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☆ When You Call Social Security, Expect to Wait Even Longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Mark Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The overpayment problem has affected some of the most vulnerable beneficiaries: recipients of disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income, the program that supports very low-income Americans. A key cause of the problem is adjustments to benefits required under the law when a beneficiary’s income, work status or amount of assets change. is developing a system to tap third-party payroll data that will reduce reporting responsibilities of beneficiaries and improve efficiency. But a new report from the agency points to overpayment problems in the retirement and disability programs. Dr. Kijakazi notes that a review is underway to determine whether other procedural changes could address the broader overpayments problem.

Persons: Kijakazi, ”, “ Organizations: Congress, Social Security Locations: overpayments

☆ Covid stimulus checks caused some Social Security, SSI beneficiaries to lose benefits. Lawmakers are pressing for answers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Douglas Sacha | Moment | Getty ImagesWhen Covid-19 stimulus checks were deployed to millions of Americans, the government reassured Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries they were eligible for payments. Social Security beneficiaries have also reportedly received overpayment notices. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; and Bob Casey, D-Pa. — to send a letter to the Social Security Administration last week stating they are "deeply concerned." One reason for that is it can be a challenge for the Social Security Administration to communicate guidance all the way down to the local level, she said. "If you receive an overpayment notice from the Social Security Administration, and believe that it was due to a Covid stimulus payment or another error that was made by the Social Security Administration, you should file an appeal," Milburn said.

Persons: Douglas Sacha, —, — Sens, Ron Wyden, Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey, Kilolo Kijakazi, Brown, Darcy Milburn, It's, Milburn Organizations: Social Security, Social, Democratic, —, Social Security Administration, SSI Locations: Ohio

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024, far less than this year's historic boost and reflecting moderating consumer prices. About 71 million people — including retirees, disabled people and children — receive Social Security benefits. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes will be $168,600 for 2024, up from $160,200 for 2023. There have been legislative proposals to shore up Social Security, but they have not made it past committee hearings. A March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and 79% of people polled said they oppose reducing the size of Social Security benefits.

Persons: ”, Kilolo Kijakazi, —, Jo Ann Jenkins, “, Nancy Altman, Kevin McCarthy, Alfred Mason, Mason Organizations: WASHINGTON, Social, Social Security Administration, AARP, Social Security, Security, The Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics ’, CPI Locations: Louisiana

☆ Exclusive: Biden taps ex-Maryland Governor O'Malley to run Social Security agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

O'Malley, a Democrat, would need to be confirmed by the Senate to become commissioner of the Social Security Administration at a time when political partisanship has made confirming presidential nominees increasingly difficult. "Since Day 1 I have fought to strengthen and defend Social Security, which tens of millions of Americans have paid into and depend on to support their livelihoods. I know that Governor O’Malley will continue to be a strong partner that works tirelessly to protect Social Security for generations to come." The over $1 trillion budget U.S. Social Security agency has been run by an acting commissioner, Kilolo Kijakazi, since Biden in 2021 fired the Trump holdover Andrew Saul after he refused to resign. The main Social Security trust fund's reserves will be depleted within a decade, the program's trustees and the Congressional Budget Office both estimated this year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Martin O'Malley, O'Malley, Hillary Clinton, O’Malley, Biden, Kilolo Kijakazi, Andrew Saul, Kevin McCarthy, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Maryland, U.S, Social Security, White House, Reuters, Democrat, Senate, Social Security Administration, Democratic, Social, Trump, Republican, Congressional, Thomson Locations: Baltimore, O'Malley's, Maryland, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania

☆ Social Security is in jeopardy of cutting benefits in just a decade, and no one's stepping in to fix it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The latest Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees report lays out estimates for both programs. The trustees find that Social Security will be unable to pay full benefits in about 10 years. Importantly, that doesn't mean that, past 2033 or 2034, there will be no Social Security benefits or the program will be bankrupt. "House Republicans are determined to cut Social Security and Medicare," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. "With informed discussion, creative thinking, and timely legislative action, Social Security can continue to protect future generations."

☆ Social Security now allows individuals to self-select gender
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Individuals will be allowed to make sure that their records with the Social Security Administration align with their gender identity under a plan announced Wednesday. The action, which is part of the agency’s “Equity Action Plan,” follows through on a March announcement to do so by the agency’s acting commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi. Kijakazi said the move is part of a “commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process.” It’s also part of a larger Biden administration-wide effort to increase acceptance of gender identity. In June 2021, the State Department started implementing procedures to allow applicants to self-select their gender, including an “X,” and no longer required medical certification if an applicant’s self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents. The Department of Homeland Security has reformed its screening process at U.S. airports for transgender travelers and the Department of Housing and Urban Development has implemented protections for homeless transgender people who seek emergency shelter access consistent with their gender identity.

☆ U.S. retirees see biggest Social Security hike in more than 40 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Retirees and other beneficiaries will get an 8.7% cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment starting in January, the U.S. Social Security Administration, which administers the benefit program, said in a statement. The average recipient will see $140 more per month in their 2023 benefit checks, it added, benefiting about 70 million people receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) aid. The programs benefit older Americans who have retired from their jobs as well as the disabled and certain widows, widowers and children. The consumer price data, used to set the Social Security adjustments, showed rising rent, food and health care costs pressuring consumers. Mary Johnson, an analyst at the seniors advocacy group Senior Citizens League, said adequate cost-of-living increases were necessary "as older Americans live longer lives."

☆ Millions of retirees are about to get a $140 monthly raise from Social Security to help deal with how expensive everything has gotten
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That adjustment will put over $140 more a month in retirees' social security checks. Social security checks are tied to cost-of-living hikes from the third quarter of one year to another. "Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room,"Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said in a release. "Seniors deserve increases in their Social Security checks to keep up with risings costs — this year, and every year. Democrats are fighting to protect and expand Social Security, funded by the wealthy paying their fair share," Warren tweeted on Thursday.

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