Press Release
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
Patty Duke Turns 65, Applies Online for Social Security and Medicare Benefits
In a New Video, Oscar-Winning Actress Applies in her Pajamas from the Comfort of her Own Home
(Disclaimer)
After years of telling people they can apply online for Social Security in their pajamas, Patty Duke has taken her own advice. Duke, who turns 65 today, applied online for retirement and Medicare benefits from home at www.socialsecurity.gov.
"I had no idea this would be such a momentous occasion," said Duke, who for three years has volunteered her time promoting Social Security's online services in numerous Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and media interviews. In a new online video, Duke puts character acting aside and shows everyone what happened when she and her husband Mike Pearce sat down at the kitchen table, turned on their laptop, and applied for her retirement and Medicare benefits.
"All of us at Social Security wish Patty a very happy birthday," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "She's a Hollywood legend and an American treasure who reaches a very important milestone today. True to form, she is the one giving us the birthday present by showing her fellow baby boomers the easiest way to apply for benefits."
In 2009, Duke reprised her roles as the identical cousins, Patty and Cathy Lane from the Patty Duke Show, for a series of PSAs promoting Social Security's online services. In 2010, Duke teamed up with the surviving Patty Duke Show cast members for www.socialsecurity.gov. In the three years since Duke has volunteered her time with Social Security, millions of people have visited the agency's website and the percentage of online retirements has more than doubled.
"While I just applied for retirement benefits, I'm not retiring from being a Social Security spokesperson," Duke says. "I urge my fellow baby boomers to go online to www.socialsecurity.gov. If you're not sure how to get started on the computer, ask a loved one to help you out. I did, and it was so easy."
Press Release
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Again Rated One of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government"
Agency Continues to Earn High Marks by People Who Know Them Best-Their Employees
The Social Security Administration once again ranks as one of the top ten "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government," according to The Partnership for Public Service and American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation. The number six ranking not only identifies Social Security as one of the "Best Places to Work," but also proves that the Agency's commitment to treat its employees as its most valuable asset has been successful.
"I am thrilled that we have again made the list of the top ten "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "This recognition validates our long-standing belief that the Social Security Administration is a great place to work and has a very important mission. I am very proud of our employees who are committed to providing the vital services on which the nation depends, despite years of underfunding, growing workloads, and other daunting challenges."
The "Best Places to Work" rankings are based on the results of the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, a government-wide assessment that measures employees' perception of whether, and to what extent, conditions characterizing successful organizations are present in their agencies. The survey provides valuable insight into the challenges agencies face in maintaining an effective civilian workforce. The survey identified effective leadership and employees' skills-to-mission match as the most significant contributory factors of overall employee satisfaction and engagement.
Social Security attributes its success to:
- Effective Leadership,
- Developing and retaining a highly skilled, diverse and innovative workforce,
- Training employees and giving them the tools they need to work at their highest potential, and
- Increasing employees' opportunities for advancement.
"In a tough economy, President Obama is trying to make it easier for Americans to work for the Federal government," said Commissioner Astrue. "I hope our ranking affirms that a career at Social Security is a great choice."
To learn more about the report, please go to www.bestplacestowork.org.
To learn more about careers with the Social Security Administration, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov/careers.
Press Release
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Launches New Spanish Online Services at www.segurosocial.gov
TV Superstar Don Francisco Helps Announce Retirement and Medicare Extra Help Applications
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency's most popular online services, the applications for retirement and Medicare and for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs, are now available in Spanish. The new online services are available at www.socialsecurity.gov.
"The Spanish online applications for retirement, Medicare, and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs are so easy and can be completed in as little as 15 minutes," said Commissioner Astrue. "I'm proud that Social Security is a leader in the Federal government in providing service in Spanish, and I thank Don Francisco for volunteering his time to help spread the word about these new online services."
