June 2020
Sign up for Medicare Part B Online, By Mail, or By Fax
Your clients don’t need to leave the comfort of their home to sign up for Medicare Part B. If they are already enrolled in Medicare Part A and would like to enroll in Part B, they must complete form CMS-40B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B (Medical Insurance). If they are applying for Medicare Part B due to a loss of employment or group health coverage, they will also need to complete form CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information).
They can complete and submit the forms online by visiting our new Medicare Part B webpage; complete and return the forms by mail to their local Social Security office; or complete and fax the forms to 1-833-914-2016. If you or your clients have questions, please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
A Redesigned Retirement Benefits Portal That Works for Your Clients
We announced the first of several steps the agency is taking to improve the public’s experience on its website. The newly redesigned retirement benefits portal, at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement, will help millions of people prepare for and apply for retirement.
The redesigned portal will make it easier for people to find and read about Social Security retirement benefits. There are fewer pages with clearer and concise information. The portal also is optimized for mobile devices so people can learn and do what they want from wherever they want, and the portal now includes the ability to subscribe to receive retirement information and updates. Encourage your clients to visit www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement to find out how to Learn, Apply, and Manage retirement benefits, and learn how to create a personal my Social Security account online. More improvements to Social Security’s website are planned for later in 2020 as the agency seeks to continuously improve the public experience at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Social Security and Protecting Elders from Scams
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was June 15. We recognize how important it is to protect older people from scammers. In times like the current pandemic when people are particularly vulnerable, scammers will pretend to be Social Security or other government employees to gain people’s trust to steal their money and personal information. They may even pose as COVID-19 contact tracers working to stop the spread of the virus and ask for payment or your Social Security number. Please remind your clients that the most effective way to defeat scammers is by knowing how to identify scams and by hanging up or ignoring the calls and emails.
If your clients get a Social Security scam phone call, they should hang up and report it to our law enforcement office at oig.ssa.gov.
If your clients ever owe money to Social Security, we will mail them a letter explaining their payment options and their appeal rights. If you or your clients get a call about a Social Security problem, be very cautious. If your clients do not have ongoing business with the agency, or if the caller mentions suspending their Social Security number or makes other threats, the call is likely a scam. Tell your clients to ignore it, hang up, and report it to us at oig.ssa.gov.
Reporting Earnings Online When You’re Disabled
Social Security provides an online wage reporting service that allows Social Security disability beneficiaries and their representative payees, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and deemors to report wages securely online through my Social Security.
This online option allows them to avoid visiting a field office to report their wages in person and allows them to print or save a receipt of their report. SSI wage reporters can also use our SSI Telephone Wage Reporting and SSI Mobile Wage Reporting applications. People must still contact an office to report when they first start working for each new employer. It is also important to note that representative payees are able to report wages, but won’t have access to the beneficiaries’ or recipient’s other information.
You and your clients can visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount today to learn more about this convenient online service.
Free Up Your Time to Stay Healthy with my Social Security
We observed Men’s Health Week from June 10 to 16. It’s important to make time for things that help us stay healthy and happy— spending time with people we care about, exercise, and recreation. Opening a my Social Security account online can help save time. Our online services make doing business with us fast and easy, freeing up your client’s schedule.
With a my Social Security account, you and your clients can:
- Get a letter with proof of benefits, if currently receiving them.
- Get an estimate of future benefits, if still working.
- Keep track of earnings and verify them every year.
- Manage benefits.
- Request a replacement Social Security card, if meeting certain criteria.
Remember, your clients can easily share all of our online resources on social media. Tell friends and family to check out the features we offer at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Important Information About Reaching Social Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the current coronavirus pandemic, we continue to provide help to your clients. While our offices are not currently providing service to walk-in visitors, we remain committed to providing ongoing benefits and vital services. We are able to help people by phone with most Social Security business. Your clients can speak with a representative by calling their local Social Security office or our National 800 Number, 1-800-772-1213. We provide local office phone numbers conveniently online with our Social Security Office Locator at secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.
We also have many secure and convenient online services at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices. Most of your client’s business with us can be done online, however, we know that many people still rely on phone or in-person help. If your clients have a critical situation and we cannot help them by phone or online, we may be able to schedule an appointment for them.
If your clients need help, have them contact us now to get the help they need. We also understand that getting medical and other documentation can be difficult due to the pandemic so we continue to extend certain deadlines wherever possible.
