Help us Create Open Government Plan 4.0
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Social Security is always looking for ways to enhance your access to our information. We are preparing to publish our fourth Open Government Plan in June. Your input regarding ways to improve our programs and services is invaluable. Our last plan, published in 2014, reflected our commitments to transparency and outlined our efforts. In our 4.0 plan, you will find the milestones from our previous plans as well as our strategies moving forward.
Do you have any suggestions for making our data more transparent? Do you have any bold and innovative ideas for using open government techniques and principles to help improve our services?? Do you know of other federal agencies Social Security should work with, or any initiatives we should consider?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we want to hear from you as we create our Open Government 4.0 Plan!
We encourage you to share your ideas on how we can improve our transparency, participation, and collaboration through our Open Government Plan 4.0 Feedback Process. Once there, you can review our last Open Government Plan and take part in the conversation for the next one!
Social Security is committed to providing you with world-class service. Your feedback is vital to our success. After all, who knows what you need better than you? Share your ideas today!
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Tags: online services, social security, Social Security benefits, SSA
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Ruby Burrell, Chief Strategic Officer, Social Security Administration
Ruby Burrell, Chief Strategic Officer, Social Security Administration
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Ellen B.
There are two statements on the SSA.gov site which to me are in conflict. They are: 1) “You should apply for retirement benefits three months before you want your payments to start”; and 2) “How far in advance can I apply for Social Security retirement benefits? You should apply three months before you want your benefits to start.”
I reach age 70 in April, 2016. I want benefits to start in May, 2016, and an SSA representative told me the May benefit is payable in June, 2016. Do I apply three months before the May benefit start date which would be February, 2016, or do I apply three months before the June payment start date which would be March, 2016? Thank you.
Robo
You can apply now, in February, but your May payment will not be sent until June. It is not required that you apply that early, but that is the earliest you can apply (3 mos. before).
R.F.
We apologize for the confusion Ellen. Yes, our system is set up to take applications three months in advance. If you want to receive your first payment in June, you should apply during the month of March. Processing your application is quick and payments are set up within days after the information you provide is verified, and your application is approved.
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding when to retire, the decision on when to file is a personal one. Just a reminder, you can only earn Delayed Retirement Credits if you delay getting your benefit up until age 70.
You can now apply online, when you are ready, you can complete the online application for Social Security retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. Congratulations and happy retirement!
John P.
Increase staffing, open more offices in suburbs, have adequate parking.
Robo
That request needs to go to a congressman. SSA doesn’t make those decisions.
DAVID K.
I served 45 years in serving the United States and now am getting messed over by the United States. I served 25 years in the military and 20 years in civil service. I have ran into 2 very bad situations I do not think is right. After serving and paying Social Security over those 45 years the Social Security rules say unless my wife is a United States Citizen she cannot claim from my Social Security. I think I earned it and my wife should be able to claim it when she turns 65.There are others that have not served and wives have not worked at all and are allowed to draw on their husbands Social Security. Would you please help me with this?
My second request I am requesting help with is my wife will be able to claim the military SBP but the draw back is Social Security will take out 30% tax on it. I think that is a big exuberant, don’t you.
Thank you very much for any help you can give me!!
John O.
If you’ve paid in to the Social Security system through payroll taxes, you are entitled to retirement benefits as well as disability benefits, if you’re unable to work because of a medical condition. In addition, your spouse may be eligible for survivor’s benefits should you pass away. There is no citizenship requirement, but survivors must be in the country legally to draw benefits. Also you must be fully insured, which you are. By a change in the immigration law in 2009, a non-citizen widow may apply for permanent residency status, no matter how long she was married to a US citizen. Social Security survivors benefits are payable to non-citizens who are in the country legally.
R.F.
Hi David, it seems that you missed our previous response to your questions. Here is the information again: If you qualify for Social Security benefits, your wife may be able to get benefits on your record — see “Benefits For Your Spouse” for eligibility information. She would also have to meet the requirements for non-citizens living in the United States. If you have specific questions, please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with one of our representatives, who are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Or, you can contact your local Social Security office. For information about the Survivor Benefit Plan or SBP, please contact the Department of Defense.
Fred G.
When is somebody getting rid of the GAB it is absolutely killing me, to pay almost the full amount of the medizine like insulin R, $ 1200 for 3 month. Total of payment the gab + the beginning of the year=$.5.800
Fred Gauer
Manuel S.
