By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Questions and Answers Question: Who can get Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug coverage? Answer: Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is available to anyone with Medicare. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and you pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage. People with higher incomes might pay higher premiums.  If you have limited resources and … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 53

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Effective November 30, 2024, there will be an increase to the fee cap representatives can charge for help when you do business with Social Security. The maximum dollar amount for fee agreements approved by Social Security will increase from $7,200 to $9,200.  If a fee agreement is not filed, a representative can submit a fee petition after completing work on … Continue reading Attorney Fee Cap Increase

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist SSA.gov is your best resource to learn about Social Security programs and benefits and conduct business with us.  Our website is designed to make it easy for you to find what you need. Here are our top 10 webpages: 1. my Social Security — You can open a personal my Social Security account to verify your earnings, view your Social Security Statement, get … Continue reading Social Security’s Top 10 Webpages for 2025

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist We’ve listened to your feedback concerning your preference to do business with us online. You want the option to submit forms, evidence, and other information electronically. You also want to sign documents electronically before submitting them. This year we released eSignature/Upload Documents as an option to submit documents. This new, online service option allows our employees to electronically request, and … Continue reading We’re Making it Easier to do Business with us Online

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Kathleen Romig, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Commissioner, joined the latest episode of SSA Talksto discuss the Social Security benefits available to children. These include: • Survivors benefits for children if their parent dies. For more information, please read our publication titled Survivor Benefits at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf. • Supplemental Security Income (or SSI) for children if they have a disability or blindness and their families have … Continue reading SSA Talks: Child Benefits

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and to share memories with our loved ones. During this holiday season and throughout life’s journey, we are here to help provide you and your family with services, benefits, and information about our programs. Social Security is more than just a retirement program. We provide services that assist … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving from Social Security

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Questions and Answers Question: I was wounded while on military service overseas. What are the benefits for wounded warriors, and how can I apply? Answer: Through the Wounded Warrior program, Social Security expedites processing of disability claims of current military service members or veterans who developed a disability while on active duty on or after October 1, … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 52

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Are you getting remarried? If so, we can help you with Social Security related questions regarding your remarriage. You may be wondering how your new marriage affects your Social Security benefits now or in the future. Remarrying may affect your benefits if you receive (or expect to receive) any of the following: 1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments – Your … Continue reading Will remarrying affect my Social Security benefits?

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist If you receive Social Security, you can help to make sure we pay you the right benefit each month. You can do that by telling us about relationship or other life changes that could affect your eligibility for retirement, survivors, or disability benefits – or the benefit amount.  You and your family may miss out on additional … Continue reading Why it’s Important to Tell Us about Changes When You Get Social Security Benefits

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist It may have been years or even decades since you thought about how much you earned at your first job. Did you know that you can find out how much you made that first year? Or any year you worked and paid Social Security taxes? Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your future … Continue reading Why it’s important to check your earnings history