Social Security Update Newsletter Archive

Social Security Update 2025

Every year, we provide new information about Social Security taxes, benefits, earnings limits, and Medicare costs. By law, many of the numbers automatically change each year to keep up with changes in prices and wage levels. This information is important for people who:

• Work and want information on taxes and work credits.
• Receive Social Security benefits and want to know the earnings limits.
• Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want information on payment maximums.

Share the 2025 Social Security updates with your clients, available at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10003.pdf.

New Resources for Sickle Cell Warriors

At Social Security, we’re committed to supporting sickle cell warriors and the people who care for them.

Our publications provide information, examples, and tips to help your clients understand the disability application and evaluation process. Your clients can learn more by reading the following publications:

• Sickle Cell Disease and the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process for Adults at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-60-003.pdf.
• Sickle Cell Disease and the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process for Children at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-60-004.pdf.

Additionally, our publication Sickle Cell Disease: A Guide for Health Professionals on Providing Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability Claims at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-60-005.pdf, explains the medical evidence we need to make medical decisions for people with sickle cell disease. For more information about our disability programs and related topics, visit our blog article titled Understanding Social Security Disability Benefits at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2021-08-12.html.

Please share this article with your clients.

Check Out Our Updated Community Groups Outreach Toolkit

We are excited to announce the release of our updated Community Groups Outreach Toolkit at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/materials/pdfs/SSA_Faith-Based_and_Community_Group_Outreach_Toolkit.pdf. This resource assists community organizations in helping their members understand and access Social Security benefits.

The toolkit includes:

• An email message to share with members and congregants.
• Articles for posting on their blog or website.
• Ready-to-use content for their social media channels.
• Contact information to request a speaker to share more information with their group.

Visit our Information for Community Groups webpage at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/groups/faithandcommunity.html for more information.

Please share this information with your clients.

Help Someone You Love Apply for Social Security and More

Social Security helps people in all stages of life. We provide easy and convenient ways to learn about and apply for benefits. Using our online services, your clients can assist friends and family members to:

1. Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Check if the person may be eligible for SSI or apply at www.ssa.gov/ssi.
2. Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. When the unexpected happens and a loved one can no longer work due to a serious medical condition, our disability benefits can be a lifeline. Learn more or apply at www.ssa.gov/apply.
3. Create a personal my Social Security account. If your clients’ loved ones are planning for retirement or interested in estimating their future benefits, they can create a free and secure my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and view their Social Security Statement.
4. Check the status of a pending application for benefits. Quickly and easily check the status of an application with a personal my Social Security account. If your clients – or their loved ones – don’t have an account, they can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
5. Appeal a decision for benefits. If your clients or someone they know disagrees with the decision we made on their claim, they can request an appeal. We provide information on how to appeal decisions for both medical and non-medical reasons at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/appeal.html.

To discover more ways your clients can assist others, please visit our Information for People Helping Others webpage at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty.

National Day of Mourning

Social Security offices, along with all federal agencies, will be closed on Thursday, January 9 for a National Day of Mourning to honor the memory of America's 39^th President, Jimmy Carter. Please visit our online services page to learn what you can do online or our contact Social Security by phone webpage to learn what services are available using our automated telephone services.

General Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B

If your clients did not apply for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) within 3 months before or after turning age 65, they have another chance during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from January 1 to March 31 every year. Coverage begins the first day of the month after they sign up.

If your clients didn’t enroll in Part B when they were first eligible, they may have to pay a late enrollment penalty while they have Part B coverage. A 10% monthly premium increase will be applied for each 12-month period they were eligible for Part B but did not sign up for it.

Encourage your clients to visit our Medicare Benefits page at www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare to learn more. They may also read our Medicare publication at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf.

Please share this information with your clients.

Protecting Your Clients’ Retirement Money

It’s a new year, and we have a great opportunity to educate your clients on how to avoid scams and fraud. It is particularly important for those planning their retirement to learn how to protect their retirement money against scams and fraud.

In our guest blog titled Protecting Your Retirement Money at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-09-28.html, the Securities and Exchange Commission provides online resources – along with tips and links to help your clients protect themselves.

Please share this information with your clients.

Make Sure Your Clients’ Disability Application Is Complete

Social Security takes care to handle your clients’ claim for benefits efficiently. When they submit their application for disability benefits, be sure your clients provide complete and accurate information. This will help to avoid any processing delays.

Here’s how to get your clients’ application off to a good start:

• If they’re an adult applying for disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both, they can use the Adult Disability Starter Kit at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-110.pdf to get ready to complete their online disability application. The kit also helps them prepare for their phone or in-person interview.
• If they’re applying for SSI on behalf of a child, our Child Disability Starter Kit at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-112.pdf has fact sheets and worksheets to help your clients gather the information they will need for the SSI interview. It also explains how to complete the Child Disability Report available at secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/i3820/main.html.
• If they have an appointed representative, be sure they submit a signed Form SSA-1696 (Appointment of Representative) available at www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1696.pdf.

Also, remind your clients that they will need to sign Form SSA-827, Consent for Release of Information at www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/ssa827_informationpage.htm. We use this form to obtain medical and other evidence to make our disability decision. We cannot process the application without a signed SSA-827. Most applicants can electronically sign the SSA-827 as part of the online application. Other applicants can use the attestation (confirmation) process or submit a paper SSA-827.

Your clients can visit our Apply for Social Security Benefits webpage at www.ssa.gov/apply to get started. Please share this information with them.

This New Year Learn About Social Security Online

Social Security programs touch the lives of millions of people. We work hard to ensure your clients have access to critical benefits and services. Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for your clients to engage with us online. This begins with creating a free and secure my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Using a personal my Social Security account online your clients can:

• Apply for retirement, spouse, or disability benefits.
• Request a replacement Social Security card.
• Check their application or appeal status.
• Request a name change (in some cases they may have to make an appointment to visit their local office).

If your clients receive benefits, they can:

• Change their address. (Social Security benefits only)
• Change their direct deposit information. (Social Security benefits only)
• Get instant proof of benefits.
• Print their SSA-1099.

If your clients do not receive benefits, they can:

• Get personalized retirement, spouse, or disability benefit estimates.
• Get their Social Security Statement.
• Get instant proof that they do not receive benefits.

Your clients can use these services on the go or from the comfort of their home. Please visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to view the services available to them.

If they cannot use our online services, they may be able to use our automated phone services by calling 1-800-772-1213. Automated services are always available.

Have a happy new year ahead and know that we are here to serve your clients.

Please share this information.

Changes to Accessing Our In-Person Services

We are expanding appointment-based services at our local Social Security offices. By scheduling appointments, we aim to reduce wait times, streamline service delivery, and improve customer experience. Nearly 400 local offices have already moved to appointment-based service this year. These offices have seen significant reductions in wait times due to more efficient and helpful visitor experiences and increases in the number of customers able to complete their business online.

We are implementing the appointment-based services nationwide in 2 phases.

Phase 1: The first phase is a transition period from now through January 5, 2025. The purpose of this transition period is to educate your clients about the need to schedule an appointment for our services.

Phase 2: The second phase takes effect January 6, 2025. This phase will require customers to schedule an appointment for service in our local offices, including requests for Social Security cards.

We encourage your clients to become accustomed to our:

• Online services webpage at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices. There, they can complete many transactions online conveniently and securely.
• Automated services webpage at www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/phone.html. If your clients cannot use our online services, they can find information about our automated telephone services available on our National 800# at 1-800-772-1213.

Customers who are not able to handle their business online or with the automated options, may call their local Social Security office or our National 800# to schedule an appointment. Your clients can find the number to their local office at secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.

We want to make it clear that we will not turn people away for service who are unable to make an appointment or do not want to make an appointment. For example, members of vulnerable populations, military personnel, people with terminal illnesses, and people with other situations requiring immediate or specialized attention may still walk in for service at our local offices. Some of our offices also have minimal to no wait times, and they will still serve customers who walk in.

Please share this important information with your clients.

my Social Security Paperless Enhancements

We’re making it easier for your clients to receive, complete, and submit important documents using their personal my Social Security account. We have more than 65 notices that are available online that customers can access in a secure folder without the need to wait for a notice to arrive or risk it being lost in the mail, and we’re continuing to add more.

A growing number of our forms are also available online. Some forms no longer require a wet signature, and your clients can now sign them electronically. These enhancements make it easier and quicker for them to submit the forms to us. 

Encourage your clients to create or sign in to their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and select the option to receive email and text notifications (or both) when documents are available.

Please share this information with your clients.

Check Out Our New Toolkits

We are happy to announce the release of 2 new toolkits - the School Professionals Toolkit and the Survivors Benefits Toolkit. They are designed to help your clients to better understand our benefit programs.

The Social Security Benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payments for Children: A Guide for School Professionals Toolkit provides information about benefits for students, children with disabilities, and youth in foster care. Information includes:

• Eligibility requirements.
• Types of evidence we need from teachers and other school professionals.
• How to apply.
• Benefits for students in foster care.

The Social Security Survivors Benefits Toolkit - A Guide for Organizations provides information about benefits for survivors after the loss of a family member. Information includes:

• Eligibility requirements.
• Types of evidence we need.
• How to apply.

Our YouTube videos titled How Social Security Survivors Benefits Work and Survivors Benefits Testimonial show how survivors benefits can support families.

Please share this information with your clients.

SSA Talks Scams

Rebecca Rose, Senior Public Affairs Specialist in SSA's Office of Inspector General's Division of Communications, joined the latest episode of SSA Talks to discuss Social Security scams and how to recognize them. Recognizing the signs of a scam gives your clients the power to ignore criminals and report the scam.

In this episode Rebecca discusses the four basic signs of a scam.

The episode also includes a testimony from scam survivor, Kate Kleinert. She's a widow who shares her story of losing $39,000 to a romance scam and offers advice on recognizing and reporting scams.

Our blog titled What You Can Do To Protect Your Personal Information at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2024-08-21.html talks about ways your clients can safeguard their personal information from scammers. Your clients can learn more about scams and how to report them to our Office of the Inspector General, on our Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam.

Your clients can listen to this episode on our SSA Talks webpage at www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.html and subscribe to receive alerts about future episodes. The SSA Talks webpage contains a transcript for each episode.

For more information and news about Social Security, encourage your clients to check out our Communications Corner webpage at www.ssa.gov/news.

Happy Holidays From Social Security

We hope your holidays are filled with joy and warmth. During this and every season, we want your clients to know that we are here to serve them. Our online services at www.ssa.gov are available to help them do business with us in an easy, convenient, and secure way.

Your clients can use online services to:

• Apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits.
• Check the status of an application or appeal.
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states).
• Print a benefit verification letter.

They can visit our online services webpage at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices for more information.

If your clients cannot use our online services, they may be able to get the information they need by using our automated telephone services at 1-800-772-1213. Our automated services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Have a safe, happy holiday season and know that we are here for you.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Announces 2.5% Benefit Increase for 2025

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January.

Over the last decade the increase in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has averaged about 2.6%. The COLA was 3.2% in 2024.

"Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool," said Martin O'Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $176,100 from $168,600.

Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December.

This year, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person's new benefit amount and any deductions.

Your clients will need to have a personal my Social Security account by November 20 to see their COLA notice online. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2025 benefit amount will be available in the my Social Security's Message Center starting in late November. Those who have not opted to receive messages online will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

You can find more information about the 2025 COLA at www.ssa.gov/cola. Please share this information with your clients.

Announcing Changes to SSI

We are pleased to announce changes to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Effective September 30, 2024, we:

• Excluded food from our In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) calculations. ISM is a type of unearned income that may affect your clients' SSI eligibility or payment amount.
• Expanded our rental subsidy policy nationwide for SSI applicants and recipients who are related to the landlord (or the landlord's spouse) as a parent or child. We no longer consider their rent discounted when their required monthly rent equals or exceeds a certain amount.
• Expanded our definition of a public assistance household. We now consider a public assistance household to be one where there is both an SSI applicant or recipient and one other household member who receives qualifying public income-maintenance (PIM) payments.
• Added Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits as an additional means-testing PIM program.

If you were previously denied SSI, you may now be eligible. Please contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) as soon as possible, if you think these changes may affect you.

Encourage your clients to read our blog post titled Social Security Administration Announces New Efforts to Simplify SSI Applications at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2024-08-27.html to learn more about our changes to SSI.

SSA Talks Child Benefits

Kathleen Romig, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Commissioner, joined the latest episode of SSA Talks to discuss the benefits Social Security offers to children.

As an advocate and mother of a child with disabilities, Kathleen recognizes the challenges that children and families encounter. Her awareness of these challenges and her engagement with others in the advocate community enable Kathleen to identify ways that Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) help children facing poverty.

In this episode, Kathleen discusses survivor benefits, SSI, and benefits for children with disabilities. She also discusses eligibility for adults who have a disability that began before age 22.

Your clients can listen to the episode on our SSA Talks webpage at www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.html and subscribe to receive alerts about future episodes. You can also access past episodes like "Commissioner O'Malley's Top Priorities" and "Will Social Security be there when I retire?". For more information and news about Social Security, encourage your clients to check out our Communications Corner webpage at www.ssa.gov/news.

Please share this with your clients–and post it on social media.

Save the Date - National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The title is "Removing Barriers to Accessing Services in Tribal Communities - Part 2." The event will take place through Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our What's New page at www.ssa.gov/ndf/. Your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

Changes to the Administrative Rules for Claimant Representation and Provisions for Direct Payment to Entities

On August 21, 2024, we published a final rule, Changes to the Administrative Rules for Claimant Representation and Provisions for Direct Payment to Entities, in the Federal Register. This change will affect the representatives appointed by claimants before us, as well as entities with whom representatives affiliate through registration.

