Social Security Guide 2015

Thursday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 • A special advertising section of ThisWeek Community News

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Social Security Administration Guide 2015 | Thursday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015

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A note from the Regional Commissioner million beneficiaries.

I am pleased to present Social Security’s misyou with a Social Security sion is to deliver Social supplement to this issue of the Security services that ThisWeek Community News. meet the changing needs The Social Security program is of the public we serve. one that touches every person, Our award winning webof all ages, incomes, races and site at www.socialsecurinationalities. It is an invaluty.gov continues to be an able resource that is by far increasingly popular opthe most successful domestic tion for most individuals. program in the history of the Phyllis M. Smith We also deliver services United States.

Regional Commissioner through a network of over As you read the pages of this 1,400 offices nationally, supplemental publication, you which includes regional will see how Social Security— offices, field offices, Social Security card which started in 1935 as a retirement centers, teleservice centers, processing program—plays an integral part in centers, the States’ disability determimeeting the needs of people of all ages. nation services (DDS), hearing offices Each year, we send benefits totaling and the Appeals Council. In the Chiabout $800 billion to approximately 60 cago Region, our 222 field offices are located in the six states of County Beneficiaries Monthly benefits Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, MinDelaware 24,930 $33.2 million nesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. They Franklin 168,160 $197.7 million are the primary points for faceMarion 14,415 $16.4 million to-face contact with the public.

Fairfield 27,855 $32.9 million Readers in the eight counties Licking 33,500 $39.4 million below are served by 10 field offices Pickaway 10,780 $12.4 million in central Ohio.

In closing, as Madison 7,640 $8.6 million you look over the information Union 7,445 $9.5 million provided by our employees Total 294,670 $350.1 million throughout this supplement, it is SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, Dec. 2014

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easy to see the difference that Social Security has made in our neighborhoods and in our counties. Social Security has enjoyed a rich history in Ohio and many of our employees have grown up in the counties we serve. We are your neighbors, friends and family members, and we are committed to providing great customer service to you and your

loved ones. Remember, as you approach the milestones of your life, we are here to assist you. Take a moment and visit our award-winning website at www.socialsecurity.gov and see how Social Security can help you. — Phyllis M. Smith, Regional Commissioner Social Security Administration

Social Security turns 80

By Carolyn W. Colvin Acting Commissioner of Social Security

income and resources, and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug Eighty years ago, on August 14, 1935, costs for people President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. The new who qualify.

In our law guaranteed a basic income for retirdecades of exees and, at the time, the unemployed. perience, Social Over the years, Social Security has Security has expanded its safety net to provide benCarolyn W. Colvin evolved to meet efits for retirees, people with disabilities Commissioner of the fast-paced and the chronically ill, and spouses Social Security demands of the and children of deceased workers. The digital world. Creating an online my agency has evolved to serve the needs Social Security account, for instance, of a changing America. Now, we’re let’s you view your Social Security Statecelebrating this historic anniversary by ment, verify the aclooking at both our curacy of your earnsuccessful past, and ings record, and get the path to an even estimates of future brighter future.

(Social Security) benefits.

Social Security is represents a cornerstone monthly Once you begin there for you during receiving Social Seall stages of life. in a structure which is curity benefits, you Right from the bebeing built but is by can use your online ginning, we issue a account to manage unique Social Secuno means complete. It your record, includrity number to most is, in short, a law that ing changing your newborns when an address and phone will take care of human application is taken number, checking at the hospital. needs and at the same your benefit inforThis allows us to mation, changing time provide the United track your income your electronic over your working States an economic payment method, career and accuand obtaining an structure of vastly rately calculate your instant benefit retirement benefit. greater soundness� verification letter We provide dis— President Franklin D. Roosevelt or replacement ability benefits to SSA-1099/1042S. If injured and chroniyou haven’t already, cally ill workers and you can easily sign their families. We up for a my Social Security account at provide survivors benefits to widows, www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. widowers and the minors of deceased Our safe and secure online serworkers. We also provide Supplemental vices allow you to apply for retirement, Security Income (SSI) to those with low spouse’s, Medicare and disability benefits from the comfort of your home.

You can quickly complete an online retirement application at www. socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

Looking to the future, we recently released our Vision 2025, a strategic plan to help us shape the future of Social Security service delivery and maintain clear communication with you. For more information about our vision for the next ten years, visit www.socialsecurity. gov/vision2025.

