Working Together for the Common Good
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: November 6, 2023
Social Security emerged from the Great Depression to promote the economic security of our nation’s people. It provides security and peace of mind for America’s workers and their families. Social Security helps protect families against loss of income when the unexpected happens, such as a disability or the loss of a loved one.
On May 1 – 8, the Social Security Administration will celebrate a special week of action by joining forces with faith-based and community groups across the country to increase awareness about the agency’s programs and services. This year’s campaign theme is “Shining a Light on Your Lifetime Protections.” The goal is to increase knowledge about tools that could change lives for the better and set them on a sound financial course.
We invite you to participate in this effort. You can learn about your current and future Social Security benefits by creating a free my Social Security account. Easy, convenient and secure, a personal my Social Security account is the best way to accomplish a multitude of Social Security tasks online. This special week is also an excellent opportunity to tell people about myRA, the exciting new starter retirement savings plan for earners without access to a retirement plan at work. Visit the campaign website to learn how you can help spread the message about securing today and tomorrow.
We would like to thank faith and community groups for all they do to care for their neighbors and promote their well-being. We look forward to continuing to work with you in the days ahead.
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Susan
If she was 50 she should have worked more than 30 years of credits into the system at that age, and if she was the main breadwinner, she should have been putting into a retirement account that should have gone to her heirs as well, don’t feel entitled. She should have been saving for her future from the time she should have started earning those 30 + years ago, then that would go to her spouse in most states. If you want to feel entitled you should feel entitled to what she saved and if she saved nothing, that is what you are entitled to.
Ina M.
I gave not received my disability check yet, is there a hold up or have I missed something.
John O.
With such little information, how could anyone answer your question. Call SS and ask them.
Ina M.
I have not recieved my check yet , why.
Belinda L.
The death benefit needs to be reviewed, I recently had a sister pass away, she was only 50 and had worked over 20 years was coming up on retirement with her employment which she will never see now, her husband and daughter are left with bills to pay, she was a cancer patient, she was the main income in the household, the husband can not touch the retirement or draw SSI until he is retirement age which he is 52, and the death benefit paid out is a measly 255.00 why has this not been changed, to reflect or be more in line with what costs are now. Cancer devastes a family no matter how little or how long you have it or recover from it. There is no means out there to actually help the survivors of cancer patients to meet the basic needs or funeral costs at the end. This needs to be addressed, and benefits should be able to be drawn if a person passes away in their 50’s if they have worked for the past 10 years and paid into the system.
Susan
If SS were to pay tens of thousands for every cancer patient or $10,000. to start for a death benefit for everyone instead of benefits for the living, it would have gone bankrupt decades ago!
Retired
People need to purchase life insurance because you aren’t guarantee to live to be 100 years old.
John O.
Disabled widowers are entitled at age 50 and children through the age of 18+. In any insurance program some do not fare as well as others. That is the nature of insurance, it’s spreading the risk.
George J.
I work with disabled people at the Michigan Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Many of them receive some type of Social Security disability benefits, and most of them are lacking any or any clear and correct understanding about Social Security’s work rules for the disabled. Social Security’s focus seems to be mainly on helping people become entitled to benefits – taking their applications for benefits and processing them. Very little attention seems to be paid to post-entitlement issues, such as what happens to benefits when a person receiving disability goes to work. As a result, beneficiaries get into trouble with overpayments and benefit suspensions and terminations. I’d like to propose that Social Security offices conduct monthly group sessions for newly entitled disabled persons in which beneficiaries can be taught the complex sets of work rules they need to know about. Many beneficiaries do not even try to go to work because they believe working at all will jeopardize their entitlement. How about a new work incentive, in which public education about Social Security disability programs and the work rules can help to remove many of the myths and misunderstandings that exist? Social Security offices have meeting spaces that can be used once a month to invite the public to learn more about Social Security and, in particular, the troublesome work rules for the disabled. Such an open door approach might go very far to reduce overpayments and fraud, and to encourage beneficiaries to try to work within the rules, once they comprehend what the rules are.
Stephen S.
I’ve been on disability for almost five years. I can’t believe you are saying what you’ve said regarding working while on disability. The rules are constantly talked about in their posts. They clearly state the policies and programs for going back to work. You just think they should cater to your needs only. Go down to your local Social Security office and get the proper information.
John O.
An informed public will not prevent fraud, in fact, it might have the opposite effect.
R.F.
Thank you for your feedback George, we value your thoughts and suggestions as we look for ways to improve the services we offer.
Special rules make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive their benefits. Social Security calls these rules “work incentives“. Also, our “Ticket to Work” program is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work, get a good job that may lead to a career, and become financially independent, all while they keep their Medicare or Medicaid. Individuals receiving disability benefits should read our publication Working While Disabled – How We Can Help for more information. Thank you for helping us spread the word!