There should be a permanent law established to prevent the Government from dipping into the Social Security Funds, Listening to Congress Members who are for the preservation of the Social Security Program, and providing that year end cola as a permanent rule; regardless of which representative has lost his grits.
There should not be any solid reason for taxing our Social Security Benefits; we worked all our lives, paid into our Social Security accounts, should not have to pay additional taxes.
Obama recently paid Iran $1.4 Billion American earned, tax paid dollars and there should be no rime or reason acceptable for any such action.
There should be a National Movement into the preserving the blessings of Social Security we all so dearly pay into every year.
There are all to many Enron Mentality Type out there just itching to find another way to dip into what ever they can and who cares for the Old Adage work hard, earn your keep, be resourceful; in more Constructive ways for the betterment of our Brothers in kind….
John O.
The biggest problem is keeping the government solvent. If it’s broke so is SS. COLA’s are based upon inflation. The problem here is the suspicion that the government is manipulating inflation to make it lower than what it really is. SS was not always taxed. A letter in an election year to your representative can’t hurt. The money going to Iran is their own assets which were frozen, there are no tax dollars involved.
Marie C.
Surely, SS must have an inkling of how unhappy US citizens are with government being solvent? Our govt gives money away hand over foot to countries who dislike us. They use $$ traveling and having different benefits than citizens. Hefty packages for medical & pensions. They could be kept solvent if they were taxed & had our programs that we are struggling with.
Shirley
Wonderful question Marie, I also think all government employees should pay into social security and quit sending countries money that are going to blow each other up, we fix it and they destroy it!!!!!! Sure seems like a waste to me and what about the homeless here in our own country. Also, I have a complaint on how they figure your benefit amount. I have a son-in-law who barely held a job and I worked 20 yrs at my last job and guess who receives more SS each month. NOT ME
Spring
Like or not, government employees are covered differently than non-government employees. Are you familiar with the mandatory versus voluntary sections of the Social Security Act? Those sections will give you the information that you need to understand the two types of withholding.
IRMA E.
NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING OR WANT?
IRMA E. BAKER
IRMA E.
I hope this is all that you need. Our e-mail address is correct and OK.
IRMA AND FRED S. BAKER JR.
IRMA E.
I have worked since I was 14. Started paying SS early but never made much money. Later I worked in the school system….have a SMALL PENSION and it ALL goes to Anthem for our BXBS PREMIUMS. I am affected by the GP OFFSET. Fred SS is very small and we are trying to live on that but not for much longer. We have worked at 2 jobs each, raised 3 wonderful children. We are both in our late eighties. Our Maine governor is constantly taking benefits from us. We are very discouraged.
Can you help us somehow?
John O.
SS is meant to supplement your private and government pensions. I can only suggest you move out of Main.
Ramon C.
I would like to know if all this talk on the internet and TV about big changes Social Security is going to do on the First of May is true. And if so, what are the changes going to be.
John O.
It affects those who have not yet filed for SS retirement. For the past 12 years or so one could file for retirement, freeze the application so his wife could draw spousal benefits and when the wife reached full retirement age she could receive her full benefit. This so called “trick” was well known and was explained for free if you contacted SS. Advertisers are going on and on about this now because they can not suck you in to their office or sell you a book about this “secret.” They are losing a cash cow.
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Ramon. You may be referring to “The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015” (BBA) which was signed into law recently. Section 831 of the BBA eliminates aggressive claiming loopholes related to “deemed” filing and voluntary suspension of benefits. The new law will be implemented on a prospective basis only. Our legislative and policy staffs are diligently working with Congress to analyze the intent of the legislation and update our instructions. Please check back for updates.
Connie
So no one who works for social security has the answer to this question! Another example of lack of transparency and the taxpayer always gets the short end of the stick. The only reason why the spousal benefit is secret is because of the lack of transparency and simplified information the public can understand about all the benefits available to them through Social Security including the spousal benefit and how it works. The spousal benefits should not be deemed a loophole. Calling it a loophole is another way of taking away money contributed by working Americans to Social Security and limiting the benefit.
R.F.
See “What do the Recent Social Security Claiming Changes Mean for Me” for more information.
Connie
So the widow gets an added benefit that will last for her lifetime but the woman who’s husband is still alive doesn’t in the examples sited. That does not sound like fairness.
Salvatore R.
Why don’t you give us the $580 Sen Schumer is talking about?
John O.
A question to ask Sen Schumer. He’s always going on and on about some sort of a cover up or refund on cell phones. Most of what you hear is a scam.