Tag Archives: social security number

Will adoption end benefits to a child?

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Q: My young children receive Social Security survivors benefits because their father died several years ago. I am planning to remarry in a few months. Will the children lose their survivors benefits if my new husband adopts them?

A: Adoption of a child already entitled to Social Security survivors benefits does not end his or her benefits. 

Some other considerations:

Do you also receive Social Security survivors benefits? If you do, and assuming that you are younger than age 60, remarriage normally will end your survivors benefits even though benefits to the children continue. Ask about your specific situation.

Are you changing your name? If so, update your Social Security number (SSN) record at no charge. Assuming that you receive the Social Security benefits on behalf of the children, SSA calls this being their representative payee, you will also have to update your name on those benefits.

Read the Social Security booklet, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits (publication 05-10077), online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10077.pdf, by calling the SSA national toll-free phone number, 1-800-772-1213, TTY 1-800-325-0778, or by contacting any SSA office.

Best wishes.

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.

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/ .

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 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.

SSN as tax identification number & card replacement

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Q: When was the Social Security number (SSN) first used for income tax purposes? 

A: The Internal Revenue Service adopted the SSN as its official taxpayer identification number in 1962.  

As background, in October 1961, President Kennedy signed into law Public Law 87-397, a law designed to cut down on tax cheating by assigning a tax identity number to every taxpayer. 

Later, in October 1986, President Reagan signed into law the Tax Reform Act of 1986. That law required that every dependent age 5 or older listed on a tax return had to have their own Social Security number. This new requirement doubled the Social Security Administrations SSN workload in the following year.

There is no charge for Social Security number activity, whether a new number, changing your name, or replacing a lost card. Instructions and a SSN application are at www.socialsecurity.gov  or directly at http://ssa.gov/ssnumber/. For security of your personal information, the SSN application cannot be submitted online but you can download and print it. Bring or mail the completed application and required supporting documents to Social Security. Your documents are returned.  

Make sure you are at the official Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov. Look for .gov (government).

Expecting a New Year’s baby? Need a name?

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Are you expecting a New Year’s baby in the family? Need a name?

To give some ideas, each year around Mother’s Day the Social Security Administration announces the most popular baby names of the preceding year.  

Jacob and Sophia were America’s most popular baby names for 2011. For all the top baby names of 2011, go to Social Security’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov. Here are the top 10 boys and girls names for 2011:

Boys:
  1. Jacob
  2. Mason
  3. William
  4. Jayden
  5. Noah
  6. Michael
  7. Ethan
  8. Alexander
  9. Aiden
  10. Daniel
   Girls:
  1. Sophia
  2. Isabella
  3. Emma
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava
  6. Emily
  7. Abigail
  8. Madison
  9. Mia
  10. Chloe

Popular names by individual state are available as are names by birth year. You can even see how the popularity of a name has changed over time. Baby names for each year since 1880 are available.

Family traditions, religion and popular culture have a large impact on baby names. See how a names popularity changes over time at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/.   

Get your new baby a Social Security number. The easiest way to do this is at the hospital through a voluntary and free process when you apply for his or her birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth certificates will share your child’s information with the Social Security Administration. Then, without additional paperwork from you, a Social Security number card is issued for your child and mailed to you. This very popular method is faster and easier than waiting to apply directly with a Social Security office. See Social Security Numbers for Children, publication 05-10023, for more information.