A COVID-19 Update from Our Commissioner
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: February 21, 2023
I want you to hear directly from me how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our services. The first thing you should know is that we continue to pay benefits. Be aware that scammers may try to trick you into thinking the pandemic is stopping your Social Security payments but that is not true. Don’t be fooled.
To protect you and help stop the spread of this coronavirus, we cannot accept visitors in our offices at this time. There are several other ways you can get help. Many services are available online. If you have a critical need that you cannot address online, we can help you over the phone.
Please visit our website to find out what services we are continuing and which ones we are suspending, how to contact us, and important information about deadlines we are extending to ease the burden on you and medical providers during this pandemic.
You can subscribe to receive email or text message notifications. Please share this information with your family and friends to help us spread the word.
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Tags: COVID-19, social security
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Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
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Wfl
Update from SSA https://blog.ssa.gov/commissioner-of-social-security-shares-update-about-covid-19-economic-impact-payments-for-beneficiaries/. For people on SSI
tina g.
how will i know if im going to get a stimulus check too
Chmp
As I meditate upon this, I want to share with you what I feel the Corona/ Covid-19 virus is really doing to us:
– It is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally, perhaps we should to. If you don’t believe me, just ask Tom Hanks.
– It is reminding us that we are all connected and the false borders that we have put up have little value as this virus does not need a passport.
– It is reminding us, by oppressing us for a short time, of those in this world whose whole life is spent in oppression.
– It is reminding us of how precious our health is and how we have neglected. If we don’t look after our health, we will, of course, get sick.
– It is reminding us of the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other, especially those who are old or sick. Our purpose is not to buy toilet roll.
– It is reminding us of how materialistic our society has become and how, when in times of difficulty, it’s the essentials that we need (food, water, medicine)
– It is reminding us of how important our family and home life is and how much we have neglected it. It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild and strengthen our family unit.
– It is reminding us that our true work is not our job, that is what we do, not what we were created to do.
Our true work is to look after each other, to protect each other and to be of benefit to one another.
– It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.
– It is reminding us that the power of freewill is in our hands. We can choose to cooperate and help each other, or we can choose to be selfish, to hoard, to look after only our self. Indeed, it is difficulties that bring out our true colors.
– It is reminding us that we can be patient, or we can panic.
– It is reminding us that this can either be an end or a new beginning. This can be a time of reflection and understanding, where we learn from our mistakes, or it can be the start of a cycle which will continue until
we finally learn the lesson we are meant to.
– It is reminding us that this Earth is sick. It is reminding us that we need to look at the rate of deforestation just as urgently as we look at the speed at which toilet rolls are disappearing off of shelves. We are sick because our home is sick.
– It is reminding us that after every difficulty, there is always ease. Life is cyclical, and this is just a phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.
Whereas many see the Corona/ Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, I prefer to see it as a great corrector. It is sent to remind us of the important lessons that we seem to have forgotten and it is up to us if we will learn them or not.
-Bill Gates views on COVID-19
Brett J.
We should all strive to heed the wisdom in these words.
Sc
One thing that really concerns me as I watch this ‘virus’. Is it just me or does anyone else listen to their instincts. Those that are shouting at us to look beyond the now moment. Past the stimulus package. Past even a year from now. In my 52 years I have seen a lot of things happening in this world. But! I have never seen something of this magnitude. And something just isn’t right.
Before the covid19 ever left China countries were already screaming about a global financial crisis. And one by one were starting to have their own version of a stimulus package. And the US is no different. Every politician has stressed that with this money it’s gonna help our economy turn around and we’ll be back to ‘normal’ before the events took a turn backwards. Money. That’s what’s been in the collective psyche. Is there enough, how will I pay my Bill’s, dr’s, kids,food, etc. American’s have been slowly integrated into a governmental ‘humanitarian’ agenda starting in the Great depression. Our society has been raised on the notion that “it’s ok if you don’t want to work. We’ll provide for you “. And the benefits that are optional only seem to be getting larger until if someone wanted to get off they wouldn’t survive. Or there are multigenerational people who have been raised on and are raising their children on. I firmly believe poverty is not a crime. What is though is the ‘reward’ for accepting the benefits that force people to make decisions that normally wouldn’t be an issue. And the government is at it again. But this time leaves me with a bad taste. I do not believe this package is gonna help our nation, or any nation for that matter. It was almost too easy to have people crying in their beer only to say “hey! We’re gonna save you! ” What one way ,one thing that has a universal language? Money. Either you have it or don’t. Shoot if someone promised me money all the time I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t take it; providing there’d be no strings attached. But there are and have been the proverbial string since the government inception began. Cater to the mindset of the poor, greedy, hungry. Hold that carrot right in front of their faces and see what they won’t give up for some pocket change. How homosapiens behave when the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It is my belief that this is no ordinary relief package. Nor for that matter will today forward be considered normal. This is really just the beginning folks. The majority of the sheeple that are praising the checks they’re gonna receive are only being led to the slaughter. Since when is $1200 per adult/ $500 per child 1x gonna pay your Bill’s until June? July? August? Nope, it won’t and I can see our country begging for more money because, well, the virus is still killing or infecting people by Christmas. People please. Look at what’s happening with wide eyes. It’s like taking candy from a baby. And we’ve got millions of those in this country alone. What will you do when that string that’s attached is due?
