury housing.
Mosby has told officials if the development comes to fruition and is successful, it will provide an incentive for more developers to take on projects in the city.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the following statement:
"I've had the privilege to travel to every corner of the state, and our neighbors, family members and friends are all calling for property tax relief. Me too.
They cannot be ignored, especially not by those of us elected to serve them right here in the Statehouse. One of our duties at the attorney generals office is to work with legislators on their legislative priorities to ensure for instance that any resulting language is compliant with our constitution.
So, as the Organization Day in November and the upcoming session in January quickly approach, my office is looking forward to working with any lawmaker who is attempting to craft legislation to lower property taxes and the overall tax burden on Hoosiers.
It's critical to get this tax relief right, and we are ready to work with legislators to get it right now."
On Wednesday, August 21, the Judicial Nominating Commission unanimously voted to reappoint Loretta Rush as Chief Justice of Indiana. The four other justices—Mark Massa, Geoffrey Slaughter, Christopher Goff, and Derek Molter—shared thoughts with the Commission, including their support for Chief Justice Rush to continue leading Indiana’s judicial branch.
Rush was appointed to the high court in 2012, selected as Chief Justice in 2014, and reappointed as Chief Justice in 2019. Responding to Wednesday’s reappointment, Rush said, “The past decade has marked a significant evolution in our judicial branch. Through the unwavering dedication of my appellate court colleagues, our trial court judges, and staff across the state, we’ve worked to strengthen our judicial system. But important work remains, and I look forward to continuing our efforts.”
During the past ten years, Rush has overseen the launch of pretrial and problem-solving court initiatives, the finalization of statewide electronic filing and unified case management systems, the overhaul of the administrative agency structure, and the enhancement of access to justice for all. She has also led efforts—both statewide and nationally—to transform how courts address participants with behavioral health issues and substance use disorders. Her full biography and photograph are online.
The Nominating Commission recruits candidates for appellate judicial positions and appoints Indiana’s Chief Justice every five years. Today, the Commission heard from all five justices in a meeting open to the public and press before going into an executive session for discussion. The Commission then convened in a public session to vote on its selection of Indiana’s Chief Justice, naming Loretta Rush. Detailed information on the seven-member Commission and the selection process can be found online.
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