Lgbt Communities Can Count On Social Security
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision inObergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all states and have their marriage recognized by other states. This decision made it possible for more same-sex couples and their families to benefit from our programs.
We now recognize same-sex couples marriages in all states, and some non-marital legal relationships , for purposes of determining entitlement to Social Security benefits and Medicare, and eligibility and payment amount for Supplemental Security Income . We also recognize same-sex marriages and some non-marital legal relationships established in foreign jurisdictions for purposes of determining entitlement to Social Security benefits and Medicare, and SSI.
Social Security is committed to treating all Americans fairly. This commitment extends to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people covered by Social Securitys many programs. We encourage anyone who believes they may be eligible for benefits to apply now. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/same-sexcouples.
Where Can I Read Ssas Program Policy Information
Date: March 25, 2021
We have a publically accessible version of our Program Operations Manual System at our Public Policy web page. The POMS is a primary source of information used by our employees to process claims for Social Security benefits. This public version of POMS is identical to the version used by our employees, except that it does not include internal data entry and sensitive content instructions. The POMS web page provides a table of contents so you can browse by category, and read recent policy changes, emergency messages, and more.
There Has Been Some Hope For Extra Support For Seniors In 2022 And The Omicron Wave Could Provide The Opportunity For More Funds
Inflation is hurting some communities hard as the pandemic evolves and despite more than 169 million payments having been sent out in the third round of stimulus checks, there is a continued push for a targeted fourth one. The new covid-19 variant of Omicron had financial markets very worried at first, with a rapid transmission rate, but early studies have calmed them a little as illness, on the whole, appears to be less severe.
The Omicron variant is spreading fast around the US. This has given a boost to the prospect of further stimulus checks as the risk of great economic trouble lies ahead. Nancy Pelosi made overtures in an interview on Sunday that further stimulus relief could be included in future bills.
How likely is a fourth stimulus check for SS beneficiaries?
The Senior Citizens League , a non-partisan advocacy group, started a pressure campaign to push Congress to send those receiving Social Security additional stimulus money. In a letter to leaders of Congress, TSCL Chairman Rick Delaney called for a one-off $1,400 Social Security stimulus payment for seniors. Such a measure could help defray the costs associated for some seniors from the 2022 cost-of-living adjustment, which was the highest in 40 years, pushing them into a higher tax bracket.
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Amount Of Your Third Stimulus Check
Every eligible American will receive a $1,400 third stimulus check “base amount.” The base amount jumps to $2,800 for married couples filing a joint tax return. You also get an extra $1,400 for each dependent in your family .
Not everyone will receive the full amount, though. As with the first two stimulus payments, third-round stimulus checks will be reduced potentially to zero for people reporting an adjusted gross income above a certain amount on their latest tax return. If you filed your most recent tax return as a single filer, your third stimulus check will be phased-out if your AGI is $75,000 or more. That threshold jumps to $112,500 for head-of-household filers, and to $150,000 for married couples filing a joint return. Third-round stimulus checks will be completely phased out for single filers with an AGI above $80,000, head-of-household filers with an AGI over $120,000, and joint filers with an AGI exceeding $160,000.
You can use our handy Third Stimulus Check Calculator to get a customized estimated payment amount. All you have to do is answer three easy questions.
New Streamlined Waiver Process For Certain Overpayment Debts
In our continued effort to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have streamlined the overpayment debt waiver process for overpayment debts that we did not timely process due to the temporary suspension of certain actions during the pandemic. Your clients may qualify for a streamlined waiver if:
- An overpayment debt accrued between March 1 and September 30, 2020 because Social Security did not process an action due to the COVID-19 pandemic and
The streamlined waiver process does not apply to overpayment debts resulting from fraud or similar fault, or involving misuse of benefits by a representative payee, nor will the process apply to debts we processed timely.
It is important to note that under our rules individuals still need to request a waiver. If your client may have a qualifying overpayment debt, please tell them to to request a waiver. The local office will handle the process over the telephone. The telephone number for the local office also will be in the overpayment notice and is available at www.ssa.gov/locator on our website.
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Social Security Benefits Older Americans
May was Older Americans Month a time to support and celebrate our aging loved ones, friends, and neighbors. Social Security has been helping older Americans for over 80 years, primarily with retirement benefits.
If you or your clients have contributed enough to the Social Security system through payroll taxes, you can receive your full retirement benefit at age 66 or 67 depending on when you were born. You may also claim it sooner, starting at age 62, at a permanently reduced rate. Or you may wait until after your full retirement age, increasing your benefit amount by up to eight percent per full year until age 70. No matter when you or your clients decide to retire, having a plan in place is essential.
