SSDI

When it comes to signed forms Social Security has always been a stickler about its wet signature requirements on documents, but a new executive order from President Joe Biden will force the agency to limit its wet signature requirement to improve customer service at federal agencies. The move by the Biden Administration may not seem like a big deal, but Social Security’s wet signature requirement has made it even more difficult to apply for benefits and to obtain effective customer service. The need for this executive order was really highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused all of us to change how we operate in some form or fashion. Below is the portion of Biden’s executive order that addresses Social Security’s signature requirements on documents. (k)  The Commissioner of Social Security shall:             (i)    within 120 days of the date of this order, provide a report to the Director of OMB that analyzes all services of the Social Security Administration that currently require original or physical documentation or in-person appearance as an element of identity or evidence authentication, and that identifies potential opportunities for policy reforms that can support modernized customer experiences while ensuring original or physical documentation requirements remain where there is a statutory or strong policy rationale;             (ii)   develop a mobile-accessible, online process so that any individual applying for or receiving services from the Social Security Administration can upload forms, documentation, evidence, or correspondence associated with their transaction without the need for service-specific tools or traveling to a field office;             (iii)  consistent with applicable law and to the extent practicable, maintain a public policy of technology neutrality with respect to acceptable forms of electronic signatures;             (iv)   consistent with applicable law and to the extent practicable, revise any necessary regulations, forms, instructions, or other sources of guidance (to include the Program Operations Manual System of the Social Security Administration) to remove requirements that members of the public provide physical signatures; and             (v)    to the maximum extent permitted by law, support applicants and beneficiaries to identify other benefits for which they may be eligible and integrate Social Security Administration data and processes with those of other Federal and State entities whenever possible.

In July of 2020 members of the U.S. House Social Security Subcommittee asked Social Security’s Inspector general to conduct a review of Social Security’s phone service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report was not issued until November 29, 2021. The study, portions of which can be found below, contains some data that was prior to March 2020 when shutdowns occurred due the pandemic, but some of the data does show how woeful phone service at the agency has been during the pandemic. Each time the OIG conducts a study of Social Security practices recommendations are given to Social Security as a way to improve programs and services, but don’t expect any major changes coming to Social Security phone service any time soon. Below is the description of the objective of the report, the background and the results. Objective To review the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) telephone services, especially as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. Background On July 21, 2020, John Larson, Chair, and Tom Reed, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Social Security, requested we answer a series of questions related to SSA’s telephone services during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this review, we obtained SSA’s telephone service data for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020). We compared SSA’s performance data from October 2019 through March 2020 with the data from April through September 2020, when SSA limited in-person service. We also compared SSA’s FY 2020 performance to other Federal agencies’ and industry performance and to SSA’s telephone service performance in FYs 2010 through 2019. In addition, we obtained information on changes in staffing and workloads, including steps SSA took to strengthen telephone services and better track and evaluate callers’ experience and satisfaction in FY 2020. Finally, we identified changes SSA made in response to COVID-19, their effect on telephone performance metrics and customer service, and lessons SSA learned during COVID-19 related to telephone services. Results In FY 2020, SSA received over 151 million calls at its field offices and the national 800-number. SSA handled over half of those calls through a combination of calls answered by SSA employees and addressed by automated services. SSA’s telephone services shifted to more calls to field offices in FY 2020 when the Agency limited in-person service and provided the public with more field office telephone numbers. The increase in field office calls resulted in increased busy messages and wait times toward the end of FY 2020. SSA adjusted national 800- number operations during the pandemic to reduce wait times and the number of callers who received a busy message. National 800-number performance began to decline toward the end of the FY, though it was still better than pre-pandemic performance. When comparing SSA to 13 customer service call centers from 10 other Federal agencies, SSA had a higher call volume in FY 2020 with similar or better performance. To reduce wait times, improve caller experience, and ensure more calls are handled, SSA hired additional 800-number staff, modified automated service options, and plans to implement a new telephone system.

A Hearing on Social Security legislation was announced for December 7, 2021. The hearing, conducted by the U.S. House Social Security Subcommittee, will be to discuss the Social Security 2100 legislation that is intended to strengthen Social Security and extend the solvency of the program. The legislation was championed by U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut. Unfortunately the bill is pretty much dead on arrival during the current political climate and considering mid-term congressional elections are just around the corner, but it does give Congress a starting point in which to tackle Social Security’s issues. Considering Larson is the architect of the plan, it would be valuable to learn the bullet points of the legislation being offered according to him. Below are the highlights of the Social Security 2100 plan as identified by Larson on his website. Sooner or later Congress is going to have to deal with Social Security, something current legislators seem unwilling to do. How do we do this? First, we ask individuals making more than $400,000 a year to contribute into Social Security in the same way as the rest of us. Currently, those with earnings above $118,500 no longer have to pay into the system. To put it another way, LeBron James has made his yearly contribution to Social Security by about lunchtime on New Year’s Day. Second, we slowly introduce an increase to the contributions both workers and employers make. Over the span of 25 years, it would mean an additional 0.05 percent each year. A worker making $50,000 a year would pay an additional 50 cents per week each year to Social Security. With those two provisions alone — for less than a cup of coffee each month and by asking the top 0.4 percent of earners to pay into the system — we can keep Social Security solvent though the end of the century.  

