General

Social Security Commissioner Saul Honored as a Top Influencer in Aging

December 10, 2020 • By

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Last Updated: December 14, 2020

SSA Commissioner Andrew SaulAndrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, recently received an honor as a 2020 Influencer in Aging by PBS’s Next Avenue, a digital publication dedicated to covering issues for people 50 and older. The list honors advocates, researchers, and thought leaders who are changing how people collectively age and think about aging. Commissioner Saul earned the distinction for being an innovative leader and making customer service his top priority since his confirmation in 2019.

“When I came in, the first thing I did was make it very clear that our job at the agency, meaning the whole team, was to serve the public. Customer service is the most important feature–that’s the mojo here, and that’s what we are dedicated to do,” said Commissioner Saul. “The global pandemic has changed the way we do business, and I think it will be changed forever. We must provide the public with additional online, remote service, and self-service options that we all expect from organizations today.”

We have made tremendous progress in improving service delivery, despite the unprecedented times. Commissioner Saul has led us to significantly reduce the wait time for a disability hearing, offer remote hearings via video or telephone, hire new employees, improve staff training, and streamline workflows and communications. Read his full interview with Next Avenue.

During his interview, Commissioner Saul highlighted two topics that are especially relevant during the COVID pandemic and holiday season: scam calls and our online services.

We continue to raise public awareness, particularly during the holiday season, about telephone impersonation schemes. These calls include scammers pretending to be government employees or requesting cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems. We urge you to remain vigilant, hang up on these fraudsters, and report the call to Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General.

A safe and secure way to conduct business with us is through our website, where people can create their my Social Security account, a personalized online service. Through a personal my Social Security account, people can request a replacement Social Security card, check their Social Security Statement, apply for benefits, manage their benefits, and more.

Our employees continue to work remotely to provide the vital services the public relies on through online services and phone services, and offices are not able to accept in-person visitors at this time, except by appointment for dire need situations, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit our website for more information about services during the pandemic.

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About the Author

Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

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  3. Denise W.

    This is some kind of joke, right? But then again, with the Bizarro World Admin of the past 4 years, up is down, war is peace, etc, etc.

    Service delivery is ABYSSMAL! Local offices are STILL NOT OPEN, in spite of everything else being open. Field office staff are the most poorly trained that I’ve ever seen, and apparently there is zero oversight of these employees and managers. (And by oversight I don’t mean if they turned in such and such form on time).

    My disabled clients are given the wrong information continually, the “my ssa” account lacks any option for support and help, the wage reporting option there and the automated wage reporting phone line is malfunctioning 95% of the time – and again, no support option is mentioned anywhere.

    Calling the call center is another nightmare. If you can actually reach someone within 45 minutes, it’s a miracle. And then the person who answers apparently knows absolutely nothing about social security procedures and programs, which makes us wonder why and how they are working for this agency.

    I guess we’ll chalk it up to another agency trump has destroyed. However, it’s OUR TAX DOLLARS paying your salaries and we are entitled to these benefits. Unlike the billionaires and their government welfare, we actually earned ours.

    • Donna S.

      Wow, Denise, I feel your pain. I’m dealing with social security and wondering who they sold my drivers license and birth certificate to. Was originally told that I sent them in they would be returned the same day. What a joke. Then I was told they put them in the mail. I’m wondering why they didn’t use the pre-paid UPS envelope I sent with them so they could be tracked. If they put them in the mail they should have been here by now. It’s on 15 miles away. Your right again about the phone lines. One of my calls was disconnected right in the middle of a conversation. Others after 20 and 25 min waiting on hold. Also EVERY single conversation included a snippy attitude when questioned about anything. One woman just started the whole conversation with an attitude like what the hell do you want, your bothering me. ( 1-800 number) What I want to know from you is why is all this Trumps fault. Did you every write to him while he was in the office? Maybe had he had enough time he would have done something about it. Let me know how Joey handles it.

  4. Herminia T.

    Programs in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, for people with limited income and resources.

  5. Angela

    I did not bother to proofread my comments. I just jotted them down and submitted. I hope what I have mentioned delivers a more genuine and a more personable perspective. What I am saying more than likely resonates with many other people.

