Press Release
Friday December 01, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel Expresses Concern About The Agency's Ability To Serve The Public With Funding Levels Under Continuing Resolutions
All of us at the Social Security Administration (SSA) take great pride in our ability to provide the highest quality service to the American public. But to honor our service commitments to workers, the elderly and people with disabilities, Congress must act now to provide the resources we need to do our job.
Currently, for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2001, SSA is operating under a 16th short-term Continuing Resolution (CR). This deadline-to-deadline method of funding has effectively reduced our spending rate by more than $300 million when compared to the President's budget request and $500 million less than the budget I submitted for the Social Security Administration under the requirement of law.
Operating under an environment of tight Continuing Resolution funding restrictions through the first few months of this year has meant a complete freeze on hiring, little overtime to compensate for staffing shortages and severe limits on any discretionary spending which does not contribute directly to our immediate public service needs. As a result, we have been barely able to keep pace with our most important work as we lose some 300 employees a month without hiring and training their replacements. In addition, critical technology investments, which enable us to keep up with rapidly increasing workloads and expand and improve service to the public, have been postponed. This all means that we are moving in the wrong direction and our customers, the American public, are being adversely affected.
With the current FY 2001 Continuing Resolution scheduled to expire on December 5, it is unclear whether Congress will enact our annual appropriation, another short-term CR or a Continuing Resolution of longer duration. As time passes, the situation will only grow worse.
Given this uncertainty, we have been forced to lower our performance expectations as follows for several major SSA workloads:
- Initial disability claims processed will decline from 2 million in FY 2000 to 1.8 million in FY 2001. Each month, SSA will process nearly 17,000 fewer disability claims than it did last year. Claimants with disabilities will wait, on average, two months longer for a decision.
- Access rates for our national 800 number will decline from 93% in FY 2000 to 85% in FY 2001. This means that, each week, nearly 200,000 calls to SSA's 800 number will go unanswered.
- Supplemental Security Income re-determinations of eligibility will decrease from 2.2 million in FY 2000 to 1.7 million in FY 2001. This means that SSA will complete nearly 500,000 fewer re-determinations of eligibility for the SSI program than it did last year, at a cost to the taxpayer of some $400 million over the next 7 years.
In its 65-year history, the Social Security Administration has worked hard to maintain a high level of public confidence in the management of America's most successful domestic program. It is imperative that adequate full-year funding be provided soon, since it will become increasingly difficult to reverse the impact of current restrictions. I urge Congress to forego further Continuing Resolutions and provide funding for the balance of the year when it reconvenes on December 5. Inaction is hurting some of our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly and those with disabilities.
Press Release
Thursday, November 30, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Administration Announces Partnership with the American Savings Education Council and the Establishment of the 'National Save for Your Future' Campaign
Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security, and Dallas L. Salisbury, Chairman of the American Savings Education Council (ASEC), today announced an expansion of their partnership to educate Americans about the importance of planning for their financial futures. SSA has unveiled a number of initiatives in the past year aimed at educating workers about the importance of retirement planning. ASEC is committed to raising public awareness about what is needed to successfully ensure long-term personal financial independence. The partnering of SSA and ASEC blends the key elements of a comfortable retirement - pensions and savings built on a foundation of Social Security.
"Americans need to make savings a personal budget priority," said Commissioner Apfel. "I like to say that your dreams for the future begin now. Social Security will be there for you tomorrow, but the rest is up to you. Retirement security depends on personal savings."
"We made significant progress in building awareness among Washington, DC-area residents since launching the Choose to Save© program in 1998," said Dallas Salisbury. "We have built a strong base of awareness in the community and we will concentrate our efforts on providing the hands-on savings and planning tips that help consumers prepare for financial security and retirement. The elements of this education program are ready to make this educational partnership successful nationally."
Commissioner Apfel and Chairman Salisbury also announced the creation of the "National Save for Your Future" campaign. Beginning October 2001, SSA and ASEC will join forces to annually remind Americans about the importance of saving.
- Financial Planners say that a person needs about 70% of their pre-retirement income to live a comfortable retirement. For the average worker Social Security replaces only about 40% of pre-retirement income, the balance must come from pensions and savings and investments.
