Social Security is always looking for ways to improve how we communicate with you. It’s been a year-and-a-half since we joined the blogosphere, and we couldn’t be happier! This blog is exactly what we envisioned, an honest conversation with you about our programs, the topics that matter to you, and how our agency can better serve you.
During this time, we’ve told you about our online services, warned you about protecting yourself against fraud, and shared new ways you can start preparing for a secure retirement.
November is National Blog Posting Month, and in celebration, we are revisiting our most popular blogs of the past year. In case you missed it — or ICYMI —here’s your opportunity to catch up.
- What You Need to Know About the New Laws for Claiming Retirement Benefits
- Ex-Spouse Benefits and You
- An Increase in Social Security Benefits in 2017
- How I Navigated the Social Security Disability Process
- Reporting Changes is Your Responsibility
- Scammers Fake Social Security email
- The Disability Insurance Program — Securing Today and Tomorrow for 60 Years
- Have You Seen Your Social Security Card Lately?
- Your Social Security Statement Is Now at Your Fingertips
- A Special Arrival! Top Baby Names in 2015
And these are only a fraction of the topics we’ve covered in this busy year. Visit our blog to learn about these and many other topics that my interest you.
With financial benefits, services, and information, Social Security is here to help support you throughout life’s journey. Go check out our 10 most popular blogs and learn more about how our agency helps secure today and tomorrow.
i need to know my choices on when to elect to receive Soc. Sec. Turn 64 this month working actively
There is not way to live on Social Security. You best keep working. I HAD to retire at 54 (health problems) and consistantly receive hospital bills and surgery bills, $95,000.00, $77,000.00, $66,000.00 etc. etc. etc. The 77,000. bill was one day, yes ONE DAY in hosp, didn’t even spend the night. I am
having a hard time trying to pay my bills, just got my 3rd overdraft sheet for this month!!! I am sick, I am stressed, I am afraid, I am broke, I get hungry, and I pray. What else can we do????
Hi Karen, you may want to check and see if you are eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services or welfare office. Or you can visit the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) web page for more information. We hope this information helps.
Thanks..but by the sound of what she’s saying..she’s aware of theses services, and probably is already benefiting from them…but she’s not seeking handouts! My goodness..what are you suggesting we all do just give up on having any dignity? How about a RAISE in our monthly benefits that we can KEEP!
Anybody who knows about how ss works..Can fill in the blanks….js.
turn 64 this month actively working want to know my choices on when to receive Social Security. Who do I contact in person on phone?
Call 1-800 -772 -1213
Hi, Eli. You could get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. There are some restrictions as to how much you can make. Since you are 64, and under your full retirement age (currently 66), if you make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefit. In 2016 the yearly limit is $15,720. In 2017 the limit will be $16,920. See “What happens if I work and get Social Security retirement benefits” and read our publication How Works Affect Your Benefits for more information. As a reminder, and when you’re ready, you can apply for retirement benefits online.
For specific questions about your situation, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks!
Those may be the top blogs, but some haven’t gotten positive feedback. An Increase in Social Security Benefits in 2017 could have been larger than 0.3 %.
I just worked for 8 yrs. and 67 years old is there a possibility for me to claim my ss benefit
Have you earned you 40 credits yet?
If so, you maybe eligible for SS.
8×4 is 32. You need 40 credits. You should have received an earnings statement. call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for it.
Thank you for your question Aida. The number of work credits you need to get retirement benefits depends on your date of birth. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work). People born before 1929 need fewer than 40 credits (39 credits if born in 1928; 38 credits if born in 1927; etc.).
correction (your).
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Last week I received your email letter with the Topic about still being able to file and suspend, but when I clicked on the link there was nothing there and couldn’t find the topic using the search tool. Is that article available elsewhere?
Hi Jackie. For more information about Voluntary Suspension of Benefits (also called “File and Suspend”), go to “What You Need to Know About the New Laws for Claiming Retirement Benefits” then visit Recent Social Security Claiming Changes and our Retirement Planner. Thanks!
I would have liked to see the article “You Can Still File and Suspend, Even With These Changes” – notice of which I received on 10/27/2016 03:15 PM EDT. Two hours later when I attempted to access the article it was gone, as if it never existed. I imagine the author had made a big mistake and the article was killed as soon as it came to the attention of SSA brass, but I would have read it with great interest.
Hello Peter. For more information about Voluntary Suspension of Benefits (also called “File and Suspend”), visit Recent Social Security Claiming Changes and our Retirement Planner.
I cannot access your blog. I get this message…scary!
The owner of blog.ssa.gov has configured their website improperly. To protect your information from being stolen, Firefox has not connected to this website.
As usual 90% of the comments are off topic and SSA calls this a success? They are as deluded as the corrupt alphabet agencies in DC.
Agreed!