We will implement these changes in two phases. Claimants and representatives can learn more about both phases, including requirements for representatives and entities, by visiting our webpage: www.ssa.gov/representation/2024NewRule.htm.

While we encourage claimants and representatives to visit our webpage for more information, we want to draw your attention to some key changes:

• Phase 1: Starting September 30, 2024, anyone who has not previously registered with us and who wants to be appointed as a representative must register with us using the form SSA-1699 (Representative Registration) before we will recognize a new appointment request.
• Phase 2: Starting December 9, 2024, representatives must use the form SSA-1696 (Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative) for new or updated appointments. In addition, consistent with Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP v. Collins, 6 F.4th 150 (1st Cir. 2021), we will directly pay authorized fees to a registered entity when a representative assigns direct payment of their fee to that entity.

Generally, for direct payment to an entity, the following conditions must be met.

• The entity must register with us using our revised form SSA-1694 (Entity Registration and Taxpayer Information).
• The representative must register with us and affiliate with the entity using form SSA-1699 (Representative Registration).
• The representative must assign direct payment of the fee to the entity using the revised form SSA-1696 (Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative).
• The representative and the entity must both be eligible for direct payment.

For more information on the final rule, please visit www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-08-21/pdf/2024-18497.pdf. Encourage your clients to visit our Representing Social Security Claimants webpage at www.ssa.gov/representation for information about our representative services.

You can learn more about these enhancements on our official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig11Rav91_s. Please share this information with your clients.

How to Complete a Name Change with Us After Marriage

If your clients get married, they may be able to complete, or at least start the name changing process by applying for a new Social Security card online.

If they got married in one of the 21 participating states, they may be able to complete the process online! When your clients visit our Change name with Social Security webpage at www.ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name, they will answer a series of questions. Their answers will determine whether they can complete the application process online, or if they will need to visit their local Social Security office or card center to do so. Your clients can find their local office at www.ssa.gov/locator.

If your clients start their application online and we determine they need to come into the office, they may be eligible to use our new Online Self-Scheduling option. Scheduling online can save your client time when they visit us to complete the application. This option allows them to:

• Select their language preference.
• Select the most convenient office to receive service.
• Choose to receive communications and appointment reminders via email or text.
• Conveniently use their mobile device to check in for their appointment.

They can also reschedule, modify, or cancel their appointment online without having to call or visit the office.

They should wait at least 30 days after the date of the marriage to request a replacement card with a name change. This allows the state time to update its records.

They will need to have their marriage certificate and proof of identification available when using our online application.

Your clients can learn more at our Online Services webpage at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices.

Please share this important information with your clients.

We are Improving the SSI Application Process

We are making improvements to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application process for your clients. To reduce the challenges potential SSI recipients face when applying for SSI, we are streamlining the application process and service options - online, in person, by paper, or by phone.

The initial phase - targeted for December 2024 - aims to establish a fully online, simplified application that uses plain language questions, prefilled answers (when possible), step-by-step transitions, and more. We believe these changes will decrease application and processing times for your clients.

Encourage your clients to read our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2024-08-27.html to learn more.

Social Security Recognizes White Cane Awareness Day

Each October during Blind Equality Achievement Month, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) celebrates White Cane Awareness Day.

For people who are blind or have low vision, the white cane is a vital tool that allows them to be independent. It gives them the ability to move freely and safely at work, at school, and around their neighborhoods and communities.

In 1964 at the urging of NFB, Congress adopted a joint resolution designating October 15 White Cane Safety Day. The white cane helps keep people who are blind or have low vision safe. It’s also a tool to help them explore and navigate the world around them. For this reason, the emphasis of White Cane Safety Day shifted over time from safety to independence and equality. White Cane Safety Day became White Cane Awareness Day.

On White Cane Awareness Day, members of the NFB host white cane walks, film screenings, social events, and other activities.

Your clients can learn more about Blind Equality Month and White Cane Awareness Day by visiting nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day. For more information about how we help people who are blind or have low vision, please encourage your clients to read our publication If You’re Blind or Have Low Vision — How We Can Help at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10052.pdf.

Please share this important information with your clients.

Follow Us

You and your clients can learn about our programs, policies, and services on our social media pages. Our channels include:

• Facebook - at www.facebook.com/socialsecurity and Facebook - Administración del Seguro Social at www.facebook.com/segurosocial
• Instagram - at instagram.com/socialsecurity
• LinkedIn - at www.linkedin.com/company/ssa
• LinkedIn - Office of the Commissioner at www.linkedin.com/showcase/office-of-ssa-commissioner
• X (formerly Twitter) - Social Security (@SocialSecurity) at www.x.com/socialsecurity and X - Seguro Social at x.com/segurosocial
• X - Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley (@OMalleySSA) at x.com/omalleyssa
• X - Social Security Press Office (@SSAPress) at x.com/SSAPress
• YouTube - at www.youtube.com/socialsecurity

We encourage you and your clients to follow us on social media to find information and ask general questions. Be sure to remind your clients they should never post personal information on social media.

Please share this information with your clients.

Appointed Representative Services (ARS) Enhancements

We’re excited to announce that appointed representatives can now go online to get the status of disability cases pending at the Disability Determination Services (DDS). Recent improvements to our Appointed Representative Services (ARS) at www.ssa.gov/ar will save you time and reduce the need to contact our offices for information.

ARS gives appointed representatives access to the electronic folder (eFolder) for clients with initial disability claims and appeals. Until recently, you could only get status reports for appeals at the hearings level and the Appeals Council. We updated the system in January 2024 to also allow you to access a list of your initial claims and reconsiderations.

With our most recent systems enhancement in June, you’re now also able to get a status report for initial claims and reconsiderations pending at DDS or closed within the last 65 days. You’re able to see information for each case, including case level, receipt date, date assigned, claim type, and status.

Please watch this brief video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig11Rav91_s to learn more or read the AR Status Reports User Guide at www.ssa.gov/ar/docs/AR_Status_Reports_UserGuide-508.pdf (instructions are on pages 14 and 15).

We’ve heard positive feedback about ARS changes. With your help, we’ll continue to identify ways to improve the customer experience for you and your clients.

Social Security’s Signature Service Options

In the digital age, your clients expect to complete transactions electronically, including submission of documents, evidence, and forms with and without signatures. We are expanding our online services to provide a secure portal that enables your clients to sign forms electronically. Our offices receive roughly 35 million pieces of paper mail each year. If your clients add signatures electronically, we can process documentation quicker and save them a call or visit to a local office. Electronic signatures also reduce the risk of documents being lost in the mail.

There are many forms available to your clients that can be signed electronically. One of our most used forms, SSA-827, (Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration), is now available to sign and submit electronically. Other frequently used forms available for your clients to sign and submit electronically include:

• SSA-820/821 (Work Activity Reports).
• SSA-632 (Request for a Waiver of Overpayment Recovery).
• SSA-634 (Request for Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate).

We will add more in the coming months.

In addition to expanding the number of forms and evidence types available using eSignature/Upload Documents, we have been hard at work to remove the need for signatures from certain forms. This is an important initiative as approximately 14 million forms, requiring signatures, are sent to us each year.

How will removal of the signature requirement help your clients?

• It will help expedite claim processing, which means faster access to benefits and services.
• It will improve service options for rural communities, people with disabilities, and those facing barriers to accessing our services by removing the need to visit an office.
• It will better protect your clients’ personal information.
• It will provide your clients with more options for doing business with us.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Serves the Hispanic Community

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! For nearly 90 years, Social Security’s programs and services have been vital to many of your clients, including those in the Hispanic community. Our Spanish-language website, at www.ssa.gov/espanol, provides information for people whose primary language is Spanish. They can learn – in their preferred language – how to get a new or replacement Social Security card, plan for retirement, apply for benefits, manage their benefits, and much more.

We also provide many publications in Spanish at www.ssa.gov/espanol/publicaciones. Popular topics include:

• Retirement, Disability, and Survivors benefits.
• Medicare.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Social Security cards.
• Fraud and scams.
• Appeals.
• Benefits for children.
• Payments outside the U.S.

Your clients who prefer to conduct business in Spanish can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. For service in Spanish, they should press 7 and wait for a Spanish-speaking representative. If we cannot complete their business by phone, we will make an appointment for them at a local Social Security office and arrange for an interpreter to be there at the time of their visit.

For more information on how we support the Hispanic community, encourage your clients to visit our Social Security and Hispanics webpage at www.ssa.gov/people/hispanics.

Learn 4 Ways to Help Prevent Elder Abuse

In the United States, an estimated 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60 experience some form of abuse each year. Nearly 80% of Social Security beneficiaries are 65 and older, and we want to help protect them.

You and your clients can help prevent elder abuse by:

1. Recognizing abuse. Abuse can be physical and emotional, as well as financial. Abuse can include neglect and abandonment. You can find more information at www.worldelderabuseawareness.com/elder-abuse.
2. Preventing isolation. People who are isolated are more likely to be abused. You and your clients should check in with older loved ones regularly and ask if they’re getting the care they need.
3. Providing information. Make your clients aware of resources like community centers, law enforcement agencies, and advocacy organizations that they can turn to if they need help.
4. Being a friend. Encourage your clients to visit an older person in their community and be a lifeline, if needed.

For more information on elder abuse prevention, visit www.ncea.acl.gov or call 855-500-3537 (ELDR). Additional resources can be found at www.ssa.gov/payee/elder_abuse.htm.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Supports Teachers

It’s back to school time and many of your clients’ children are returning for another year of learning. Did you know that we have a toolkit that high school teachers can use to teach students more about Social Security? The Educator Toolkit is easy to use and provides shareable online resources to engage students and educate them about our programs.

The Educator Toolkit includes:

• Lesson plans with objectives.
• Infographics and handouts for each lesson plan.
• Links to Social Security webpages.
• Talking points.
• Quiz questions and answers.

We value the efforts of all teachers to educate America’s young people. As Social Security approaches its 90^th anniversary in 2025, we want to help spark important discussions about Social Security. Your clients can download the Educator Toolkit at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/educators.html.

Please share this information with your clients and encourage them to share it with their favorite high school educators.

Celebrating 89 Years of Social Security

For 89 years, Social Security has provided income protection to millions of retirees, people with disabilities, their dependents, and families who’ve lost a wage earner.

In addition to paying benefits, we issue millions of Social Security numbers each year, maintain wage records to make sure workers get the benefits they have earned, and much more. The scope of what we do is enormous, and we are proud to serve the American people. Whether providing service online at SSA.gov, over the telephone, or in person, our goal is to help your clients understand their eligibility for benefits and the best way to apply for them.

We also work to make sure our programs, particularly Supplemental Security Income (SSI), remain accessible to your clients. SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults age 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. This year we announced that we are expanding SSI eligibility criteria by updating the public assistance household definition, removing food from in-kind support and maintenance, and expanding rental subsidy nationwide.

This year and every year, we are committed to helping maintain the well-being and protection of your clients. We strive to ensure that every person who is eligible for benefits gets them timely and accurately. That is how we help secure today and tomorrow.

Please share this information with your clients and post it on social media.

VIPr Kiosks Updates Makes Office Check-Ins Easier

We are always looking for ways to improve the customer experience for your clients. Our Visitor Intake Process (VIPr) kiosks are more accessible and easier to use without assistance. We’ve installed the new kiosks in most of our local offices nationwide, all compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Each kiosk includes:

• Standardized cabinetry (meeting specific height and width requirements).
• Audio headphone jack sockets.
• Accessible keypads.
• Integrated braille instructions for how to use the kiosk.
• Built-in thermal printers and ticket dispensers.
• Touchscreen monitors with integrated privacy filters.
• Enhanced 508-compatible check-in software.
• Instructions in braille outlining the process to report any accessibility problems.

Encourage your clients to learn more about our commitment to accessibility at www.ssa.gov/accessibility/index.html.

Social Security Celebrates Women’s Equality Day

August 26 is Women’s Equality Day. On this day we celebrate the anniversary of the certification of the 19^th Amendment that granted women the right to vote. Women’s Equality Day also recognizes the achievements of women’s rights activists and reminds us of the struggles that women still face today. Our Social Security programs and benefits help support women and their families.

You’ll find our online booklet, What Every Woman Should Know, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf. It provides detailed information about how life events can affect a woman’s Social Security benefits. These events may include marriage, death of a spouse, divorce, self-employment, and other life or career changes.

Your clients can learn more about how Social Security helps support and protect women at www.ssa.gov/people/women.

Please share this important information with your clients.

Social Security Pays Benefits to Children After the Death of a Parent

About 2.7 million children receive Social Security. More than half of these children get survivors benefits after the death of a parent who worked and paid Social Security taxes. These benefits are valuable for surviving children and their families.

If a child loses a parent, it’s important for the child’s family to reach out to us as soon as possible to apply for Social Security survivors benefits. The date they contact us to file an application can affect when the child’s benefits begin.

They can call us at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can usually schedule an appointment in 30 to 60 days. The survivors application is not available online. We will let your clients know what information they need to apply. We provide free interpreter services by phone or in person in their local Social Security office.

Encourage your clients to visit our Survivors Benefits webpage at www.ssa.gov/survivors for more information.

Save The Date – National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The title is “Removing Barriers to Accessing Services in Tribal Communities - Part 1.” The event will take place through Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

You and your clients can email your request for an invite and questions related to the topic to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our NDF FAQs at www.ssa.gov/ndf/ndffaqs.htm?.

Social Security Makes Disability Decision Process Updates

We’ve made updates to our disability decision process to improve service to your clients. These updates help to ensure that our Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplement Security Income (SSI) programs remain current and help ease the burden on our customers.