We look to the next 80 years with a renewed commitment to proudly serving Social Security customers throughout their lifetime, when and where they need us. See how Social Security has evolved over the years at www.socialsecurity.gov/ history.

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Social Security Administration Guide 2015 | Thursday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015

Social Security Disability helps people who work

By MARILYN ROBINSON Social Security Area Director in Southern Ohio People with disabilities are challenged with both overcoming barriers and with convincing others that those barriers do not define them.

That’s why we wanted to mark this October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month by reminding you that Social Security is an earned benefit for millions of disabled individuals, and we can assist them in going back to work.

The Social Security disability insurance program, or SSDI, is perhaps the most misunderstood program of Social Security. Some people may think that SSDI recipients have never worked and are taking advantage of the system by receiving money for minor impairments.

Nothing could be further from the truth. First, anyone who qualifies for SSDI must have worked enough to pay into the system and be “insured.”

Second, Social Security has some of the strictest requirements in the world for disability benefits. To qualify, a person must not only have an impairment that will last one year or more, or result in death, but they must be unable to perform any substantial work.

Consequently, Social Security disability beneficiaries are some of the most severely impaired people in the country, and they greatly depend on their benefits. You can learn more by visiting the Faces and Facts website at www. socialsecurity.gov/disabilityfacts. At the website, you will find many personal

stories of those who have benefitted from Social Security when they needed it most.

We also have incentives that give beneficiaries with disabilities—who are able—the opportunity to return to work.

These work incentives include continued cash benefits for a period of time while you work, continued Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and help with education, training and rehabilitation to start a new line of work. In some cases, we may even be able to deduct certain impairment-related work expenses from your countable income, making it possible to earn more and also remain eligible to receive benefits. Examples of these expenses are wheelchairs, transportation costs and specialized equipment needed for work.

Social Security also offers the Ticket to Work program, which gives participants a “ticket” to go back to work while keeping their disability benefits. This program is free and voluntary. Ticket to Work gives access to an employment network, which offers assistance with job searches and placement, and vocational rehabilitation and training.

Those who enroll find the Ticket to Work program makes it easier to explore whether going back to work is right for them. Some even find that they are able to eventually get back to work and earn far more than the disability payments they once received.

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work for more information on the Ticket to Work program and work incentives. You may also call 1-866-968-7842 (TDD 866833-2967).

Enjoy Every Moment and

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Recognizing LGBT History Month

By Darren Lutz Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Central Ohio October is National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Month. This month is intended to encourage honesty and openness about being LGBT. First celebrated in 1994 to coincide with National Coming Out Day, the month has evolved to include a more diverse range of people identifying as LGBT. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all states. As a result, more same-sex couples will be recognized as married for purposes of determining entitlement to Social Security benefits or eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

Since a previous Supreme Court decision in 2013, Social Security has been able to recognize some samesex marriages and non-marital legal same-sex relationships for purposes of determining entitlement to or eligibility for benefits. We also consider same-sex marriage when processing claims for SSI. Marriage may affect your SSI eligibility or payment amount.

We’re working closely with the Department of Justice to develop and implement policy and processing instructions to implement the June 26, 2015 Supreme Court decision.

As we have additional information, we’ll update our website and issue instructions to our staff.

You can read more about important information Darren Lutz for same-sex Social Security Public Affairs couples at Specialist in Central Ohio www.socialsecurity. gov/people/ same-sexcouples.

In the meantime, if you’re a spouse, divorced spouse or surviving spouse of a same-sex marriage or non-marital legal same-sex relationship, we encourage you to apply right away for benefits. Applying now will preserve your filing date, which will protect you against the loss of any potential benefits.

If you have any questions about how to apply for benefits, call toll-free 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-3250778). We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We treat all calls confidentially.

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/people/same-sexcouples to learn more.

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Protect your Social Security number and protect yourself from identity theft

By CHRIS CHESNICK Social Security District Manager in Columbus Downtown

protecting your Social Security number, or SSN, is the first step in preventing identity theft.

If you watch the news, listen to the radio or read a newspaper, magazine or the Internet, then you probably are aware that identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America.

While recovering from an act of identity theft can be difficult, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity thieves.