In addition to the new applications, Social Security has also recently made online estimates of retirement benefits available in Spanish. People interested in planning for retirement can get an immediate, personalized estimate of their Social Security benefit by using the Retirement Estimator at www.segurosocial.gov/calculador. Using people's actual wages from their Social Security record, the Estimator gives a good idea of what to expect in retirement. Workers can enter in different dates and future wage projections to get estimates for different retirement scenarios, which is why this service is one of the most highly rated electronic services in the public or private sector.
Don Francisco, who will appear in several new public service announcements for Social Security, said, "I have good news to share with the millions of Americans who prefer to conduct business in Spanish. You can now apply online for Social Security retirement and Medicare benefits in Spanish, as well as take advantage of other online services offered in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov. ¡Es tan fácil!"
Once people complete the online application and "sign" it with the click of a mouse, the application is complete and, in most cases, there are no documents to submit or additional paperwork to fill out. It's the easiest way to apply, and now it's available in Spanish.
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: The program that provides Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs is NOT available to residents of Puerto Rico because the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 made other provisions for Puerto Rico.
Press Release
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2012
Cost-of-Living Adjustment is First Since 2009
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, the Social Security Administration announced today.
The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.
Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $110,100 from $106,800. Of the estimated 161 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2012, about 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.
Information about Medicare changes for 2012, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: A fact sheet showing the effect of the various automatic adjustments is attached.
Press Release
Thursday, October 13, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Expands Compassionate Allowances Conditions
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced 13 new Compassionate Allowances conditions involving the immune system and neurological disorders. The Compassionate Allowances program fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that Americans with the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions within days instead of months or years. Commissioner Astrue made the announcement during his remarks at the U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products in Washington, D.C.
"Social Security handles more than three million disability applications each year and we need to keep innovating and making our work more efficient," Commissioner Astrue said. "With our Compassionate Allowances program, we quickly approved disability benefits for more than 60,000 people with severe disabilities in the past fiscal year. We have made significant improvements, but we can always do more."
The Compassionate Allowances initiative identifies claims where the nature of the applicant's disease or condition clearly meets the statutory standard for disability. With the help of sophisticated new information technology, the agency can quickly identify potential Compassionate Allowances and then quickly make decisions.
Social Security launched the Compassionate Allowances program in 2008 with a list of 50 diseases and conditions. The announcement of 13 new conditions, effective in December, will increase the total number of Compassionate Allowances conditions to 113. The conditions include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, a number of rare genetic disorders of children, early-onset Alzheimer's disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and other disorders.
The agency announced a small grant program for graduate students that will help Social Security improve its list and has recently awarded an approximately $1.5 million grant over a five-year period to Policy Research, Incorporated (PRI) through the Disability Determination Process Small Grant Program. This new program aims to improve the disability process through innovative research by graduate students who will receive small stipends for their work. In addition, the agency recently streamlined its online disability application for people who have a condition on the Compassionate Allowances list.
For more information on the Compassionate Allowances initiative, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
New Compassionate Allowances Conditions
- Malignant Multiple Sclerosis
- Paraneoplastic Pemphigus
- Multicentric Castleman Disease
- Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma
- Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
- Primary Effusion Lymphoma
- Angelman Syndrome
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Lowe Syndrome
- Corticobasal Degeneration
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- The ALS/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex
Press Release
Friday, September 23, 2011
For Immediate Release
Employees Rank Social Security as One of the Best-Managed Federal Agencies
The Social Security Administration ranks as one of the top agencies in the federal government, according to the 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. The survey, conducted by the Office of Personnel Management, measured responses from more than 250,000 federal employees across the nation.
"This survey confirms what many of us already know: Social Security is a wonderful place to work," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "The fact that our own employees rank us among the leaders in federal government speaks to the satisfaction that working for Social Security brings."
Social Security earned the number four ranking in two of four categories: leadership & knowledge management, as well as job satisfaction. The leadership & knowledge management index indicates the extent employees hold their leadership in high regard; the job satisfaction index indicates the extent employees are satisfied with their jobs.
