Category Archives: Social Security number

Popular baby names for each state available

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Did you check to see how popular your name is?

Last week the Social Security Administration announced the most popular baby names nationally for 2012. For years after 1879 you can learn the national popularity of a given name by percentage of births or actual number of times used. Go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/.

Today the 100 most popular names by individual state were revealed based on a 100 percent sample of Social Security number card applications. 

While having fun with baby names on www.socialsecurity.gov, consider creating your own my Social Security account to access your personal Social Security Statement and other services.

Shown here are the top ten male and female names nationally, and for North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. For any state, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/state/index.html. 

 

 

 

 Smartphone Reminder:

Since early May, when visiting the Social Security Administration website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows devices) you are redirected to the agency’s new mobile-friendly site. There you can access a mobile version of Social Security’s Frequently Asked Questions, an interactive Social Security number (SSN) decision tree to help identify documents needed for a new/replacement SSN card, and mobile publications which you can listen to in both English and Spanish.

How popular is your name?

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Annually near Mother’s Day, Social Security publishes the most popular baby names in the United States for the previous year. Based on Social Security number applications, learn the popular baby names for 2012 at the SSA website, www.socialsecurity.gov. Follow the baby names link at Popular Services.

Nationally for 2012, the five most popular female names are Sophia, Emma, Isabella, Olivia and Ava with the most popular male names being Jacob, Mason, Ethan, Noah and William. 

Jacob and Sophia are repeat champions as America’s most popular baby names for 2012. This is the fourteenth year in a row Jacob tops the list for boys and the second year for Sophia. When visiting the baby names pages, also learn about Social Security benefits for children. 

Learn the most popular names in each State and see how the popularity of a given name changes over time. Popular names by State for births in 2012 will be available here on May 16. In the meantime, you can view the popular names for previous years.

When visiting the baby names pages, also learn about Social Security benefits for children.

How popular is your name? Go to www.socialsecurity.gov and find out.

Social Security & your smartphone

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Social Security Announces New Mobile Site for
Smartphone Users

Agency Leverages Technology to Meet Customer Service Expectations

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is offering a new mobile optimized website, specifically aimed at smartphone users across the country. People visiting the agency’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows devices) will be redirected to the agency’s new mobile-friendly site. Once there, visitors can access a mobile version of Social Security’s Frequently Asked Questions, an interactive Social Security number (SSN) decision tree to help people identify documents needed for a new/replacement SSN card, and mobile publications which they can listen to in both English and Spanish right on their phone.

“We are committed to meeting the changing needs of the American people and the launch of our new mobile site helps reinforce our online presence and adaptability to advances in technology,” Acting Commissioner Colvin said. “I encourage all smartphone users looking for Social Security information to take advantage of our new mobile site.”

In addition, visitors to the new mobile site can learn how to create a personal my Social Security account to get an online Social Security Statement, learn more about Social Security’s award-winning online services, and connect with Social Security on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest. For people unable to complete their Social Security business online or over the telephone, the agency also unveiled a new mobile field office locator. The new mobile office locator has the capability to provide turn-by-turn directions to the nearest Social Security office based on information entered by the person.

“With significant budget cuts of nearly a billion dollars each year over the last few years, we must continue to leverage technology and find more innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the American public without compromising service,” said Acting Commissioner Colvin.

Each year, more than 35 million Social Security web page views come via smartphones. 

For more information, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

ID questions when creating your “my Social Security” account

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Q: Some of the security questions when I created a my Social Security account took me by surprise. While I expected the often seen birthdate type of question, my Social Security questions involved more details than I expected Social Security to have about me. Where do the questions come from?

A: This question was asked during one of my retirement seminars. Before answering it, I think it is important to mention that the Social Security Administration has less personal information then many people think. If not receiving monthly benefits, the bulk of personal information held by Social Security about you is from your Social Security number (SSN) application as updated, and your work history. If receiving benefits, the agency has information that you provided and needed to pay those benefits, including your address and direct deposit bank account information. 

Maintaining the security of your personal information on Social Security records is very important to the agency, which brings us back to the  question.  

Anyone at least age 18 and having an email address can create their own online my Social Security account. To create an account, you must provide some personal information about yourself and give us answers to some questions that only you are likely to know. Next, you create a username and password that you will use to access your online account. This process protects you and keeps your personal Social Security information private.

Some of the personal information requested is your name, Social Security number and birthdate. For other questions, an external authentication service provider, Experian, helps Social Security verify your identity by using information from your Experian credit report. This can result in what is known as a “soft inquiry” on your Experian credit report but does not affect credit scores and is not reported to lenders. It does provide the ability to protect your personal information by asking questions that only you should be able to answer.   

Please note that you cannot create a my Social Security account online if you have a security freeze, fraud alert, or both on your Experian credit report. You first must ask Experian to remove the freeze or alert. 

A link to my Social Security is on the homepage of www.socialsecurity.gov or you can go directly to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/.  Linked from that page are details explaining how your identity is verified and protected. 