There are a variety of reasons why a person would seek to change their Social Security number. Some of the more pressing reasons a person wants to change their Social Security number can include safety concerns for people who are fearful of their safety and people who have been the victims of identity theft and fraud. This link will connect you to a very informative article regarding the process and rules related to changing a Social Security Number. One thing to keep in mind is that patience is likely to be required. Social Security offices have remained closed to the public eliminating most in-office service since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused shutdowns, but there is a limited opportunity to contact Social Security to make an in-office appointment to get your Social Security number changed. A person will have to complete and application to apply for a new number and must provide appropriate documentation and provide one of the agency’s acceptable reasons to change a Social Security number. In the article link you can see all the different reasons Social Security will consider changing a Social Security number. Below is some other information about changing a Social Security numbers including potential reasons and the steps needed to take to change a Social Security number. Reasons accepted for requesting a new Social Security number The SSA, although it is discouraged, does allow for people to change their Social Security number but the list of reasons is limited and requires the individual to extensively prove that the request is valid and necessary. Reasons can include financial harm caused by identity theft or one’s life is in danger due to domestic violence, among others. To get a Social Security number changed, the person requesting it must do so in person at one of the Social Security offices, making an appointment ahead of time. In the event the SSA agrees that a person is eligible to have their number changed, they will still retain their old number for the agency’s record keeping. This ensures that all contributions, both on the original number and the new number are tallied to the same person. Likewise, the original number may still be used by financial institutions or state agencies in addition to the new number. Protect what’s important to you, and don’t carry your Social Security card with you every day. In most cases, knowing the number is enough. How to change your Social Security number You must make an appointment with a Social Security office to request a new Social Security number and bring along all necessary paperwork required. Along with the necessary documents to prove why you are requesting a change of number, you will need to fill out an application for a new card and provide a written statement for why you require a new Social Security number. You will also need to provide original documents of identity, and if needed, evidence of legal name change, as well as proof of age and US citizenship or work-authorized immigration status.

It is always wise to apply for any type of Social Security benefit even if you are unsure you may qualify for the benefits because starting the benefit process can take time. A person’s circumstances may cause a delay in applying for benefits, but when a person is ready they should do it promptly. Below is specific information from Social Security regarding a special benefit type, survivor’s benefits. Below is the basic information Social Security provides regarding survivor’s benefits. You should notify us immediately when a person dies. However, you cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online. In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death to us. You should give the funeral home the deceased person’s Social Security number if you want them to make the report. If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Although our offices are closed to the public, employees from those offices are assisting people by telephone. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Social Security Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office. If You Are Not Getting Benefits If you are not getting benefits, you should apply for survivor’s benefits promptly because, in some cases, benefits may not be retroactive. If You Are Getting Benefits If you are getting benefits on your spouse’s or parent’s record: You generally will not need to file an application for survivor’s benefits. We’ll automatically change any monthly benefits you receive to survivors benefits after we receive the report of death. We may be able to pay the Special Lump-Sum Death Payment automatically. If you are getting retirement or disability benefits on your own record: You will need to apply for the survivors benefits. We will check to see whether you can get a higher benefit as a widow or widower.  

Researchers and medical experts have been studying the effects of the COVID-19 virus in a portion of people who were diagnosed with the disease who are still dealing with impairments, sometimes months or even a year or more after diagnosis. Cases where some impairments linger for a long time after a COVID diagnosis are known as Long COVID cases due to ongoing impairments a portion of COVID survivors suffer from. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine published a review article comparing the Long COVID impairments and impairments suffered by people diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers contend that symptoms shared in the two conditions may involve a biological response under certain circumstances, which may be a reason Long COVID survivors suffer from impairments similar to chronic fatigue syndrome. Below is portion of the article. As of August 2021, approximately 36 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19. “We do not yet know how many of these patients will experience long COVID, but it’s estimated that at least 7% experience extended symptoms,” says co-author Anthony Komaroff, M.D., the Steven P. Simcox, Patrick A. Clifford and James H. Higby Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. The expert team urges that some of the recent National Institutes of Health funding assigned to study the long-term health effects of COVID-19 be used to investigate both long COVID and ME/CFS. Those studies, they believe, could shed light on other diseases characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolic disorders. ME/CFS is a complex condition affecting 1 million to 2.5 million people in the United States. It is characterized by a cluster of symptoms, including severe and debilitating fatigue, disrupted and unrefreshing sleep, difficulty thinking (commonly called “brain fog”), abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system and post-exertional malaise — a flare-up of multiple symptoms following physical or cognitive exertion.