The survey is a government-wide assessment of federal employees' job satisfaction and perceptions of their agency. The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey measures employees' perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions that characterize successful organizations are present in their agencies.
To learn more about careers with the Social Security Administration, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov/careers.
To learn more about the report, please go to www.fedview.opm.gov.
Press Release
Friday, September 16, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Executive Diane Braunstein Wins the 2011 Service to America Medal
Diane Braunstein, now the Associate Commissioner for International Programs, received the 2011 Citizen Services Medal from the Partnership for Public Service at last night's Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal Awards Gala. Ms. Braunstein oversaw the development of the Compassionate Allowances program, which fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that Americans with the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions within days instead of months or years.
"All of us at Social Security are very proud of Diane and the results of her hard work on Compassionate Allowances," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "Through her efforts, this expedited process has already helped about 100,000 people with severe disabilities get benefit decisions within days instead of months or years."
The Compassionate Allowances initiative identifies claims that are likely allowances because the nature of the applicant's disease or condition clearly meets the statutory standard for disability. With the help of sophisticated new information technology, the agency can quickly identify potential Compassionate Allowances and then quickly make decisions.
Social Security launched the program in 2008 with a list of 50 diseases and conditions. It recently announced 12 new conditions involving severe heart diseases, which increased the total number of Compassionate Allowances conditions to 100. The conditions include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, a number of rare genetic disorders of children, early-onset Alzheimer's disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and other disorders. The agency is continually adding new conditions or diseases to the list, and recently announced a small grant program for graduate students that will help Social Security improve its list.
The legacy of Ms Braunstein's work with Compassionate Allowances will expand access to disability benefits to Americans with the most severe disabilities while reducing the backlog of disability applications. Quicker decisions and expedited processes reduce the burden on the medical community because they no longer need to provide extensive medical records for these cases. If a person reports a condition found on the Compassionate Allowance list, Social Security simply confirms the condition with the medical source. The program also reduces the burden on businesses of producing employment records.
The application process is now faster for people applying under the Compassionate Allowances program. The online disability application at www.socialsecurity.gov recognizes conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowances and streamlines the application by omitting information not needed for the agency's decision.
For more information on the Compassionate Allowances initiative, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals pays tribute to federal employees who have made significant contributions to our country. The award encourages a new generation to consider public service careers by sharing the inspiring stories of unsung heroes.
More information about the award is available at www.servicetoamericamedals.org.
Press Release
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Benefits Will Be Paid On Time
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that Social Security payments for August 3rd will be made on time and as scheduled. Payments for August 10th, 17th, and 24th also will be made as scheduled.
"I am happy to announce there will be no delay in the payment of August Social Security benefits," Commissioner Astrue said, "which should be a relief to those people who were concerned about their benefits. I'm pleased the President and Congress were able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to avoid an interruption in payments."
People still receiving paper checks from Social Security should consider signing up for Direct Deposit, the secure and convenient way to receive Social Security payments. All current beneficiaries must switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013.
Press Release
Friday, July 22, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Field Offices to Begin Closing to the Public a Half Hour Early
Congressional Budget Cuts Force Reduced Public Hours
Effective August 15, 2011, Social Security field offices nationwide will close to the public 30 minutes early each day. For example, a field office that is usually open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will close daily at 3:30 p.m.
"While agency employees will continue to work their regular hours, this shorter public window will allow us to complete face-to-face service with the visiting public without incurring the cost of overtime for our employees," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "Congress provided our agency with nearly $1 billion less than the President requested for our budget this fiscal year, which makes it impossible for us to provide the amount of overtime needed to handle service to the public as we have in the past."
Most Social Security services do not require a visit to an office. For example, anyone wishing to apply for benefits, sign up for direct deposit, replace a Medicare card, obtain a proof of income letter or inform us of a change of address or telephone number may do so at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing our toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Press Release
Thursday, July 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Announces New Compassionate Allowances Conditions
Fast Track Disability Process Will Now Look at 100 Conditions
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced 12 additional Compassionate Allowances conditions involving severe heart diseases, bringing the total number of conditions in the expedited disability process to 100. Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security's standards for disability benefits. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children.