Social Security is here to help prepare people and families for a financially secure future. Invite your clients to use the planners available at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/.
Changes To Californias Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Also Known As Calfresh
If your clients receive Supplemental Security Income and live in California, they will soon be eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as CalFresh. California is currently the only state where SSI recipients are not eligible for SNAP benefits because a food assistance benefit was included in the State Supplementary Payment . The California Department of Social Services is ending the states cash-out for SNAP benefits in the SSP. Beginning June 1, 2019, people receiving or authorized to receive SSI or the SSP will be eligible for CalFresh, provided all other eligibility criteria are met. Your clients SSP will not be reduced because of this law.
Starting June 1, 2019, Social Security staff will screen SSI applicants and recipients in California who live in all-SSI households for eligibility. These field office personnel will take their SNAP/CalFresh application.
If your clients are California residents in all-SSI households, receive or are applying for SSI, and need assistance with their SNAP/CalFresh application, have them contact their local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 . They can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Visit www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh to apply for CalFresh, or for more details about this change in the California state law.
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I Received A Letter From Social Security That Says My Supplemental Security Income Payment Will Change Unless I File An Appeal How Can I File This Appeal
Date:
You can file an appeal by taking one of the following actions.
Online at SSA.gov
The quickest and easiest way to file an appeal is online at ourAppeal a Decision page. Select Reconsideration and then the Request Non-Medical Reconsideration button. Follow the instructions on the screens to complete and submit the appeal electronically.
Send Us a Form by Mail or Fax
You may also download, complete, and print the form Request for Reconsideration and then mail the completed form to your local Social Security office. You can find the local office fax number and address from the Social Security Office Locator page by entering your ZIP code.
If you still have questions about filing an appeal on online, by mail, or fax, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local office. You can find the telephone number for your local office in the letter we sent you or by going to the Social Security Office Locator page and entering your zip code. We can answer your questions and send you the appropriate appeal request form to complete and send back to us.
Social Security Benefits Increase In 2022
Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments in 2022. Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labors Consumer Price Index .
The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are more expensive, so the cost-of-living adjustment helps to offset these costs.
We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. If you have clients who would like to know their new benefit amount sooner, they can securely obtain their Social Security COLA notices online using the Message Center at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. They can access this information in early December prior to the mailed notice.
If your clients prefer to access their COLA notices online, they can opt out of a mailed COLA notice. They can do this with their personal mySocial Security account. By updating their Preferences in the Message Center, they can opt out of any other notices that are available online. They can also receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for them. A person must have created their account by November 17, 2021 to receive the 2022 COLA notice online. Your clients can find more information about the 2022 COLA at www.ssa.gov/cola.
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What Is The Cost
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is an increase in Social Security benefits to help with inflation.
In January 2022, people receiving Social Security will see an increase by 5.9%.
This marks the largest increase in 40 years.
Retirees will receive an average of $1,657 a month, up from $1,565 this year.
The Senior Citizens League says the problem with this boost is it may push some older people into a higher income bracket, making them ineligible next year for food assistance.
Despite the lobbying by the league, it’s unlikely a fourth stimulus will be a reality as Congress has moved on from considering another COVID relief check.
Meanwhile, another online petition asking for monthly stimulus checks of $2,000 for the duration of the pandemic is close to reaching 3million signatures.
The Change.org petition was started by a Denver, Colorado restaurant owner who’s urging Congress to provide $2,000 payments for adults and $1,000 payments for children immediately and continue regular checks until the pandemic ends.
National Disability Forum Enhancing The Reconsideration Process
We held our most recent National Disability Forum on November 28, 2018 at the Partnership for Public Service. The title for this forum was Enhancing the Reconsideration Process. There were 340 registrants, including the livestream attendees.
Acting Chief of Staff Bea Disman provided opening remarks. Grace Kim, Acting Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Operations, welcomed the participants. Darlynda Bogle, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Acting Commissioner of Social Security was the moderator. Kathryn Olson, Democratic Staff Director, House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security provided additional remarks. There were several panelists:
- Phoebe Ball, Legislative Affairs Specialist, National Council on Disability
- Cheryl Bates-Harris, Senior Disability Advocacy Specialist, National Disability Rights Network
- Dr. Sharon Bland-Brady, President, National Association of Disability Examiners
- Lisa Ekman, Director of Government Affairs, National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives
- Trudy Lyon-Hart, Policy/Quality Committee Chair and Board Member, National Council of Disability Determination Directors
- Christopher Mazzulli, Treasurer, National Association of Disability Representatives
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Do I Qualify For The Full $1400 Amount Maybe More Or Less
As part of the new administration’s American Rescue Plan, people who receive SSI and SSDI will once again automatically qualify to receive a third stimulus check, for up to $1,400, as they did for the first and second round of payments approved in March and December 2020.