SC
I shouldn’t be surprised with a lot of these comments. This whole covid19 worldwide is really bringing out our true nature. All the ‘what about me…’ remarks. I usually just keep all the finger-pointing people who think for whatever reason their needs are more important than anyone else’s out of my head. It’s just that people are really starting to hit new lows. In order to justify themselves as being more needy than others they start basing a person’s disability on if it shows or not. Who are they to claim that if you’re not stuck in a wheelchair then you can’t be disabled? Personally I take offense to that. I have been judged and been labeled as nondisabled by ignorant people because I don’t fit the bill of how people like me should look. It took me 2 years and a lot of encouragement from my children to fight for my rights and what I already paid into the S.S. system once my diagnosis was made. I have a rare disease. Rare in the meaning that I’m still alive. And because it’s at the cellular level it effects every single organ, vascular, brain – all of it but I ‘look’ fine. People don’t see the excruciating pain I deal with every literal second of each day nor are they the ones who has to take 17 meds a day just to help curb the the destruction that’s going on in my body. Do I think I deserve more than anyone else? Absolutely not!!! Is my disability worse than the next person’s? Again NO! It’s just different.
As for who the president is at this moment. For all who complain about what he’s done, who he helps, what his administration has accomplished etc, that’s why we have a democracy. Be it Republican or Democrat that any body has voted for, he is who he is. We have the each individual right to speak our minds. But one thing that is as frustrating as can be is for those who chose to complain about him – whoever he is – if you’re so unhappy with how he’s running this country then when you receive the stimulus check send it back. Rip it up. Burn it. Use it as stuffing. Whatever. Just don’t cash it. When you go ahead and take it, because you know after all you deserve it, stop complaining. You’re speaking out of both sides of your mouth at the same time. And all that does is make you look like you’re drooling. Isn’t attractive or intelligent at all.
Chmp
Agree
Connie W.
Attempting to gain access to acquire a Fm1099 for 2019. Didn’t receive on by mail and had made approximately 25 attempts to gain access to the web site. Before some one
who thought they were being smart change the access procedure. Before if you had not used the on-line system for a while you were told you needed to update your Pass Word, the system no longer does this and my husband and I had used the last 6 User Names and Pass Words and the system tells us NOT ONE of them is valid and indicates (if you click on the help) it will send you the information needed to get your Fm 1099. We even attempted to create a new sign in and the system states that a NEW SIGN-IN with that information has already been created. This is a out-right lie for the codes entered has never been used by us at anytime. We understand that during this virus problem has created many problems but following the information provided by SSA does nothing what so ever but prevent you from getting information to complete filing your Federal Income Tax. If you can’t get your information by mail and the system prevents you from getting on the internet, just how do you get this information. we have tried eight (8) different Social Security Offices and the shortest wait time had been 38 minutes or longer. The telephone will automatically disconnect before the time ends.
V.V.
Hi Connie. We are sorry to hear about the difficulties that you are having with your my Social Security account. You may be able to request a replacement SSA-1099 by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a replacement SSA-1099. We hope this helps.
tilthy
What about those of us who have been fighting for their disability, but have been denied and are waiting for reconsideration or appeal? I paid taxes for over 30 years, but have not been able to work in 5 years because of several illnesses. I just received my denial letter and still need to find an attorney to handle my case. Will those of us waiting for SSA to get around to our case be just out of luck?
V.V.
Hi there. We are sorry to hear of your disability. If you were recently denied and do not agree with our decision, you have the right to file an appeal. You must appeal within 60 days from the date you got our decision letter and you can file an appeal online. Once you file an appeal, you can always check the status in your my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
SC
Don’t give up or become discouraged. Everyone is automatically denied the first time they apply. You’re then allowed a fixed amount of time to appeal. There are attorneys who do nothing but these appeals and will not charge you unless you win which then they take a percentage out as their fee. It took 2 years from the original application to the day I was found disabled and awarded my benefits. I even have a rare disease and still worked until I simply could no longer and I was still denied. When you have the actual hearing there will be a judge and a dr with a unrealistically thick book of all conditions in it who is there to dispute your claims or find a reason why you should or shouldn’t be granted disability. In my case the dr didn’t even open the book. Again because my disease is rare with no cure. Also – again – I was still denied upon the initial application even though my dr wrote my diagnosis.
Hang in there but be prepared for a time period that may be longer than a year, more like around 2. And don’t be afraid or made to feel like you don’t deserve it or that there are others who need it more than you. This is the very reason we pay for our SS to cover us when/if we need it. You’re not taking from anyone else. Think of it as a prepaid health insurance.
Stay C.
CALM DOWN EVERYBODY SSI STILL WILL GET A CHECK ???♂️ they puller a good April’s fool joke on us without saying April fools ???
BS
Its not an April fools joke please don’t be so naive.
Tammy P.
Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments | U.S. Department of the Treasury
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967
Phyllis
Is there a one time form that needs to be complete in order for a social security recipient to receive the stimulus payment that COVID-19 related?