Social Security News

News & Announcements Updated: October 15, 2010 (En Español)

Under the Law No Social Security COLA for 2011 (October 2010)	Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 58 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2011, the Social Security Administration announced today.  The Social Security Act provides for an automatic increase in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits if there is an increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was determined to the third quarter of the current year.  As determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2008, the last year a COLA was determined, to the third quarter of 2010, therefore, under existing law, there can be no COLA in 2011. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Fast-Track Disability Processes Get Even Faster (October 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency has published final rules that will further reduce the time it takes to decide applications for disability benefits from those persons with the most severe disabilities. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Among the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government (September 2010)	Social Security employees rate their agency as one of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government according to The Partnership for Public Service and American University’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Board of Trustees: Long-Range Financing Outlook Remains Unchanged (August 2010)	The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds and the long-range outlook remains unchanged.  The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2037, the same as projected last year.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Opens New National Hearing Center in St. Louis (August 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today opened in St. Louis, Missouri the agency’s fifth National Hearing Center (NHC).  The St. Louis NHC is the largest in the nation and is co-located with two other new Social Security facilities -- the National Case Assistance Center (NCAC) and the Midwest Training Center.  Together these three facilities will bring over 200 new federal jobs to St. Louis.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Proposes Legislation to End Furloughs of Federally Paid State Disability Workers (July 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency is submitting legislation to Congress that would prohibit states, without the Commissioner's prior authorization, from reducing the number of state personnel who make disability determinations for Social Security or the hours they work below the amount the agency authorizes.  For more information, read our press release.
Isabella Reigns as New Queen of Baby Names - Takes Top Spot on Social Security's Most Popular Baby Names List (May 2010)	There’s a new queen of baby names.  Isabella took the crown from last year’s winner, Emma, to claim the top girl baby name of 2009.  Jacob continued his remarkable run by holding onto the top boy name for the 11th year in a row over a new number two for boys, Ethan.  New to the top 10 this year for boys are Jayden and Noah, and for girls, Mia. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security's Online Services Take Top Three Spots in Customer Satisfaction Survey (May 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency’s online services continue to be the best in government and exceed the top private sector sites in customer satisfaction.  In the latest results from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator and benefit application remain in the top spots, each with a score of 90, and the Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs application placed third with a score of 87.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Releases Open Government Plan (April 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency has released its Open Government plan.  The plan, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/open, reflects the agency’s commitment to increase transparency, expand opportunities for citizen participation and collaboration, and make open government sustainable at Social Security.  For more information, read our press release.
The Cast of The Patty Duke Show Reunites to Tell Americans About New Online Medicare Application (March 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today joined award-winning actress Patty Duke and the cast of her hit 1960s sitcom, The Patty Duke Show, to unveil Social Security's newest online service – an application for Medicare benefits.  This new online application, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is for people reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65 who want to delay filing for Social Security retirement benefits.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Helps States with Mounting Disability Claims (March 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency's first Extended Service Team (EST) is open for business in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Little Rock EST will make disability decisions for state Disability Determinations Services (DDSs) that are most adversely affected by the flood of new initial disability claims resulting from the economic downturn and from counterproductive furloughs of employees at the state level. Later this year, Social Security will open additional ESTs in Madison, Mississippi; Roanoke, Virginia; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security to Provide Helpful Health Care Information to Over 3 Million Disability Applicants Each Year (March 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is providing helpful health care information and website links to the more than three million individuals who apply each year for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Hearings Backlog Falls to Lowest Level Since 2005 (March 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the number of disability hearings pending stands at 697,437 cases -- the lowest level since June 2005 and down more than 71,000 cases since December 2008, when the trend of month-by-month reductions began.  In addition, the average processing time for hearing decisions has decreased to 442 days, down from a high of 514 days at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2008. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Adds 38 New Compassionate Allowance Conditions (February 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances.  This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers - was announced in October 2008.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Awards Nearly $20 Million in Recovery Act Contracts For Electronic Medical Records (February 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that 15 healthcare providers and networks have received $17.4 million in contract awards to provide electronic medical records to the agency.  These electronic medical records, which will be sent through the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), will significantly shorten the time it takes to make a disability decision and will improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of the disability program. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Makes New Data Available to Public (January 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency is making new data about beneficiaries and the agency’s disability and hearing processes available to the public. The new data supports the President’s Transparency and Open Government initiative and is available at www.data.gov. For more information, read our press release.
