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Social Security News ~
Social Security’s Online
Services Take Top Three Spots in Customer Satisfaction Survey
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency’s online
services continue to be the best in government and exceed the top private
sector sites in customer satisfaction.
In the latest results from the American Customer Satisfaction Index
(ACSI), Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator and benefit application
remain in the top spots, each with a score of 90, and the Help with Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan Costs application placed third with a score of 87.
“Online services are vital to good public
service and I am pleased that Social Security continues to provide the best in
both government and the private sector,” Commissioner Astrue
said. “The Internet provides the public
with the ability to conduct business at their convenience and at their own
pace, without the need to take leave from work, travel to a field office, and
wait to meet with an agency representative.
It also reduces the time spent by our employees processing claims and
frees them up to spend more time handling complex cases.”
Social Security’s three top-rated online
services also meet or exceed the private sector’s highest score, Netflix, with a score of 87. The ACSI notes that this shows “that
government sites can satisfy visitors just as well as, or even better than,
private-sector sites.”
The ACSI is the only uniform, national,
cross-industry measure of satisfaction with the quality of goods and services
available in the
To view all of Social Security’s online
services, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.
Social Security Helps
States with Mounting Disability Claims
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency’s first Extended
Service Team (EST) is open for business in
“The strategy behind ESTs
builds on our success with National Hearing Centers, where cases are handled electronically
from all over the country,” Commissioner Astrue said.
“These centralized units have reduced the hearings backlog and improved
processing times at some of the hardest-hit hearing offices. This approach
clearly works and extending it in this way can help us meet the challenge of
unprecedented growth in our disability workloads.”
Social Security expects to receive more than
3.3 million applications for disability benefits this fiscal year (FY), about
700,000 more than in FY 2008. In addition, more than a dozen states are
furloughing federally-funded state workers who make disability decisions for
Social Security. The combination of increased workloads and state furloughs has
resulted in a growing backlog of initial disability applications in state
DDSs.
“More Americans than ever are turning to us
for help,” said Commissioner Astrue. “I am grateful
that Governor Beebe bucked the trend and recognized the value of more of our
federally-funded jobs in his state. The opening of the Arkansas EST and our
other planned expansions in
For more information about Social Security’s
strategy to address the unprecedented increase in disability benefit
applications, go to:
www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/testimony_111909.htm.
Social Security to Provide
Helpful Health Care Information to Over 3 Million Disability Applicants Each
Year
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is providing
helpful health care information and website links to the more than three
million individuals who apply each year for Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The website links take disability
applicants to two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) websites –
www.healthfinder.gov where they will find information and tools to help them
better understand and cope with their conditions; and www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug where
they may be able to get help paying for prescription drugs.
“This year over three million Americans will
apply for disability benefits. Whether they meet the statutory test and qualify
for benefits or not, almost all of them are facing difficult economic and
medical challenges. One of the advantages of our fully electronic system is
that our notices can provide applicants with valuable information provided by
HHS that might help them make good choices faster,” Commissioner Astrue said. “Twenty five years ago, I had the experience
of filing for disability benefits on behalf of my seriously ill father. It
would have been a blessing to have had easy access to this kind of important
information.”
The website at www.healthfinder.gov provides
detailed information about specific diseases. For example, an applicant with
breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, or other
diseases can go to the site to gather information about diagnosis, symptoms,
treatment, ongoing research, and local resources available to people with those
diseases. The website at www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug
links people to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which directs
people to information on reduced cost or free prescription drugs offered by
drug companies, state and local governments, and local organizations.
The helpful health care links also are
available on Social Security’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.
Retirement Estimator Even
Better Than Before
by
Jeanne
Improvements to one of the most popular
online services in government — the Retirement Estimator, located at
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator — allow more people than ever before to get a
personalized and instant estimate of future Social Security retirement
benefits.
Since its launch last year, the Retirement
Estimator has provided more than four million personalized estimates, and is
one of the most highly rated online services in government.
The most recent customer satisfaction
numbers are at an all-time high. The latest report from the American Customer
Satisfaction Index for E-Government ranks the Retirement Estimator as the top
service at 91 percent. It is followed
closely by Social Security’s online retirement application, with a 90 percent
customer satisfaction rating and the Medicare Extra Help application, with an
87 percent rating. These three Social Security services are the top three
online services in government.
You may be wondering: if the Retirement
Estimator is the most popular online service in government, what can be done to
improve it?
One major improvement is that more people
will be able to use it. Previously, people who had not yet filed for monthly
Social Security benefits but who were already enrolled in Medicare were not
able to take advantage of the service. Now they can. So if you have Medicare
coverage but have delayed filing for your Social Security benefits and you
would like to get an estimate of your future benefits, just visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
Other improvements are coming soon. Next
year, the Retirement Estimator will be the first online service available in
Spanish.
