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 Latest Social Security Scam
A local station in Orlando reported on the latest Social Security scam. Apparently the scammers are targeting people who receive Social Security benefits to try and get personal information. The report indicated that two Florida Social Security beneficiaries received phone calls that contained recorded messages on the same day informing that there was suspicious activity with the victim’s Social Security number and their benefits were going to be cancelled. This type of phone call would rattle anyone, especially when someone who receives Social Security disability payments relies on the income to survive. Gale Stallworth, Social Security’s acting inspector general was quoted in the story, urging everyone to report these types of calls and to never give out personal information unless you know who you are talking to.
“This phishing scheme is targeting unsuspecting persons for the purpose of Social Security benefit theft or identity theft,” Stallworth said. “You must be very confident that the source is the correct business party, and that your information, will be secure after you release it.” Stone said that anyone who has any suspicions about phone calls, emails or letters they receive should contact Social Security directly at 800-772-1213 to verify information to make sure they are not a victim of a scam.
A Message From The Nade President
The National Association of Disability Examiners (NADE) recently issued its spring newsletter and the president of the organization provided a message about the needs of examiners to do their job moving forward. The organization is made-up of examiners who issue disability decisions at the initial application and reconsideration levels of a Social Security disability claim. The president, Jennifer Pounds, informed that disability examiners have been operating under reduced and unstable funding, which makes it difficult to do their jobs in a timely manner.
“We continue to stress the importance of hiring within the DDSs. As you are aware, we have been working under a series of continuing resolutions. Due to this, many issues cannot be addressed as we do not have the funding to support them. This has not deterred us from continuing to remind SSA of what is needed at the DDS level to achieve budgeted workloads. We are hopeful that a permanent budget will be passed in the near future,” Pounds wrote.
The Fight Over The Milwaukee Office
Social Security carried through with its plan to close its field office in Milwaukee March 22 despite objections from the mayor and congressional leaders. Social Security insisted the office needed to be closed because of the decline of the building at the Mitchell Street branch, but a bill was passed issuing an order that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) complete a review to determine if Social Security followed legal policies in closing the office. For now, the office remains closed and there is no timetable for the OIG to complete a final report on the closing.