Identity theft often starts with a Social Security number, or SSN. Once a thief has a valid number, he or she can open or reactivate credit card accounts in your name, apply for federal or state benefits or make changes in your financial accounts. That nine-digit SSN is a valuable first step in assuming someone’s identity. And it is also why

Safeguard your SSN You should treat your Social Security number as confidential information and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important personal papers. Do not carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider. The fewer people with access to your number, the safer you are.

Shred unneeded documents. Don’t just throw away paperwork that includes your name, Social Security number or other personal information on it– shred it. When you get junk mail, shred it before you toss it. If you don’t have a shredder, try ripping your paperwork

If you think that you have been a victim of identity theft, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission at: Internet – www.consumer.gov/idtheft or Telephone – 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338; TTY – 202-326-2502) The Federal Trade Commission is the federal clearinghouse for identity theft complaints.

several times and placing half of each document in different trash bags. If you fail to shred it, it could become free credit for someone else.

Monitor your credit records. Each of the major credit reporting services are now required by law to provide you with a free credit report each year upon request. This is a convenient way to see if anyone other than yourself or other authorized persons are using your credit. You can contact Equifax, Experian and Transunion and ask for your free reports.

Just go to the website set up by the three credit agencies, www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp, to request a free credit report.

Social Security also wants you to know that we work hard to protect your number from misuse. For example, we require and carefully inspect proof of identity from people who apply to replace lost or stolen Social Security cards, or who request corrected cards.

One reason we do this is to prevent people from fraudulently obtaining Social Security numbers to establish false

identities. We maintain the privacy of Social Security records unless a law requires us to disclose information to another government agency or if your information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business.

For more information on identity theft and safeguarding your Social Security number, visit our online leaflet Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/10064.html. Or you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the leaflet entitled Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number.

as you would if you applied in an office or over the phone—in about 30 days.

Fifty years ago, Medicare didn’t have as many options as it does today. As the largest public health program in the United States, Medicare includes four parts to keep you covered: • Part A is insurance that covers inpatient hospital stays, outpatient care in nursing facilities, hospice, and home health care.

• Part B includes medical insurance for doctor’s services, medical supplies, outpatient care, and preventive services.

• Part C is a Medicare advantage plan that allows you to choose your health care coverage through a provider organization. You must have Part A and Part B to enroll in Part C. This plan usually includes Medicare prescription drug coverage and may include extra benefits and services at an additional cost.

• Part D is prescription drug cov-

erage. There is a separate monthly premium for this plan; however, people with low resources and income may qualify for the Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs from Social Security. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ prescriptionhelp to see if you qualify.

A recent survey to Medicare beneficiaries asked: Why do you love Medicare? One person stated, “It gives peace of mind not only for seniors, but for veterans and disabled as well.” Another satisfied recipient replied, “I most likely wouldn’t be alive today without Medicare.” These are just two of the millions who endorse Medicare’s half-century strong success story.

For more information about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov.

As Medicare celebrates 50 years, Social Security commemorates 80 years.

Learn more about Social Security’s 80th anniversary at www.socialsecurity. gov/80thanniversary.

Half a century of help with Medicare

By CARMEN MORENO Social Security Regional Communications Director in Chicago On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare into law with these words: “No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness crush and destroy the savings that they have so carefully put away over a lifetime.”

For 50 years, the Medicare program has provided essential health care services for millions of people who are age 65 or older, disabled, or have debilitating diseases. Without Medicare, many people would not be able to pay for hospital care, doctor’s visits, medical tests, preventive services or prescription drugs.

Your Medicare card is the most important piece of identification you own as a Medicare beneficiary since medical

providers will request it when you seek their services. If you need to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Medicare card, you can do it online with a my Social Security account at www.

Carmen Moreno socialsecurity.

Social Security Regional gov/myaccount. Communications Director in Chicago Requesting a replacement card through my Social Security is safe, convenient and easy. Going online saves you a trip to your local Social Security office or unproductive time on the phone. Request your replacement Medicare card the easy and convenient way—online—and you’ll get it in the same amount of time

Important information for public employees

By JOHN LAMOTTE Social Security State Liaison in Ohio We have important information that should be of interest to public employees.

If you work for an employer who does not withhold Social Security taxes from your salary, such as Ohio’s Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), School Employees (SERS), State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), or Police/Fire Pension, the pension you get based on that work may reduce your Social Security benefits under the “Windfall Elimination Provision.”