The 1^st update changes the time period we consider when reviewing your client’s work history. In the past, we asked people applying for disability benefits to provide details about their work history going back 15 years. Our new rule will reduce the past relevant work period requirement to 5 years. In addition, we will no longer consider past work that started and stopped in fewer than 30 calendar days when making a disability decision.

The 2^nd update makes changes to our use of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) in determining a finding of “not disabled” for disability eligibility. We identified 114 DOT occupations that exist in very limited numbers in each of the 9 U.S. Census divisions. Based on that finding, we will not use these occupations to support a “not disabled” finding at the last step in the evaluation process for disability determinations.

We also identified 13 DOT occupations where federal courts have questioned supporting evidence of a “not disabled” finding. We are implementing additional evidence requirements for these occupations.

For more information on these updates, please encourage your clients to read our blog post titled Social Security Updates Occupations List Used in Disability Evaluation Process at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2024-06-24.html

Changes to Accessing my Social Security Online

For over 10 years, my Social Security has helped many people access our programs and services online. Soon, we will change the way your clients access all our online services ─ including my Social Security. People will no longer be able to sign in to their personal my Social Security account with their username and password. Instead, they’ll need to use one of our Credential Service Providers, Login.gov or ID.me. If your clients already have a Login.gov or ID.me account, and can sign in to our online services, they can continue using that account.

For people who only have a Social Security username, our screens will help them transition their account to Login.gov. Login.gov provides enhanced online security, helps protect your clients from identity theft, and allows them to create an account that can be used across other agencies. It will take your clients only a few minutes to transition their existing account to Login.gov. Your clients will have 24/7 access to Login.gov customer support through phone and chat at www.login.gov/help to help them set up their account.

For more information on my Social Security, please encourage your clients to read our publication my Social Security: How to Create an Online Account at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10540.pdf.

Please share this information with your clients.

Check Out Our New Limited English Proficiency Toolkit!

We are happy to announce our new Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Toolkit. This online toolkit can help you better serve your LEP clients! The LEP Toolkit includes infographics, articles, blog posts, social media posts, and YouTube videos in our 5 most requested languages:

• Arabic.
• Chinese (Simplified).
• Russian.
• Spanish.
• Vietnamese.

The toolkit also provides instructions on how to request services and information in other languages. In addition, the toolkit includes a link to our Multi-Language Gateway webpage at www.ssa.gov/site/languages/en. From there you can access our Language Access Plan and other beneficial resources. You can learn more about the LEP Toolkit at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/groups/lep.html.

Please share this important information with your clients. Together, we can increase access to benefits and services for our customers!

Celebrate Your Independence With Social Security

Every July 4, we celebrate our nation’s independence. For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped create financial independence for millions of people. We have useful online resources like the Social Security Statement (Statement) and our benefits estimator tool that helps people not yet receiving benefits. The Statement shows the benefits that you and your family may be eligible for and provides personalized fact sheets tailored to your age and earnings situation. The benefits estimator tool allows you to get estimates based on different ages. These online tools can help you better prepare for your retirement.

Our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/ features news and information about our programs and services. You can subscribe and get notified each time we post a new blog so you can stay informed. From the blog, you can also connect with us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for you when you need us. Learn more at www.ssa.gov.

Please share this information with your clients.

Your Clients Can Still Use Social Security Online When Traveling

We are here for your clients even when they are traveling. Our online services page provides them with a wide variety of self-service options they can use on their mobile phone, tablet, or computer.

Using our online services, your clients can:

• Find out if they qualify for benefits.
• Apply for Social Security retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits.
• Get their Social Security Statement.
• Request a replacement Social Security card.
• Appeal a decision.

If your clients receive Social Security benefits or SSI payments, they can create or sign in to their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to:

• Get a benefit verification letter.
• Check their information and benefit amount.
• Change their address and telephone number. (Social Security beneficiaries only)
• Start or change their direct deposit. (Social Security beneficiaries only)
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.
• Report their wages if they work and receive disability benefits or SSI.
• And more.

Encourage your clients to visit our online services page at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices for more information.

Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley Announces SecurityStat and Recent Accomplishments

As a way to fast-track immediate customer service improvements, Commissioner O’Malley initiated SecurityStat, a collaboration with Social Security experts and executives to identify our agency’s most pressing problems. As a result, we are implementing changes to reduce disability processing times, National 800 Number wait times, and to resolve overpayment and underpayment injustices. Your clients can learn more about SecurityStat at www.ssa.gov/securitystat.

Please also encourage your clients to visit our Agency Accomplishments webpage at www.ssa.gov/agency/commissioner/100-days-accomplishments.html to learn about other improvements Commissioner Martin O’Malley made in his first 100 days.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security To Expand SSI Rental Subsidy Policy

Effective September 30, 2024, we are expanding our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rental subsidy policy for SSI applicants and recipients nationwide. Under this new rule, rental assistance is less likely to affect your clients’ SSI eligibility or payment amount.

SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. SSI payments can help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine. People applying for and receiving SSI must meet eligibility requirements, including income and resource limits.

You and your clients can read the final rule “Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients,” at www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/11/2024-07675/expansion-of-the-rental-subsidy-policy-for-supplemental-security-income-ssi-applicants-and.

For more information about SSI, including who is eligible and how to apply, your clients can visit www.ssa.gov/ssi.

Please share this important information with your clients.

Social Security Omits Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations

Supplement Security Income (SSI) provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness. It also provides monthly payments to adults aged 65 and older, who have limited income and resources. SSI payments help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine. People applying for and receiving SSI must meet eligibility requirements, including income and resource limits.

We currently include food assistance as unearned income when calculating In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). We understand this rule could affect your clients’ SSI eligibility or reduce their payment amount, so we made changes. Beginning September 30, 2024, we are no longer counting food that someone gives your clients as unearned income when we figure SSI payments. This new rule removes a critical barrier for SSI eligibility due to informal food assistance from friends, family, and community networks of support.

For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit www.ssa.gov/ssi.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Connect: Connect to Us From Anywhere

We continue to find ways to make doing business your clients easier. With our Social Security Video Connect option, they can conduct business with us using video on their personal device, from any location. Social Security Video Connect is available for:

• No-change replacement Social Security cards (U.S. citizens only).
• Date of birth corrections (U.S. citizens only).
• Benefit applications.
• Redeterminations.
• Overpayments.
• Medicare.

To get started, you clients can contact their local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to schedule a video appointment. If a video appointment isn’t appropriate for their needs, we can conduct the interview with them over the phone or in the office.

Your clients will need a computer, tablet, or smart phone with a webcam and internet access for their video appointment. We will send them a Microsoft Teams meeting link to join the video appointment. If they run into issues with Teams or need to reschedule your appointment, they contact their local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213.

We strive to improve our customer service and increase the ways you can connect with your clients. Please share this information with your clients.

Commissioner Martin O’Malley Makes the Case to Congress about Customer Service Challenges, Importance of More Funding, and Better Training

Commissioner O’Malley champions for more resources for the Social Security Administration to better serve the American public and support agency employees. We invite you to watch and share these brief video excerpts from the Commissioner’s recent opportunity to appear before Congress.

What I Told Congress When They Asked About the 800 Number (:43)

In the What I Told Congress When They Asked About the 800 Number video, Commissioner O’Malley responds to Representative Judy Chu about the agency’s 800 number. He explains our need to hire more telephone agents due to a 24 percent decline in our workforce. Despite the challenges, our employees are providing the best customer service possible. “They are my heroes, ” said Commissioner O’Malley.

What I Told Congress We'd Do With Additional Funding (:36)

In the What I Told Congress We'd Do With Additional Funding video, Commissioner O’Malley explains to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden what we would do with additional funding. We would use those resources to increase staffing, decrease the disability claim backlogs, and improve technology.

Fighting for You and Those We Serve (1:51)

In the Fighting for You and Those We Serve video, Commissioner O’Malley explains that it’s been nine years since Congress held a budget hearing for SSA, staffing challenges facing the agency, and thanks agency employees.

We Must Improve Our Training (:44)

In We Must Improve Our Training video, Commissioner O’Malley discusses the importance of better training for agency employees.

Please share these videos with your clients and encourage them to subscribe to our YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/SocialSecurity.

Commissioner O'Malley is now on X!

Commissioner Martin O’Malley is now on X! He is the first Commissioner in the history of Social Security to have a social media account. On his X account, the Commissioner addresses agency priorities such as customer service improvements. Commissioner O’Malley is committed to reducing wait times, decreasing fraud, addressing overpayments, and increasing staffing to ensure all your needs are met. We encourage you and your clients to follow @OMalleySSA to hear directly from our Commissioner.

The Most Popular Baby Names of 2023 are Coming — Get Them Straight from the Source!

Our list of 2023’s most popular baby names is coming soon! We historically release the top list on the Friday before Mother’s Day – this year, that falls on May 10. Visit our Baby Names page at www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames on May 10 to see where your favorite names rank. Social Security is here for you from day one, which makes us the source for the most popular baby names and more!

While you’re on our website to check out the top baby names list, we encourage you and your clients to create a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Free and secure, my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use in their working years and later when they’re receiving Social Security benefits.

Why It's Important for Your Clients To Tell Us About Their Financial Accounts

Do your clients receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? If so, they need to tell us about any financial accounts they own, alone or with someone else. That’s because SSI is a needs-based program, and eligibility is determined by their resources as well as their income.

What your clients need to tell us

They need to tell us about changes to their financial accounts or account balances to ensure they receive the correct SSI payment amount. Let us know if your clients:

• Open a new account.
• Close an account.
• Add a joint owner to an existing account.
• Increase their account balance over the SSI resource limit of:
• $2,000 for an individual
• $3,000 for a married couple living together and receiving SSI.

How Your Clients Can Report Changes to Their Financial Accounts

• Call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Contact their local Social Security office. They can find their local office at www.ssa.gov/locator.

For a complete list of SSI reporting responsibilities, please refer your clients to the publication, What You Need to Know When you get SSI at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11011.pdf. Please share this information with your clients.

Save The Date – National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The title is “How Artificial Intelligence May Affect the Landscape of Social Security - Part 2.” The event will take place through Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our What’s New page at www.ssa.gov/news/advocates.html. You and your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

We're Making It Easier to Get a New or Replacement Social Security Card!

Your clients may be able to request a new or replacement Social Security card while saving a trip to their local office. Here’s how.

Getting Started

To find out the best way to replace their card, your clients should visit www.ssa.gov/number-card and answer a series of questions to determine whether they can:

• Complete the application process online with their personal my Social Security account.
• Start the process online, then bring any required documents to the local Social Security office to complete the application.
• Complete the application at the local office.

If an office visit is required, your clients can still save time by starting the application online.

What Your Clients Should Know if They Need to Visit an Office

Your clients may be able to use our new Online Self-Scheduling option. By scheduling an in-office appointment online, they can save time when they visit the office. This option allows your client to:

• Select the most convenient office to receive service.
• Choose to receive communications or appointment reminders via email or text.
• Use their mobile device to conveniently check in for an appointment.

They can also reschedule, modify, or cancel an appointment online without having to call or visit us.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Celebrates National AANHPI Heritage Month

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. We celebrate the 2024 National Heritage Month theme: "Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” This month honors the AANHPI visionaries and trailblazers who have contributed to the rich heritage that shaped America’s history. Members of the AANHPI community have offered ingenuity and creativity while navigating significant cultural and systemic barriers.

Join us as we pay tribute to the generations of AANHPI who continue to enrich America and ensure its future success. We invite your clients to celebrate the achievements and contributions of AANHPI communities with us.

Your clients can learn how we support the AANHPI community at www.ssa.gov/people/aanhpi/.

Social Security Announces Four Key Updates to Address Improper Payments

Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley announced he is taking four vital steps to immediately address overpayment issues customers and the agency have experienced. Learn more at our blog at Social Security Announces Four Key Updates to Address Improper Payments | SSA.

Social Security Eliminates Unfair Overpayment Burden for Social Security Beneficiaries

The Social Security Administration announced it will decrease the default overpayment withholding rate for Social Security beneficiaries to 10% (or $10, whichever is greater) from 100%. Learn more at our blog at Social Security Eliminates Overpayment Burden for Social Security Beneficiaries - Automatic Overpayment Recovery Rate Reduced to 10 Percent | SSA.

What your clients can do if they have an overpayment

Do your clients know what to do if they receive an overpayment notice from Social Security? An overpayment occurs when a Social Security beneficiary or SSI recipient receives more money from us than they should have been paid. The amount of their overpayment is the difference between the amount they received and the amount they were due.

We are required by law to adjust benefits or recover debts when an overpayment occurs. When we notify your clients they have an overpayment, their notice explains why they’ve been overpaid, the overpayment amount, their repayment options, and their appeal and waiver rights.

After receiving our overpayment notices, your clients can:

• Repay the overpayment in full or through a repayment plan by check, money order, credit card, or by monthly reductions from their Social Security benefit. Your clients may be able to make a full or partial repayment using Pay.gov or their bank’s online bill pay option. We include repayment instructions in their overpayment notice and offer flexible repayment plans, including payments as low as $10 per month.
• Appeal the overpayment if they don’t agree that they’ve been overpaid, or they believe the amount is incorrect. They can request a non-medical reconsideration online. Or, if they prefer, they can submit a completed form SSA-561, Request for Reconsideration, to their local Social Security office.
• Request that we waive collection of the overpayment if they believe they are not at fault for causing the overpayment AND they cannot afford to repay the money back or it is unfair for some other reason. They can ask for a waiver by submitting a completed form SSA-632, Request for Waiver of Overpayment Recovery, to their local office.

