Just Announced! 2019 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 2.8 Percent Increase
Date: October 11, 2018Today, Social Security announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019.
Visit our blog to learn more about the COLA.
National Disability Forum
Date: July 31, 2018You're invited!
Please register here to participate in Social Security’s National Disability Forum on Acquiring and Using Electronic Medical Records.
The forum will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT at 1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 200 East, Washington, DC 20005. You may also participate in the forum via live stream.
This forum will focus on best practices associated with the acquisition and usage of medical records, common challenges with those records and the future of electronic health information.
Panelists Include:
- Kevin Liebkemann, Chief Counsel, Legal Services of New Jersey
- Andrew Gettinger, Chief Clinical Officer, Office of the National Coordinator (ONC)
- Mariann Yeager, CEO, Sequoia Project
- Dr. William Gray-Roncal, Senior Research Engineer, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
- John Mattison, Chief Medical Information Officer and Assistant Medical Director, Kaiser Permanente
- Brian Jones, DO, Managing Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers Public Sector LLC
- Hans Buitendijk, Director, Interoperability Strategy, Cerner
If you would like to participate, please register online by Monday, August 20, 2018. Additional details will be provided to those who wish to participate via live stream.
To learn more about the National Disability Forum, please click here.
New Online Wage Reporting Tool for SSI Recipients
Date: July 3, 2018We are pleased to announce that we are expanding our my Social Security online wage reporting service to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, as well as their spouses, parents, sponsors, and representative payees. Individuals receiving both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI, as well as their representative payees, can also report wages online. This service is available through our existing my Social Security portal. Check our website to learn more about my Social Security features and how to sign up. You can also click here to access more information about reporting wages online.
New Medicare Cards are in the Mail
Date: May 18, 2018Recently, 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Just Announced! Top Ten Baby Names for 2017
Date: May
11, 2018Social 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.
Just Announced! Ninth National Disability Forum
Date: April
18, 2018 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.
Tips for Safeguarding Your Identity
Date: March
8, 2018Join 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!
New Medicare Cards Mailing Soon
Date: Feb
26, 2018Starting 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:
- Destroy your old Medicare card right away.
- 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.
- 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.
New way to report earnings to Social Security
Date:
October 19, 2017Social Security is pleased to announce that we are expanding our my Social Security online services to allow people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and their representative payees to report wages securely online. Visit our website to learn more about my Social Security features and how to sign up.
Note: This service is not yet available for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients or for those who receive both SSDI and SSI benefits. We plan to add this capability in the future. SSI recipients should continue to report wages through SSI Mobile Wage Reporting, SSI Telephone Wage Reporting or visiting a local field office.
Social Security touches the life of nearly every American, often during times of personal hardship, transition, and uncertainty. By offering more options for interacting with us, we are leveraging technology to better serve the public.
Please share this information through your networks. As always, thank you for your interest in our programs and the people we serve!
2017 Trustees Report – Now Available
Date:
July 13, 2017The Social Security Board of Trustees has released its annual report quantifying the long-term financial status of the Social Security trust funds. Please see the press release for details.
On Monday July 17, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, Stephen Goss, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, will discuss the Trustees Report and take questions during a live chat on our Facebook page.
We hope you can join us!
Social Security Welcomes New Acting Associate Commissioner for External Affairs
Date:
May 9, 2017We are very pleased to announce that Social Security has a new Acting Associate Commissioner for External Affairs.
Robert (Bob) Patterson comes to Social Security with a wealth of experience in communications and public engagement.
He has served as Speechwriter and Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families with the Department of Health and Human Services, and Senior Speechwriter with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Most recently, Bob served as Vice President for Government Relations at the U.S. Business and Industry Council. His background also includes a wide range of experience in the private sector and academia as a policy expert, professor and op-ed contributor.
In the coming weeks and months, he will be contacting you about new opportunities to help us educate the public about their Social Security protections and the critical need for financial planning.
Please join us in wishing Bob success in his new position!
New Security Features for my Social Security
Date:
May 1, 2017Social Security is adding a new requirement to protect the privacy of my Social Security customers. We will be alerting current my Social Security account holders of the change via direct email over the next few weeks.
Effective June 10, 2017, my Social Security customers will be required to use their cell phone or email account as a second means of identification for each registration and sign in. To learn more please visit the latest edition of Social Security Update online.
Along with this new improvement, we are enhancing the my Social Security portal to allow for “responsive design,” a technology that resizes the my Social Security content based on device screen size – such as tablets, smart phones, etc. All users, regardless of what type of device they use, will experience the same ease of use and full access to our portal.
Please help us spread the word about this important change through your networks.