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.
Social Security Provides Free Interpreter Services
The United States is more diverse now than it has ever been. As we become more diverse as a nation we also have more people in the country whose first language is something other than English. Social Security knows this all too well as it offers free interpreter services whether you are visiting a Social Security office in person or call an office on the phone. The easiest way to get interpreter services over the phone is by calling Social Security’s toll free number at 800-772-1213.
Poisoning Of Social Security Workers?
The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently reported that the General Services Administration is investing an incident at a Cleveland Social Security office where several employees became ill after the office was fumigated due to a bug infestation in the building they were working in. The spraying took place in February and after the spraying multiple workers complained about a chemical smell and became ill. One worker reported that she suffered from vomiting, dizziness and tremors in her arms and legs. A letter from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown indicates that the Ohio Department to Agriculture speculates as to whether pesticides intended for outdoor use purposes only were used during the fumigation process. For more check out the newspaper’s article.
The COLA Discussion Continues
In a previous post we speculated that the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries could be around 0.2 percent, but a recent reporter from The Arizona Republic estimates that the COLA increase could be as much as 0.3 percent. We shall see next month when the official numbers come out.