You can let your clients know that if their overpayment is $1,000 or less, we may be able to process a waiver request quickly over the telephone without a completed SSA-632. Your clients can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Or they can contact their local Social Security office.

Social Security beneficiaries who cannot meet their living expenses due to the withholding may ask to change the repayment amount, but not less than $10 a month.

To learn more about overpayments and our process, visit our Understanding SSI Overpayments webpage, read our Overpayments publication, or Overpayments fact sheet. Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security to Raise the Representative Fee Cap to Help with Claiming Benefits

We plan to raise the fee cap for claimants’ respresentatives, from $7,200 to $9,200, when they and their client agree to use that is known as a “fee agreement process.” Read more in our Press Release.

America Saves Week and Social Security

America Saves Week, which is April 8 to April 12 this year, is an annual opportunity for organizations to promote good financial habits and for people to evaluate their savings and saving practices.

In keeping with this year’s theme, Saving for What Matters Most, we want to remind your clients that planning and saving are key to a successful retirement. The sooner your clients start saving for retirement, the better off they will be. They should set a goal, make a plan, and save automatically. People with a plan are twice as likely to save successfully compared to people without a plan. During America Saves Week, we encourage you and your clients to pledge to start saving – or better yet, save more. For suggestions, check out americasavesweek.org.

Your clients may also want to review our online retirement resources at www.ssa.gov/retirement. Please share this information with them.

Save The Date – National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The event, “How Artificial Intelligence May Affect the Landscape of Social Security - Part I,” will take place through Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our What’s New page at www.ssa.gov/news/advocates.html. You and your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

Update to Appointed Representatives Services (ARS)

We’ve enhanced the Appointed Representatives Services (ARS) application located at www.ssa.gov/ar. Appointed representatives can now access a list of all their cases pending at the initial and reconsideration levels.

The ARS application allows appointed representatives to:

• View electronic folder (eFolder) documents in real time.
• Download eFolder contents including multimedia files.
• Upload medical evidence and other documents directly into a claimant's eFolder.

With this update to the ARS, we aim to help appointed representatives:

• Determine if their SSA Form-1696, Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative, was processed to avoid having to submit the same form again. You can view the SSA Form-1696 at www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1696.pdf.
• Access their list of pending cases.

Instructions are available on page 13 and 14 of the AR Status Reports User Guide at www.ssa.gov/ar/docs/AR_Status_Reports_UserGuide-508.pdf.

Please share this information with those who may need it.

Celebrate National “Slam the Scam” Day with Social Security

This year, Thursday, March 7 is National “Slam the Scam” Day.

Slam the Scam raises public awareness about the government imposter scams that continue to spread across the United States. Slam the Scam is part of National Consumer Protection Week, March 3 – March 9.

Please encourage your clients to visit our Protect Yourself from Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam for more information about National “Slam the Scam” Day and Social Security-related scams. Your clients can report potential scams to the Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.

We hope you will help us “Slam the Scam” on March 7! Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security’s Top 5 Scam Awareness Articles

We know how important it is to raise awareness about scams. That’s why we want your clients to have all the information they need to protect themselves. Our top 5 scam awareness articles are described below.

1. We work with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect your clients from scams that use Social Security as bait. In How We Protect You from Misleading Advertising and Communications, we detail what they should do if they receive a suspicious advertisement or imposter communication. Please see www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-02-23.html.
2. Identity theft affects millions of people each year and causes serious harm. Here are 10 ways your clients can protect themselves and their personal information: www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-02-02.html.
3. Financial crime against all Americans is an ongoing problem. People living with dementia have a higher risk of becoming victims of fraud. Your clients can learn how to minimize this risk for their loved ones at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-06-13.html.
4. Fraudsters also target veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. To learn what to look for and how to help the veterans and military members in their life, your clients can check out www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-11-09.html.
5. Quick Response (QR) codes are very popular these days. A QR code is a scannable barcode that directs users to a website or social media account. Do your clients know scammers place fake QR codes on top of official ones? It’s among the latest trends we list in this post about combatting scams: www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-12-28.html.

We encourage your clients to review these articles and bookmark them for future reference. Please share this information with them so they can protect themselves and their loved ones.

How We Protect Your Clients from Misleading Advertising and Communications

We work with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect your clients from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties on people, companies, and other organizations using misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications.

The OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who:

• Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or otherwise authorized by Social Security.
• Operates an imposter website or social media account designed to look as though it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security.
• Makes telephone calls or sends emails or text messages claiming to be from Social Security.
• Sells Social Security’s free forms, applications, and publications without our written approval.
• Charges a fee for a Social Security service without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.

If your clients receive a suspicious Social Security-related advertisement or imposter communication, please let us know immediately. We encourage them to report potential scams at oig.ssa.gov. Your clients can also send an email to OIG.1140@ssa.gov.

Your clients should try to capture as much information about the communication as they can. For example:

• For suspicious websites or social media accounts, they can take a screenshot of the page. Have them note the website address or social media link – and how they came across it.
• For emails and text messages, they can capture the entire message and any message links.
• For U.S. mail, they can retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.
• For telephone calls, they can note the caller’s phone number and any company name or callback number provided by the caller or a recorded message.

These details will help OIG locate the source of the suspicious communication and take appropriate action.

For more information, your clients can check out our What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising fact sheet at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf and review Section 1140 of the Social Security Act at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.

Please share this information with them.

Social Security Celebrates Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus on women’s past contributions and celebrate their accomplishments in the 21^st century. At Social Security, we are here to provide vital benefits and financial protection for all women.

Nearly 55% of people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Today, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history.

Women also have longer average life expectancies and tend to live more years in retirement than men. This means women have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income while their Social Security benefit continues for life. That’s why it’s especially important for women to plan early and wisely for retirement.

Our publication, Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf, provides detailed information about how life events can affect a woman’s Social Security benefits. These events include marriage, death of a spouse, divorce, self-employment, and other life or career changes.

Learn more about how Social Security benefits women at www.ssa.gov/people/women. Please share this information with your loved ones.

Social Security Improves Customer Experience Ranking

Social Security is committed to improving customer service by providing your clients more access to our programs and services – and our efforts have paid off.

We’re proud to announce our improved ranking on Forrester’s 2023 Federal Customer Experience Index. With an increase of 3.3 points from 2022, we made the most significant gain of any federal agency on the list.

We achieved this higher ranking by focusing on several key initiatives in 2023. For example, we:

• Implemented online scheduling for in-office enumeration appointments. Your clients can now schedule appointments online for both original and replacement Social Security cards for themselves and their minor children. This service is available in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• Conducted a targeted mail campaign with enrollment information to reach your clients who may be eligible for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. Your clients can learn more in our online publication, SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10508.pdf.
• Employed strategies to help people facing barriers access our programs and services, including your clients with:
  • Limited income and resources.
  • Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
  • A risk of homelessness.
  • Mental and behavioral disabilities.
• Partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services to test new ways to make it easier for Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) applicants and recipients to access nutrition assistance programs. For more information, your clients can check out our press release at www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#12-2022-2.

Forrester’s’ recognition of our customer service improvements reflects our commitment to making it easier for the public to do business with us and get the services they need. We invite your clients to learn more on www.forrester.com.

Please share this news with them.

Social Security Celebrates Black History Month

In February, our nation honors African Americans by celebrating Black History Month. Our programs and services offer a lifetime of protections for African Americans and their families. Your clients might find our People Like Me webpage helpful when planning for their future financial security: www.ssa.gov/people/africanamericans.

Also, please let your clients know they can do much of their Social Security business online with a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Social Security Update 2024

Every year, we provide new information about Social Security taxes, benefits, earnings limits, and Medicare costs. By law, many of the numbers automatically change each year to keep up with changes in prices and wage levels. This information is important for people who:

• Work and want information on taxes and work credits.
• Receive Social Security benefits and want to know the earnings limits.
• Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want information on payment maximums.

Share the 2024 Social Security updates with your clients, available at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10003.pdf

Stay Healthy and Independent with Senior Nutrition Programs

Are your clients eligible for Social Security retirement benefits or already receiving them? Did you know they can also receive healthy meals and other nutrition services through the National Senior Nutrition Program? Local meal programs in communities across the country are waiting to serve them.

As we age, we have different needs, different ways we take care of our health, and different nutrients we need to get from our food. But we don’t always have enough healthy food or the desire to prepare or eat a meal. Whether your clients need more food, healthier food, someone to share a meal with, or just want to learn about good eating habits, a meal program can help.

Every day, senior nutrition programs serve almost one million meals to people age 60 and older. With home-delivered and group meal options, your clients can get the food they need in a way that works best for them. It can help your clients avoid missed meals – and save them time and money with less shopping and cooking.

To learn more about these local senior nutrition programs, your clients can visit our blog at https://www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2022-12-12.html.

Send Your Clients to SSA.gov

We're making it easier than ever for your clients to do business with us online. Please direct them to www.ssa.gov/onlineservices to review our expanded online options!

Your clients will benefit from opening their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. They can access their Social Security Statement, get personalized retirement benefit estimates, check their benefit application status, set up or change their direct deposit, request a replacement Social Security card, and much more.

If your client cannot use our online services, please tell them to contact us by phone at 1-800-772-1213. If we cannot help them by phone, we can determine if an in-person appointment or other option may be available.

Retirement Planning Online

Our retirement webpage at www.ssa.gov/retirement is a great place for your clients to start mapping out their plan. We provide important information to answer questions like:

• When should I apply to start my retirement benefits?
• What documents do I need to provide SSA for my retirement application?
• Which factors may affect my retirement benefits?
• What should I do after I apply for retirement benefits?

Please remind your clients to use their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to get an instant estimate of their future retirement benefits. They can also see the effects of starting their retirement benefits at different ages.

Martin J. O’Malley Sworn in as Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Martin J. O’Malley was sworn in on December 20 by Senator Ben Cardin as Commissioner of Social Security to a term that expires on January 19, 2025.

Read our Press Release at https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2023/#12-2023-2 for more information.

Do Your Clients Need a New or Replacement Social Security Card? We’re Making it Easier!

If your clients need a new or replacement Social Security card, we’ve got great news! They may be able to complete, or at least start, their application on our website – and, if necessary, can even use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment at a local office.

Start an application

Do your clients need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) and card? They can visit www.ssa.gov/number-card to begin the process. They will answer a series of questions to determine whether they can:

• Complete the application process online.
• Start the application process online, then bring any required documents to a local Social Security office to complete the application, typically in less time.
• Complete the application process at a local office.

If your clients can’t complete the application online, they must visit a Social Security office. To learn more, please review our publication, Your Social Security Number and Card, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10002.pdf.

Replace their Social Security card

Do your clients want to replace their card? The Card Replacement Screener on our Replace Social Security card webpage at www.ssa.gov/number-card/replace-card helps them determine the best way to do so.

Depending on their situation, your clients may be able to request a replacement card without visiting a local office. They can choose “Answer a few questions” on the Replacement Card webpage at www.ssa.gov/number-card/replace-card to get started. Even if they can’t complete the process online and must visit an office, they can still save time by starting the application online.

Were Your Clients Asked to Come into an Office? Here’s What They Should Know

If your clients start the application online and we determine they need to come into an office, they can use our new Online Self-Scheduling option to:

• Select their language preference.
• Select the most convenient office to receive service.
• Choose to receive communications and appointment reminders through email or text.
• Use their mobile device to check-in for their appointment.

Your clients can also reschedule, modify, or cancel their appointment online without having to call or visit the office.

Please note that this service is not available in Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa. We hope to make it available soon.

It’s never been easier to do business with us! Please share this information with your clients.

Visit Social Security Online in 2024

Happy New Year! At Social Security, we know that the New Year is a perfect time to reset, renew, and make improvements. Your clients can sign up for a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and take advantage of our expanded online services.

Creating a free and secure my Social Security account allows your clients to check their Social Security Statement, get their benefit verification letter, confirm their reported earnings, estimate their future benefits, and more!

We are committed to protecting your clients’ personal information and benefits. That’s why we work with credential service providers (CSP), Login.gov and ID.me, to securely verify their identity to create their personal my Social Security account.

When your clients create their personal my Social Security account, keep in mind:

• They must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have a Social Security number (SSN), and a valid email address.
• They will be redirected to the CSP’s website when they select “Sign In with Login.gov” or “Sign in with ID.me.”
• Once they create the credential, they will return to the my Social Security webpage for next steps.

Please have your clients visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to see all they can do with a personal my Social Security account. We wish you and your clients a safe and happy 2024.

General Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B

If your clients did not apply for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) within three months before or after turning age 65, they have another chance. Each year, they can apply for Part B insurance during the General Enrollment Period. The period runs from January 1 to March 31 every year.

If your clients don’t enroll in Part B when they’re first eligible for it, they may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as they have Part B coverage. Their monthly premium will increase 10% for each 12-month period that they are eligible for Part B but did not sign up for it. Coverage starts the first day of the month after they sign up.

To learn more about Medicare, please visit our Medicare Benefits page at www.ssa.gov/medicare. Also, your clients can read our publication at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf.

Please have your clients share this information with friends and loved ones who may need it.

Social Security Improves Customer Experience Ranking

We’re committed to improving customer service by providing greater access to our programs and services, and our efforts have paid off. We’re proud to announce that Social Security’s ranking on Forrester's 2023 Customer Experience Index increased by 3.3 points – the only agency on the list to make a significant gain.

