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News & AnnouncementsUpdated: October 27, 2008 (En Español) |
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Social Security Launches Compassionate Allowances Initiative to Expedite Certain Disability Decisions(October 2008) |
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced the national rollout of the agency’s Compassionate Allowances initiative, a way to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants whose medical conditions are so severe that their conditions obviously meet Social Security’s standards.
For more information, read our press release. |
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Social Security Continues to Make Progress Expediting Backlogged Disability Cases(October 2008) |
During a speech to the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, reported on the progress made in fiscal year (FY) 2008 in the agency’s efforts to expedite backlogged disability cases.
For more information, read our press release. |
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Social Security Announces the 2009 Cost-of-Living Adjustment(October 2008) |
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 55 million Americans will increase 5.8 percent in 2009, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 5.8 percent increase is the largest since 1982.
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year based on the rise in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), from the third quarter of the prior year to the corresponding period of the current year. This year's increase in the CPI-W was 5.8 percent. The 5.8 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that over 50 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2009. Increased payments to more than 7 million Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries will begin on December 31. For more information, read our press release. |
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Social Security Commissioner Releases New Agency Strategic Plan(September 2008) |
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today released the agency's new Strategic Plan. Using the motto, "Social Security Benefits America," the plan identifies the challenges the agency faces and the steps needed over the next five years to meet those challenges. | ||
Early Check Delivery for Beneficiaries Affected by Hurricane Ike
(September 2008) |
Due to the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Ike, more than 40,000 people in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida received their Social Security checks September 9th, rather than on Wednesday, Spetember 10th, the regularly scheduled payment day.
Additional details are available here. |
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Social Security Checks Arriving Early in Gulf Coast States(August 2008) |
The Social Security Administration announced that benefit checks are being delivered to Gulf Coast residents today and tomorrow, before the arrival of Gustav. | ||
Social Security Launches New Online Retirement Estimator(July 2008) |
Social Security unveiled a new online calculator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator that will provide immediate and personalized benefit estimates to help people plan for their retirement. Read our press release. |
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Social Security Announces Improvements to the Ticket to Work Program(May 2008) |
The Social Security Administration issued final rules designed to improve the Ticket to Work program. The changes will improve the effectiveness of the Ticket program in assisting beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work. |
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Pop Culture Makes Mark on Social Security's Most Popular Baby Names List for 2007(May 2008) |
For Mother’s Day,
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced the top baby names in the United States for 2007. Read our press release.
Each year, Social Security produces a list of the most popular baby names based on all Social Security card applications for children born the previous year. Jacob and Emily top the 2007 list. |
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Notice of Settlement Agreement in Kaplan Court Case(April 2008) |
All non-United States citizens who are receiving or have received
Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) and are or will be subject to the seven-year
limit on receiving SSI pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1612(a)(2)(A) (such as refugees and
asylees), prior to becoming a naturalized United States citizen.
You are hereby notified that a Stipulation and Agreement of Details about settlement agreement are accessible below.
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Social Security Trustees Release 2008 Report(March 2008) |
At a March 25th press conference, the Social Security Board of Trustees released its 2008 report. While the key dates for program costs exceeding tax revenues and Trust Fund exhaustion remain unchanged, the Trustees Report shows improvement in the projected long-term financial status of the Social Security program from last year -- particularly in the latter half of the long-range projection period.
The report is available in both text and portable document format. |
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Social Security Offers Positions to 144 Administrative Law Judges(February 2008) |
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency has begun making offers to 144 of the 175 new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) it will hire this fiscal year. "The hiring of these new ALJs is a critical step in our plan to reduce the backlog of disability cases," Commissioner Astrue said. "They represent one of the largest investments in ALJs this agency has ever made." |
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Nation's First Baby Boomer Receives Her First Social Security Retirement Benefit(February 2008) |
Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, the nation's first Baby Boomer, today made history as the first of her generation to receive a Social Security retirement benefit. Having applied online for benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov, Ms. Casey-Kirschling, who was born at one second after midnight on January 1, 1946, today received her first payment by direct deposit. |
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Social Security Holds First Disability Hearing on Compassionate Allowances(December 2007) |
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, presided over the agency's first public outreach hearing on "compassionate allowances" in Washington, D.C. on December 4 and 5, 2007. During the hearing, some of the nation’s leading rare disease experts presented testimony and shared their views about the advisability and possible methods of identifying and implementing "compassionate allowances" for children and adults with rare diseases. |
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Social Security Improves Service and Expands Outreach
(November 2007) |
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today highlighted the agency’s efforts to improve service and reach out to wounded veterans. “On Sunday, we honor America’s veterans whose love of country, willingness to serve and sacrifice ensures the many freedoms we enjoy today,” Commissioner Astrue said. “While we can never fully repay them for their sacrifices, we can be sure we provide them with the quality of service and the respect they so richly deserve.” |
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Social Security Updates Digestive Listings(October 2007) |
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the Social Security Administration published new rules that update its medical listings for people filing for disability benefits based on digestive disorders, including diseases of the liver, stomach and colon. |
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Nation's First Baby Boomer files for Retirement Benefits Online(October 2007) |
At an event hosted by Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, the nation's first Baby Boomer, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, today filed for her Social Security retirement benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov. |
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Social Security Attacks Disability Backlog(October 2007) |
Social Security has made progress in reducing the backlog of disability cases pending a decision. For more information, read our press release. |
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