- Hewitt Associates recently conducted a study of 170,000 distributions from defined contribution plans. Sixty-eight percent of plan participants who changed jobs in 1999 took cash withdrawals from their tax-deferred retirement accounts rather than leaving their money in the plan or rolling their balances into their new employer's plans or into IRAs. The highest percentage of cash payments, 78%, occurred among 20- to 29-year-old investors.
- ASEC's 2000 Retirement Confidence Survey reveals that 45% of American workers have not tried to calculate how much money they will need to save for a comfortable retirement. In addition, 69% of savers say they could save an additional $20 per week. "Americans need to be active participants in their financial future," commented Commissioner Apfel. "We want to help everyone make informed choices with their money and encourage all workers to begin saving today."
"With rapid medical advances and new thinking about U.S. life expectancy, growing longevity in the future may be much longer than is usually assumed - with significant public policy implications for Social Security and public policy as the baby boom generation begins to retire," said Salisbury. "If elderly mortality rates continue to decline at historical rates, life expectancy in the U.S. will increase to age 85 by 2070 - three years beyond SSA's current estimate. Continued expansion of financial literacy must be a national goal if Americans are to achieve economic security in their later years. This partnership approaches those goals."
Commissioner Apfel presented Chairman Salisbury with a Commissioner's Public Service Award. The Award recognizes ASEC for outstanding public service in partnering with SSA and for their commitment to ensuring that all Americans are aware of the importance of planning for a financially secure retirement.
SSA's partnership with ASEC is the latest in a number of initiatives that SSA has undertaken in the past year to educate workers about the importance of financial planning. SSA has entered its second year of mailing an annual Social Security Statement to all workers age 25 and older. The Statement provides customized benefit estimates and earnings information to individuals who are not receiving benefits. "Public feedback has told us that receiving a Social Security Statement is prompting millions of Americans to take action to better prepare for retirement," noted Commissioner Apfel.
During the past year, SSA launched an online Benefits Planner where people can go to get benefit estimates. In addition, the Retirement Planner portion of the Benefits Planner is linked to ASEC's Ballpark Estimate worksheet. The link to the Ballpark worksheet enables individuals to combine their estimate of future Social Security benefits with estimates of income from pensions and savings to determine if they are saving enough for a comfortable retirement.
"Instead of saving blindly, the Ballpark Estimate worksheet enables individuals to have a specific savings goal," said Don Blandin, President of ASEC. "Our retirement survey shows that 61% of workers who have tried to calculate their retirement needs say they are either ahead of schedule or on track when it comes to planning for retirement, while 68% of those who have not done the calculation feel they are behind schedule."
At today's event, SSA also unveiled a new public service announcement (PSA), "The Quiz Show," and ASEC showed one of their Choose to Save© PSAs. ASEC is joining with SSA to help place the PSAs where they will receive the largest, most age-varied and diverse audiences possible - in movie theaters across the country. In 1999, more than 1 billion people attended movies. Almost 85% of moviegoers are over 18, half of them between 18 to 50, at least a decade or more away from retirement but at a prime age for retirement planning.
"We think audiences of all ages will welcome information about one of the major concerns facing them - planning for their financial futures," agreed Commissioner Apfel and Chairman Salisbury.
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: For more information about ASEC call Variny Paladino at 202-775-6321. For information about EBRI call Danny Devine at 202-775-6308. See also the "Save For Your Future" fact sheet.
Press Release
Thursday, November 2, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Offers Online Filing For Retirement Benefits
The Social Security Administration announced that as of today, the public can apply for Social Security retirement benefits on the Internet at www.ssa.gov, the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) website.
"People will now be able to apply for Social Security retirement benefits online at their convenience," said William A. Halter, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security. "This new online service offers the public an easy and convenient way to obtain the benefits they expect and deserve. As we move into the 21st Century, the Social Security Administration will be using 21st Century technology to meet the service needs of our customers."
Throughout the 65-year history of the Social Security Administration, it has earned a reputation for providing superior service to its customers. To meet customer service goals, the agency has adapted its business practices to meet the changing needs of the people it serves. The 76 million-strong baby boom generation will create unique service challenges for the Social Security Administration. Baby boomers are more technologically savvy than any generation before them and they will expect to receive state-of-the-art service. According to a study by Jupiter Communications, 14 million Americans age 50 and older are online and that number is expected to double in the next few years.
