Social Security

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has started to mail new Medicare cards to beneficiaries.

Instead of a Social Security Number (SSN), the new cards will have a Medicare number that’s unique to each beneficiary. The new card will help protect identities and secure personal information. Medicare coverage and benefits will stay the same.

Medicare will automatically mail new cards at no cost to the address on file here at Social Security. So please make sure the address of anyone you’re helping is up-to-date. An address can be updated easily by using my Social Security.

As Medicare beneficiaries begin to receive their replacement cards, please share these three tips with them:

1. Once you get your New Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new one right away. Don’t just throw the old card away—shred it or cut it into small pieces.
2. Doctors, other health care providers, and plans approved by Medicare know that Medicare is replacing your old card. They’re ready to accept your new card when you need care.
3. Beware of anyone contacting you about your new Medicare card and asking for your Medicare number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card. Treat your Medicare number like you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers. Remember, you don’t need to do anything to get your new card. Medicare will never contact you uninvited to ask for your personal information.

In addition, just last month Social Security started removing the SSN from many of its notices and forms to prevent fraud, fight identity theft, and safeguard taxpayer dollars. These communications also include benefit-verification notices, Social Security post-entitlement notices, and certain documents sent to appointed representatives. The benefit-verification letter includes the recipient’s name and address. The SSN isn’t intended to serve as identification, nor should it be used as such by third parties.

For more information about the new Medicare card, click medicare.gov/newcard. You can also check Medicare.gov for tips to prevent Medicare fraud.

Social Security is pleased to share the list of the Top Ten Baby Names of 2017 for boys and girls. This is our annual list of the most popular baby names based on Social Security number applications.

Jacob and Abigail came in at No. 10 on this year’s list. To learn the other names that made the list, view our Top 10 2017 Baby Names Reveal video or click on our Baby Names page.

For more than 80 years, Social Security has helped secure today and tomorrow. From programs that help support them through life’s journey, to services that give beneficiaries more control, to systems that help protect what’s important to them, Social Security is committed to helping workers and their families.

You’re invited!

Please register here to participate in Social Security’s National Disability Forum on Financial Independence: Directing the Management of One’s Social Security Benefits.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT at 1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 200 East, Washington, DC 20005. You may also participate in the forum via teleconference in listening mode only.

We are exploring ideas to enhance our instructions for the Representative Payee program. Your input is needed on how we can best assess a beneficiary’s ability to direct the management of his or her benefits. We are also interested in feedback on what role a supporter may play for such beneficiaries.

Session 1 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT
How to Strengthen & Clarify Instructions on Directing the Management of Benefits

Session 2 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT
How to Define the Role of a Supporter for Individuals who Direct the Management of Their Benefits

Howard Goldman, MD, MPH, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, will moderate the discussion.

Panelists

• Marty Ford, Senior Executive Officer, Public Policy, The Arc
• Nina Kohn, Associate Dean for Research and Online Education, Syracuse University College of Law
• Pamela Teaster PhD., Director, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech
• Ruth Luckasson, Chair, Department of Special Education, University of New Mexico College of Education
• Andrew Sperling, Director, Legislative Affairs, Advocacy & Public Policy, National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Kate Lang, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging
• Kelly A. Thompson, Esq., Thompson Wildhack, PLC Attorneys at Law
• Dari Pogach, Staff Attorney, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• Susanne Horn, MSW, Representative Payee Program Manager, Bread for the City

Join the Online Discussion

We invite your ideas about the topic on our IdeaScale engagement site until Friday, April 6, 2018.

You can send questions before and during the forum to NationalDisabilityForum@ssa.gov. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter and ask questions during the event. The Twitter handle is @SSAOutreach. Please use #SSANDForum.

We hope you can join us and look forward to your participation.

Join us on Facebook for a Social Security Live chat on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 11 a.m. EST. We will be speaking with special guest, Lisa Schifferle of the Federal Trade Commission.

During this live event, we will share important tips on consumer protection and how to safeguard your identity. We will also be discussing how to get involved in spreading the word during National Consumer Protection Week.

To join us, RSVP on our Facebook page and get a reminder HERE. We will be featuring questions from the public and look forward to hearing from you. Please note that a recording of the broadcast will be closed captioned and added to our YouTube channel within one week.

Don’t miss this engaging opportunity to learn from the experts!

Starting April 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare.

Instead of a Social Security Number, the new card will have a Medicare Number that’s unique to each person with Medicare. The new card will help protect identities and keep personal information more secure. Medicare coverage and benefits will stay the same.

Medicare will automatically mail new cards at no cost to the address on file here at Social Security. So making sure the address of anyone you’re helping is up-to-date is important. An address can be updated easily by signing in to or creating a my Social Security account.

As consumers begin to receive cards, we ask that you share these 3 important tips with them:

1. Destroy your old Medicare card right away.
2. Use your new card. Doctors, other health care providers, and plans approved by Medicare know that Medicare is replacing the old cards. They are ready to accept your new card when you need care.
3. Beware of people contacting you about your new Medicare card and asking you for your Medicare Number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card. Treat your Medicare Number like you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers. Remember, Medicare will never contact you uninvited to ask for your personal information.

Please share this information through your networks. For more information about the new Medicare card, visit go.medicare.gov/newcard. You can also visit Medicare.gov for tips to prevent Medicare fraud.