Social Security

Get Ready for Social Security’s Top 10 Baby Names

Next month, Social Security will release our top 10 baby names list for 2017. This popular list includes the names of both girls and boys; you and your clients can see which names are growing in popularity around the nation. This is a perfect opportunity for your clients to visit our baby names page at www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/babynames and also familiarize themselves with our resources for families.

In 2017, we distributed an average of $2.6 billion each month to benefit about 4.2 million children because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help make it possible for those children to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help stabilize the family’s financial future.

Your clients can learn more about our programs and services for families at www.socialsecurity.gov/people/kids.

Keep Informed with Facebook Live

April was a busy month for Social Security’s Facebook feed. Let your clients know they can learn about our programs by watching our Facebook Live events. These video presentations have a conversational tone that may be more appealing to some viewers.

You can restream all of our April programs on YouTube:

• Tuesday, April 3 – Kickoff National Social Security Month Facebook Live
• Tuesday, April 10 – Spanish Facebook Live (with Diana Varela)
• Wednesday, April 18 – National Social Security Month Facebook Live (with BJ Jarrett)
• Tuesday, April 24 – Save Smarter for Retirement

Social Security hosts Facebook Live events each month with special guests and subject matter experts. Your clients can watch our videos at www.facebook.com/SocialSecurity or www.youtube.com/SocialSecurity under the “Social Security Live!” playlist.

New States Added! Replace Your Lost or Stolen Social Security Card Online

Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and New York have been added to the online Social Security card replacement option. If your clients live in one of the 28 qualifying states or the District of Columbia, they can log in to their personal my Social Security account and easily replace their card.

Losing an important document, like a Social Security card, can sometimes be a hassle. But it doesn’t have to be. The number of states that allow for online replacement is growing. Keep in mind that, in many cases, even if someone has lost their card they may not need a replacement. In most cases, simply knowing their Social Security number is enough. But if they do need a replacement, we make it easy.

Tell your clients to visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Thank You for a Successful National Social Security Month

In April, we celebrated National Social Security Month. We want to thank you for encouraging your clients to take control of their future by seeing what they can do online.

For over 80 years, Social Security has changed to meet the needs of our customers. Today, you can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online; find answers to over 200 of your most frequently asked questions; and much more.

Although National Social Security Month has passed, it’s important for your clients to be kept informed all year long. Help us keep the momentum going by continuing to share information about our online services that give your clients secure access to their information anytime, anywhere. Your clients can use their my Social Security account to verify their earnings, see an estimate of their future benefits while still working, or manage their monthly benefits once they begin receiving payments. They can access my Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Social Security puts control at your client’s fingertips. Encourage them to explore our wide array of online services at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

Get Your Social Security Benefit Verification Letter Online

If your clients need proof they get Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security (SSI) Income, or Medicare, they can get a benefit verification letter online by using their personal my Social Security account. This letter is sometimes called a "budget letter," "benefits letter," "proof of income letter," or "proof of award letter." Organizations may request this letter from your client if they apply for state or local benefits, a mortgage, assisted housing, or a loan.

Your clients can also get proof that they have never received Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income, or proof that they have applied for benefits.

To get any of these kinds of benefit verification letters, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

If clients can’t or don’t want to use their online account, or they need a letter for a dependent, they can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.