We achieved this higher ranking by focusing on key initiatives in 2023, like:

• Implementing online scheduling for in-office enumeration appointments. Your clients can now schedule appointments online for both original and replacement Social Security cards. This service is currently available in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• Conducting a targeted mail campaign to send enrollment information to people who may be eligible for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs and Medicare Savings Programs. Please see our publication, Understanding the Extra Help with Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10508.pdf.
• Employing strategies to help people facing barriers in accessing our programs and services, including people with:
• Limited income and resources.
• Limited English proficiency (LEP).
• A risk of homelessness.
• Mental and behavioral disabilities.
• Partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services to test new ways to make it easier for SSI applicants to access nutrition assistance programs. For more information, your clients can check out our press release at https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#12-2022-2.

Forrester’s’ recognition of our customer service improvements reflects our commitment to making it easier for your clients to do business with us. We invite them to learn more at www.forrester.com/press-newsroom/forrester-2023-us-federal-customer-experience-index/. Please share this news with your clients.

Are Americans Educated on Retirement Savings?

Financial education helps people learn about savings, credit, and loans. It also helps prepare people for life changes and to weather the unexpected. Financial knowledge is essential when planning for retirement.

So, how prepared are adults in the United States for retirement? The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) conducts polls on key issues, like retirement savings, that affect people’s financial well-being.

Lifetime financial education can be helpful when it comes to preparing for retirement. This includes understanding Social Security retirement benefits and making the most of retirement income. Your clients can learn more on our Retirement webpage at www.ssa.gov/retirement.

Find out what NEFE learned about financial education – and how Social Security retirement benefits play a part – on our blog. Please share this information with your clients.

5 Things to Know When a Child with Disabilities Turns 18

When a child turns 18 years old, they legally become an adult. This is an important time for your clients to consider their financial future – especially if they need additional care into adulthood. Here are 5 things that you need to know to prepare for this milestone:

• Health and welfare decision-making.
• Changes in SSI eligibility.
• Education transitions.
• Supports for living arrangements.
• Financial protections.

For more details, please encourage your clients to check out our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-10-26.html.

Visit Social Security Online This Holiday Season

The holiday season may give some of us a break from daily routines and the time to rest and relax. We want your clients to know that our online services are available to help them do business with us in an easy, convenient, and secure way. This season, encourage your clients to sign up for a personal my Social Security account.

A free and secure my Social Security account is your clients’ online gateway to our services. Creating an account allows your clients to:

• Check their Social Security Statement.
• Get proof of benefits.
• Get proof that they do not receive benefits.
• Verify their reported earnings.
• Estimate their future benefits and much more!

We are committed to protecting your clients’ personal information and benefits. That’s why we work with two credential service providers, Login.gov and ID.me to securely verify their identity to create their personal my Social Security account. We do this to protect their information.

When your clients create their personal my Social Security account, keep in mind:

• They must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have a Social Security number (SSN).
• They must provide a valid email address and some additional information.
• They will be redirected to our credential service provider’s website when they select “Sign in with Login.gov” or “Sign in with ID.me.”
• If they have a foreign mailing address, they must register and sign in with ID.me to access my Social Security.
• Once they create the credential, they will return to the secure my Social Security webpage for next steps.

Please have your clients visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to see all they can do with a personal my Social Security account. We wish you and your clients a safe and happy holiday season.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Cards Are Safer at Home

Scams to steal your clients’ personal information are at an all-time high. That’s why it remains critical that your clients safeguard important personal documents like their Social Security card.

A Social Security card is not an identification document. In many situations, your clients only need to know their Social Security number (SSN). Please advise your clients that their physical card is not necessary for most business needs.

Do your clients need evidence for work? There are several documents they can use instead of their card. These include:

• Birth Certificate.
• Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt.
• Employment Authorization Document.
• Form I-94 or Form I-94A.

Your clients do not need to show their physical card to apply for certain benefits. Your clients can simply provide their SSN for benefits like:

• Housing.
• Health insurance.
• Food assistance.

Your clients should also know their physical card is not required as evidence for the Department of Motor Vehicles. The only state that requires a physical card is Pennsylvania. For all other states, other acceptable evidence includes:

• W-2 forms.
• Form SSA-1099.
• Non-SSA-1099 forms.
• Pay stubs.

Keeping their card at home reduces the risk of loss or theft – and helps your clients keep their information safe. To learn more about keeping their card and information safe, your clients can visit our Fraud Prevention and Reporting webpage at www.ssa.gov/fraud.

Holiday Local Social Security Office Closings

We want you to know that our offices and phone lines will be closed to the public on December 25 and January 1. However, your clients can still access and use our automated telephone services or our online services every day during the holiday season.

Please visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices for a list of our secure and convenient online services. A list of our automated telephone services is available on our Contact Social Security by Phone webpage at www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/phone.html.

SSA Talks: Will Social Security Be There When I Retire?

Will Social Security be there when I retire?

That’s the question we’re answering in the latest episode of our audio series, SSA Talks. Our Chief Actuary Steve Goss sheds light on our trust funds and how they relate to your clients’ future benefits.

The 12-minute episode includes a fact sheet and transcript. The fact sheet provides more information on the trust funds and how much protection our benefits offer.

We invite you and your clients to visit our SSA Talks page at www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.html to listen and subscribe to receive alerts about future episodes! For more information and news about Social Security, please encourage your clients to check out our Communications Corner at www.ssa.gov/news.

Please share this episode with your clients.

Social Security Benefits Increase in 2024

More than 71 million Americans will see a 3.2% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2024. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by more than $50 per month starting in January.

Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are higher. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.

We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. But if your clients want to know their new benefit amount sooner, they can securely obtain their Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your clients can access this information in early December, prior to receiving the mailed notice. Benefit amounts will not be available before December. Since your clients will receive the COLA notice online or in the mail, they don’t need to contact us to get their new benefit amount.

If your clients prefer to access their COLA notice online and not receive the mailed notice, they can log in to their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to opt out by changing their preferences in the Message Center. Your clients can update their preferences to opt out of the mailed COLA notice, and any other notices that are available online. Do your clients know they can receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for them? That way, they always know when we have something important for them – like their COLA notice. If your clients don’t have an account yet, they must create one by November 14, 2023, to receive the 2024 COLA notice online.

“Social Security and SSI benefits will increase in 2024, and this will help millions of people keep up with expenses,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

January 2024 marks when other changes will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2024 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2024. Learn more at www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2024.pdf.

Help your clients be among the first to know! Encourage them to sign up for or log in to their personal my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. They can choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications.

Your clients can find more information about the 2024 COLA at www.ssa.gov/cola. Please share this information with your clients.

Protecting Your Clients’ Retirement Money

As we approach the holiday season, we have a great opportunity to educate your clients on how to avoid scams. This is particularly important for those planning their retirement to learn how to protect their hard-earned retirement money against scams and fraud.

We recently shared a guest post from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. The article shared the SEC’s top online resources – along with helpful tips and links to help your clients protect themselves against scams and fraud.

Please share our blog post with your clients at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-09-28.html.

Social Security is Thankful for the Opportunity to Serve You

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and share memories with loved ones. We are thankful that we can help your clients learn about Social Security programs to assist them with life’s journey.

We are more than a retirement program. Our services help many families across this country. We are there for joyous moments like the birth of a child and issuing their first Social Security card. We are also there during times of hardship and tragedy, to provide disability, spouse, and survivors benefits. And we’re there to help your clients celebrate retirement, too.

We are available to serve your clients online, by phone, and in person in our local offices. Learn more at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-08-14.html.

Please share this information with your clients and others you care about who need help.

Prioritizing Mental Health for Our Veterans

Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being. Mental health issues can significantly impact a person’s quality of life by making it difficult to work, maintain relationships, and enjoy activities that they love. For our nation’s veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other conditions, these effects can be even more pronounced.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that approximately 20% of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan experience PTSD or depression. Unfortunately, many veterans don’t seek help due to the perceived stigma surrounding mental health issues. They may worry that they’ll be seen as weak or that their military careers could be negatively affected. This often leads to veterans suffering in silence.

Our benefits and services continue to help our nation’s veterans through tough times. If your clients’ mental health challenges are so severe that they’re unable to work, they may qualify for disability benefits.

Your clients can learn more on our Disability Benefits page at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability along with our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-10-05.html.

Please share this important information with your clients.

Save Your Place in Line with Mobile Check-In Express!

Our Mobile Check-In Express feature makes it easier for your clients to check in if they must visit an office.

To use Mobile Check-In Express, your clients can scan the QR code located at the local Social Security office they’re visiting. This will allow your clients to check in for:

• Scheduled and non-scheduled appointments.
• Services—including requesting a replacement Social Security card, a benefit verification letter, proof of income, and more.

For Mobile Check-In Express to work, they must be at the Social Security office and have their mobile location services on. They should also make sure they’re using the latest version of their internet browser. The service is most compatible with Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. Your clients will also want to:

• Ensure they are in the Social Security office when their ticket number is called.
• Enable their mobile notifications. This will:
• Allow them to receive their electronic ticket – so they’ll know their place in line.
• Alert them when we’re ready to help them.
• Provide them with their interview location information.
• Invite them to participate in our feedback survey.

We encourage your clients to use Mobile Check-In Express for any office visits.

Please share this information with your clients.

Save The Date: October National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. The title is “Youth Transitioning to Adulthood and Preparing for an Age-18 Redetermination.” The event will take place using Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our Advocates page at www.ssa.gov/news/advocates.html . You and your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

Celebrating 50 Years of the Rehabilitation Act

This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This law prohibits disability-related discrimination in programs that are run by federal agencies or receive federal funding. It also protects federal employees and contractors from discrimination.

Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that federal contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to recruit, hire, employ, promote, and retain qualified people with disabilities.

Section 503 and Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program

Section 503 provides job opportunities for qualified people with disabilities. Our Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program can help connect your clients with jobs.

The Ticket Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, participants can work with service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment. This allows them to move toward financial independence through work.

Organizations that provide employment-related services, like State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and American Job Centers (AJCs) can help your clients find federal contractors and subcontractors. If they’re eligible for the Ticket Program, an Employment Network (EN) may also help.

Many federal contractors and subcontractors look to State VR agencies, AJCs, and ENs to find qualified candidates with disabilities to fill open positions.

To learn more about the Ticket Program, your clients can visit www.choosework.ssa.gov or call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. They can ask for a list of service providers or find providers on their own using the Ticket Program Find Help Tool found at www.choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp.

Your clients can also learn more by registering for a free, online event at www.choosework.ssa.gov/wise or text TICKET to 474747 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and they can opt out at any time.

Please share this information with your clients.

National Savings Day Reminds Us to Plan for the Future

National Savings Day is October 12. The day serves as an important reminder for your clients to plan for their financial future.

Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan. We have online tools to help your clients understand their potential Social Security benefits and how they fit into their financial future.

Your clients should periodically review their Social Security Statement (Statement) using their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. The Statement is an easy-to-read summary of the estimated benefits your clients and their families could receive, including potential retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.

Our Plan for Retirement tool in your clients’ personal my Social Security account allows them to check various benefit estimate scenarios. Your clients can compare the effect different future earnings and retirement benefit start dates have on their future benefit amount.

Please let your clients know they can take steps to improve their financial knowledge by signing in to their personal my Social Security account. If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

If You or Your Clients Fall Victim to a Scam

If your client is a victim of a scam, they should never feel embarrassed. Anyone can become a victim of fraud. The important thing is to report the scam immediately. Advise your clients to:

• Stop communications with the scammer.
• Notify financial institutions and protect their accounts.
• Contact local law enforcement and file a police report.
• File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov and on the FTC website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Report Social Security-related scams to our Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
• Retain financial transaction information and records of all communications with the scammer.

Please share this information with your clients so they can help their friends, family, and community.

Faxed Applications No Longer Being Accepted

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily allowed faxed applications to expedite the application process. Since the Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023, please note that we are longer accepting faxed applications as valid.

Applications must meet the following criteria to be considered valid:

• On a prescribed application form;
• Signed beneath the penalty clause by a proper applicant;
• Filed with SSA; and
• The claimant must be alive when the application is filed unless:
• Before death, there was a written statement of intent to claim benefits.
• Before death, a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) oral inquiry was received.
• Within 3 months after the month of death, a title II disability application is filed.

You may find information on valid applications here.

How SSA.gov Helps You

We’re excited to remind you about two helpful screening tools on SSA.gov! These tools are the Benefits Screener and the Card Replacement Screener. The Benefit Screener helps your clients determine their eligibility for benefits and the Card Replacement Screener helps them request a replacement Social Security card. Let’s go over how your clients can use these tools.

Benefits Screener

You can access the Benefits Screener tool at www.ssa.gov/prepare/check-eligibility-for-benefits to determine which benefits your clients may be eligible for, typically in 10 minutes or less! Whether they’re considering retirement, disability, survivor, or other types of benefits, this tool will guide them in the right direction.

To use the screener, your clients can select the “Start” button and answer a few questions about what’s going on in their life. Your clients will immediately get a response that tells them which benefits they may be eligible for based on their answers.

Card Replacement Screener

Your clients can access the Card Replacement Screener at www.ssa.gov/number-card/replace-card. Requesting a replacement Social Security card is free. In most situations, your clients do not need to present a physical card – just knowing their Social Security number is usually enough. But, if your clients need a physical Social Security card, they can use this screener to determine the best way to replace it.

Depending on their situation, your clients may be able to request a replacement Social Security card without visiting a local office. If your clients can’t complete the process online and have to visit an office, they can save time by starting with the online application.

SSA.gov continues to be a safe and secure way to conduct business with us online. The redesigned website—with its online tools—is the quickest, easiest, and most convenient way to begin.

Please share this information with your clients.