Lisa
Good luck with that thought… Actually provide us with useful information. That would be like Satan turning back to God.
F.B. A.
Give me a break. You take my money for forty five years and you can’t give me the return on my money that 1% compounded would give me at the end of that time. Then you take the money and spend it on welfare and other programs that benefit people who don’t pay into the system. After all of that you tell me that it is going broke. When did the government ever do anything well enough to support the taxpayers who wind up bailing out the governments incompetent behavior.
Diamond
Well said!
Beverly T.
I feel the same way . I took a early retirement 2ys ago because of health concerns. Was denied disability prior to that because I earned more then $900 a month . Over 30 yrs I paid into the system now I receive a fourth of what I earned . Yet they invested and earned interested on your money. Legal thieves !!!
beatrice c.
cant reply to all–et all: -but last comment by FB ashplant was very well said!!! I actually couldn’t say it
better ! kuddos!
Judith
Going to put this arictle to good use now.
Sandy L.
Yeah so true. And spend it like it was theirs to spend. Three years with no increase when prices rise. There is no just treatment and no favors. Our government is pathetic.
sherry h.
Actual its bern 9 years since raisr & inflation gone up 14%. They don’t let us have a living income but they can vote themselves a raise any time. That’s why we neex Sanders for Predident. By the way every president since Regan has tsken money out of SS to fund their projects. Yhe government owes SS all a lot of money
joa
The sad part u can’t find cheap rent. Thank god Roosevelt formed it, where would the baby boomer be today? lets hope they save it
John O.
You are looking at the retirement aspect only. SS provides insurance for families if the breadwinner dies. And for that you’d never be able to afford the premiums. Further, there are no investments that will guarantee a return each year. And the SS contributions were not spent on welfare programs. What was contributed is backed by Treasury Notes. Less than 2% is spent on administrative costs. No other government program is that efficient.
frustrated
I think any president, senator or representative that voted to use social security funds for non social security uses, should have their wages garnished for the amount they voted to allow, times the cost of living adjustment for each year since their vote resulted in funds taken for social security. When garnished the funds received should be returned to a “locked box” in which all social security funds are placed at an annuity interest rate for future years. That would sustain the Social Security retirement fund for many years to come. Then do the same for Medicare using the percentage of increase in shared responsibility… IE co-pay…that should save Medicare.
Troy Z.
Fixed annuities have guaranteed returns by the bonds, insurance companies and state funds! Chile and 3 Texas counties have been doing so much better than this bankrupt Govt Ponzi scheme.
see http://www.usdebtclock.org/
see
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/457117/200901081829/Can-Social-Security-Get-A-New-Deal-.aspx
Obama’s party lashes out when even partial privatization is brought up.
But taking retirement out of government’s hands works. It has worked in Chile. It has worked in Britain. It’s worked, as well, in Texas, where in 1981, Galveston County employees voted 78% to 22% to opt out of the Social Security system and put their trust in a private retirement plan. Brazoria and Matagorda counties followed Galveston out of Social Security before Congress outlawed in 1983 the option of leaving Social Security.
Lisa
Well if this is the case how come very few are receiving benefits. Why are we out on hold for literally hours only to be told some stupid bull shit. Hang up the phone call back wait for hours then get a different story the sane day? Call another office terminal hold and get a completely different answer? I feel the employees get Bonus for denieing us. I have had cancer for over 2 years. Cannot get approved I see it as a legal way for the government to Rob You. They hope you will give up and move on or die. My case will be to die. Will anyone hold them accountable NO!!!! I wish everyone of the employees gets a life treating illness and I hope they get treated just like us. Sit and wait to die. So so sad when the government is taking care of people in others countries but they can’t take care of there own… We have paid into this but there is no return on our investment. Its a crying shame were dying and Absolutely No Help….
Betty S.
Exactly now how are we going to get the government to believe we know what they are really doing and get them to stop taking advantage of us like we are idiots.
Troy Z.
see http://www.usdebtclock.org/
see
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/457117/200901081829/Can-Social-Security-Get-A-New-Deal-.aspx
Obama’s party lashes out when even partial privatization is brought up.
But taking retirement out of government’s hands works. It has worked in Chile. It has worked in Britain. It’s worked, as well, in Texas, where in 1981, Galveston County employees voted 78% to 22% to opt out of the Social Security system and put their trust in a private retirement plan. Brazoria and Matagorda counties followed Galveston out of Social Security before Congress outlawed in 1983 the option of leaving Social Security.
HOWARD
You forgot something. They take your money, keep it for years, spend it on everything, give it back to you and then – YOU HAVE TO PAY INCOME TAX ON YOUR OWN MONEY THEY GIVE YOU BACK.
Lisa
Easy if everyone stops paying there taxes and the governments income has been cut off then maybe they will listen. And I think were royally screwed because everyone is afraid of the government. It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever file a tax return again and I told them that in 2005. Never Never Again. Sure wish you folks would put on your big boy pants and do the same. I Hate The Government and I Have No Shame in Telling them.so. Stand Up America.
