Category Archives: Social Security

SSA Extends Spanish Language Online Services

Written On December 19, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced improvements to its Spanish-language Web site, www.SeguroSocial.gov, with expanded online services available in Spanish. The Web site now includes the ability to apply online for retirement benefits and for Medicare. Those who already receive Medicare also can apply for “Extra Help” for the Medicare prescription drug program. An individual cannot yet file an online application in [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Featured Link — The Social Security Laws

Written On December 8, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Have you ever wanted to read the actual Social Security laws? No, I didn’t think so. That’s what lawyers are for, right? But just in case you ever have a need for some late-night reading material, here is the Table of Contents for the whole Social Security Act. Have fun!

Posted in Featured Link, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Not Your Grandfather’s Social Security Office?

Written On November 28, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The wonderful columnist Tom Margenau, a longtime veteran of the Social Security Administration, responded recently to a question about an e-mail that has been circulating on the Internet. The gist of the e-mail is that illegal immigrants are filing for Social Security disability and thereby draining resources from the system. Of course this is not [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Field Offices to Begin Closing a Half Hour Early

Written On July 28, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Federal budget cuts are causing the Social Security Administration to reduce the hours field offices are open to the public. Here is the official press release from the Social Security Administration:
Effective August 15, 2011, Social Security field offices nationwide will close to the public 30 minutes early each day.  For example, a field office that is [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Says Goodbye to Paper Checks

Written On May 19, 2011 By Bob Kraft

You may have heard that the Social Security Administration is switching from paper checks to direct deposits for all people who receive benefits from the agency. New beneficiaries had to switch as of May 1, 2011. Those currently receiving benefits have until March 1, 2013, to make the change.
The Social Security Administration has a page [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Statements Halted

Written On May 2, 2011 By Bob Kraft

A seemingly small, cost-saving, decision by the federal government could have a significant impact on those preparing for retirement and trying to calculate their Social Security benefits. This decision was documented in a recent article in a San Antonio newspaper. Here are excerpts from the article:
One of the most valuable pieces of mail from the [...]

Posted in Social Security

Medicare Rise Could Mean No Social Security COLA

Written On March 31, 2011 By Bob Kraft

For the past two years Social Security retirees and Social Security disability recipients have had no cost of living allowance increases because the COLA is tied to inflation and inflation has been very low.
This coming year inflation might be high enough to justify a COLA adjustment, but now there’s another problem — the cost of [...]

Posted in Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Will Payroll Tax Cut Affect Social Security Payments?

Written On February 23, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The short answer to that question is no. Here is a more complete explanation from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants representatives:
The tax bill signed into law in December 2010, the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010,” included a one-year reduction in the FICA payroll tax paid by employees from 6.2 percent [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security’s Online Retirement Estimator Available in Spanish

Written On December 14, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Announcement from the Social Security Administration:
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency’s most popular online service – the Retirement Estimator – is now available in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov/calculador.  The Retirement Estimator uses a person’s own Social Security earnings record to provide immediate and personalized benefit estimates.  To publicize the website and the new Spanish-language [...]

Posted in Social Security

No Social Security Cost-of-Living Increase for 2011

Written On November 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

As I’ve written before, there will be no cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits in 2011. This is the second year in a row with no increase. Of course the reason is that inflation did not rise enough to trigger an automatic increase.
The actual rule is a bit complicated: the COLA is determined by comparing [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Unveils New Home Page to Make Finding Services Easier

Written On November 16, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Web site of the Social Security has a new look, as of yesterday. Here is the announcement from SSA:
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today unveiled the agency’s newly redesigned home page at www.socialsecurity.gov that will help visitors more quickly and easily find the information and services they need. One of the [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Don’t Hold Your Breath for a Social Security Cost-of-Living-Adjustment for 2011

Written On October 11, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The official announcement as to whether there will be a cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) to Social Security benefits for 2011 will come later in October. But as the situation stands now, the odds are good there will not be an adjustment. That would be two years in a row with no benefits increase.
The COLA calculations are complicated [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Numbers – Everything You Could Want To Know

Written On September 9, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Have you ever wondered whether the nine digits in your Social Security number have any meaning or whether they’re just totally random? The answer to this and to every other question you could ever dream of asking about Social Security numbers can be found in a report prepared by the Social Security Administration.
I’ll answer that [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security

Bill Introduced to Provide One-Time $250 Payment to SS Recipients

Written On August 23, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), has introduced H.R. 5987, The Seniors Protection Act of 2010, that would provide a one-time $250 payment to retired and disabled Social Security and SSI beneficiaries (and to veterans) if there is no cost-of- living adjustment (COLA) announced for 2011.
Any COLA for 2011 will be determined [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits

President Signs 2010 Budget Bill – SSA Gets 10% Increase

Written On January 18, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Congress has passed an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2010, which was signed into law by President Obama. As expected, the Social Security Administration will receive a 10% increase over the FY 2009 appropriation.
This increase will allow SSA to proceed with its ODAR hiring plans: 226 new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), 950 support [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Sending Corrected Benefit Notices

Written On December 11, 2009 By Bob Kraft

This press release was posted today by the Social Security Administration:
The Social Security Administration earlier this month mailed notices that contained incorrect January 2010 payment dates.  These erroneous notices went to about 6 million beneficiaries who receive their payments on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, and are part of the [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Obama Proposes Extra One-Time Payment to Social Security Recipients

Written On October 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

As a follow-up to the last post, the press is reporting today that President Obama is proposing a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security recipients and others to partially make up for the lack of a cost-of-living-adjustment in 2010. The payments would be made sometime next year, and would go to all Social Security [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits

No Social Security COLA for 2010?

Written On October 15, 2009 By Bob Kraft

This is a press release from the Social Security Administration:
Prompt Passage of Economic Recovery Act Payment for 2010 Needed

With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010.  This will be the first year [...]

Posted in Government, Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security to Test Use of Microsoft’s HealthVault in Disability Process

Written On August 29, 2009 By Bob Kraft

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced Thursday that the agency has entered into an agreement with Microsoft to test the use of Microsoft’s HealthVault application in the disability process.  HealthVault is a free online service that enables people to gather, store and manage their families’ health information, and share that information with their [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability

Social Security Administration Settles $500M Class-Action Claim

Written On August 12, 2009 By Bob Kraft

The Los Angeles Times reports, “Up to 200,000 people who were cut off on unfounded suspicions that they were felons evading law enforcement or prosecution will receive back payments. Legal advocates for the poor, elderly and disabled secured a $500-million class-action settlement Tuesday for as many as 200,000 people whose Social Security benefits were suspended [...]

Posted in Social Security, Social Security Disability