Celebrating 88 Years of Social Security

For 88 years, Social Security has provided income protection to millions of retirees, people with disabilities, dependents, and families that lose a wage earner. This year, we will administer more than $1.3 trillion in benefits and payments to more than 70 million beneficiaries and cover 181 million workers and their families. In addition to paying benefits, we issue millions of Social Security numbers each year, maintain the wage records of workers, and more. The scope of what we do is enormous, and we are proud to serve the American people every day.

To better serve your clients, we have prioritized our online customer experience. Our website, SSA.gov, makes it easier for your clients to find what they need. More than 180 million people visit our website every year. Whether providing service in person or online, our goal is to help people understand what they may qualify for and transition them to an application process.

You and your clients can learn more on our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-08-14.html Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Services for the Hispanic Community

Social Security strives to deliver great customer service and helpful information to everyone, including people who are more comfortable reading and speaking Spanish.

Our Spanish-language website, www.segurosocial.gov, provides information about our programs and services. Your clients can learn how to get a Social Security card, plan for retirement, apply for and manage benefits, and much more.

Your clients can also learn more about why Social Security is important to the Hispanic community at www.ssa.gov/espanol/personas/hispanos. We provide many publications in Spanish at www.ssa.gov/espanol/publicaciones on popular topics such as:

• Medicare.
• Supplemental Security Income.
• Retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.

Spanish-speaking customers who need to speak with a representative can call us at 1-800-772-1213 and press 7. Please share these resources with your clients. And follow us on our Spanish-language Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/segurosocial and www.twitter.com/segurosocial.

Minimizing the Risk of Financial Abuse for People Living with Dementia

Financial crime against older Americans is a growing problem. People living with dementia are at an especially high risk of becoming victims. That’s why we’re committed to combatting fraud.

As their memory and other thinking skills decline, people with dementia may struggle to make financial decisions. They may not remember or report the abuse – or understand that someone is taking advantage of them. This abuse can occur anywhere – including at home or in care settings.

Victims of fraud who are 80 years and older lose an average of $39,200 every year. Studies show that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse. However, only a small fraction of these incidents are reported.

Your clients can learn to recognize common signs of financial exploitation and abuse, including:

• Unopened bills.
• Unusual or large purchases.
• Utilities being shut off due to unpaid bills.
• Money given to telemarketers or soliciting companies.
• Unexplained withdrawals from the person’s bank account.

There are also many simple things that caregivers can do to reduce the risk of financial abuse for people with dementia and similar conditions, like Alzheimer’s. Your clients can learn more by visiting our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-06-13.html.

Please share this information with your clients.

Disability: Part of the Equity Equation

People with disabilities play an important role in a diverse and inclusive workforce. We would like to tell your clients about Amy and her path to financial independence through work.

Meet Amy

Amy has a developmental disability that affects her speech, learning, and social interactions. When she was ready to find a path to financial independence through work, Amy turned to her State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency for help. Amy’s VR counselor told her about Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program.

The Ticket Program supports career development for people with disabilities who want to work. Adults ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) qualify for this free and voluntary program. Through the Ticket Program, service providers offer free employment support services.

Amy had questions about how employment could affect her benefits. Her State VR counselor connected her with Full Circle Employment Solutions. Full Circle is an Employment Network with benefits counselors on staff who explained how working might affect her disability benefits.

States are Restarting Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Renewals

For the past three years, people on Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were not required to renew their coverage due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This exception was referred to as the ‘continuous enrollment condition’.

The continuous enrollment condition ended, so states have resumed eligibility reviews. To avoid a gap in coverage, people who have Medicaid or CHIP need to take action to renew their coverage.

• Make sure their state has their current mailing address, phone number, email, or other contact information.
• Check the mail for a letter about their Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
• If received, complete and return the renewal form to their state right away to help avoid a gap in coverage.
• Visit Medicaid.gov/renewals for more information or their state Medicaid office for help or to update their contact information.

We ask that you share this information with your clients to help raise awareness about renewing coverage.

Are Your Clients Age 70 or Older and Not Yet Getting Social Security Retirement Benefits?

Retirement is not one-size-fits-all. It can mean different things to different people. Perhaps your clients have not applied for Social Security retirement benefits because they're still working or are delaying applying so they can get the higher benefit. If your clients are age 70 or older, they should apply now for the benefits they’re owed. Your clients’ benefits will not increase if they continue to delay applying for them because they are 70 or older.

Did you know that your clients can receive benefits even if they still work? For more information, they can check out our blog article at Are You Age 70 or Older and Not Yet Getting Your Social Security Retirement Benefits? (ssa.gov).

Please share this information with your clients.

If Your Clients Fall Victim to a Scam

If your client is a victim of a scam, they should never feel embarrassed. Anyone can become a victim of fraud. The important thing is to report the scam immediately. Advise your clients to:

• Stop communications with the scammer.
• Notify financial institutions and protect their accounts.
• Contact local law enforcement and file a police report.
• File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov and on the FTC website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Report Social Security-related scams to our Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
• Retain financial transaction information and records of all communications with the scammer.

Please share this information with your clients so they can help their friends, family, and community.

Five Benefits You Can Apply for Using SSA.gov

We continue to make it easier for your clients to access our programs and benefits. Our website offers convenient ways to apply for benefits online.

Here are 5 ways your clients can apply for benefits using ssa.gov.

1. Retirement or Spouse's Benefits – If your client is at least 61 years and 9 months and wants their benefits to start in no more than 4 months, they can apply at www.ssa.gov/retirement.
2. Disability Benefits – Your clients can use our online application, at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/, to apply for disability benefits if they:
   1. Are age 18 or older.
   2. Are not currently receiving benefits on their own Social Security record.
   3. Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
   4. Have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. If your client’s application was recently denied, our online appeal application is a starting point to request a review of the determination we made. Please visit www.ssa.gov/apply/appeal-decision-we-made.
3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below specific financial limits. SSI payments are also made to people age 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial qualifications. If your clients meet certain requirements, they may begin the process online by letting us know they would like to apply for SSI at www.ssa.gov/ssi. If your client does not have access to the internet, they can call their local Social Security office to make an appointment to apply.
4. Medicare – Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, some people younger than 65 who have disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). If your client is not already receiving Social Security benefits, they should apply for Medicare 3 months before turning age 65 at www.ssa.gov/medicare.
5. Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs – Clients who need assistance with the cost of medications can apply for Extra Help at www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help. The Extra Help program helps with the cost of your prescription drugs, like deductibles and copays.

With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for your clients when it’s convenient for them. Be sure to tell your clients about all they can do with us online at www.ssa.gov.

Representative Payees Help Your Clients Manage Their Benefits

Some people who receive monthly Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments may need help managing their money. When we receive information that indicates your client needs help, we’ll work with them to find the most suitable representative payee to manage their benefits. A representative payee is someone who receives monthly benefit payment on behalf of anyone who can’t manage their benefits and must use the money to pay for their current needs. These include:

• Food.
• Clothing.
• Housing and utilities.
• Personal care items.
• Medical and dental expenses.
• Rehabilitation expenses (if they have a disability).

The representative payee should be someone your client trusts, sees often, and who clearly understands their needs. Social service agencies, nursing homes, or other organizations are also qualified to be a representative payee.

You and your clients can find more information at www.ssa.gov/payee.

Four Questions That Can Help Your Clients Plan for Retirement

Social Security benefits are part of the retirement plan of almost every American worker. If your client is among the many people covered under Social Security, they should know what their future benefit may be. These monthly payments will likely be an important part of their retirement income.

Our retirement page at www.ssa.gov/retirement is a great place for your client to start mapping out a retirement plan. For example, has your client considered:

• When is the right time to start receiving retirement benefits?
• What documents they need to provide us for their retirement application?
• Which factors may affect their retirement benefits?
• What they need to do after they apply for retirement benefits?

Your client can use their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to get an instant estimate of their future retirement benefits. They can also see the effects of starting retirement benefits at different ages.

Your client may also be wondering about:

• Benefits for a spouse or children.
• How work affects their benefits.
• Medicare.
• Whether they will have to pay taxes on their benefits.

Your clients can learn more at www.ssa.gov/retirement. Please share this information with your clients to help them prepare for retirement.

Celebrate Your Independence with Social Security

Every July, we take pride in celebrating our nation’s independence. For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped provide financial independence to millions of hardworking people. We have useful online tools like the Social Security Statement (Statement) and our benefits estimator tool that help people not yet receiving benefits.

The Statement shows the benefits that your clients may be entitled to, including personalized fact sheets tailored to their age and earnings situation. The benefits estimator tool allows your clients to get estimates based on different ages they may want to begin receiving benefits. These tools can help them plan for financial independence in retirement.

Even if they don’t receive benefits, your clients can get the most out of their online experience with a personal my Social Security account. They can:

• Get their Statement instantly.
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).
• Find out if they qualify for benefits.
• Appeal a decision we made on their claim.

If your clients already receive benefits, they can use their personal my Social Security account to:

• Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).
• Get an instant benefit verification letter for Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Start or change their direct deposit (Social Security beneficiaries only).
• Check their information and benefit amount.
• Change their address (Social Security beneficiaries only).
• Request a replacement Medicare card.
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S instantly for tax season.
• Report their wages if they work and receive disability benefits or SSI.

Your clients can create their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for your clients when it’s convenient for them. Be sure to tell your clients about all they can do with us online at www.ssa.gov.

5 Ways Social Security Supports the Americans with Disabilities Act

We’re committed to supporting the principles and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We provide products and services to help improve the lives of people with disabilities. Here are 5 ways we support the ADA:

1. Financial and Medical Benefits to People with Disabilities
   Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) helps people with disabilities meet their basic needs and sustain a higher quality of life. We pay disability benefits to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Your clients can learn more at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability. They can also check out our Faces and Facts of Disability webpage at www.ssa.gov/disabilityfacts which highlights the stories of people with disabilities and receiving benefits.
2. Cash assistance to People with Disabilities who have Limited Income
   The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below specific financial limits. We also provide SSI payments to people who are at least 65 years old, without disability, and meet the financial qualifications. Your clients can learn more at www.ssa.gov/ssi.
3. Support for Children with Developmental and Behavioral Disabilities
   SSI provides financial support to families with children who have developmental and behavioral disabilities. Children under age 18 can get SSI if they meet our definition of disability and live in a household with limited income and resources. Your clients can learn more about SSI eligibility for children and how to apply for SSI at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html.
4. Helping People with Disabilities Progress Toward Financial Independence
   Our Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 to 64 who receive disability benefits and want to work. Our Ticket Program is a free and voluntary program with approved service providers who offer support and services to participants. Encourage your clients to check out our Ticket page at www.ssa.gov/work.
5. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts
   We look to build upon the promise of the ADA. That includes equal opportunity and full participation for people living with disabilities. ABLE accounts help bridge the gap by allowing eligible beneficiaries to save and become economically self-sufficient. For SSI determinations, we do not count up to $100,000 in an ABLE account. We invite your clients to learn more about how ABLE accounts can help on our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2020-07-27.html.

We’re here to help your clients secure today and tomorrow. Please share this with your clients.

Social Security Launches New Audio Series, SSA Talks, and News Hub

Did you know we have a new audio series, SSA Talks?

You and your clients can learn more about our top priorities by listening at www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.html.

In our first episode, Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi and Janet Walker, Associate Commissioner for Operational HR Services, discuss how our current hiring initiative is central to improving customer service.

The 17-minute episode includes a fact sheet and transcript. The fact sheet also provides more information about working at Social Security.

You and your clients can visit our blog to learn more: www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2023-05-31.html. Please share this news with your clients and other interested parties.

Recognizing the Needs of Your Clients on the Autism Spectrum and Their Families

Social Security’s programs touch the lives of nearly every American. We are committed to reducing barriers to ensure people eligible for our benefits receive them. We provide income security for the diverse populations we serve. This includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.

Many parents and caretakers of children with disabilities lose work hours and income because of their children’s care needs. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly financial support to low-income families with children who have developmental and behavioral disabilities. These include ASD – and physical impairments.

Children under age 18 can get SSI if they meet our definition of disability for children and live in a household with limited income and resources. We define a disability as:

• The child must have a physical or mental condition(s) that very seriously limits the child’s activities.
• The condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 1 year or result in death.

You can learn more about SSI eligibility for children and how to apply for SSI on our website at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html.

We also serve people with ASD who want to enter the workforce. Your clients may have questions about how ASD affects their employment options. They may also see their ASD as a barrier to employment. Employers have started to recognize that many people with ASD can bring a variety of skills and strengths to the workplace. We encourage your clients to learn more about our Ticket to Work program at choosework.ssa.gov.

We recognize the need to support, understand, accept, include, and empower those on the autism spectrum. Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security Administration Expands Outreach and Access for Supplemental Security Income

Social Security has expanded its outreach to people in critical need of financial help who may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI provides monthly payments to adults age 65 and older or to other adults – and children – with a disability or blindness who have limited income and financial resources. SSI helps pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine.

We identified underserved communities in rural and urban areas across the country. We focused on areas with the greatest decline in SSI applications since the pandemic. Our outreach efforts targeted areas where the majority of people are living at or below the federal poverty threshold.

Your clients who receive SSI may qualify for other financial help, including SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps), Medicaid, and discounted internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Social Security beneficiaries may also be eligible for SSI.

Your clients with limited income and financial resources should visit www.ssa.gov/ssi to learn more about SSI eligibility and request an appointment to apply. People without access to the internet can call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative.

Please share this information with your clients to spread the word about SSI.

This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Let’s Make a Pledge to Stay in Touch

Older adults are more vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day reminds us about the importance of staying in touch with older persons.

Elder abuse is the intentional mistreatment or harming of an older person. An older person is defined by the Social Security Act as someone over age 60. This abuse takes many forms – including physical and emotional abuse, neglect, sexual harm, and financial exploitation. More than 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of abuse each year. That number is likely much higher because elder abuse is often underreported – especially in underserved communities.