George S.
George Sacco
Thank you, for all your organization does
Donna K.
A special week of action needs to be provided to getting claims reviewed and processed timely. This is an incredibly difficult system to navigate. I don’t believe the founders of the program would be proud of how the people it was designed to protect are treated.
Judy
Review the reviewers. Too slow for anyone to be alive when they are approved. Disability is money employees put into a broken system and not given to them when they are in dire need. Miss-handling paper work and being slow in getting them what they have been promised and paid for is a travasty. What if the government delayed all White House employees payroll for 6 months? Do you think the government would step in and immediately fix the problem like they should. Seems there is a great amount of discrimination in the processing of Socila Security Disability payments due to the Americans that paid into our democratic system.
Tom
You get the government you voted for based on who you sent to Congress. Too many want to be libertarians with government benefits. When your Congressman cuts government because that is what a billionaire contributor wants, you should not be surprised that services get worse. Voting has consequences. Stop voting against your own interests and for the agendas of the 1% and those with inflated political power. You can reclaim your own democracy or you can complain. Your choice.
Emeline
I’ll try to put this to good use imydeiatelm.
Judith M.
Answer is a dedicated, knowledgeable Advocate who completes medical record.and.residual functional capacity analysis and expertise in writing briefs,.longitudinal summary to ensure the accurate onset date. Some file case and don’t do analysis at beginning of case initial level or present argument at appeal level.
ethan
By SSA reports only 28% of those who initially apply for SSD and SSI are approved. 72% are initially denied. That says SSA exists to create cash flow for congress and money for its employees but virtually zero aid to actually disabled people
Lisa
Amen. The system is more than broken. I have had cancer for over 2 years. The only benifits I receive is $194.00 per month for food stamps and a medical insurance that doesn’t psy for the cancer drugs I need…. I lost my 20 year career, my home and every other asset I had waiting for help. I now live in the desert primitive camping. Its been 7 months now and it is really greeting hot here. Were do I go from here, no money, no medical and now heading for 100 degree plus tempeture. Anyone have any suggestions. I’m lostband dying with no help from the government. The cancer isn’t going to kill me, the not eating and the high heat will finish me off and they will get to keep all the money I paid in for well over 30 years.
Doomed in Arizona
If anyone has any suggestions email me at lisabrumley7 @gmail.com as I’m desperate.
LC E.
Thanks
Felix M.
la orientación es la mejor herramienta para fortalecer el futuro de todos.
Dave S.
Speak English please.
Deejay.
orientation is the best tool to strengthen the future of all.
Troy Z.
see http://www.usdebtclock.org/
see
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/457117/200901081829/Can-Social-Security-Get-A-New-Deal-.aspx
Obama’s party lashes out when even partial privatization is brought up.
But taking retirement out of government’s hands works. It has worked in Chile. It has worked in Britain. It’s worked, as well, in Texas, where in 1981, Galveston County employees voted 78% to 22% to opt out of the Social Security system and put their trust in a private retirement plan. Brazoria and Matagorda counties followed Galveston out of Social Security before Congress outlawed in 1983 the option of leaving Social Security.
Dianne
They only collect their monies in English !!
Retired
What you say?
John O.
En lugar de orientación, asimilación en el país que vive en por hablar su lengua es aún mejor.
Dan P.
Which Native American language do you and your family speak?
R.F.
Para información en Español, favor de visitar http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. For information in Spanish, please visit http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial.
Chris
No seas grosero
R.F.
Para información en Español, favor de visitar http://www.segurosocial.gov For information in Spanish, please visit http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial.
MRS J.
I FOUND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH SOCIAL SECURITY IN ORDERTO RECEIVE MY LATE HUSBAND’S SOCIAL SECURITY. I WOULD ASK AN AGENT A QUESTION AND GET A ANSWER ONLY TO GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THE SAME QUESTION FROM ANOTHER RUDE AGENT. I LIVED IN POVERTY WHEREBY CAREGIVERS BEAT ME STOLE FROM ME STARVED ME THREW OUT ON THE STREET THEY HAD CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS IT WAS NOT TILL PHILLIP MOELLER ND HIS BOOK ‘GET WHAT’S YOURS; AND CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON HELPED ME THIS TOOK A YEAR AND 9 MONTHS I HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL AND MEDICAL BACKGROUND SERVED IN THE ARMED SERVICES ONLY TO BE SPAT UPON AND TREATED LIKE DIRT WHILE BEING LIED TO HUNG ON LIKE AN OLD OLD TERRIER DOG
Trayce
This is not my business but I am so sorry for you and your misfortunes..Let’s hope this is behind you now and you have decent caregivers..God bless you!!
Mrs John Thompson.