In the first two rounds, those individuals were eligible so long as they had a Social Security number and weren’t claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return — and so long as their household income didn’t exceed the threshold .
The most recent March stimulus package expands stimulus payment eligibility to dependents of all ages, including young adults ages 17 to 24 and older adult dependents. It also increases the amount set aside for those dependents to $1,400 each. Another change: This time around, the checks will be more “targeted” than in the first two rounds, meaning that single taxpayers who earn $75,000 or less per year will be eligible for the full amount, while those who earn more than $80,000 per year won’t get any money. That means some families could get more money, while others will get less or none at all.
People receiving Railroad Retirement and VA benefits also automatically qualify for a payment, as they did in the first and second round of stimulus checks, the IRS said.
If I Haven’t Received My Stimulus Check What Should I Do
If there’s a problem with your stimulus check, the SSA and VA refer you back to the IRS. However, the IRS doesn’t want you to call if you have an issue with your payment, and points out repeatedly on its FAQ pages that phone staff don’t have additional information beyond what’s available to you in the IRS tracking tool. So, what then?
Depending on the situation, there may be a few self-service options if you run into stimulus check trouble or are looking for an explanation of what’s holding up your check. Otherwise, you may need to request a payment trace with the IRS, but there are specific timing rules for that.
Some of the rules surrounding the third stimulus payment get complicated.
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Ssa Receives Certificate Of Excellence In Accountability Reporting
The Association of Government Accountants awarded us the Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting for our fiscal year 2020 Agency Financial Report. The CEAR program aims to improve accountability through streamlined, effective reporting that clearly demonstrates Federal agency accomplishments and challenges. We have received the CEAR award for 23 consecutive years, an unprecedented accomplishment.
Why Wait Get Your Social Security Benefit Verification Letter Online
Social Security puts you in control. Over the years, we have invested in technology that lets the public access many of our services online and save a trip to a Social Security office. We want to remind your clients that if they ever have to present proof of income or benefits or show that they arenot receiving benefits its easy to get a benefit verification letter online.
Your clients can get a benefit verification letter instantly with amySocial Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It takes only a few minutes to create an account.
The most common reason for needing a benefit verification letter is for proof of income when applying for a loan or mortgage. However, your clients may also need a benefit verification letter as proof of:
- Income to qualify for assisted housing or other state or local benefits
- Current Medicare health insurance coverage
- Retirement status
- A pending benefits application with Social Security.
Please tell your clients about this time-saving online service and direct them to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
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How Can I Communicate With My Local Hearing Office
Date: December 14, 2021
You must have a scheduled hearing to enter a hearing office. You can communicate with your local hearing office by telephone, fax, and e-Fax.
Via telephone:
Our hearing office employees continue to answer our general inquiry lines during regular business hours for local hearing offices and can help you with the following matters:
- Confirming your availability for a hearing
- Confirming your agreement to a telephone or online video hearing
- Updating your records to ensure we have the appropriate telephone number and address and
- Providing status for your pending case.
You can find your local hearing office phone number by accessing our .
Via fax or e-Fax:
Claimants and representatives can send us documents by fax machine or by their own e-fax solution. Sending documents to us via fax delivers a secure, electronic copy to the specific hearing offices designated email inbox. To submit documents electronically via fax, simply use the toll-free fax number with area code 833 assigned to the servicing hearing office. You can find your local hearing office phone number by accessing our .
Will I Get A Coronavirus Stimulus Check If I’m Collecting Disability Benefits
If you are currently receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you may be wondering whether you qualify for the stimulus checks appropriated in the $900 billion legislation recently passed by Congress. This massive Coronavirus relief bill passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on December 21, 2020. Though, as of the date of this post, the President has yet to officially sign the bill into law.
If the bill is officially enacted, many Americans should expect to receive a check from the federal government for $600 per person. The legislation stipulates that, in general, individuals currently receiving disability benefits are eligible for the Coronavirus relief checks. If you filed your federal taxes jointly, there is a chance you will receive a $1,200 check. In addition, if you have a child under the age of 17, you will likely receive an extra $600 check.
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