ביטוח לאומי אזור אישי is the largest government program. It is financed by taxes on workers and employers.
SSA’s ultimate aims are to increase access to benefits and improve living standards for the elderly, disabled and low-income individuals. This is best accomplished through working with a variety of local, state and federal partners.
Social Security Number
The Social Security Number, or SSN, is an identification number issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to all people legally authorized to work in the United States. In addition to serving as a unique identifier, the SSN is used to track income and benefits payments. It is also required for most federal employment-related activities. Consequently, the SSN has become an unofficial national identifier and is often used as proof of identity.
When SSA first began assigning SSNs in 1936, local Social Security offices assigned them according to the region where an applicant lived or worked. As the use of the SSN grew, however, SSA was forced to centralize the SSN assignment process and eliminate this geographic correlation. Since 1972, SSA has been assigning SSNs and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore. The SSN is composed of three digits — the area number, which represents a geographical region; the serial number, which is unique within that region; and the last four digits, which are assigned using the Russell Soundex Coding System.
During the early years of SSA, there were many errors in the allocation of SSNs. As a result, some people received multiple SSNs. Others misplaced their SSN card or lost it, and as a result, SSA had to issue replacement cards. During this period, a market developed for counterfeit SSN cards. Consequently, SSA was forced to develop verification systems to screen for previously issued SSNs.
My Social Security
My Social Security is SSA’s free online benefits portal. Once you create an account, you can access a range of personalized tools. These can help you manage the benefits you already receive and estimate future benefits. The site also includes fact sheets, based on your age and earning situation. It is updated periodically*.
You’ll need to agree to the terms of service and enter personal information that SSA can use to identify you, including your name (as it appears on your card), birth date, gender, address and telephone number. You’ll then choose how you want SSA to verify that it’s really you using the account. This can include the familiar two-factor authentication, which sends a code to your phone or email to confirm your identity.
Once you’re logged in, you can view your Social Security Statement, change your address, verify reported earnings, request a replacement card or direct deposit, and more. SSI/SSDI recipients often need to provide proof of their benefits to other agencies or businesses, and you can quickly obtain a letter for that purpose via your my Social Security account. You can also use the my Social Security mobile app to get your account on the go.
SSI/SSDI Account
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays monthly benefits for people who need help paying for food and shelter. It supports elderly people and disabled adults who have limited income and resources. People who receive SSI also generally qualify for Medicaid, which provides health care coverage through a partnership between states and the federal government.
The value of your assets and other income, such as wages, is part of what determines whether you can get SSI. However, we exclude certain amounts of money and assets from consideration, such as a home you live in, household goods, burial plots, your wedding ring, one vehicle and up to $100,000 in an ABLE account.
If you have limited income and resources, you may be eligible for a variety of other Social Security programs. You can use your free my Social Security account to check the status of an application or receive personalized tools.
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SSI/SSDI Letters
SSI and SSDI are both programs that pay monthly benefits to people who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or over. They also provide medical coverage through Medicare. If you receive SSI or SSDI, you will often get a letter from Social Security that states the amount you will be receiving each month. This letter is called a benefit verification letter.
The letter will tell you if your monthly benefit will increase or decrease. You will also be told how to report income changes to SSA. This is because any change in your income can affect whether or not SSA thinks you’re still disabled. For example, if you’re making more money than you should be, SSA might want to take it back from you.
You may also get a letter from SSA asking you to designate a representative payee. A representative payee is an individual who will handle all your Social Security business if you are too ill or disabled to do it yourself. You will need to contact your local Social Security office to complete the process.
A recent study from the Georgetown Better Government Lab and OES showed that tailored mailings could quadruple SSI awards for people over 65. This is important because SSI is a need-based program that guarantees a minimum monthly income of about $755. A resurgence in SSI uptake could help address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve recipient outcomes.