Social Security has dedicated a special section of its website at ssa.gov to questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how Social Security is attempting to assist customers during this time. During this time Social Security has eased some of its rules and regulations because Social Security offices across the country have remained mostly closed due to the pandemic. They have extended certain deadlines or put a freeze on certain practices that could penalize certain beneficiaries.
Some of these easing of Social Security’s rules and regulations will provide some relief to people who are counting on their Social Security benefits to continue during the pandemic and it is the right thing to do. Below is information from Social Security’s COVID-19 page. These are the most recent updates on Social Security’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enrolling In Medicare
If you already have Medicare Part A and wish to sign up for Medicare Part B under the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to a loss of employment or group health coverage, please complete form CMS 40-B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B (Medical Insurance) along with the CMS L564-Request for Employment Information and gather proof of employment, Group Health Plan (GHP), or Large Group Health Plan (LGHP).
You have three options to submit your enrollment request under the Special Enrollment Period. You can do one of the following:
- Go to Apply Online for Medicare Part B During a Special Enrollment Period and complete CMS-40B and CMS-L564. Then upload your evidence of Group Health Plan or Large Group Health Plan.
- Fax your CMS-40B and employer-signed CMS-L564 to 1-833-914-2016.
- Mail your CMS-40B and employer-signed CMS-L564 to your local Social Security office.
Note When completing the CMS-L564
- State on the form “I want Part B coverage to begin (MM/YY)” in the remarks section of the CMS-40B form or online application.
- If possible, your employer should complete Section B.
- If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion as best as you can on behalf of your employer without your employer’s signature and submit one of the following forms of secondary evidence:
- income tax form that shows health insurance premiums paid;
- W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions;
- pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions;
- health insurance cards with a policy effective date;
- explanations of benefits paid by the GHP or LGHP; or
- statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.
Replacing Your Social Security Card
You may be able to request a replacement Social Security card online with your personal my Social Security account, which is easy to set up if you do not already have one. Or, you can ask us for a replacement card by completing and mailing the Social Security card application with your original proof of identity, and proof of age and citizenship if we have not previously confirmed this information, to your local office. We will return your proof(s) to you.
To find out what documents we need to issue a replacement Social Security Number card, please read our fact sheet U.S. Citizen/Adult — Replacement Social Security Card. To update the date of birth in our records, applicants must also submit an original or certified copy of a birth certificate showing the correct date of birth. To update the name in our records, applicants must also submit a recent document that identifies them in both their old and new names. For additional information, please read the instructions on the Social Security card application.
Because we are experiencing slight delays processing mail-in SSN card applications, it may take us between two and four weeks to process the application and return the evidence.
All of the forms and applications required to complete these tasks are available at Social Security’s website www.ssa.gov.