 

Can you change your Social Security number?

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Q:  Can a person change their Social Security number? 

A:  While not impossible, being provided a different Social Security number (SSN) is rare. Only a very few circumstances are generally used to assign a different number, and these are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  

Examples where a new SSN might be assigned are if more than one person was assigned or is using the same number, a victim of identity theft is being disadvantaged by using his or her original SSN, or in situations of harassment, abuse or life endangerment including domestic violence.  

Even in these limited circumstances, being provided a new Social Security number can create new problems. For example, since the old number cannot be used, a lifetime of records, including credit history, will no longer be available.  

Being assigned a different Social Security number (SSN) is rare. When applicable, the person must provide evidence supporting the need for a new SSN in addition to the usual documentation. 

Social Security number card information is at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ .

Budget update in March SSA newsletter

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Did You Know? You can read and subscribe to a free, monthly, Social Security Administration electronic newsletter at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/newsletter/.

Along with other articles, the current Social Security Update has highlights from the March 14, 2013, testimony before Congress by Carolyn Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.  

Her testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, discussed service delivery challenges facing the agency including budget issues, related to and separate from sequestration. Read her full testimony at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/testimony_031413.html.

In her testimony, Ms. Colvin noted services provided by the Social Security Administration in Fiscal Year 2012. In part, she said:

“Few government agencies touch as many people as we do. The programs we administer provide a financial safety net for millions of Americans, and many consider them the most successful large-scale Federal programs in our Nation’s history. The responsibilities with which we have been entrusted are significant. In FY 2012, we:

· Paid over $800 billion to almost 65 million beneficiaries;
· Handled over 56 million transactions on our National 800 Number Network;
· Received over 65 million calls to field offices nationwide;
· Served about 45 million visitors in over 1,200 field offices nationwide;
· Completed over 8 million claims for benefits and 820,000 hearing dispositions;
· Handled almost 25 million changes to beneficiary records;
· Issued about 17 million new and replacement Social Security cards;
· Posted over 245 million wage reports;
· Handled over 15,000 disability cases in Federal District Courts;
· Completed over 443,000 full medical continuing disability reviews (CDR); and
· Completed over 2.6 million non-medical redeterminations of SSI eligibility.”

Also within her testimony, Ms. Colvin stated ongoing budget driven challenges facing the agency, related to and separate from sequestration.  In part, she said:

“The current budget situation is exacerbating the negative effects of over two straight years of funding levels nearly a billion dollars below the President’s budget requests. With fewer employees to serve our customers, we are seeing serious signs of service deterioration. Examples include:

- This week, close to 12,000 visitors to our field offices will have to wait over 2 hours to be served, a figure that has almost tripled in just the last 4 months;

-The average wait time for field office visitors without an appointment increasing by 40 percent, from just 21 minutes in FY 2010 to about 30 minutes through January of FY 2013;

-Our 800-number average busy rate increasing from 4.6 percent of all calls in FY 2010 (which equates to 2.6 million calls) to about 15 percent of all calls through January of FY 2013 (which equates to 3.3 million calls and puts us on-pace for a projected 10.5 million calls for FY 2013); and

-Our average speed of answer for the 800-number more than doubling from about 3.5 minutes in FY 2010 to over 7.5 minutes through January of FY 2013.”

Several articles are in Social Security Update each month. Read and subscribe to this free electronic newsletter at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/newsletter/.

 

 

Social Security Retirement Estimator

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Q: I recently attempted to use the Social Security Retirement Estimator.  After putting in my information, I was told it could not be verified. What do you suggest? 

 A: The Retirement Estimator is one of the Social Security retirement planning calculators at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/. 

 It will not work if the person lacks enough work to qualify for retirement or if they are receiving Social Security benefits. When neither of these applies, the main reason for the Retirement Estimator not working is related to the security system.  

Use is prevented if personal information entered to the Estimator does not fully match personal information already on Social Security Administration records. This could happen for several reasons but easy examples are when a person’s current name has not been updated on their Social Security number (SSN) card or if their birthdate is wrong. If this is the problem, the Estimator will work once the SSN record is updated.

Call Social Security, either the national number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or your local office. The SSA representative should be able to determine the problem. If needed, SSN record correction can be completed by mail or in person at no charge. See http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ for information and application needed to correct a SSN card. 

When you call, the SSA representative can also provide an estimate for you.

 

Shouting into the wind

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At times, warning people to protect their personal information feels like shouting into the wind.

I have mentioned protecting your personal information before, just as I have stressed going to the official Social Security Administration website, www.socialsecurity.gov, for correct information, and have stated that there is no charge for replacing or updating a Social Security number card.

Using recent client contacts encompassing all three topics as an example, I am visiting this topic again. This specific information came from a local Social Security office, but I have personally spoken to people in the same situation. 

For protection of your personal identity, you cannot complete or transmit a Social Security number (SSN) application online at the Social Security website. You can download a blank SSN application and learn what evidence is needed. Application and evidence can then be mailed or brought to a SSA office. No charge. Your documents are returned.

