Effective Dates: 07/25/2026 - Present

Identification Number:
EM-26029
Intended Audience:All Sites
Originating Office:Field Operations Performance
Title:Introduction of Conversational Forms in Upload Documents
Type:EM - Emergency Messages
Program:All Programs
Link To Reference:See Reference at the end of this EM.
 
Retention Date: 01/25/2027


    A. Purpose

      This Emergency Message (EM) informs Social Security Administration (SSA) technicians of a new approach to webform development at SSA. The new approach presents form items in a more easily understood, conversational style making them accessible to customers of all education and reading levels. For ease of reference, we will refer to these forms as conversational forms throughout this EM.


    B. Background and Current Process

      On July 8, 2023, SSA launched Upload Documents to allow customers to electronically sign (when required), upload, and submit certain forms and evidence to SSA from their personal desktop or mobile devices.

      The initial launch of Upload Documents offered fillable Portable Document Format (PDFs) as the sole form submission option. Subsequently, Upload Documents introduced static webforms, which mirrored the paper forms in a web-based format. Later, dynamic webforms were implemented, presenting the same prompts as the static webforms but potentially in a different order. Dynamic webforms also introduced required form items and fields to ensure necessary information is provided. While the three form formats differ in design and functionality, they all currently present form items in the same manner.


    C. NEW Conversational Approach to Form Development

      On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Upload Documents will launch the first batch of forms utilizing a new conversational approach. With this method, form items will be presented as questions to the customer in a more easily understood, conversational style. Similar to previously introduced dynamic webforms, conversational forms will not necessarily ask questions in a linear sequence that mirrors the paper form. Instead, customer responses will determine which additional questions appear. All questions are pre-developed and presented in standardized language. As with dynamic forms, certain information fields will be required, and customers will not be able to submit forms unless all required fields are completed.

      IMPORTANT: Although form questions will be presented in a new conversational manner, the resulting PDF generated after submission will be identical to the paper and fillable PDF versions of the form. Customers will be presented with a preview of the final PDF prior to submission to see how their responses to conversational form questions are reflected on the form, and to observe how form items corresponded to the conversational webform questions on screen. Customers will have the opportunity to edit any responses prior to submission.
    D. Example of Conversational Form Questions

      To illustrate the difference between the paper version and the conversational version of the form, please review the screenshots below from Item 1 on the SSA-3 Marriage Certification.

      Paper Version of Item 1 on the SSA-3:

      Conversational version of Item 1 on the SSA-3:



    E. Conversational Forms Being Released on July 25, 2026

      · HA-85 Request to Withdraw a Hearing Request

      · HA-539 Notice Regarding Substitution of Party Upon Death of Claimant

      · HA-4631 Claimant’s Recent Medical Treatment

      · HA-4633 Claimant’s Work Background

      · SSA-3 Marriage Certification

      · SSA-25 Certificate of Election for Reduced Spouse’s Benefits

      · SSA-44 Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event

      · SSA-263 Waiver of Supplemental Security Income Payment Continuation

      · SSA-371 Request for Reinstatement – Title II

      · SSA-455 Disability Update Report

      · SSA-552 Dedicated Account Use of Funds Statement

      · SSA-753 Statement Regarding Marriage

      · SSA-766 Statement of Self-Employment Income

      · SSA-789 Request for Reconsideration – Disability Cessation – Right to Appear

      · SSA-792 Statutory Benefit Continuation Election Statement

      · SSA-795 Statement of Claimant or Other Person

      · SSA-820-BK Work Activity Report – Self-Employment

      · SSA-821-BK Work Activity Report – Employee

      · SSA-827 Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration

      · SSA-1021 Appeal of Determination for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs

      · SSA-2574 Information About Joint Checking / Savings Accounts

      · SSA-3369-BK Work History Report

      · SSA-3377-BK Function Report – Child (Age 3 to 6th Birthday)

      · SSA-3378-BK Function Report – Child (Age 6 to 12th Birthday)

      · SSA-3379-BK Function Report – Child (Age 12 to 18th Birthday)

      · SSA-4111 Certificate of Election for Reduced Widow(er)’s and Surviving Divorced Spouse’s Benefits

      · SSA-4178 Marital Relationship Questionnaire

      · SSA-8240 Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Wage and Employment Information from Payroll Data Providers

      · SSA-8510 Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Obtain Personal Information


    F. Forms Being Removed from Upload Documents

      · SSA-2512 Pre-1957 Military Service Federal Benefit Questionnaire (Decommissioned)
If you have questions about the information in this message, please contact your office or site management or your processing center operations analysis staff. If staff or customers have feedback regarding the new conversational approach to webforms, please direct it to ^Upload Documents Feedback.

References
Upload Documents Desktop Guide
EM-26029 - Introduction of Conversational Forms in Upload Documents - 07/25/2026