"We are always looking for ways to improve service to our customers," Deputy Commissioner Halter commented. "Giving our customers more opportunities to conduct business over the Internet will reduce costs and make our services more accessible to the public, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. But at Social Security, privacy is a high priority and we only make new online services available when we are confident that the public's privacy is guaranteed."
An applicant using the Social Security Administration's web-site to apply for benefits will fill out the online application and send the information electronically to the agency. The applicant must print a copy of the completed application form, sign it, and mail it or bring it to the address provided by Social Security. Along with the signed form, SSA also needs certain documents, such as a person's birth certificate, to establish eligibility for Social Security benefits. An applicant can either mail or take these items to Social Security. The electronic application will be stored on a database and automatically retrieved when Social Security receives the applicant's signed application.
Individuals must meet certain conditions in order to take advantage of the Internet retirement benefit application. For example, they must be at least 61 years and 9 months or older and plan to start receiving retirement benefits within four months.
The Social Security Administration uses the strongest commercially available encryption to ensure that an applicant's confidential information is secure as it travels over the Internet.
Interested individuals can go directly to www.ssa.gov/applytoretire, the location for the online retirement benefits application form.
Additionally, there is another new service for individuals filing for retirement benefits. Now, when a person calls the Social Security Administration's national toll-free 800 number (800-772-1213), they may be able to apply for retirement or survivors benefits immediately. Certain callers will be able to file directly over the phone on their first contact with SSA without having to make an appointment or visit an office. To file an immediate claim, individuals should have certain documents handy when calling such as their birth certificate, their most recent W-2 form or tax return and bank account information.
"At the Social Security Administration, we are committed to providing our customers with service choices," stated Deputy Commissioner Halter. "We recognize that the Internet is not for everyone. We'll always be there for our customers who wish to be served on the telephone or face-to-face in our offices."
Individuals will still have the option to set up an appointment. They can call SSA's national toll-free 800 number to schedule a phone interview or a face-to-face interview. SSA also offers immediate service for benefit claims when an individual visits one of Social Security's 1300 field offices. SSA processes approximately 1.9 million retirement claims annually.
Note to Correspondents: Fact sheets with additional information about this subject are available below
Press Release
Wednesday October 18, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel Announces 3.5 Percent Social Security Increase
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 3.5 percent in 2001, Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security announced today.
"Today's news tells us that inflation continues to be low which is certainly good news for everyone living on a fixed income," said Commissioner Apfel. "Inflation is one of the worst enemies of the elderly. The past eight years, which have seen low inflation rates and a strong economy, have been particularly good for the elderly."
The 3.5 percent increase will begin with benefits that Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2001. Increased payments to SSI recipients will begin on December 29.
For Social Security beneficiaries, the average monthly benefit amount for all retired workers will rise from $816 to $845. The maximum federal SSI monthly payments to an individual will rise from $512 to $530. For a couple, the maximum federal SSI payment will rise from $769 to $796.
"The annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is one of the most critically important features of the Social Security program," stated Commissioner Apfel. "For the elderly, it guarantees that their foundation of retirement income will remain strong for as long as they live."
Social Security and SSI benefits increase automatically each year based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year through the corresponding period of the next. This year's increase in the
CPI-W was 3.5 percent. This figure reflects the revision to the CPI released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 28.
Automatic COLAs became effective in 1975.
The maximum amount f earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase to $80,400 from $76,200. "American workers continue to benefit from our unprecedented economic growth," commented Apfel. "Wages continue to grow faster than inflation. This is good news for American workers."
As a result of the increase in the wage base in 2001, the maximum yearly Social Security tax paid by employees and employers will increase by $260.40 each. For self-employed workers, it will rise by $520.80. About 10.9 million workers are affected by the higher wage base in 2001.
The amount of earnings required to earn a quarter of coverage will increase to $830, up from $780 this year.
Information about Medicare changes for 2001 can be found at www.medicare.gov - The Internet site for the Health Care Financing Administration.
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: A fact sheet showing the effect of the various automatic adjustments is available here.
Press Release
October 12, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Completes First Full Year Of Mailing Annual Social Security Statements Unveils Two New Financial Planning Tools
Today, Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel unveiled two more features designed to help workers with their financial planning. First, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is expanding its online Benefits Planner, the electronic service on SSA's Internet site - www.ssa.gov - which allows workers to compute customized estimates of future Social Security benefits online, to include important information on disability and survivors benefits. Also beginning this month, workers age 55 years and older will receive a special insert in their annual Social Security Statement. The insert provides important information on retirement options that workers need to consider as they approach retirement age.