An Internet search about Social Security numbers results in many hits, including to private, for-profit, sites not related in any way to the Social Security Administration. For official Social Security information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

Here is the local Social Security office example:

Two different people recently visited the office with a Social Security number (SSN) application prepared by a private company.  

In each case, the person had gone to the Internet for SSN information and ended up at this private website. Each paid a fee of $48 and completed a copied online SSN application on that site. The transaction ended with them printing the application and receiving instructions to mail or bring the form to a Social Security office.

At this point, the people visited the local SSA office and were very upset to learn that they paid money for a free service provided by Social Security.

More importantly, each person had also supplied all of their personal background information, and credit card information, needed for a thief to easily commit identity theft. In fact, they paid to give away their personal information.

This does not imply that any of those private sites are involved in identity theft. It is a warning to protect your personal information. Putting that information on the Internet, completely out of your control, is not a wise action.

Information about identity theft is in SSA publication 005-10064, “Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number” online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html or from any SSA office.

Detailed information about identity theft is at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website, http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.

My friend said … is that really true?

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Today’s post stems from a handful of phone calls received last week, all starting with a variation of “My friend told me that …” and ending with “… is that really true?” All the “friendly” information was wrong.  

Where can you get accurate Social Security information? Start at the official Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov. The web address has .gov, standing for government. If not .gov, it is not Social Security. Be sure you are at the official site.  

The Social Security website provides several ways to find information.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) areas are at the top and lower right of the homepage. Check FAQ’s by topic area or by typing in keywords or questions. Use the Search Social Security block at top right of the homepage. Finally, homepage links to the different programs (Retirement, Disability, Survivors, etc.) bring you to lots of information about each program. 

National SSA webinars can be viewed through the website. See the link at bottom right of the homepage. 

The website is a great source of basic information. However, except for parts of the retirement planner pages and your established my Social Security account, personal information is not there. For personal information, contact Social Security. 

By calling the Social Security national telephone number, 1-800-772-1213, you can use automated telephone services to get recorded information and conduct some business 24 hours a day. If you cannot handle your business through SSA automated services, speak to a Social Security representative between 7:00am and 7:00pm, Monday – Friday, local time.  If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the SSA toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. When calling, expect questions to prove who you are.

National SSA phone representatives have the same computer information available to local offices. Appointments made at the national number print at the local office based on zip code. If phoning, you are encouraged to call use the national system first. However, if you want to call or visit your local office, do so. Public hours are more limited than those of the national phone system so check them first.

The above webinar link is for national Social Security webinars. Not at that link, you might find the November 2012, Social Security (Denver Region) webcast titled “Social Security Frequently Asked Questions” interesting.  Available at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/denver/index.htm, in approximately 20 minutes this free webinar discusses Social Security retirement, survivors and disability program topics, how benefit amounts are determined for individuals and spouses, how to replace a Social Security card, and more. It also highlights the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) area of the Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov.   

Perhaps your advice giving friends would enjoy watching it with you.

my Social Security – create your secure account now

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The Social Security Administration announced a major expansion of the my Social Security services on January 7. Up to then, my Social Security services were limited to those over age 18 who were not yet receiving monthly benefits. In particular, people could establish their secure personal account, obtain their individual Social Security Statement, and use it to verify the accuracy of their Social Security earnings record while obtaining estimates of retirement, survivor and disability benefits based on those earnings.  

Since January 7, my Social Security expanded to provide services for people already receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.  

Once you create an account, if receiving Social Security you can:

  • obtain a letter proving that you receive benefits including specific information needed
  • check your benefit amount and other payment information
  • view and update information including your address
  • start, view, and change your direct deposit information for electronic transfer of benefits

Those receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or only SSI, can use these services except for actually making changes to their record.

The expanded my Social Security has been well received. From January through early February, more than 1,221,000 individuals have logged-in. Of this number, over 509,000 were beneficiaries.

Since initially launched in May 2012 with limited services, to the expanded services available now, over 3,947,000 individuals have successfully created personal my Social Security accounts. Over 30% of my Social Security users are now beneficiaries. These individuals have viewed their online Social Security Statement over 6,642,000 times. 

Several people have told me how easy it was to create their account. You can create an account if you are at least 18 years old and have a valid E-mail address, a Social Security number, and a U.S. mailing address (includes military addresses, APO/FPO/DPO AE, AP or AA).

You may create an account only for yourself. You may not set up an account for another person, even if you have his or her written consent. This also applies to an appointed representative or someone who has business with that person.

Safeguards and optional security methods have been established to verify and protect your identity on your my Social Securityaccount. In my opinion, it is useful to read and understand these before creating your own account. Reminder: The Social Security Administration does not send email to advertise any of our services.

Create your account by going directly to the Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov. On the homepage there is a link labeled “my Social Security – sign in or create an account” or you can go directly to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/. Either way, note that the web address has .gov, standing for government. If not .gov, it is not Social Security. 

Establish your personal my Social Security account and use the available services, but be sure you are at the official SSA website.