"We have reached a significant milestone for the Compassionate Allowances program," Commissioner Astrue said. "We have an obligation to award benefits quickly to people whose medical conditions are so serious they clearly meet our disability standards. We are now able to do precisely that for 100 severe conditions."
The Compassionate Allowances initiative is one of two parts of the agency's fast-track system for certain disability claims. When combined with the Quick Disability Determination process, Social Security last year approved more than 100,000 cases, usually in less than two weeks. This year, the agency expects to fast-track nearly 150,000 cases.
Social Security has held seven public hearings and worked with experts to develop the list of Compassionate Allowances conditions. The hearings also have helped the agency identify additional ways to improve the disability process for applicants with Compassionate Allowances conditions. "By definition, these illnesses are so severe that we don't need to fully develop the applicant's work history to make a decision," said Commissioner Astrue. As a result, beginning in August, Social Security is eliminating this part of the application process for people who have a condition on the list.
For more information on the Compassionate Allowances initiative, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
New Compassionate Allowances Conditions
- Aortic Atresia
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Endomyocardial Fibrosis
- Heart Transplant Graft Failure
- Heart Transplant Wait List - 1A/1B
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
- Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Recipient
- Mitral Valve Atresia
- Primary Cardiac Amyloidosis
- Pulmonary Atresia
- Single Ventricle
- Tricuspid Atresia
Press Release
Monday, July 4, 2011
For Immediate Release
Statement on Second Flawed Report from Syracuse University
Syracuse's latest "analysis" is just more unsupportable grandstanding masquerading as academic research. Federal law gives Administrative Law Judges substantial decisional independence in making their decisions, so variations between judges are a predictable consequence of Congressional decisions.
As with Syracuse's last report on Social Security, this one also is riddled with methodological sloppiness. For instance, without other changes, a 30% increase in judges is going to increase the number of judges who are outliers at both ends of the spectrum, so simply comparing the range does not mean that decisions overall are more variable than in recent years.
Syracuse also continues to compare apples and oranges. For instance, National Hearing Centers (NHC) hear a rapidly changing mix of cases by video - one judge hearing cases from Anchorage while the judge next door is hearing cases from Puerto Rico. Accordingly, it is irresponsible for Syracuse, as it does on page 5, to compare judges in an NHC with judges in a standard hearing office without accounting for the substantial differences in the age and origin of the cases.
We call on Syracuse University to insist that reports of this nature receive thorough peer review to end misleading errors, and to fully disclose the sources of funding for its reports. Academic integrity requires no less.
Press Release
Monday, June 20, 2011
For Immediate Release
Statement of Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, on Flawed Syracuse University Report
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) "analysis" of our hearing backlog reduction efforts is sloppy and irresponsible. It focuses on the wrong measures, ignores the tremendous progress we have made in addressing the disability hearing backlog, and reaches the incorrect conclusion that we are "faltering."
What matters most to someone waiting for a decision is how quickly we decide their case, not how many other people are waiting for a hearing. We have made significant progress in reducing that time. In August 2008, the average wait time for a decision peaked at 532 days. In May 2011, the average processing time for a hearing decision was less than a year at 354 days -- the lowest monthly figure since October 2003.
The agency's published benchmark for processing hearing cases is 270 days, and we established it in consultation with Congress and the disability advocacy community. In 2008, nearly half of the people waiting for a decision waited more than 270 days. As of May 2011, only 29 percent of pending hearings were over 270 days. TRAC misrepresents the facts by failing to note this standard and the data that relate to it.
TRAC's focus on the number of pending hearings is a flawed measurement of our improving service and bears little relevance to the public's experience. Due to the economic downturn and the aging of the baby boomers, our workloads have been skyrocketing. We received 130,000 more hearing requests in 2010 than we received in 2008. Despite this increase, we have steadily improved service. We are deciding more cases, and deciding them accurately and quickly.