"It's never too early to begin planning for retirement," said Commissioner Apfel. "Too many workers leave retirement planning on auto-pilot. As a result, when they get to the end of the road, many workers find that they are not financially prepared to live their dream retirement. The new Social Security Statement insert serves as an important reminder to get prepared -- retirement is rapidly approaching."
The online Planner that SSA launched in April is evolving from strictly a Retirement Planner into a Benefits Planner containing a Retirement Planner, Disability Planner and Survivors Planner. Each planner contains valuable information about retirement, disability and survivors benefits and factors that can affect them. The Planner's online calculators, which previously provided only estimates of retirement benefits, have been enhanced to add estimates for disability and survivors benefits.
In addition, SSA has expanded the Retirement Planner to include a link to the American Savings Education Council's (ASEC's) Ballpark Estimate worksheet. The link to the Ballpark worksheet enables individuals to combine their estimate of future Social Security benefits with estimates of income from pensions and savings to determine if they are saving enough for a comfortable retirement.
"Linking SSA's Benefits planner with ASEC's Ballpark estimate worksheet provides one-stop retirement planning," stated Commissioner Apfel.
An Earnings Limit Calculator has also been added to the Retirement Planner. The Earnings Limit Calculator lets workers compute the effect of earnings on their Social Security retirement benefit.
This month also marks the 1-year anniversary of the Social Security Statement. The Statement provides customized benefit estimates and earnings information to individuals age 25 and older who are not receiving benefits. During the past year, SSA has mailed 133 million Statements to American workers to overwhelming positive public support.
"The public has told us that they appreciate receiving the Statement," commented Commissioner Apfel. "The Statement is not only providing information that is useful and easy to understand, it is also prompting millions of Americans to take action to better prepare for retirement."
Beginning this month, workers age 55 years and older will receive a special insert with their Statement that will help them make important retirement planning decisions before reaching retirement age. The insert highlights the various factors workers nearing retirement need to consider, such as the long-term effects of taking a reduced benefit or the impact work would have on their benefit.
"American workers need easily accessible financial planning tools to help them with retirement decisions," noted Commissioner Apfel. "The Social Security Administration is making every effort to put these tools within easy reach of workers -- in their mailboxes and on their computers. I would encourage every worker to take advantage of these tools."
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: Fact sheets with additional information about the Benefits Planner and the Social Security Statement insert are available below...
Press Release
Tuesday October 3, 2000
For Immediate Release
Commissioner of Social Security to hold Chair at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 3.5 percent in 2001, Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security announced today.
"Today's news tells us that inflation continues to be low which is certainly good news for everyone living on a fixed income," said Commissioner Apfel. "Inflation is one of the worst enemies of the elderly. The past eight years, which have seen low inflation rates and a strong economy, have been particularly good for the elderly."
The 3.5 percent increase will begin with benefits that Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2001. Increased payments to SSI recipients will begin on December 29.
For Social Security beneficiaries, the average monthly benefit amount for all retired workers will rise from $816 to $845. The maximum federal SSI monthly payments to an individual will rise from $512 to $530. For a couple, the maximum federal SSI payment will rise from $769 to $796.
"The annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is one of the most critically important features of the Social Security program," stated Commissioner Apfel. "For the elderly, it guarantees that their foundation of retirement income will remain strong for as long as they live."
Social Security and SSI benefits increase automatically each year based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year through the corresponding period of the next. This year's increase in the CPI-W was 3.5 percent. This figure reflects the revision to the CPI released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 28.
Automatic COLAs became effective in 1975.
The maximum amount f earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase to $80,400 from $76,200. "American workers continue to benefit from our unprecedented economic growth," commented Apfel. "Wages continue to grow faster than inflation. This is good news for American workers."
As a result of the increase in the wage base in 2001, the maximum yearly Social Security tax paid by employees and employers will increase by $260.40 each. For self-employed workers, it will rise by $520.80. About 10.9 million workers are affected by the higher wage base in 2001.
The amount of earnings required to earn a quarter of coverage will increase to $830, up from $780 this year.
Information about Medicare changes for 2001 can be found at www.medicare.gov - The Internet site for the Health Care Financing Administration.
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: A fact sheet showing the effect of the various automatic adjustments is available here.