This provision affects how the amount of your retirement or disability benefit is calculated if you receive a pension from work where Social Security taxes were not taken out of your pay. We use a modified formula to calculate your benefit amount, resulting in

a lower Social Security benefit than you otherwise would receive.

Why a modified formula? The law requires we determine Social Security benefit amounts with a formula that gives proportionately higher benefits to workers with low lifetime earnings. Before 1983, people who worked mainly in a job not covered by Social Security had their Social Security benefits calculated as if they were long-term, low-wage workers. They had the advantage of receiving a Social Security benefit representing a higher percentage of their earnings, plus a pension from a job where they did not pay Social Security taxes. Congress passed the Windfall Elimination Provision to remove that advantage.

In addition to the Windfall Elimination Provision, there is another reduction that could make a difference in benefits a spouse, widow or widower

can receive.

If you pay into another pension plan and do not pay into Social Security, any spouse, widow or widower benefits available through Social Security may be subject to a Government Pension Offset. Generally, if government employment was not covered by Social Security, any Social Security benefits must be reduced by two-thirds of the government pension amount.

Why? Benefits we pay to wives, husbands, widows and widowers are “dependent’s” benefits. These benefits were established in the 1930s to compensate spouses who stayed home to raise a family and who were financially dependent on the working spouse. Now it’s more common for both spouses in a married couple to work, each earning his or her own Social Security retirement benefit. The law has always required that a person’s benefit as a

spouse, widow or widower be offset dollar for dollar by the amount of his or her own retirement benefit.

Similarly, if this government employee’s work had instead been subject to Social Security taxes, any Social Security benefit payable as a spouse, widow or widower would have been reduced by the person’s own Social Security retirement benefit.

Even if you do not receive monthly benefits based on your spouse’s work, you still can get Medicare at age 65 on your spouse’s record if you are not eligible for it on your own record.

To learn more about the Windfall Elimination Provision, please read this fact sheet: www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/10045.html To learn more about the Government Pension Offset, please read this one: www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10007. html.

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Social Security Administration Guide 2015 | Thursday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015

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Supporting our youth, protecting our future

By KAREN TEETS Social Security District Manager in Columbus North Social Security serves a person for life—from birth, to death, and even beyond, by helping to care for surviving dependents. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s financial future in an otherwise turbulent time. And we pay benefits to adults and children.

Social Security is no stranger to helping children in need. Every year, about 4.4 million children receive monthly benefits because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired or deceased. Those benefits help with their day-to-day needs.

In addition, Social Security provides vital income for disabled children, including people disabled since child-

hood, through our Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for children’s benefits under the SSDI program, the applicant must be the child of a parent entitled to benefits and meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability. He or she must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of disabling conditions, that seriously limits his or her daily activities and is expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death.

The SSI program provides payments to blind or disabled children who live in households with low income and limited resources if they meet our strict definition of disability. You can find more information on eligibility requirements by visiting our website at www. socialsecurity.gov.

This year marks the 25th anniversary

of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

The ADA ensures equal opportunity for and equal treatment of people with disabilities at school, in work places, in commercial facilities, and through the services available from state and local government agencies. The ADA requires that government agencies communicate with Americans who have disabilities in the way that fits their needs. This legislation shows our nation’s commitment to all people, despite their physical and mental disabilities.

Since the ADA’s inception, Social Security has been and continues to be at the forefront, providing accommodations for disabled beneficiaries and employees. It’s a natural part of who we

are as an agency.

If you think your child may qualify for children’s benefits, you can apply by calling Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or by visiting your local Social Security office. You can also read our publication, Benefits for Children, at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

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Communicating effectively for your benefit

By MICHAEL KANODE Social Security District Manager in Marion Good communication is about more than just promptly taking a customer’s phone call or directing them to a helpful website. It includes providing useful information in a clear and easy-tounderstand way, in writing, on the web and over the phone. At Social Security, we’re at the forefront of clear, concise communications all the time.

Our efforts to better serve and clearly communicate with the American public are paying off, and people like you are reaping the benefits. We’re proud of our consistently high ratings in customer satisfaction and usability.