Our backlog reduction plan is working and has made a difference to the hundreds of thousands of people waiting on a hearing decision. Without it, the average processing time would be approaching 600 days, and we would be well on our way to 1 million people waiting on a decision. The TRAC report is clearly wrong in its conclusion that our backlog reduction efforts have been unsuccessful, and I call on Syracuse University to separate itself from this report and its authors.
Press Release
Thursday, June 9, 2011
For Immediate Release
Get Direct Deposit to Stay Ahead of Hurricane Season
With the 2011 hurricane season underway, Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, has an important message for people receiving checks from Social Security: please sign up for Direct Deposit before the first storm hits.
"Direct Deposit is a secure and convenient way to receive Social Security payments, particularly when a natural disaster strikes," Commissioner Astrue said. "This is a simple step people can take to eliminate one concern as they prepare for the hurricane season. Having funds available in the event of a storm is critically important. Eighty-seven percent of our beneficiaries already take advantage of Direct Deposit, and I urge anyone not yet signed up for electronic payments to do so now."
As of May 1, 2011, anyone who applies for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits will receive payments electronically, and all current beneficiaries must switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. To sign up or learn more, please visit www.godirect.org.
Press Release
Friday, May 13, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Board of Trustees: Projected Trust Fund Exhaustion One Year Sooner
The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2036, one year sooner than projected last year. The DI Trust Fund, while unchanged from last year, will be exhausted in 2018 and legislative action will be needed soon. At a minimum, a reallocation of the payroll tax rate between OASI and DI would be necessary, as was done in 1994. The Trustees also project that OASDI program costs will exceed non-interest income in 2011 and will remain higher throughout the remainder of the 75-year period.
In the 2011 Annual Report to Congress, the Trustees announced:
- The projected point at which the combined Trust Funds will be exhausted comes in 2036 -- one year sooner than projected last year. At that time, there will be sufficient non-interest income coming in to pay about 77 percent of scheduled benefits.
- The point at which non-interest income fell below program costs was 2010. Program costs are projected to exceed non-interest income throughout the remainder of the 75-year period.
- The projected actuarial deficit over the 75-year long-range period is 2.22 percent of taxable payroll -- 0.30 percentage point larger than in last year's report.
- Over the 75-year period, the Trust Funds would require additional revenue equivalent to $6.5 trillion in present value dollars to pay all scheduled benefits.
"The current Trustees Report again reflects what we have long known to be true -- we need changes to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security and to restore younger workers' confidence in the program," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "The report also highlights the more near-term shortfall in the Disability Insurance Trust Fund. Our disability programs are complex, and there is a long history of well intended 'reforms' causing unintended consequences. The President sent to Congress our Work Incentive Simplification Proposal, which would be a good start for bipartisan debate. I urge the House and Senate to review this proposed legislation carefully and schedule hearings this year."
Other highlights of the Trustees Report include:
- Income including interest to the combined OASDI Trust Funds amounted to $781 billion ($637 billion in net contributions, $24 billion from taxation of benefits, $117 billion in interest, and $2 billion in reimbursements from the General Fund of the Treasury) in 2010.
- Total expenditures from the combined OASDI Trust Funds amounted to $713 billion in 2010.
- The assets of the combined OASDI Trust Funds increased by $69 billion in 2010 to a total of $2.6 trillion.
- During 2010, an estimated 157 million people had earnings covered by Social Security and paid payroll taxes.
- Social Security paid benefits of $702 billion in calendar year 2010. There were about 54 million beneficiaries at the end of the calendar year.
- The cost of $6.5 billion to administer the program in 2010 was a very low 0.9 percent of total expenditures.
- The combined Trust Fund assets earned interest at an effective annual rate of 4.6 percent in 2010.