Press Release
Tuesday September 14, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Administration Announces 'Computers For Kids' Campaign
Today the Social Security Administration launched its year 2000 "Computers for Kids" campaign by donating 6,000 surplus computers to Baltimore City Schools. Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel presented the computers to Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley at a ceremony held this afternoon at the National Press Club.
"SSA is proud to partner with Baltimore City in their commitment to putting technology within children's reach," said Commissioner Apfel. "We're proud to be part of this effort linking Baltimore classrooms to the world."
"This gift from the Social Security Administration moves us toward our goal of having each Baltimore City classroom wired to the web - significantly - in miles, not inches," said Mayor O'Malley. "And we will make sure your generosity is redeemed through the opportunities that will be opened to our children."
The donation is the kickoff of the latest phase of SSA's "Computers for Kids" campaign. During the next 5 months, SSA will donate over 30,000 surplus Pentium I and Pentium II computers and equipment to public schools and educationally related non-profit institutions nationwide. The campaign is part of SSA's continued efforts on behalf of President Clinton's commitment to making modern computer technology an integral part of every classroom in America.
SSA began their "Computers for Kids" program in December 1997. Since that time the Agency has donated 1,500 surplus computers to schools within the State of Maryland and over 7,500 surplus computers to schools nationwide. SSA's "Computers for Kids" program was started in response to President Clinton's Executive Order (EO) 12999, Educational Technology: Ensuring Opportunity for All Children in the Next Century. EO 12999 directs Federal Agencies to the extent permitted by law, and where appropriate to donate educationally useful surplus computer equipment, including peripheral equipment and software, to public schools and educationally related non-profit institutions, including community based educational organizations.
Press Release
August 4, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Administration Kicks Off 65th Anniversary Celebration at Hyde Park, New York
Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will hold a celebration of the 65th anniversary of Social Security at Hyde Park, New York on Saturday, August 5, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. Hyde Park is the home of President Franklin Roosevelt, the architect of the Social Security program. President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law on August 14, 1935.
"President Roosevelt considered the Social Security program to be the cornerstone of his Presidency," commented Commissioner Apfel. "And the FDR library and museum, where some of the most important documents surrounding the creation of Social Security are housed, is a fitting place to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Social Security."
President Roosevelt envisioned Social Security as a program that would eliminate the blight of poverty from the lives of elderly Americans and allow them to maintain their dignity and independence. Today it is clear that Social Security has met President Roosevelt's goal and become the most successful domestic program in our nation's history. More than 150 million workers are protected by Social Security, and more than 44 million people receive retirement, survivors and disability benefits from Social Security.
Social Security benefits are essential to the economic security of today's older Americans. Only 11 percent of America's senior citizens live in poverty; without Social Security, it would be nearly half. The annual cost-of-living adjustment ensures that seniors will have an inflation-proof benefit that they can count on for as long as they live.
In addition, one-in-three Social Security beneficiaries is not a retiree but a disabled worker, the dependent family member of a disabled worker or the survivor of a deceased worker. Over the years, Social Security has become America's number one family protection plan.
Social Security is an economic compact among generations. Today's workers are paying for the benefits that their parents and grandparents receive. We must all work together to ensure that today's workers and their families will be able to depend on Social Security throughout the 21st Century.
In the words of President Bill Clinton, "Social Security reflects some of our deepest values...the duties we owe to our parents, the duties we owe to each other when we're differently situated in life, the duties we owe to our children and grandchildren. Indeed, it reflects our determination to move forward across generations and across income divides in our country, as one America."
"As we commemorate the 65th anniversary of Social Security, we celebrate more than a milestone in time," stated Commissioner Apfel. "We celebrate a program that has brought peace of mind and financial security to generations of Americans. We celebrate the vision and courage of President Roosevelt whose legacy lives on everyday through this important program. Social Security is a part of the fabric of American Society. Let us celebrate its accomplishments and ensure its continued success for future generations of Americans."
Press Release
July 26, 2000
For Immediate Release
President Clinton Announces Regulatory Changes Increasing Earnings Limits for Social Security Beneficiaries with Disabilities
As part of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President William Jefferson Clinton today announced three new regulatory changes to encourage Social Security disability beneficiaries to work. By raising earnings limits each year, the proposals would increase the amount of money that individuals can earn while remaining eligible for benefits. The series of changes will affect approximately 400,000 disability beneficiaries.