In the most recent ForSee E-Government Satisfaction survey, Social Security’s website outranks the customer satisfaction ratings of the private sector websites of icons like Amazon, LL Bean and Apple. Out of the top-ranked government websites, five of our sites were ranked in the top six, including the Retirement Estimator, Business Services Online, my Social Security and our online benefit application sites.

This year, for the second year in a row, we received confirmation that we’re doing a great job of explaining our programs and services to the American public in our written products.

We scored an “A” on the 2014 Federal Plain Language Report Card from the Center for Plain Language. This grade

means we’re exceeding the standards of the Plain Writing Act of 2010, which requires federal agencies to communicate clearly with the public. We’re the only federal agency to earn this honor for two consecutive years!

Not only is our website simple to navigate and understand, our publications and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are easy to read and understand as well. You can browse through our collection of publications at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs to learn about Social Security, our programs, and what they mean to you and your family.

Many publications are available in up to 17 different languages, and they’re written in plain language. If you prefer a printed copy of a publication, you can call us at (410) 965-2039, and we’ll mail you a copy.

Our online FAQs provide quick and accurate answers about our programs for millions of people every year.

Recently, we streamlined and consolidated our FAQs so you can find answers easily and efficiently. You can visit www.socialsecurity.gov/faq for accurate information at your convenience.

Nothing is more important to us than meeting the needs of those we serve. We thank you, our customers, for your valuable feedback and vote of confidence. Our customers continue to express their satisfaction because of our effective communication, and we remain committed to maintaining these high standards.

Social Security matters

By STEPHANIE MORGAN Social Security District Manager in Columbus East Social Security recently launched its new blog, Social Security Matters.

This is our new location for engaging with you by answering questions and concerns in a more sharable and interactive way. This is where you’ll see the latest Social Security news, like added features to my Social Security, helpful tips about retirement and other benefits, and much more.

Think of the blog as a dashboard for the latest news and updates that affect retirement, survivors and disability benefits, veterans, the chronically ill and anyone entitled to our broad range of services. We already communicate with you using Facebook and Twitter.

This new blog is a meaningful enhancement to our social media outreach. Social Security Matters is easy-to-navigate and user-friendly—tags categorize the topics you care about into organized

sections. This way you will always find the answers you are looking for.

Social Security Matters allows us to

speak to a broad audience in articles that explain how our programs and services affect you. And the blog lets

you provide meaningful feedback that can help us serve the public more effectively. The blog will also be a platform for interviews with experts and a way to spotlight the important work we do.

You know how much we matter to our beneficiaries. We’d like you to share that news. Social Security Matters lets you share our posts on social media with a click of a button. Additionally, you can subscribe to our blog and get Social Security news as it happens. Simply select the blue button titled “Get blog updates.”

You matter to us, and with Social Security Matters, we think of you with every new post. Our comment section allows you to voice your thoughts and ask questions of us to address. The conversation is growing every day. No matter what, we want to know that we are doing our absolute best to serve you, and a big part of that is listening to what you have to say. Come see what matters to you at blog.socialsecurity. gov.

Appealing a Social Security Decision?

Check out our improved online appeal process

By ANDREA SMITH Social Security District Manager in Columbus West Social Security listened to customer feedback and made the online appeals process even better. Now, people who disagree with our disability decision can complete their appeal using our improved online appeals process.

More than 90,000 people use our online appeals application each month. We’ve certainly come a long way since introducing the online appeal option in September 2007.

Throughout the nation, applicants, their representatives, third parties, groups and organizations use the online appeal process to request review of disability decisions.

Responding to feedback from our employees and the public, the new online appeals process is easier to use and improves the speed and quality of our disability and non-disability decisions. Users told us that the program needed to be streamlined for easier navigation and that it needed to ask for less duplicate information.

They also told us that they wanted to

be able to complete both the appeal form and the medical report together, and be able to submit supporting documents as part of the electronic appeal request.

Our enhanced online appeals application incorporates those suggestions and more. People can now submit both the appeal form and the medical report in just one online session and electronically submit supporting documents with the appeal request. The screen messages are clear and concise, the navigation has been improved, and we’ve beefed up our

on-screen help. Additionally, users who live outside of the United States are now able to file appeals online.

As a reminder, representatives who request, and are eligible for, direct fee payments must electronically file reconsiderations or request for hearings on medically denied Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability or blindness claims.

The next time you need to file an appeal, be sure to complete it online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityssi/ appeal.html.

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