The Board of Trustees is comprised of six members. Four serve by virtue of their positions with the federal government: Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury and Managing Trustee; Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security; Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services; and Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor. The two public trustees are Charles P. Blahous, III and Robert D. Reischauer.
The 2011 Trustees Report will be posted at www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/TR/2011/ by Friday afternoon.
Press Release
Monday, May 9, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Makes Help America Vote Act Data Available
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is publishing data on its Open Government website www.socialsecurity.gov/open about verifications the agency conducts for States under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. Under HAVA, most States are required to verify the last four digits of the Social Security number of people newly registering to vote who do not possess a valid State driver's license.
"I strongly support President Obama's commitment to creating an open and transparent government," Commissioner Astrue said. "As we approach another federal election year, it remains absolutely critical that Americans are able to register to vote without undue obstacles. Making this data publicly available will allow the media and the public on a timely basis to raise questions about unexpected patterns with the appropriate State officials."
The data available at www.socialsecurity.gov/open/havv represents the summary results for each State of the four-digit match performed by Social Security under HAVA.
Press Release
Thursday, May 5, 2011
For Immediate Release
Isabella and Jacob Again Reign Supreme on Social Security's Most Popular Baby Names List
Teen Mom Moving Up While Elvis Has Left the Building
Jacob and Isabella are king and queen of the crib for another year. This is the twelfth year in a row on our list for Jacob and the second for Isabella, although 2010 has a new number two for girls, Sophia. The only new name to crawl into the top 10 on either list this year is Aiden, which replaces Joshua on the boys' side.
For all the top baby names of 2010, go to Social Security's website www.socialsecurity.gov. Here are the top 10 boys and girls names for 2010:
| Boys: |
Girls: |
| 1) Jacob |
1) Isabella |
| 2) Ethan |
2) Sophia |
| 3) Michael |
3) Emma |
| 4) Jayden |
4) Olivia |
| 5) William |
5) Ava |
| 6) Alexander |
6) Emily |
| 7) Noah |
7) Abigail |
| 8) Daniel |
8) Madison |
| 9) Aiden |
9) Chloe |
| 10) Anthony |
10) Mia |
While having fun with baby names on www.socialsecurity.gov, don't forget your own mom. Social Security's website has the top-rated online services in the U.S., including extra help to pay Medicare prescription drug costs. This Mother's Day help your mom or someone you care about Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov to apply for retirement, disability, Medicare, and so much more.
A popular feature of Social Security's baby names website is the "Change in Name Popularity" page. This year's winners for biggest jump in popularity in the Top 500 are related to each other. Maci and Bentley had the biggest jumps in popularity. Maci Bookout and her infant son, Bentley, were prominently featured on the show "Teen Mom" and its predecessor, "16 and Pregnant."
If you remember last year's baby name craze around the "Twilight" novels and movies, it should come as no surprise that "Twilight" scores again this year. The second fastest riser on the boys' list is Kellan, the name of actor Kellan Lutz, best known for playing Emmett Cullen in the "Twilight" series. Coming in third is Knox, one of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's toddler twins.
On the girls' side, Tiana, the name of the main character in the Disney movie, "The Princess and the Frog" and Disney's first African-American princess, is one of the biggest chart hoppers.
We'd like to send our best wishes to the newly married royal couple, William and Kate, along with this baby name information. A recent trend in the top girls' names is a return to names that were popular in the early to mid-1900s. Names like Isabella, Ava, and Chloe, which had disappeared almost completely from the top 1,000 girls' names, have surged in popularity in recent years, which suggests a trend in naming newborn girls after their grandmothers. So while we typically report only on American baby names, we note the excitement about the recent royal wedding and suggest there may be a Princess Elizabeth, Frances, Valerie, or Dorothy in the future.
There also is some sad news to report on what is usually a happy topic. To the dismay of Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue, Elvis has left the building. Quicker than you can eat a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, Elvis slipped out of the top 1,000 for the first time since 1954.
"This news about Elvis has me all shook up," said Commissioner Astrue. "But that's all right mama. I'm confident that, next year, America's new parents can't help falling in love with Elvis again and moving it back into the top 1,000."
