November 2020
Commissioner Saul is one of Next Avenue’s 2020 Influencers in Aging
Next Avenue has named Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul one of their 2020 Influencers in Aging. In a candid interview, Commissioner Saul details his dedication to the American public and improving SSA’s customer service:
“When I came in, the first thing I did was make it very clear that our job at the agency, meaning the whole team, was to serve the public. Customer service is the most important feature--that's the mojo here, and that's what we are dedicated to do,” said Commissioner Saul. “The global pandemic has changed the way we do business, and I think it will be changed forever. We must provide the public with additional online, remote service, and self-service options that we all expect from organizations today.”
You and your clients can read the interview with Commissioner Saul at www.nextavenue.org/for-social-securitys-chief-andrew-saul-customer-service-is-job-1.
Shining Light on Retirement
The dream of a secure, comfortable retirement is much easier to achieve when you plan ahead. The three major elements of your retirement portfolio are benefits from pensions, savings and investments, and Social Security benefits. Your clients have a better chance of reaching their retirement goals if they start planning earlier and use the correct information to make informed decisions.
Check out our redesigned retirement pages. Your clients can learn about retirement, apply for Social Security benefits, and manage their benefits at www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement.
Also, let your clients know that they can do much of their business with us online with a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Social Security National Disability Forum
On November 18, we hosted a virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on the topic
COVID-19 and SSA Programs: Long-Term Health Effects. Commissioner Andrew Saul provided opening remarks. Steve Rollins, Esq., Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Disability Policy, provided the NDF introduction and made closing remarks. The panel discussion included:
Moderator: Carlos Del Rio, M.D. Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, and Professor of Global Health and Epidemiology, Rollins School of Emory University.
Steven G. Deeks, M.D. Professor of Medicine in Residence, University of California, San Francisco.
Mercedes R. Carnethon, PhD Mary Harris Thompson Professor and Vice Chair of Preventive Medicine and Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
David Putrino, PhD Director of Rehabilitation Innovation, Mount Sinai Health System and Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Paul G. Auwaerter, M.D., MBA, FIDSA Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Clinical Director for the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of the Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases.
Laurie G. Jacobs, M.D., FACP, AGSF Chair and Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Hackensack University Medical Center.
You and your clients can learn more about Social Security’s National Disability Forum at www.ssa.gov/ndf.
Doing Medicare Business Online
Social Security is a leader in online, self-service options. In fact, your clients can do much of their Medicare business online with us. Your clients can:
Please remind your clients to look at our resources online before calling a local office.
Veterans and Active Duty Military Members Can Count On Social Security
Every year on Veterans Day, we honor the people who risk their lives to protect our country. Our disability program is an important part of our commitment to wounded warriors and their families.
Social Security is a valuable resource for military members who return home with injuries. If you know a wounded veteran, please let them know about our Wounded Warriors webpage at www.ssa.gov/woundedwarriors.
The Wounded Warriors webpage answers many commonly asked questions and shares other useful information about disability benefits, including how veterans can receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims. Benefits available through Social Security are different from those from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and they require a separate application because our definition of disabled is different. Please share this information with your clients who may need these resources.
Holiday Local Social Security Office Closings
If you plan to do business with us during the holiday season, we want you to know that our offices and phone lines will be closed to the public on Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1), but our online services are available every day.
Please visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices for a list of our secure and convenient online services.