Abuse victims typically show emotional and behavioral red flags, such as depression, unusual fear or anxiety, or intentional isolation. Many victims are abused by someone they know or trust. It’s important to look for unusual changes in behavior around:

• Family members.
• Staff at inpatient facilities.
• Hired or volunteer caregivers.
• People in positions of trust like doctors or financial advisors.

You can also help make a difference by checking in with older loved ones. Looking for warning signs of mistreatment is the first step to preventing abuse. Signs of physical abuse include bruises, burns, or other unexplained injuries.

There may also be signs of neglect like:

• Poor nutrition or hygiene.
• Lack of necessary medical aids like glasses or medications that a caretaker should be providing.

There may also be indications of financial abuse. These may include:

• Unpaid rent.
• Sudden changes to a will.
• Unusual changes in money management.
• Large or unexplained financial transactions.
• Mortgages despite sufficient financial resources.
• Allowing someone new to access bank accounts.

If you suspect that someone is a victim of elder abuse, don't ignore it! If you or someone you care about is in a life-threating situation, call 911. If you suspect that something isn't right – but nobody seems to be in immediate danger – contact:

• Your local Adult Protective Services.
• The National Center on Elder Abuse at 1-855-500-3537 (ELDR).

You can also find additional local resources by searching the Eldercare Locator for your community.

This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, take some time to call or visit with an older adult. Ask if they are okay and listen to what they tell you. Pay attention to signs of abuse or unusual behavior. Most of all, don’t be afraid to report instances of suspected abuse. Everyone deserves to be safe, regardless of age, and help is available.

Please share this information with your family and friends – and share it on social media.

Fraudsters Never Go on Vacation

Although your clients may be enjoying the summer sun and fun, they should keep in mind that fraudsters don’t go on vacation. Seniors and younger people are particularly vulnerable to scammers who claim to represent Social Security. To protect themselves and their loved ones, your clients can:

• Visit our Fraud Prevention and Reporting webpage at www.ssa.gov/fraud to learn about how we fight scammers.
• Visit our Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam for information on what tactics scammers use and how to report them.
• Check out the Federal Trade Commission’s page at consumer.ftc.gov/scams for additional scam-related information.

Please share these useful resources with your clients.

The Most Popular Baby Names of 2022 are Here

For all the most popular baby names of 2022, and to see where your or your client's name ranks, visit our Baby Names page at www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames.

While online, users can create their personal my Social Security account. my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing into retirement. Nearly 80 million people have signed up at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and benefited from the many secure and convenient self-service options.

Please share this information with your clients.

What Did Your Clients Earn at Their First Job? Social Security Can Tell Them

Have your clients ever wondered how much they earned during the year that they worked their first job? Or any other year they worked? They can find out by reviewing their Social Security earnings record.

The earnings record will show their income for each year worked and their progress toward future Social Security benefits. We keep track of their earnings so we can pay them the benefits they've earned over their lifetime. That's why it's important that they review their Social Security earnings record.

It's their employer's responsibility to provide accurate earnings information to us. However, they should still review their earnings history and inform us of any errors or omissions. We encourage your clients to learn more on our blog.

International Widows’ Day

International Widows’ Day is recognized annually on June 23. We understand the financial difficulty that can come with the loss of a spouse. Social Security provides monthly financial support to the surviving spouse. Eligibility depends on a person’s age, disability determination, and if they have the deceased person’s child in their care.

If your client lost a spouse, please encourage them to learn more at www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors.

On the Go? You Can Still Use Social Security Online When Traveling

Social Security is here for your clients to use when they travel, whether they are in the United States or are in another country. Our online services page at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices provides your clients a wide variety of self-service options they can use on the phone, tablet, or computer.

Through our online services, your clients can:

• Find out if they qualify for benefits.
• Apply for Social Security retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits.
• Get their Social Security Statement.
• Request a replacement Social Security card.
• Appeal a decision.

Do your clients receive Social Security benefits or Medicare? If so, they can create or log in to their personal my Social Security account to:

• Get their benefit verification letter.
• Check their information and benefit amount.
• Process a change of address and telephone number.
• Start or change their direct deposit.
• Request a replacement Medicare card.
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.
• Report their wages if they work and receive disability benefits or SSI.

Encourage your clients to create a personal my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to take advantage of these easy-to-use features. Also, remind them to share our online services page with family and friends who need this important information.

Social Security Honors Our Military Heroes

On Memorial Day, we honor military service members who have given their lives for our country. Families, friends, and communities pause to remember the many great sacrifices of our military and ensure their legacy lives on in the freedoms we all enjoy. We recognize these heroes who, in President Lincoln’s words, “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

The benefits we provide can help the families of deceased military service members, which may include your clients. For example, surviving spouses and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. Your clients can learn more about those benefits at www.ssa.gov/survivors.

We also offer support to our wounded warriors. Social Security benefits protect veterans when an injury prevents them from returning to active duty or performing other work. Wounded military service members can receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims. Do you have clients who are veterans with a 100% Permanent & Total compensation rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs? We will expedite their disability claim. Both the Department of Veteran Affairs and Social Security have disability programs. Your clients may qualify for disability benefits under one program but not the other, or they may qualify for both. Depending on your client’s situation, some of their family members, including dependent children or their spouse, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

Want more information? Visit www.ssa.gov/people/veterans for answers to commonly asked questions or to find information about the application process.

Do you have clients thinking about retirement? Military service members can receive Social Security benefits in addition to their military retirement benefits. For details, visit our webpage, You Can Get Both Military Retirement and Social Security Benefits at www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/veterans.html.

Please share this information with your clients.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The month of May was selected by Congress to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States on May 7, 1843.

Social Security’s programs serve as financial protection for millions of Americans of every race and background. In honor of this month, we are shining a spotlight on our AAPI page at www.ssa.gov/people/aapi. Please share it with your clients today.

We recognize the cultural and language challenges that some members of the AAPI community face. We provide free interpreter services for AAPIs in their preferred languages. We also supply publications in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Your clients can find this information at https://www.ssa.gov/site/languages/en.

The Most Popular Baby Names of 2022 are Coming — Get Them Straight from the Source!

Our list of 2022’s most popular baby names is coming soon! We historically release the top list on the Friday before Mother’s Day – this year, that falls on May 12. Visit our Baby Names page at www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames on May 12 to see where your favorite names rank. Social Security is here for you from day one, which makes us the source for the most popular baby names and more!

While you’re on our website to check out the top baby names list, we encourage you and your clients to create a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Free and secure, my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use in their working years and later when they’re receiving Social Security benefits.

Save The Date – National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The title is “Focusing on Aspects of Childhood Disability and Childhood SSI - Part 2.” The event will take place through Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our What’s New page at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/groups/whatsnew.html. You and your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

Send Your Clients to SSA.gov

Our online services make it easy for your clients to do business with us conveniently and securely. Please direct them to www.ssa.gov/onlineservices.

Your clients will benefit from opening their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your clients can:

• Access their Social Security Statement.
• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.
• Check their benefit application status.
• Set up or change their direct deposit.
• Request a replacement Social Security card.

If your client cannot use our online services, please tell them to call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or their local Social Security office for assistance at www.ssa.gov/locator. If we cannot help them by phone, we can determine if an in-person appointment or other option may be available.

Please share our flyer, How to Get Help from Social Security, with your clients.

2023 Trustees Report

On March 31, 2023, the Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds.

The Trustees project the combined trust funds will become depleted in 2034, with 80% of benefits payable at that time. The Trustees project the DI Trust Fund will not become depleted during the 75-year projection period.

In the 2023 Report to Congress, the Trustees also announced:

• The asset reserves of the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds declined by $22 billion in 2022, to a total of $2.83 trillion.
• The projected actuarial deficit over the 75-year long-range period is 3.61% of taxable payroll — higher than the 3.42% projected in last year’s report.

The full 2023 Trustees Report is available at www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR.

Updated COVID-19 Guidance on Masking

Effective March 27, 2023, our mask requirements changed. Masks are now only required when the COVID-19 community level where the office is located is high. We will have signs posted at the offices where masks are required. We will provide a mask if needed. If the community level is medium or high, visitors may consider physically distancing from others and avoid crowding.

Our website, www.ssa.gov, is the best way for your clients to get help. If your client cannot use our website, they may call the National 800 Number or their local Social Security office. We can often help by phone and save your client a trip to an office. If your client must visit an office, we recommend that they check the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level webpage to get the current level.

A Personal my Social Security Account is for Every Stage in your Clients’ Career

Your clients’ personal my Social Security account is there for them at every stage of their career. They don’t have to be retired or even close to retirement to take advantage of it. With an account, your clients can conduct much of their Social Security business online. For example, your clients can request a replacement Social Security card (in most states and the District of Columbia) whether they receive benefits or not.

If your clients are not currently receiving benefits, they can use their personal my Social Security account to:

• Review their earnings history.
• Estimate their future benefits to help plan for retirement.
• Get instant proof that they do not receive benefits.
• Check the status of their Social Security application if they decide to apply for benefits.

If your clients already receive Social Security benefits, they can use an account to:

• Change their address.
• Get instant proof that they receive benefits.
• Set up or change their direct deposit.
• Get an instant copy of their Social Security 1099 (SSA-1099) or SSA-1042S.
• Opt out of receiving certain notices by mail and instead receive them in the secure Message Center.

Please encourage your clients to create their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Slam the Scam with Social Security

We continued to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams during the fourth annual “Slam the Scam” Day held in March. Social Security scams — where fraudsters pressure victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix alleged Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest – are an ongoing government imposter fraud scheme. For several years, Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. We’ve made concerted efforts to address this issue, through extensive outreach and investigative initiatives. These efforts have made a significant impact, reducing money reported lost to Social Security scams by 30 percent from 2021 to 2022.

“I am proud of the work we have done to combat Social Security imposter scams and raise public awareness,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect the public and their critical benefits. We urge Americans to remain vigilant, do not give out personal information or money, and report any scam attempts.”

Scammers use sophisticated tactics to trick potential victims into disclosing personal and financial information. Typically, they use the five P’s – Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure, and Payment. For example, scammers pretend they are from Social Security in phone calls or emails and claim there is a problem with the person’s Social Security number. The scammer’s caller ID may be spoofed to look like a legitimate government number. Scammers may also send fake documents to pressure people into complying with demands for information or money. Other common tactics include citing “badge numbers” and using fraudulent Social Security letterhead to target individuals for payment or personal information.

For more information, your clients can read our press release at www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2023/#3-2023-1. They can also check out our Slam the Scam page at www.ssa.gov/scam.

Ready to Retire? Apply Online with Social Security

It’s never too early for your clients to start planning for retirement using our online tools. Encourage your clients to access their personal my Social Security account to get an estimate of their retirement benefits based on their earnings record. Once your clients have an account, they can use our Plan for Retirement tool, to see how their benefits can change at different ages. If your clients don’t have a personal my Social Security account, they can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Your clients can also use their personal my Social Security account to see their entire work history to be sure we have all their wages recorded correctly. We base their benefit amount on the earnings reported to us. If your clients find an error with their work history, refer them to this publication www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf, to learn how they can correct their Social Security record.

When your clients are ready to apply for Social Security retirement benefits, they can conveniently complete our online application in as little as 15 minutes at www.ssa.gov/retirement. We will contact your clients if we need any further information. Your clients can check the status of their application through their online account.

Your clients can apply online for Social Security retirement benefits, or benefits as a spouse, if they:

• Are at least 61 years and nine months old.
• Are not currently receiving benefits on their own Social Security record.
• Have not already applied for retirement benefits.
• Want their benefits to start no later than four months in the future. (We cannot process their application if they apply for benefits more than four months in advance).

Find more information about retirement benefits at www.ssa.gov/retirement.

Save The Date – National Disability Forum

We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, April 19. The title is “Focusing on Aspects of Childhood Disability and Childhood SSI Part I.” You can participate using Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our What’s New page at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/groups/whatsnew.html. You and your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

Help Your Clients Get Started Applying for SSI

If your clients want to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), it’s best to start the process online at www.ssa.gov/ssi. The online process typically takes about five to ten minutes, and no documentation is required to start. We will need the following basic information about your client and, if applicable, the person they are helping:

• The name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, and phone number of the person interested in applying for SSI. We also offer the option to provide an email address.
• If helping another person, we need the helper’s name and phone number. We also offer them the option to provide an email address.

Once your client completes this short process, we will schedule an appointment to help your client apply for SSI. We will send a confirmation with the appointment date and time by mail and email (if an email address is provided). In some cases, we may call your client to schedule the appointment.

If your client is unable to begin the process online, they may schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. They may also contact their local Social Security office. They can find the phone number for their local office at www.ssa.gov/locator.

Please share this information with your clients.

How We Protect Your Clients from Misleading Advertising and Communications

We work with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect your clients from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications. Your clients can review Section 1140 at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.

For example, the OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who:

• Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or otherwise authorized by Social Security.
• Operates an imposter internet website or social media account designed to look as though it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security.
• Sends emails or text messages or makes telephone calls claiming to be from Social Security.
• Sells Social Security forms, applications, and publications without our written approval. All of these are available for free.
• Charges a fee for a service that we provide free of charge without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.

If your clients receive a misleading or suspicious Social Security-related advertisement or imposter communication, please let us know immediately. Your clients should try to capture as much information about the communication as they can. Here’s what your clients can do:

• For suspicious websites or social media accounts, they can take a screenshot of the page. Have them note the website address or social media link – and how they came across it.
• For emails and text messages, they can capture the entire message and any message links.
• For U.S. mail solicitations, they can retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.
• For telephone solicitations, they can note the caller identification phone number and any company name or call back number that the caller or recorded message provides.

