Equity in Every Tongue: Social Security’s Long-Term Commitment to Language Access
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: December 6, 2024
Social Security has supported people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) for decades. The agency’s longtime policy has been to ensure that people have access to services regardless of their ability to communicate in English.
In 1992, Social Security issued a report that addressed the gap between the public’s need for more language services and its ability to meet that need.
Since then, Social Security has worked to improve language services and better support the LEP population.
In 1994, Social Security launched the federal government’s first Spanish website. Soon after, the agency made available 40 public documents in Spanish. These efforts demonstrate its long-term commitment to language access and to continuous change to meet customer needs.
At one time, Social Security relied on LEP customers to provide their own interpreters. In 1997, the agency took over the responsibility for providing interpreters to people needing service in languages other than English.
In December 2023, Social Security released its Language Access Plan for fiscal years 2024 to 2026. The plan was a response to the attorney general’s request that federal agencies improve access to services for people with limited proficiency in English.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reviewed improvement efforts and issued a progress report. Social Security has adopted distinct strategies in the following areas:
- Verifying the accuracy and quality of language assistance services: Half of all agency plans in the DOJ’s report mention quality and accuracy of language services. Social Security’s plan also emphasizes the importance of community input by measuring customer satisfaction using surveys and feedback forms. This approach reflects a more inclusive evaluation process that has resulted in positive feedback. For instance, nearly 90% of Spanish-speaking customers rated ssa.gov’s redesigned disability content as helpful.
- Translating vital documents and digital content: One-third of federal agency language access plans include translating important documents. Social Security provides important forms and instructions in more than 15 languages. Notably, Social Security’s plan focuses on languages, including select Indigenous languages, with a population of speakers whose needs are often overlooked.
- Considering the needs of people with disabilities: One-quarter of agency language access plans reference the needs of people with disabilities. Social Security recognizes that people with disabilities may have different communication needs. For example, its plan highlights that more than just American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are needed to serve people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing but do not use ASL.
Despite Social Security’s progress, funding challenges may affect continued improvements. Underfunding limits the ability of federal agencies to provide high-quality language access services, particularly hiring more multilingual employees and filling key positions. For example, being able to hire a language access coordinator supports structural equity by increasing an agency’s capacity to handle language barriers and build a system to overcome these challenges.
Ultimately, ensuring meaningful access to services for all people, regardless of their preferred language, is not just a question of resources but of a shared governmentwide commitment to equity and inclusion.
Our posting of this blog does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any non–Social Security organization, author, or webpages. The views expressed are those of the author and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.
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Tags: equity, Federal Agencies, General Information
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Daniel K.
I’m still waiting since August of last year. They can speak, their language. I can’t speak any language anymore.. my brain deterrent and decides when I can and can’t. But just like all other medical insurance, it’s gonna be medical necessary before approved. Like when hospice is involved.
RET U.
They’re recieving these entitlements at the cost of taxpayers…No reason they can’t learn English and save the resources$$$ (pamphlets,translated materials, printing, translaters,all…) All gifted so we pay for their luxury of only speaking their language, And having everything tailored to them.Irreguardless of where they come from. This is another Example of tbe COSTLY DEI,and WOKE discrimination rotting our country.
YourMom
30000 people passed away in 2023 waiting for a decision from social security. I applied in November of 23 was denied in August of 24 and I’m still waiting for my appeal. I was denied because even though I’m severely limited social security believes that I can perform some other type of work, however because I haven’t worked they don’t know what type of job I could do. That doesn’t make sense, this system is set up to fail the people who need it. I think everyone in the ssa offices who are allowed to decide another humans fate should be held accountable and punished for hurting their fellow human. This makes me sick.
USAF R.
SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD be wiser than the costly and unjust equity plaging the U.S.A..This sobereign nation should promote the offical language of our nation. ALL who do not have English proficiency should be required to pursue OUR NATIONAL OFFICAL LANGUAGE. Otherwise were spending our resources on catering to all other languages, custom enfasis on each individual that “sits back”,
AND expect our system to serve them services AT THE COST OF THE MAJORITY ENGLISH SPEAKER/READER Taxpayer (of all ethnic,descendency groups).
THIS “EQUITY” UNFAIRLY moves the undeserving out of earned sequence, to the front of the line.
It’s as if the system is trying mov we certain groups fwd because of past history setback…This is insane behavior. EVERYONE IS AFFECTED BY HISTORY…BUT NO ONE IS PRIVELEDGED TO EXPECT A SPECIAL SOCIAL REPARATION FROM THE PRESENT LIVING TAX PAYERS…
ANY current group of the Human Race.
Francoeur L.
If spanish speaking have theirs website in spanish,why there’s no one in kreyòl?