Latest News
Cmr. O’Malley Announces SSI Change to Facilitate Eligibility
Accessing crucial Supplemental Security Income benefits will become simpler, and the Agency’s workload will be streamlined a bit, by a new rule set to kick in later this year. As explained in a March 27 press release, the ruling will…
Outdated Job Data in Disability Claims Processing Cited in Congressional Hearing
Recently confirmed Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley was taken to task at a Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing last week on the Agency’s use of decades-old jobs data in its disability determination processes. In discussing where…
For Future Ex-Patriots Alert: Understanding the Rules for Off-Shore Social Security Payments Is Essential
Social Security beneficiaries electing to live abroad can collect their earned benefits just like their U.S. counterparts. In fact, according to a post by U.S. News and World Report contributor Maryalene LaPonsie, the U.S. Department of State reports that more…
Student Loans and Social Security Penalties Being Examined
The Treasury Offset (TOP) program that allows for the offsetting of Social Security benefits in situations where student loans have defaulted is the subject of an investigation launched earlier this month. As explained in a post by Kiplinger Joey Solitro…
Social Security and Small Business…Good Together
Social Security Administration Public Affairs Specialist Sabrina Feliciano, in a post on patch.com, outlines the slate of online services available to small business owners through the agency. Her article provides a link to the SSA.gov website where small business owners…
Yet Another Viewpoint on Delaying Retirement
It’s been all over the media in the past few days. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has gone on record with an opinion that the popular notion of retirement age being 65 is crazy. In fact, in a Marshall News Messenger post…
Unpacking the Effect of a Change in Retirement Age
As noted in the last two days’ Headline posts on this site, the rhetoric is building on the subject of changing the Social Security full retirement age as part of the strategy to avoid the program’s projected payment shortfalls. It’s…
Sec. Yellin: Social Security Underfunding Missing Concrete Plan
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing and in response to questions concerning the Whitehouse FY 2025 budget, acknowledged that no specific steps have been outlined by the current administration to ward off the impending benefit…
Staff Re-build at SSA Set to Commence
Just a few months into his Social Security Administration post, Commissioner Martin O’Malley is launching a concerted move to quickly re-build a workforce decimated by turnover and hiring freezes in recent years. Aided by a slight increase in funding, O’Malley…
A Perspective on Social Security’s Customer Service
Much has been written over the past few months and years about public perspectives on the quality of Social Security’s customer service practices. Much of it has been negative, citing the painful wait times associated with the 800-number service, the…