Your clients can help us stop misleading advertising and communications. We encourage them to report potential scams at oig.ssa.gov. Your clients can also call OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or send an email to OIG.1140@ssa.gov.

This information will help OIG locate the source of the suspicious solicitation or communication. Your clients can also check out our publication, What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf.

Please share this information with your clients.

Your Clients Can Plan for Their Future During Financial Literacy Month

Financial Literacy Month is focused on educating people about the importance of planning for a secure financial future. Every April, we like to remind the public that Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan. We have online tools to help your clients understand their potential Social Security benefits and how they fit into their financial future.

Your clients should periodically review their Social Security Statement (Statement) using their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your clients’ Statement is an easy-to-read summary of the estimated benefits they could receive, including potential retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.

Our Plan for Retirement tool in your clients’ personal my Social Security account allows them to compare various benefit estimate scenarios. Your clients can compare the effect different future earnings and retirement benefit start dates have on their future benefit amount.

Please let your clients know they can take steps to improve their financial knowledge by exploring their personal my Social Security account. If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Your Clients Can Stay Informed with Social Security’s Top Five Social Media Pages

We strive to provide the public with accurate and helpful information. In addition to information we provide on our website at www.ssa.gov, we also engage regularly on social media. We invite your clients to read our posts and share items of interest with their family and friends. Your clients can:

1. Subscribe to our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/. There, we post articles about programs, policy, current topics, and new online services.
2. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/socialsecurity. They can also share the posts with family and friends.
3. View and easily share our informative videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/SocialSecurity. Our videos cover online services, applying for retirement and disability benefits, Social Security-related scams, and much more. We also offer some of our videos in Spanish.
4. Join our many Twitter followers at www.twitter.com/socialsecurity. There, we announce new my Social Security features and other service or program changes.
5. Check out our Instagram page at www.instagram.com/SocialSecurity. We share stories and resources that can help your clients and their loved ones.

Your clients can check out all our social media channels at www.ssa.gov/socialmedia.

Please share this information with your clients.

Recognition for Best Use of “Clear and Concise” Language

As a reader of this newsletter, you know that we strive to use plain language that is clear, easy to understand, and useful—even when some of the information we’re providing can be complicated.

Did you know that Social Security got the highest scores in government for the use of plain language?

The Center evaluated 21 Executive Branch agencies, including all 15 cabinet-level departments, and graded each between an A+ and F- for writing quality and organizational compliance.

Social Security received an A+ for organizational compliance and an A for writing quality. This is an improvement over last year’s high scores of A+ and B.

“An excellent model to follow is the Social Security Administration’s ‘Contact Us’ page, the only one to earn an A+,” the Center said in its key findings, “The web page is clear in its intended purpose to provide information readers seek,” the Center said. The page has clear and concise language and the reader is addressed directly,” it noted.

The Center also cited “excellent use of links, colors, fonts, sizing, bolding, bullets, and imagery to highlight important information.”

In addition, the Center recognized our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request page as an excellent model for other agencies. The 2022 Plain Language Report Card was released on January 10, 2023 at www.centerforplainlanguage.org/2022-federal-plain-language-report-card.

To learn more about Social Security’s plain language efforts, please visit our Plain Writing page at www.ssa.gov/agency/plain-language.

Social Security Celebrates Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month. It is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women. Social Security provides vital benefits and financial protection for women.

Nearly 55% of the people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Today, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history.

Women also have longer average life expectancies than men and tend to live more years in retirement. This means women have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income. It’s important for women to plan early and wisely for retirement.

Our online booklet, Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know found at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf, provides detailed information about how life events can affect a woman’s Social Security retirement benefits. These events may include marriage, death of a spouse, divorce, self-employment, and other life or career changes.

Your clients’ earnings history will determine future benefits, so we encourage them to verify that the information in their record is correct. Your clients can create a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to review their full earnings history. They can also view their Social Security Statement using their personal my Social Security account, to get estimates of future benefits and other important planning information.

If your clients find an error in their earnings record, it is important to have it corrected so they receive the benefits they earned when they retire. Our publication, How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf, provides details on how to make a correction.

We encourage your clients to learn about how Social Security benefits women at www.ssa.gov/people/women. Please share this information with your clients.

Help Someone You Love Apply for Social Security and More

Social Security helps people in all stages of life. We provide easy and convenient ways to learn about and apply for benefits. Using our online services, your clients can assist friends and family members to:

1. Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Check if the person they’re helping qualifies for SSI or apply at www.ssa.gov/ssi.
2. Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. When the unexpected happens and a loved one can no longer work due to a serious medical condition, our disability benefits can be a lifeline. Find out more at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability.
3. Create a personal my Social Security account. If your clients’ loved one is planning for retirement or interested in estimating their future benefits, they can create a free and secure my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and view their Social Security Statement.
4. Check the status of a pending application for benefits. Quickly and easily check the status of an application with a personal my Social Security account. If your clients – or their loved ones – don’t have an account, they can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
5. Appeal a decision for benefits. If your client or someone they know was denied Social Security benefits or SSI, they can request an appeal. We provide information on how to appeal decisions for both medical and non-medical reasons at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/appeal.html.

To discover more ways your clients can assist others, please visit www.ssa.gov/thirdparty.

Becoming More Financially Confident

Encourage your clients to commit to saving successfully during America Saves Week! This year’s theme is A Financially Confident You. Your clients can increase their financial confidence by building healthy saving habits and taking advantage of resources available to support their financial stability.

America Saves Week runs from February 27 through March 3. It’s a great opportunity for your clients to learn about good financial habits and assess their own saving status. It’s also a perfect time for them to create a plan, start saving, and begin their journey toward financial stability.

Planning and saving are key to a successful retirement. The earlier your clients start saving for retirement, the better off they will be in the future. People who have a plan are twice as likely to save effectively. We encourage your clients to pledge to save for America Saves Week at www.americasavesweek.org. Your clients can visit www.ssa.gov/retirement for useful information to help them plan for retirement.

It’s never too early to begin saving. Our webpage, www.ssa.gov/people/earlycareer, has resources that can help young workers secure their today and tomorrow. Please share our infographic, Anytime is the Right Time to Save for Your Future, that provides helpful information for your clients about saving at www.ssa.gov/benefits/assets/materials/retirement/EN-05-10549.pdf.

The sooner your clients start saving, the more their money can grow.

Social Security Launches Redesigned Website at SSA.gov

Do your clients know about the redesigned SSA.gov? In December 2022, we updated our homepage with a new design to help your clients find what they need easily.

“SSA.gov is visited by over 180 million people per year and it is one of our most important tools for providing efficient and equitable access to service,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, at the launch. “Whether providing service in person or online, our goal is to help people understand what they may qualify for and seamlessly transition them to an application process,” she said.

Now, with improved self-service accessibility to online services, you might not have to call or visit an office to get what you need. This helps our staff focus on serving customers who need in-person assistance.

The redesign is intended to provide a clear path to the tasks your clients need to accomplish. Many of the most visited sections of SSA.gov are now live with a more user-friendly and task-based approach. New pages and improvements based on public feedback will continue to be unveiled in the coming months, as part of our ongoing efforts to improve how the public can do business with us.

Stay Healthy and Independent with Senior Nutrition Programs

Are your clients eligible for Social Security retirement benefits or already receiving them? Did you know that your clients can also receive healthy meals and other nutrition services through the National Senior Nutrition Program? Local meal programs in communities across the country are waiting to serve them.

As we age, we have different needs, different ways we take care of our health, and different nutrients we need to get from our food. But we don’t always have enough healthy food or the desire to prepare or eat a meal. Whether your clients need more food, healthier food, someone to share a meal with, or just want to learn about good eating habits, a meal program can help.

Every day, senior nutrition programs serve almost one million meals to people age 60 and older. With home-delivered and group meal options, your clients can get the food they need in a way that works best for them. It can help your clients avoid missed meals – and save them time and money with less shopping and cooking.

To learn more about these local senior nutrition programs, your clients can visit our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2022-12-12.html.

Getting Two SSI Payments in One Month

For most months in the year, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients get their SSI payment on the first day of the month. But when the first day of the month falls on the weekend or a federal holiday, your clients receive their SSI payment on the last business day before the first day of the month. That means your clients may get two SSI payments in the same month.

We do this to avoid putting your clients at a financial disadvantage and make sure that they don’t have to wait beyond the first of the month to get their payment. It does not mean that your clients are receiving a duplicate payment in the previous month, so they do not need to contact us to report the second payment.

Here’s how this will work in April 2023. April 1, 2023, falls on a Saturday, so we will issue your clients’ SSI payment for the month of April on March 31, 2023. In this example, your clients get two SSI payments in March.

The first March payment, on March 1, is their regularly scheduled payment for March. The second March payment, on March 31, 2023, is their SSI payment for the month of April.

Your clients can also check out our Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments for the current and upcoming calendar year at www.ssa.gov/pubs/calendar.htm.

Securing today and tomorrow starts with being informed. Please share this information with your clients.

This New Year, Learn About Social Security Online

Social Security programs touch the lives of millions of people. We work hard to ensure you and your clients have access to critical benefits and services. Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for your clients to engage with us online. This begins with creating a free and secure my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Once your clients create an account, they can:

• Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits.
• Apply for Medicare.
• Check their application status.
• Request a replacement Social Security card.

If your clients do not receive Social Security benefits, they can also use their personal my Social Security account to:

• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.
• Get their Social Security Statement.
• Get estimates for spouses benefits.
• Get instant proof that they do not receive benefits.

If your clients receive benefits, they can use their personal my Social Security account to:

• Change their address (Social Security benefits only).
• Set up or change their direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only).
• Instantly get proof of benefits.
• Print their SSA-1099.

Each my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. Account holders can choose to receive annual cost-of-living adjustments and other secure communications online. Unless they opt-out of receiving these notices by mail, they will receive both mailed and online notices.

A personal my Social Security account offers easy access to features that save time when doing business with us online. Check out our available resources at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices.

Please share this information with your clients.

General Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B

If your clients did not apply for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) within three months before or after turning age 65, they have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from January 1 to March 31 every year. Coverage begins the first day of the month after they sign up.

If your clients don’t enroll in Part B when they’re first eligible for it, they may have to pay a late enrollment penalty while they have Part B coverage. A 10% monthly premium increase will be applied for each 12-month period they were eligible for Part B but did not sign up for it.

Encourage your clients to visit our Medicare Benefits page at www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare to learn more about Medicare. They may also read our publication at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf.

Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security’s Top 10 Webpages for 2023

There’s no better place for your clients to learn about Social Security programs and do business with us than on our redesigned website at SSA.gov. Visitors to SSA.gov will experience a new design to help them find what they need more easily.

Here are our top 10 webpages:

1. my Social Security — Your clients can open a personal my Social Security account to verify their earnings, view their Social Security Statement, get benefits estimates, and more, at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
2. Social Security blog — Our hub for Social Security news and updates is our blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/. Your clients can use social media to easily share these informative articles with others.
3. Frequently Asked Questions — Do your clients need answers to their Social Security-related questions? Our Frequently Asked Questions webpage is another valuable source of information at www.ssa.gov/faq.
4. Retirement Application — Your clients can complete and submit our online application for retirement benefits in as few as 15 minutes at www.ssa.gov/retirement.
5. Disability Application — Your clients can conveniently apply online for disability benefits at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability.
6. Publications — Encourage your clients to visit our online publication library for information on key subjects at www.ssa.gov/pubs (includes audio versions of publications).
7. Medicare — Your clients can sign up for Medicare at www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up.
8. Online Services — Your clients can take care of most business with us by visiting our online services page at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices.
9. Forms — Your clients can find and fill out all our forms easily at www.ssa.gov/forms.
10. Fraud and Scam Prevention and Reporting — It’s important for your clients to learn how to recognize Social Security fraud and scams – and how to report them – at www.ssa.gov/fraud.

Remember, if your clients need information or want to do business with us, the first place to go is our website. Please share these top resources with your clients.

Are Americans Educated on Retirement Savings?

Financial education helps people learn about savings, credit, and loans. It also helps prepare people for life changes and weather the unexpected. Financial knowledge is essential when planning for retirement.

So, how prepared are adults in the United States for retirement? The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) conducts polls on key issues, like retirement savings, that affect a person’s financial past, present, and future.

Lifetime financial education can be a helpful tool in preparing for retirement. This includes understanding Social Security retirement benefits and making the most of retirement income.

Find out what NEFE learned about financial education – and how Social Security retirement benefits play a part – on our blog. Please share this information with your clients.

Social Security’s Top 5 Data Privacy Resources

It is important that your clients stay safe online. When we receive their personal information, we are committed to protecting their privacy. Please share these data privacy resources with your clients:

1. A great online resource is www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your clients can visit the page to open a secure my Social Security account, keep track of their earnings records, and identify any suspicious activity.
2. Our Privacy Program page at www.ssa.gov/privacy is a central resource to learn about Social Security’s Privacy Compliance Program, submit a Privacy Act request, and review our privacy policies and reports.
3. In our blog post, 10 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information, we cover steps your clients can take to protect their data. Your clients can check out this blog at www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2021-08-19.html.
4. Our fact sheet, How You Can Help Us Protect Your Social Security Number and Keep Your Information Safe, provides details on how your clients can safeguard their private information. Your clients can access this fact sheet at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10220.pdf.
5. Our Guard Your Card infographic at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/assets/EN-05-10553.pdf helps your clients and their loved ones understand when they need to show their physical Social Security card – and when they do not.

We encourage your clients to partner with us to protect their vital information.