The Social Security website offers lists of baby names for each year since 1880. Social Security started compiling baby name lists in 1997.
Press Release
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
For Immediate Release
"No Check - Go Direct"
George Takei and Patty Duke Promote Direct Deposit
In a new video public service announcement, George Takei and Patty Duke are helping Social Security get the word out that the best way to get your benefit payment is to "Go Direct." To apply for direct deposit or the Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card visit www.GoDirect.org.
[Disclaimer]
"Getting your Social Security or Supplemental Security Income payment by direct deposit or Direct Express is safer and more reliable," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "You don't have to worry about your check being lost or stolen and your money is available immediately on your payment date There is no need to wait for the mail to arrive As George says, you'll get your payment at warp speed."
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new rule that will extend the safety and convenience of electronic payments to millions of Americans and phase out paper checks for federal benefit and non-tax payments by March 1, 2013. Anyone applying for benefits on or after May 1, 2011, will receive their payments electronically, while those currently receiving paper checks will need to switch to direct deposit by March 1, 2013.
Electronic payments also will provide significant savings to American taxpayers who will no longer incur the $120 million a year price tag associated with paper checks and save $1 billion over the next ten years. Eliminating paper checks also will provide positive benefits to the environment, saving 12 million pounds of paper in the first five years alone.
To learn more about direct deposit or the Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card or to apply, visit www.GoDirect.org.
Press Release
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
For Immediate Release
George Takei and Patty Duke Join Forces to Tell Americans to Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov
Using Social Security's Online Services Are So Easy "Even Kirk Could Do It"
Cyberspace: the final frontier. These are the voyages of George Takei and Patty Duke. Their mission: to seek out baby boomers and people of all ages and tell them to Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov
Entertainment icons George Takei and Patty Duke have teamed up to tell Americans to Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov to apply for retirement, disability, Medicare, and so much more. The two celebrities are joining forces in a new campaign to help the Social Security Administration promote its online services as an easy and secure way for people to do business with the agency.
"Social Security has a great website and the top-rated online services in the U.S.," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "We now have a fun new way to get the word out. Having George join forces with Patty will help us reach the millions of people who can take advantage of this convenient way of doing business with Social Security. Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov to plan for your retirement and to apply online so that you too may live long and prosper."
"Won't filing for Social Security benefits online be confusing?" George asks Patty in one of eight new commercials. "It's simple and easy," Patty assures George. "It's so easy, even Kirk could do it."
Those ready to retire, apply for disability benefits, or delay retirement and apply only for Medicare, can do so from the comfort of their home or from any computer. Two million people took advantage of Social Security's convenient online benefit applications last year. People already receiving Social Security benefits can go online to let Social Security know about a change of address or phone number, start or change direct deposit, get a proof of income letter, or replace a lost Medicare card.
Social Security's website "is for everyone," Patty tells George in another spot. Workers can get an online estimate of their future retirement benefits and use Social Security's planners to plan for a secure retirement. In addition, Patty says, "Young people can help their grandparents with retiring online or getting extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs." To which George concludes, "Everyone, of all ages, should go to www.socialsecurity.gov."
Social Security's online services not only provide a convenient option for the public, they are a lifeline for the agency in a time of fast growing workloads as baby boomers begin retiring in record numbers and millions more need Social Security's services due to the economic downturn.
To learn more about Social Security's online services and to view the new George Takei and Patty Duke public service announcements, Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov. Like George, you may find yourself saying, "Oh my!"
Press Release
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Holds Compassionate Allowances Hearing on Autoimmune Diseases
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today hosted the agency's seventh public hearing on Compassionate Allowances. Commissioner Astrue joined Robert H. Carter, Deputy Director, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and other Social Security officials in hearing testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on autoimmune diseases about the possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for adults and children with autoimmune diseases.