Medicare has already started open enrollment, but they haven’t stated what the Medicare Part B monthly premium will be for 2017. There is too much waste and abuse there.
The Medicare Advantage plans are getting billions of dollars in bonuses and they are increasing our monthly premium.
what happen when you settle a workmen compensation to your ssd if they it was a third of your disability income with your social security income but if the settlement comes out to half of what there monthly check was
If you take a lump sum from workmans comp,social security will prorate the amount over a number of years until you pay the money backthat you received from compensation.Your ssdi cant be more than 80% of your average weekly wage & they take into account what money you get from workmens comp.
I filed an appeal on August 17 or 18, and hand delivered to SS San Leandro office but till today I have not heard from SS or Medicare. I had received a letter from SS that extra amount or payment will be held from my July benefit payable in August. I had given all details of payment made by me towards premium and in fact I had over paid. In addition since I was enrolled for Medicare in December 2015, my Medicare premium should not increased. Can someone get back yo me?
I would like to be able to access the MySocialSecurity webpage even though I no longer live in the States. Can it be modified so that even non US residents can access their account online to check their social security statement? thank you.
Disgusted with the system. I do everything correctly and get denied. I know people who have cheated the system and collect over $1,000. Monthly.
I have back surgery and a complete new lumbar section, but after the surgery, I couldn’t move or feel my legs and feet and had drop foot and I now have no bladder or bowel control. I walked into the hospital for surgery and never walked out. I can’t work again, cause I can’t walk, sit, stand, carry, all things that work demands, but on my denial letter, they claim I can find work. How when I can’t leave my house. I’d be a liability in the workplace. I wouldn’t hire me. No income for over a year and still needing a 3rd surgery. Examiners are a joke. They get a paycheck, so who cares about us without a dime coming in?
I hear ya Marcie, I have been physically disabled since birth, born with cerebral palsy. the Social Security system failed me for my entire life, I have never received any benefits from them, not one red cent! It’s not from the lack of trying, they just keep finding every excuse under the sun, which they use to deny benefits. The “lawyers” that specialize in social security disability are only after an easy paycheck. If they have to do any fighting for your case (or anything other than sending a letter or two), they will drop the case fast. They are only in it for themselves and could care less if someone who is really disabled, is suffering.
There is a myth that social security helps all disabled people, its a HUGE LIE. Social security has NEVER helped me, at all, ever!
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I am 45 years old, a mother of three older children and physically disabled ( I was born with cerebral palsy ). I’ve never collected one red cent of money from the Socialist Security System, even though I have applied several times and they find me disabled.
Technically, I am an “adult disabled child” (please look this up, it is NOT SSI or SSDI) but have never been able to secure any benefits whatsoever from the Socialist Security system, even under that program because I got married to an “Able bodied person”. The Socialist Security system is too busy paying benefits to some people who scam the system and worrying about adult disabled children (who they pay benefits to off of a parents record) marrying an able bodied person. This gives them the justification to cut off benefits to the adult disabled child because the husband (in theory) can now support the disabled person. This theory works great, if your husband is rich and you have no need for money but what it actually does, is to force two adults (one disabled one able bodied person) to live off of one income. In the real world, the socialist security system is forcing adult disabled children to only marry other disabled persons (and NO able bodied persons) at the threat of loosing any and all benefits that they are entitled to.
If you are a physically disabled person (an adult disabled child) and you happen to marry an “able bodied person” you will be loosing out on a lifetime of benefits, all because of a one word “rule” that prohibits you from marrying an “able bodied person”. Best of all, they never tell you about their “Rule” so that they can justify cutting off any benefits that you may be due.
Because you are physically disabled (adult disabled child) and you choose not to marry another adult disabled child or disabled person drawing off socialist security, you WILL LOOSE ANY AND ALL BENEFITS FOR LIFE. This means that the SOCIALIST SECURITY system is TELLING YOU WHO YOU ARE ALLOWED TO MARRY and who you are
NOT ALLOWED TO MARRY! It is a discriminatory act “rule” and should be ILLEGAL!
Even though I am permanently and totally disabled, if I marry an “able bodied person”, somehow that marriage makes everything ok and I am no longer considered disabled (in the eyes of the socialist security system). Magically (because I married an able bodied person), the pixie fairies come down and cure my disability, because now I can just go out and find gainful employment, no one will discriminate against my physical disability and everything will be grand, right? Somehow magically, marrying an able bodied person makes my physical disablility dissappear and now I am cured, right? WRONG!
The issue is a special “Rule” that the Socialist Security System uses to discriminate against “certain” people. If you are a “physically disabled person” (AKA-certain people) and happen to marry an able bodied person, then the SOCIALIST SECURITY system will use special “Rules” to legally discriminate against you and deny you benefits, even if you appeal online.
