May 2022
Providing Greater Access to Our Services
We continue to welcome people back to our offices for in-person service with or without an appointment. As we help more people in person, we want to highlight the best ways and times to access our services. We’re committed to helping them by telephone and in person. We also encourage them to visit our website to conduct their business online if they can. Our online services are secure and convenient. Going online or calling us can save your clients a trip to a busy office.
Please visit our blog to learn how to get help by telephone and in person and what to expect if your client needs to visit an office.
Equitable Relief for Medicare Enrollment and Disenrollment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is providing equitable relief to individuals who could not submit premium-Part A or Part B enrollment or disenrollment requests timely due to challenges contacting us by phone. This relief applies to the 2022 General Enrollment Period, Initial Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Period.
If your clients were unable to enroll or disenroll in Medicare because they could not reach us by phone after January 1, 2022, they will be granted additional time, through December 30, 2022.
Let your clients know to call 1-800-772-1213 or use our Office Locator to find the number for a local office for more information.
The Affordable Connectivity Program Can Help SSI Recipients Get Internet Access
Internet access is now necessary for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, for many households, it remains unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission wants everyone to access reasonably priced internet services. They recently launched a new program to reduce the cost of getting online.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to:
- $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
- $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. To qualify for this one-time discount, households must contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
If your clients receive SSI, please encourage them to visit the ACP’s website to see if they’re eligible. Your clients can also learn more about applying for ACP on our blog: The Affordable Connectivity Program Can Help SSI Recipients Get Internet Access Social Security Matters (ssa.gov).
Older Americans Month and Protecting Seniors from Fraud
Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. At Social Security, we use this time to strengthen our connections with older Americans and help protect them. Seniors are especially vulnerable to scammers who pretend they represent Social Security.
Here are five easy-to-use resources your clients can use to prevent Social Security fraud:
Please share this information with your clients to help spread awareness about Social Security imposter scams.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Congress passed the law in 1992 designating the month of May to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States on May 7, 1843.
Social Security’s programs serve as financial protection for millions of Americans of every race and background. In honor of this month, we are shining a spotlight on our AAPI page at www.ssa.gov/people/aapi. Please share it with your clients today.
We recognize the cultural and language challenges that some members of the AAPI community face. We provide free interpreter services for AAPIs in their preferred languages. We also supply publications in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Your clients can find this information at www.ssa.gov/site/languages/en/.
Celebrating A Decade of my Social Security!
It has been 10 years since we launched my Social Security. Since then, more than 69 million people have signed up for and benefited firsthand from the many secure and convenient self-service options. We’ve added and upgraded features that make your life easier when doing business with us. We take great pride in providing this – and all – our services.
If your clients don’t have a personal my Social Security, they’re missing out. A secure account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether they receive benefits or not. If your clients don’t currently receive benefits, they can:
- Estimate their future benefits and compare different dates or ages to begin receiving benefits.
- Get instant status of their Social Security application.
- Review their work history.
- Request a replacement Social Security card if they meet certain requirements.
If they receive benefits, they can also:
- Get an instant benefit verification or proof of income letter for Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- Set up or change their direct deposit.
- Change their address and telephone number.
- Request a replacement Medicare card.
- Request a replacement Social Security card if they meet certain requirements.
- Get an instant Social Security 1099 form (SSA-1099).
- Report their wages if they work and receive disability benefits or SSI.
Please encourage your clients to visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount today and join the millions who take advantage of their own personal my Social Security accounts.
New Statement Fact Sheet for People with Limited Earnings
If your clients have a personal my Social Security account, they can view their Statement online to learn about their future benefits and recent earnings history. Included with the Statement are fact sheets that provide useful information based on a person’s age group and earnings situation.
We’re pleased to announce we’ve released a new fact sheet specifically for people with limited earnings.
The new fact sheet covers how your clients and their family members may qualify for benefits, including:
- Supplemental Security Income.
- Social Security retirement benefits.
- Children’s benefits.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Help with health care costs – including Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs, and Medicaid.
We’re committed to helping your clients learn about all their benefit options. Our Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool at ssabest.benefits.gov is a convenient way to find potential benefits that may best fit their situation.
To learn more, encourage your clients to visit our Social Security Statement webpage at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/statement.html.
