Please share the attached news release concerning Social Security Field Office update.

Updated June 18, 2020

Social Security Unveils Redesigned Retirement Benefits Portal at socialsecurity.gov

 

The Social Security Administration announced the first of several steps the agency is taking to improve the public’s experience on its website.  The newly redesigned retirement benefits portal, at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement, will help millions of people prepare for and apply for retirement.

 

“We are working hard to continue improving our website to provide people with clear, helpful information and easy access to our online services,” said Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security.  “Our new retirement portal is more user-friendly and easier to navigate, whether someone is ready to learn about, apply for, or manage their retirement benefits.”

 

The redesigned portal will make it easier for people to find and read about Social Security retirement benefits, with fewer pages and condensed, rewritten, and clearer information.  The portal also is optimized for mobile devices so people can learn and do what they want from wherever they want, and the portal now includes the ability to subscribe to receive retirement information and updates.

 

Click on www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement to find out how to Learn, Apply, and Manage retirement benefits, and learn how to create a personal my Social Security account online.

 

More improvements to Social Security’s website are planned for later in 2020 as the agency seeks to continuously improve the public experience at www.socialsecurity.gov.

 

# # #

To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.

 

 

Social Security Unveils Redesigned Retirement Benefits Portal at www.socialsecurity.gov

 

The Social Security Administration announced the first of several steps the agency is taking to improve the public’s experience on its website.  The newly redesigned retirement benefits portal, at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement, will help millions of people prepare for and apply for retirement.

 

“We are working hard to continue improving our website to provide people with clear, helpful information and easy access to our online services,” said Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security.  “Our new retirement portal is more user-friendly and easier to navigate, whether someone is ready to learn about, apply for, or manage their retirement benefits.”

 

The redesigned portal will make it easier for people to find and read about Social Security retirement benefits, with fewer pages and condensed, rewritten, and clearer information.  The portal also is optimized for mobile devices so people can learn and do what they want from wherever they want, and the portal now includes the ability to subscribe to receive retirement information and updates.

 

Click on www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/retirement to find out how to Learn, Apply, and Manage retirement benefits, and learn how to create a personal my Social Security account online.

 

More improvements to Social Security’s website are planned for later in 2020 as the agency seeks to continuously improve the public experience at www.socialsecurity.gov.

 

# # #

To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.

Updated June 16, 2020

Mailed Check Payments May Be Sent As Debit Cards

If the Get My Payment application says you’re receiving a check, your Payment may come as a debit card. Debit card Payments come in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.”

READ more details on the website –  https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center

update April 24, 2020

OUR FAX NUMBER HAS CHANGED

This message is to representatives in the area that the Social Security field office listed below serves:

Social Security Administration – Huntington Office

301 9th Street, 3rd FL

Huntington, WV 25701

Please use our new toll-free fax line, 1-833-950-2257.  Use of this fax number will route your documents directly into our automated system for receipt and assignment.

Please also remember we do not accept applications for benefits via fax.

You should mail, not fax, the following forms because they require a wet signature:

  • SSA-8001 and SSA-8000 (SSI Title XVI Application)
  • SSA-16 (Title II Disability)
  • SSA-1 (Retirement Application)
  • SSA-4 (Child’s Insurance Benefits)
  • SSA-2728
  • SSA-43 (End Stage Renal Disease Application)

 

You can file for Social Security disability, retirement, spouse, and Medicare benefits on our website at www.socialsecurity.gov.  In addition, there are many other services available on our website that make doing business with us easier.

 

Donna Harper

District Manager

update April 13, 2020

New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Beneficiaries from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul

 

“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments.  However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration–specifically those who have dependent children under the age of 17–it is to their advantage to go to this portal to ensure they also get the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment.  I encourage them to do this as soon as possible, and want to provide the following details:

 

People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits and who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who have qualifying children under age 17 should now go to the IRS’s webpage at  www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments to enter their information instead of waiting for their automatic $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.  By taking proactive steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment.  If Social Security beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait to receive their $500 per qualifying child.

 

The same new guidance also applies to SSI recipients, especially those who have qualifying children under age 17.  To receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for, go to the IRS’s Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info page at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments and provide information about yourself and your qualifying children.

 

Additionally, any new beneficiaries since January 1, 2020, of either Social Security or SSI benefits, who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, will also need to go to the IRS’s Non-Filers website to enter their information.

 

Lastly, for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability beneficiaries who do not have qualifying children under age 17, you do not need to take any action with the IRS.  You will automatically receive your $1,200 economic impact payment directly from the IRS as long as you received an SSA-1099 for 2019.

 

For SSI recipients who do not have qualifying children under age 17, we continue to work closely with Treasury in our efforts to make these payments automatically.  Please note that we will not consider Economic Impact Payments as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.

 

The eligibility requirements and other information about the Economic Impact Payments can be found here: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center.  In addition, please continue to visit the IRS at www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information.

 

We will continue to update Social Security’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ as further details become available.”

 

# # #

To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.

 

April 1, 2020 updated

SSA PR COVID 19 Update 3-30-2020

Please share this critical message from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul.

Effective March 17, 2020, Social Security Offices Will Only Offer Phone Service ** Online Services Remain Available **

All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  This decision protects the population we serve—older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  However, we are still able to provide critical services.

Our secure and convenient online services remain available at www.socialsecurity.gov.  Local offices will also continue to provide critical services over the phone.  We are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local governments, and other experts to monitor COVID-19 and will let you know as soon as we can resume in-person service.

CLICK PDF below to find the steps to follow if you need help from Social Security

SSA office hours COVID – 19 press release 3-17-2020

SOURCE: Kimberly Stephens, Public Affairs Specialist, 301 9th Street, Third Floor, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: (866)894-8525 ext 19820, Fax: (304)529-5596, Kimberly.Stephens@ssa.gov

With you through life’s journey…create your online account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount       

 

Inspector General Warns Public About New Social Security Benefit Suspension Scam

Fraud Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2020
The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning the public about fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19 or coronavirus-related office closures. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not suspend or discontinue benefits because their offices are closed.
The Social Security Office of the Inspector General has received reports that Social Security beneficiaries have received letters through the U.S. Mail stating their payments will be suspended or discontinued unless they call a phone number referenced in the letter. Scammers may then mislead beneficiaries into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain regular benefit payments during this period of COVID-19 office closures.
As of Tuesday, March 17, 2020, local SSA offices are closed to the public due to COVID-19 concerns; however, Social Security employees continue to work. Social Security will not suspend or decrease Social Security benefit payments or Supplemental Security Income payments due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Any communication you receive that says SSA will do so is a scam, whether you receive it by letter, text, email, or phone call.
Social Security will never:
  • threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee;
  • promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment;
  • require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card;
  • demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem; or
  • send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
If you receive a letter, text, call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about an alleged problem with your Social Security number, account, or payments, hang up or do not respond. We encourage you to report Social Security scams using our dedicated online form, at https://oig.ssa.gov. Please share this information with your friends and family, to help spread awareness about Social Security scams.

 

 

SOURCE:

https://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/news-releases/march20-advisory

NEWS: Social Security Benefits updates 2020