"I am proud of the progress we've made to advance the goals of inclusion, empowerment and independence," stated President Clinton. "But too many Americans with disabilities who are ready, willing and able to work are still not working. As long as any American is denied equal opportunity and full participation, we have work to do. This is an American Challenge."
"These regulatory changes are part of our efforts to encourage individuals with disabilities to go as far as their hard work and skills can take them," said Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security. "We must give beneficiaries with disabilities the opportunity to contribute their talents to the work force while allowing them to keep their benefits."
The first regulatory change increases the amount of earnings that the Social Security Administration uses to determine gainful employment. Social Security uses a technical term called "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) to determine if work is substantial enough to make a person ineligible for benefits. Under the proposal, the current earnings limit of $700 per month would be automatically adjusted yearly, based on increases in the national average wage index.
"Many beneficiaries hesitate to return to work for fear of inadvertently crossing the SGA threshold and losing critically important cash and medical benefits," commented Commissioner Apfel. "Automatic increases in the amount they can earn will go a long way to help beneficiaries stay-and make gains-in the workplace."
The second regulatory change affects the trial work period-time in which beneficiaries may earn any amount and still keep full benefits. Currently, the trial work period allows disabled beneficiaries to test their ability to work for at least nine months, and earnings of $200 a month count as a trial month. The change would increase that amount to $530 a month and provide automatic yearly increases. (The SGA limit is used after beneficiaries complete nine trial work months.)
The third regulatory change allows disabled students receiving Supplemental Security Income to exclude more income before their benefits are affected. Under current law, when students under the age of 22 work, up to $400 of earned income per month is not counted when deciding if they are eligible. The regulatory change would increase that amount to $1,290. The change also raises the maximum yearly exclusion from $1,620 to $5,200 and provides for automatic yearly adjustments in the future, based on the cost-of-living increase.
"These proposals follow the trails blazed by the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Commissioner Apfel. "America has always been about opportunity, and we must continue to eliminate the barriers that have denied persons with disabilities access to the American dream."
Social Security pays cash benefits to people with disabilities who are unable to earn a substantial income and whose disabilities are expected to last for at least a year or result in death. Social Security also administers the Supplemental Security Income program, which is a cash assistance program for aged or disabled people who have low income and few assets.
See attached fact sheet.
Press Release
July 24, 2000
For Immediate Release
Work Incentives Advisory Panel Is Appointed, Begins Discussions July 24
The Work Incentives Advisory Panel designed to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on issues related to work incentives for people with disabilities will hold its first public meeting July 24-25 at the Sheraton Crystal City Arlington, Virginia. Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security will swear-in the panel members. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, signed by President Clinton last December, mandated the creation of the panel.
"All Americans should have the opportunity to contribute their talent and energy to the workforce," commented Commissioner Apfel. "The disability experts on the advisory panel will look for ways in which job opportunities can be made available to the three out of four workers with disabilities who don't have jobs."
By law, the advisory panel will meet quarterly and is composed of 12 members, with four members appointed by the President, four by the Senate and four by the House of Representatives. The panel is required to submit a final report to the President and the Congress no later than December 2007 with detailed findings and conclusions as well as legislative and administrative recommendations.
President Clinton has appointed Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, President and Executive Director of the New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc., the designated protection and advocacy system for the State, to chair the panel. She is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars and has a background in nursing and social work.
Other panel members include:
- Richard Burkhauser, Ph.D., Professor of Policy Analysis and Chair, Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. He is also active as a consultant, writer, and researcher, focusing on various economic and social issues relating to persons with disabilities.
- Thomas P. Golden, faculty member of Cornell University's Program on Employment and Disability in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Ithaca, NY. He is currently project director for numerous projects focusing on activities relating to work incentives for people with disabilities.
- Frances Gracechild, Executive Director, Resources for Independent Living, Inc., Sacramento, CA and instructor at California State University at Sacramento. She is president of Health Access America and serves as a commissioner for the California Attorney General's Commission on Disability.
- Christine M. Griffin, Executive Director, Disability Law Center, Boston, MA. She is a Trustee for the Paralyzed Veterans of America Spinal Cord Research Foundation and is a member of the Massachusetts and the Washington, DC Bar.
- Larry D. Henderson, Executive Director, Independent Resources, Inc., Wilmington, DE and chair of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council of Delaware. Prior to his current position he was associated with the Salvation Army's Family Service Department.