  6. Angela

    Congratulations to SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul. In regards to Mr. Saul’s blog about online service, I disagree with the telehealth. In my opinion, this modality is a disservice to the citizens. Many citizens do not have computers and do not have email addresses I see the forcing of the technology onto the people as an extra expense and a headache that many people could do without. People are already slammed dunked with the cost of living in this country. Just think the amount of money spent on this technology could be spent on deliverying more quality care. Yes and yes. People pay more into SS than the SS even pays out in services. The SS drops the ball. I know they do. The healthcare system has become top down instead of bottom up and this should not be. Also, the age discrimination is over the top and the federal government sells people out. I am aware of people who have become physicians in the 80s. The oldest living lady engineer is still working and is aged in her 80s. Tennis players at the age of 93. I am speaking about people to whom I know about. And the system is biased in itself. Bottom line big government sabotages. This is just the way it is. However most of you love it. Hey you are not under it so you do not care. Finally, when it comes to dealing with you, I will not conduct business online. I have had enough of straightening out and correcting situations due to this technology. I will go into the administration itself face to face or call SS to have paper sent to me. What all of you think is a brilliant move by using the technology as the number one priority for conducting business is ultimately not brilliant at all in my opinion. Other Americans do comment the same. SS even many people still file their taxes via paper. They are correct to do this if they want to stay afloat. Look at all the E-commerce fraud brought on by this virus. Please do any of you really care? I do not think so. All about money and not about delivering real medical care that people have worked for and are paying for.
    Finally, Mr. Saul, I appreciate your efforts; but, however, I do not see eye to eye with you. Freedom of speech from my and others’ sides of the street. DC is truly disconnected in many situations. Reason being.. top down and the people are not heard. People’s are shutdown when it comes to being heard and when it comes to opportunities and rights. If President Trump is not reelected, consider the country collapsed. Devastation will rule. Best.

    • Angela

      I choose to not use online. I am fed up with the errors, pending fraud, and situations that have to be corrected. I will call to ask for paper to be sent. If not, then, I truly do not know. Also, I have zero trust.

      • e

        If you don’t use online, why are you responding to this?

    • e

      Forcing technology? You don’t need a computer to talk on the phone. Read the definition of telehealth.

      Deliver more quality care? We’re in the middle of a pandemic. What more do you expect doctors and hospitals to do – make house calls?

      Hey you are not under it so why do you care? Why do you think people are looking at this site?

      Get educated.

  7. BETTY G.

    mike/staff,

    please have SHORTER paragraphs for us neuro cognitive patients who can NOT read long paragraphs and sentences that go on forever!

    breaking up the below for you as specific examples of what i am talking about.

    THANK YOU for your consideration 😉

    Betty Gordon, Iowa
    *************************

    “When I came in, the first thing I did was make it very clear that our job at the agency, meaning the whole team, was to serve the public.

    Customer service is the most important feature.

    That’s the mojo here, and that’s what we are dedicated to do,” said Commissioner Saul.

    “The global pandemic has changed the way we do business, and I think it will be changed forever.

    We must provide the public with:

    * additional online,
    * remote service,
    * and self-service options that we all expect from organizations today.”

    We have made tremendous progress in improving service delivery, despite the unprecedented times.

    Commissioner Saul has led us to:

    * significantly reduce the wait time for a disability hearing,
    * offer remote hearings via video or telephone,
    * hire new employees,
    * improve staff training,
    * and streamline workflows and communications.

    Read his full interview with Next Avenue.

    During his interview, Commissioner Saul highlighted two topics that are especially relevant during the COVID pandemic and holiday season:

    * scam calls
    * and our online services.

    We continue to raise public awareness, particularly during the holiday season, about telephone impersonation schemes.

    These calls include:

    * scammers pretending to be government employees
    * or requesting cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems.

    We urge you to:

    * remain vigilant,
    * hang up on these fraudsters,
    * and report the call to Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General.

    A safe and secure way to conduct business with us is through our website, where people can create their my Social Security account, a personalized online service.

    Through a personal my Social Security account, people can:

    * request a replacement Social Security card,
    * check their Social Security Statement,
    * apply for benefits,
    * manage their benefits,
    * and more.

    Our employees continue to:

    * work remotely to provide the vital services the public relies on through online services and phone services.

    Offices are NOT able to accept in-person visitors at this time:

    * except by appointment for dire need situations,
    * due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    Please visit our website for more information about services during the pandemic.

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  10. Onur E.

    I feel like a nice honor

    My web site: https://duzce.edu.tr/yonetim-bilisim-sistemleri/

    • BETTY G.

      spam

    • Robertchaires

      How do I get my medicare

      • Vonda

        Hi Robert, thank you for using our blog. Generally, individuals receiving Social Security benefits are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. If you are at least 64 years and 9 months old and aren’t receiving Social Security benefits, you can apply for Medicare A and B online.

      • sunshinensdca@aol.com

        Hello Robert, at 65, you should call your local SSA office or 1-800-772-1213 for an appointment or mail/fax form cms-40b to your local office.

Comments are closed.