"Over 20 million Americans suffer from autoimmune conditions, which particularly affect women and children," Commissioner Astrue said. "The social and financial burdens imposed by these chronic, debilitating diseases can be devastating for individuals and their families. With this hearing, we are searching for objective medical evidence and decision rules that we can use to expedite cases for those with the most severe conditions and quickly provide them with some measure of financial security."
Social Security implemented Compassionate Allowances in October 2008 to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants with medical conditions so severe that their conditions by definition meet Social Security's standards. Currently, 88 specific diseases and conditions qualify as a Compassionate Allowance. To learn more and to view a web cast of this hearing, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
"Last year, the Compassionate Allowances initiative, along with our Quick Disability Determination process, allowed us to quickly approve over 100,000 disability applications for the most severely disabled Americans," said Commissioner Astrue. "This year we expect to increase the number of fast-tracked cases to about 150,000. We also plan to expand our list of Compassionate Allowance conditions later this year, bringing it to about 100 conditions."
Press Release
Monday, February 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
Statement of Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, on the President's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request
For over seventy-five years, Social Security has provided hundreds of millions of Americans with an economic safety net. As the baby boomers retire and reach their disability-prone years, Social Security's workloads continue to grow. In addition, the economic downturn has greatly increased the demand for our services. Despite this dramatic growth in our work, through increased employee productivity, new initiatives, and improved funding we have reversed a trend of declining service and an increasing backlog in our disability workloads.
The President's budget request of $12.522 billion for Social Security's administrative expenses will allow us to maintain staffing in our front-line components, fund ongoing activities, and cover our inflationary increases. It will allow us to reduce our hearings and initial disability claims backlogs, and to continue to reverse the decline in our program integrity work. Program integrity work not only pays for itself, but also produces considerable savings to the taxpayers.
Full funding by Congress of the President's budget request is critical. This budget request is the minimum the agency needs to continue to reduce key backlogs and to increase deficit-reducing program integrity work. It will allow us to build on the considerable progress we have achieved, progress that is vital to the millions of people who depend on our services and to the American taxpayer.
For more information about the President's 2012 budget request for Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/budget.
Press Release
Friday, February 4, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Dedicates Robert M. Ball Federal Building
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today dedicated the Robert M. Ball Federal Building at the agency's Woodlawn headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Ball's son, Jonathan Ball, and other members of the Ball family joined Commissioner Astrue in dedicating the building.
"This is a very exciting day for our family," said Jonathan Ball. "My father truly dedicated his life to the advancement of Social Security. It is a great satisfaction to have this building, where vital Social Security work takes place, be dedicated to him."
Robert Ball began his career working in a local Social Security field office in 1939. He held a number of key executive positions and, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy appointed Mr. Ball Commissioner of Social Security. He continued to serve as Commissioner under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon until his retirement in 1973. He is Social Security's longest serving Commissioner.
Mr. Ball is widely considered the "Father of Medicare" and played a significant role in the establishment of Social Security disability benefits in the 1950s. After his retirement, he continued to write and speak about Social Security until his death in 2008.
To learn more about Mr. Ball's career at Social Security, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/history/bobball.html.
Press Release
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
For Immediate Release
Social Security Invites the Public to Comment on its Regulations
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced a new way for members of the public to participate in open and transparent government. In response to President Obama's executive order on improving regulations and regulatory review, Social Security is inviting people to provide direct feedback on its rules and regulations. Ideas and comments may be emailed to RegsReview@ssa.gov.
"Social Security values the public's input and wants to provide a meaningful opportunity for people to participate in the regulatory process," Commissioner Astrue said. "I invite the public to share their thoughts and I am excited to hear their ideas."
Social Security's program rules are available online and may be accessed at www.socialsecurity.gov/regulations. There, you will find complete information about Social Security's laws, regulations, rulings, and employee operating instructions.
For information about what Social Security is doing to improve its regulations and how the agency will implement the President's executive order, go to the Open Government website: www.socialsecurity.gov/open/regsreview/ (no longer available).