We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more. The Vaccine Requirement For Federal Workers The White House issued an update on the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal workers November 24, 2021. A statement from the White House indicated that 96.5 percent of federal employees are in compliance with the mandate. Below is a description of how the federal government determines compliance. Employees who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination or have a pending or approved exception request—with 92 percent of employees having received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose. Federal workers comprise a workforce of more than 3.5 million who work all over the country and around the world who are covered by the requirement. The compliance rate of federal workers is pretty impressive, but also shows there are a small percentage of workers who are not in compliance. The following statement was issued from the White House regarding these federal workers. This week’s deadline wasn’t an end point. For those employees who are not yet in compliance, agencies are beginning a period of education and counseling, followed by additional enforcement steps, consistent with guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and the Office of Personnel Management. At any point, if an employee gets their first shot or submits an exception request, agencies will pause further enforcement to give the employee a reasonable amount of time to become fully vaccinated or to process the exception request. This next stage of the process will not result in disruptions to Government services and operations and will result in more employees becoming vaccinated. Better Screening Of Medical Consultants Needed The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report to Congress that shows the Social Security Administration needs to take action to ensure that medical consults who are responsible for disability claims be better trained and screened. Below are the key takeaways from the report. SSA cannot be sure that the state agencies’ consultants are qualified and trained to appropriately inform decisions on disability claims. SSA policy requires state agencies to screen their consultants by checking them against a database of individuals barred from participating in federal programs. Also, SSA policy sets requirements for state agencies to provide initial and follow-up training. However, state agencies told us they do not always do so. Of the 52 agencies: 14 said they did not consistently perform required checks on consultants either when hiring or annually, and Nine said they did not give consultants some element of required initial or refresher training. We also looked into whether paying consultants per claim rather than an hourly or salary rate—which 19 agencies do—affects the quality of their work. Our analysis of SSA data did not find conclusive evidence of a link between how a state pays consultants and the quality of disability decisions in each state.

An interesting research paper was recently released by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College that showed that food insecurity rates are higher in areas that have higher disability rates and this population has less access to food choices, especially healthy food options. Many people may not think about food being related to disabled individuals, but many people who are on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits have limited income and assets and now it appears, less access to food. This should be a troubling sign that even people who receive disability benefits struggle to maintain basic life necessities. Below is a portion of the paper issued by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. The full findings of the paper can be viewed here. In this paper, we account for access to food—by measuring the availability and accessibility of food stores and restaurants within each county—in the relationship between rates of disability and DI beneficiaries, and food insecurity. In general, we find that counties having a large share of residents with disabilities or high rates of DI beneficiaries are also limited in their availability and accessibility to food establishments. Digging deeper, we find that these same counties also have a larger share of food establishments that likely provide unhealthy food options. These include small grocery stores, convenience stores, limited-service restaurants, pharmacies, and gas stations. We find a strong correlation between many of these types of food establishments and disability and DI beneficiary rates. Importantly, we find a strong correlation between disability and food insecurity even after controlling for access to food. Our results should not be interpreted through a causal lens, however, as they only indicate a correlation between these factors. Linked data, more geographically-specific data, and more information on specific types of disabilities would all be ways to extend this line of research.

Once the decision has been made to apply for Social Security disability benefits it is time to start learning some basics about Social Security disability benefits. Learning about the process prior to applying is helpful to understand how Social Security makes determinations and how to deal with potential issues that come up during the processing of a claim. Below is some basic information about initially applying for benefits, appealing any unfavorable decisions and other important things to think about during a claim while it is adjudicated. The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you are “insured.” This means that you worked long enough – and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to adults and children with disabilities who have limited income and resources. While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the non-medical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death. The Application Process Whether you apply online, by phone, or in person, the disability benefits application process follows these general steps: You gather the information and documents you need to apply. We recommend you print and review the Adult Disability Checklist. It will help you gather the information you need to complete the application. You complete and submit your application. We review your application to make sure you meet some basic requirements for disability benefits. We check whether you worked enough years to qualify. We evaluate any current work activities. We process your application and forward your case to the Disability Determination Services office in your state. This State agency makes the disability determination decision. After You Have Applied Once we receive your application, we’ll review it and contact you if we have questions. We might request additional documents from you before we can proceed You’ll receive a letter in the mail with our decision. If you included information about other family members when you applied, we’ll let you know if they may be able to receive benefits on your record. Appealing You have the right to appeal any decision we make about whether you’re entitled to benefits. You must request an appeal in writing within 60 days of receiving our decision. There are four levels of appeal: A hearing before an administrative law judge. A review by Social Security’s Appeals Council. A review by the federal courts. Some other things to remember during a disability claim are that the process is not a short one. Typically, most Social Security disability cases take well over a year before a final decision is made after appeal attempts. Responding to Social Security requests is also an important factor in the successfulness of a claim. Make sure that all correspondence from Social Security is responded to within the time limits set by the agency.