- Jerome Kleckley, MSW, CSW, Director, Hospital Services, Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, Jackson Heights, NY and advocate for veterans with disabilities. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and has been actively involved in veteran's issues.
- Stephanie Smith Lee, Governmental Affairs Representative, National Down Syndrome Society, Oakton, VA. She has played a key role in the passage of federal disability legislation and has led successful grass roots advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels.
- Bryon R. MacDonald, public policy advocate with the World Institute on Disability, Oakland, CA. He is a member of the National Council on Independent Living and is chair of that organization's Social Security Subcommittee. For many years he has served as a consultant to several advisory committees on employment support for persons with disabilities.
- Stephen L. Start, founder and President/Chief Executive Officer, Start & Associates, Spokane, WA, a company that provides professional management, rehabilitation, and residential services for people with disabilities, seniors, and economically disadvantaged individuals. He is a member of numerous national and regional residential and rehabilitation boards.
- Susan Webb, President/Chief Executive Officer, Webb Transitions, Inc., Phoenix, AZ. A former Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiary, she used work incentives and vocational rehabilitation services to return to work. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Independent Living for three consecutive years, serving as its Social Security Subcommittee chair.
The panel meetings are open to the public.
For more information about the Work Incentives Advisory Panel, please visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/
Press Release
Tuesday July 11, 2000
For Immediate Release
Medicare Beneficiaries Can File For Replacement Cards On Social Security Administration Web-site
William A. Halter, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security announced that effective today, the public can apply for replacement Medicare Cards on the Internet at www.ssa.gov, the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) web-site.
"Medicare beneficiaries will now be able to apply for a replacement Medicare Card at their convenience," said Deputy Commissioner Halter. "We are pleased to partner with the Health Care Financing Administration to make obtaining a replacement Medicare Card easy and convenient for beneficiaries."
Applicants using SSA's web-site to request a replacement card will fill out the online form and send it electronically to the agency. SSA uses the highest commercially available encryption to ensure that a beneficiary's confidential information is secure as it travels over the Internet. Requests will be forwarded each day to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which will process the requests and mail the new cards to beneficiaries. Interested individuals can go directly to www.ssa.gov/medicarecard, the location for the replacement Medicare card application form.
Currently, Medicare beneficiaries can apply for a replacement card by calling the Social Security Administration's 800 toll-free number or visiting one of SSA's 1300 field offices. SSA processes approximately 750,000 requests annually for a replacement Medicare Card.
Beneficiaries who visit HCFA's web-site to look for information on replacement Medicare Cards will find a link to the online service on SSA's web-site.
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: A factsheet regarding the Social Security's Online services is available. Click here for the factsheet.
Press Release
Tuesday June 13, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Administration to Partner with CommerceNet to Conduct In-house Laboratory Testing of New Internet Technologies
William A. Halter, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security announced today that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is partnering with CommerceNet, a nonprofit consortium, to test a variety of Internet technologies to determine if they can be used by the agency to enhance customer service. SSA envisions utilizing Internet services that would allow customers to interact with an agency representative while they are online with SSA doing various business applications such as filing an online claim for monthly benefits. Several of these Internet services are currently being employed in the private sector. The project is considered "proof-of-concept" because it will be conducted in a controlled laboratory environment at SSA and will not use real customers during the testing.
"The Internet has tremendous potential to expand and improve customer service at the Social Security Administration," said Deputy Commissioner Halter. "But before we move forward, we must first test these technologies to determine if they are practicable and to ensure that they can be adapted to meet SSA's strict standards for protecting customer privacy."
Through the years, the Social Security Administration has earned a reputation for providing superior service to its customers. To meet its customer service goals, the agency has adapted its business practices to meet the changing needs of the people it serves and has heavily utilized technology in the process. SSA has moved from a largely paper environment to a technologically driven workplace with computers on the desk of every employee and teleservice centers that handle nearly 60 million phone calls a year.
Meeting the customer service needs of the 76 million-strong baby boom generation, will be a daunting, but doable, challenge for SSA. Baby boomers are more technologically savvy than any generation before them and they will expect to receive state-of-the-art service. To expand its service capabilities and keep pace with customer demand, SSA must improve existing technology, utilize new technologies such as those used over the Internet and integrate the old and the new technologies. The partnership with CommerceNet will help SSA determine the viability of several of these customer service options.