Would you like to get an immediate and
personalized estimate of your retirement benefits right now? Visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. To get an estimate, you’ll need to enter your
first and last name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, and
mother’s maiden name. If the information matches Social Security’s records, the
Retirement Estimator combines this information with the information that Social
Security has on record, including your yearly earnings, to provide a quick and
reliable online benefit estimate.
While you’re checking out the
most popular online service in government, try out some of our other online
services and information as well. You can find it all at www.socialsecurity.gov.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GENERAL
Question: Is it true that there won’t be an increase in Social
Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2010? How was that decided?
Answer: Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) benefits will not automatically increase in 2010. By law, benefits increase automatically each
year only if there is an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third
quarter of the last year to the third quarter of the current year. This year there was no increase in the CPI-W
from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009. However, President Obama has called on
Congress to pass legislation extending an additional $250 economic recovery
payment to beneficiaries. To learn more,
visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.
Question: I got an email that says it’s from Social Security,
but I’m not so sure. They want me to
send in my Social Security number, date of birth, and mother’s maiden name for
“verification.” Did it really come from
Social Security?
Answer: No. Social
Security will not send you an email asking you to give us your personal
information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or other
private information. Beware of such
scams — they’re after your information so they can use it for their own
benefit. When in doubt, or if you have
any questions about correspondence you receive from Social Security, contact
your local Social Security office or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY
1-800-325-0778) to see whether we really need any information from you.
RETIREMENT
Question: I’m reaching my full retirement age and am thinking
about retiring in the first quarter of next year. When is the best time of year to apply for
Social Security benefits?
Answer: If you are
planning to retire in early 2010, you can apply now and complete the process
before the start of the busy holiday season.
Your monthly payments will then begin on time in 2010. To apply, just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire. Applying online for retirement
benefits from the convenience of your home or office is secure and can
take as little as 15 minutes. It’s so
easy!
Question: My wife and I live in
Answer: These days, you don’t even have to be near a Social
Security office to apply for benefits.
Regardless of where you and your wife are living, you can apply for
retirement benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire. It’s so easy to do, and it can take as little
as 15 minutes to complete and submit the application. If she prefers, your wife can file a
retirement benefit application at any Social Security office — including the
one closest to you in
DISABILITY
Question: I am about to apply for Social Security disability
benefits. I have two children, ages nine
and 12. If my application is approved,
will they get benefits, too? Or do the
children also have to be disabled to qualify for benefits on my record?
Answer: If you qualify for Social Security disability
benefits, your children may receive dependent’s benefits based on your work
record, even if they’re not disabled themselves. As long as you receive benefits, their
benefits will continue until they reach age 18, or until age 19 if they are
still in high school. If your children
are disabled, however, at the time that they reach age 18, they may be able to
continue receiving benefits into adulthood.
For more information, visit our website on disability benefits at
www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.
Question: I am 59 years old and I currently receive Social Security
disability benefits. Can I still get my
regular Social Security retirement benefits when I reach full retirement age?
Answer: If you are still receiving Social Security disability
benefits when you reach your full retirement age, we will automatically switch
you from disability benefits to retirement benefits at that point. The money amount will remain the same — we
will just classify you as a retiree instead of a person with a disability. For more information, visit our website on
disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
Question: I’m 42 years old and have been approved to receive
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. I was shocked to learn that my payment will
be reduced because I live with my parents.
Why’s that?
Answer: SSI is a needs-based program, so any other income
you receive — including non-monetary income such as help with your bills or
other expenses — can have an effect on your benefit payment. Your SSI payments may be reduced if you are
receiving food, shelter, or monetary assistance. If you move, or if the
situation in your parents’ household changes, be sure to contact Social
Security. For more information,
visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY
1-800-325-0778).
Question: I am trying to save up for a station wagon. I have $900 in the bank now and need a little
more. How much cash can I have in the
bank without affecting my SSI eligibility?
Answer: The resource limit is $2,000. Unless you have other valuable resources, this
means you could save up to $2,000 before you would become ineligible for
SSI. We generally do not count your
primary car, the home you live in or certain amounts set aside for burial
expenses as resources. In some cases, if
the vehicle you’re saving for is part of a plan to return to work, you can have
higher resources — but Social Security would need to approve your plan in order
to exclude those resources. For more information,
you can visit our webpage about SSI at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi. Or you can call Social Security’s toll-free
number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the publication,
Supplemental Security Income.
MEDICARE
Question: I heard recently that it was open season for
Medicare Part D enrollment. Is there
still time to apply?
Answer: Yes — but act fast, because open season ends
soon! If you’re a Medicare beneficiary
who has not enrolled in the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program, you may do
so during the open season, which begins November 15 and ends December 31. If you are covered by Medicare and have
limited income and resources, the extra help available through Social Security
can help ease the burden of prescription drug costs. You can apply for the extra help anytime —
not just during open season. To learn
more about the extra help and to apply, visit Social Security’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. For Medicare Part D information, visit
www.medicare.gov.