The SOCIALIST SECURITY system has caused me a lot of economic hardship all because I married an able bodied person. The SOCIALIST SECURITY system thinks someone who is physically disabled (permanently and totally disabled) marries an “able bodied person”, that somehow magically they are cured of their physical disability and two people can survive off the able bodied persons income. WOW, talk about a bunch of bureaucratic idiotic thinking, that somehow this would not cause a financial hardship….. amazing.
The rules that the Social Security Administration uses to legally discriminate against persons who are “Adult Disabled Children” who happen to marry an able bodied person, are discriminatory. This is loosely referred to as the “marriage penalty” but I call it exactly what it is, a legal form of discrimination.
I firmly believe this rule, is an act of bias, prejudice and discrimination against people who (by no fault of their own) are born disabled and happen to marry an able bodied person
Please write your Congressional Representative and tell them to end this modern day form of Legal Discrimination. In this day of fairness and equality, there are still some people suffering from an outdated and oppressive bureaucratic rule.
(PS. notice how the only thing any of these SOCIALIST SECURITY workers ever say are quotes of the rules or processes, like a worker drone. They are unable to address any topics that fall outside of their rule books). Typical bureaucracy and bureaucratic responses, like trying to argue over lost change with a vending machine
Please make sure all your web page security certificates are valid and up-to-date.
I’m on SSDI and I’m 64 years young. I’m presently looking into working part-time. My question is, if I continue to work until I’m 66 years young, will the money that I made during this short period be used to recalculate my monthly Social Security Check.
I’m 64 years young and considering to return to work on a part-time basis. I presently on SSDI. My question is, if I continue to work part-time until I’m 66 years young, will my earnings be used to Recalculate my monthly Social Security Check..
I posted the question above and wish to know the answer to my question. However, I’m not being allowed to use both my name and email address that are highlighted with “Red Astaricks” Why is this happening.
Thank you for your question Joe. Remember that disability payments are established at the highest rate possible, and we used the highest years of your earnings to calculate your monthly benefit amount. However, each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase their monthly benefits. Social Security strongly supports those individuals who want to return to the work force while supplementing their disability benefit income. There are special rules that help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. Please visit our “Disability Planner: If You Go Back To Work” for more information.
I carried my husband (self-employed) on my employer provided insurance beginning 1987. When he began drawing retirement benefits, he was provided with Medicare part A, but did not elect part B because we had alternate coverage. In the ensuing years, we were consistently assured this was not a problem insofar as the coverage we had was considered “comparable coverage” for Medicare. Recently, a change was made by my carrier which requires the part B coverage for all participants in the plan. It was during the process of attempting to sign up for part B coverage through my local SSA office that I was informed that at the point I retired (7 yrs ago) my coverage was no longer considered “comparable”. The upshot to this from SSA is that even though it was never communicated that my retirement nullified my plan as “comparable”, and despite continued assurances from people who were supposed to know this stuff that everything was fine, penalties will be assessed for the 7 yr gap when I retired, which will, of course go forward forever, and, application cannot even be made until January, with part B coverage not in force until July. Obviously, had anyone anywhere along the line bothered to mention this, I would have made totally different choices, or, at the least, could have made an informed decision. So, I’m sharing this very disappointing experience for others who might also be living under a delusion that all is well when you’re actually in for an unpleasant surprise. I personally would have preferred a response from SSA that didn’t so closely correspond to “sucks to be you” when you’re the guys also assuring that all is well.
Hello,
I recently received two letters from Social Security dated October 18, 2016 & October 26, 2016. (1) The letter dated October 18 stated that I was paid too much in benefits ($384) for the year of 2014 based on my earnings from the month of January $16,299. Based on my calculation, I earned an excess of $819/year. I believe the correct amount based on the earning limit for 2014 of $15,480. (2) I was also informed in the letter from October 18, 2016 that Social Security had changed the date of entitlement from February, the date I had applied for to January based on my earnings(?). But my benefits were withheld due to my work earnings(?). (3) I received a follow-up letter on October 26, 2016 informing me that my monthly benefit amount was changed to a lower amount – obviously as a result of the increased number of months (i.e. 32 mo to 33 mo), and change that was made as to my first entitlement date (i.e. Move from Feb to Jan). I did visit my local Social Security office and while they were very helpful, they could not assure me as to why my entitlement date was changed and/or of I would receive a check as a result of the change. They also agreed that the amount of the overpayment ($384) was incorrect, but no action was taken. I also followed up with a call to national Social Security line, but they could not tell me anything specific about my account. Please advise and let me know who I can speak to address these concerns.
We apologize for the delay and inconveniences you are experiencing, Mr. Gould. Unfortunately, but for your security, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please continue working with your local office. In your next visit, you can ask to speak with the manager to see how we can help to expedite resolution of your situation. Thanks.