CommerceNet will bring together a number of member companies to work with SSA. The companies will test a variety of technologies in a tightly controlled lab under SSA's roof and begin to integrate various methods of providing customer service such as the telephone and the Internet. This integration is called channel convergence. The proof-of-concept will run for approximately three months. Current industry participants are: Cosmocom, Siebel Systems, Inc., Nortel Networks, BroadVision, Unisys, Sideware, IBM, Sybase, SETECS, and Microsoft, Access Gear, Cisco Systems, Clarify, Oracle, and Quintas.
Some of the technologies to be tested include:
- Instant messaging which will provide the customer with the ability to type questions and receive an immediate typed response from a SSA customer service representative.
- Secure email that will provide the customer with the capability of sending and receiving personal information from their Social Security records via e-mail in such a way that it is private and not readable by outside parties.
- Voice over the Internet, which will allow the customer to have a phone conversation with a SSA representative while they are conducting a transaction on the SSA web-site.
- Software which would allow SSA customer service representatives to better manage and aggregate customer information whether it be through the Internet, telephone, or field office to enable SSA to provide better customer service.
"By working with CommerceNet, we can create a unique working environment to develop and test service options for our customers," commented Deputy Commissioner Halter. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with CommerceNet and its member organizations and we are looking forward to future public/ private sector technological collaborations to improve public service."
Press Release
Wednesday May 31, 2000
For Immediate Release
Social Security Administration Launches High Tech Web Site To Promote Return to Work Activities
William J. Clinton, President of the United States announced today the launching of a new web site-The Work Site-which contains important information and support for disability beneficiaries, employers, service providers, advocates and others whose goal is to help those persons with disabilities work.
Persons with disabilities face serious challenges when attempting to enter the workforce. Assistance programs are often complex and poorly coordinated, forcing individuals to piece together information and to develop work strategies on their own. They often find that employers are reluctant to hire persons with disabilities, which can discourage them from looking for work. Young people with disabilities, especially those who are leaving school and preparing to work, lack role models and mentors to guide them. The Work Site, developed by the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Office of Employment Support Programs is designed to be an important information source.
"Across America, employers are looking for new workers, and Americans with disabilities are looking for jobs," commented President Clinton. "To help bring the two together, the Social Security Administration is launching a new web site. Go to www.ssa.gov/work and you'll find information on everything from training programs for people with disabilities to tax incentives for employers who hire them. We all win when all Americans have a chance to work."
The web site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. This is significant since fewer than 5 percent of all Internet sites are accessible to people who are visually impaired or hearing impaired or have limited dexterity. The Work Site is built to serve the information needs of its five principal customers and provides the information in easy to understand terms.
"The Work Site puts important, but often hard-to-find information in one easy-to-access location," noted Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security. "Social Security beneficiaries who want to work and those who want to help them will benefit from this new service."
The five principal customers are:
Social Security Disability Beneficiaries who will find basic information about the agency's return-to-work programs, including an explanation about Social Security work incentives such as the PASS program (Plan to Achieve Self Support) and information on State vocational rehabilitation agencies and programs and the availability of employment services from private organizations. In addition, the site provides links to other Federal web sites that contain useful information that could influence an individual's decision to work. Beneficiaries can link directly to Internet job search sites such as "America's Job Bank" (Department of Labor) and "USA Jobs" (Office of Personnel Management);
Employers who will be able to read about tax incentives for hiring people with disabilities, learn about employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and get useful information about work-site accommodations. Employers will also have access to Project Able, the SSA resume bank for people with disabilities who are looking for jobs;
Advocates who will be able to take advantage of the site's information services that list state partnerships, research activities, obtain current information about SSA contracts and grants, and post information about events that would be of interest to the disability community.
Service Providers who will have access to information about participating in SSA's vocational rehabilitation programs and becoming business partners through the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program; and
Youth with Disabilities who will find information tailored to them and their parents. A "Celebrity Gallery" section will feature profiles of youth and adult Social Security beneficiaries who want to share their accomplishments and messages of success.
"The Social Security Administration is committed to bridging the Digital Divide for our beneficiaries with disabilities," commented William Halter, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security. "We must all pool our information and resources to empower individuals with disabilities who want to contribute their talents to the workforce."
Go to www.ssa.gov/work to take a look at The Work Site.