Chubby Checker and Social Security Commissioner Astrue Announce a New "Twist" in the Law (January 2010)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and Chubby Checker, Grammy Award winner and rock and roll legend, today launched a new campaign to inform millions of Americans about a new "twist" in the law that makes it easier to qualify for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Holds Disability Hearing on Compassionate Allowances and Schizophrenia (November 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, was joined by Philip Wang, M.D., Dr.P.H., National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, and Social Security executives to hear testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on schizophrenia about possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for young adults with schizophrenia.  For more information, read our press release.
Social Security's Fiscal Year 2009 Performance and Accountability Report (November 2009)	SSA's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) is now available. Our FY 2009 PAR combines our annual performance report with our audited financial statements to provide full disclosure of our financial and programmatic operations. FY 2009 marks the twenty-third year that we have published audited financial statements and the sixteenth year that we have received an unqualified opinion on our financial statements.
Social Security Announces New Enhancements to Online Retirement Estimator (November 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the online Retirement Estimator, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator, now can provide immediate and personalized benefit estimates to people who have enrolled in Medicare but have not yet filed for Social Security benefits. Read our press release
Patty Duke and Dr. David Kessler Team with Social Security in Flu Prevention Public Service Campaign (October 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that Academy Award winner Patty Duke and David Kessler, M.D., former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have teamed with Social Security to launch a flu prevention public service campaign. Read our press release.
Prompt Passage of Economic Recovery Act Payment for 2010 Needed (October 2009)	Law Does Not Provide for a Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2010 With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010. Read our press release
Social Security Hearings Backlog Down for First Time in Decade (September 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that for the first time since 1999, the agency has ended the year with fewer disability hearings pending than in the prior year. Social Security ended fiscal year (FY) 2009 with 722,822 hearings pending compared to 760,813 hearings pending at the start of the year, a reduction of more than 37,000 cases. Read our press release.
Social Security Establishes Financial Literacy Research Consortium (September 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the establishment of a new Financial Literacy Research Consortium (FLRC), made up of research centers at Boston College, the RAND Corporation, and the University of Wisconsin. Read our press release.
Settlement in the Martinez Court Case (September 2009)	On September 24, 2009, Judge Claudia Wilken, United States District Court, Northern District of California, ordered final approval of the settlement between SSA and plaintiffs of the Martinez class action. Judge Wilken also directed entry of a final judgment in the case. The settlement concerns the Social Security Act directive not to pay Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Special Veterans Benefits (SVB), or Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits to individuals who are determined to be “fleeing to avoid prosecution or custody or confinement after conviction” for a felony. It also concerns the Act's directive not to select persons to serve as representative payees for such reasons. The settlement explains the revised policy on interpreting these statutory directives and the retroactive relief available to class members. For more information, read the details about the court-approved settlement agreement.
Social Security to Test Use of Microsoft’s HealthVault in Disability Process (August 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that the agency has entered into an agreement with Microsoft to test the use of Microsoft’s HealthVault application in the disability process. HealthVault is a free online service that enables people to gather, store and manage their families’ health information, and share that information with their physicians and healthcare providers. Read our press release.
Social Security Holds Compassionate Allowances Hearing on Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (July 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security was joined by Marie A. Bernard, M.D., Deputy Director of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, and other Social Security officials, to hear testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on early-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias about possible methods for identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for people with early-onset Alzheimer's. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security to Open New Teleservice Center in Jackson, Tennessee (June 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency plans to open a new teleservice center in Jackson, Tennessee, which will be the first new call center opened by Social Security in more than a decade. Read our press release.
Social Security Continues to Rank as One of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" (May 2009)	The Social Security Administration once again ranks as one of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government," according to The Partnership for Public Service and American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation. Read our press release.
Social Security Trustees: Economic Downturn Leads to Worsening of Long-Range Financing Outlook (May 2009)	The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The Trustees project that program costs will exceed tax revenues in 2016, one year sooner than projected in last year’s report. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2037, four years sooner than projected last year. The report is available in both text and portable document format.
America's Parents Vote for Change on Social Security's Most Popular Baby Names List (May 2009)	In 2008, American parents voted for change in naming their children. After a 12-year reign as the most popular baby name, Emily has slipped to third on the list. Emma is now the nation's most popular name for girls. The most popular boy's name, Jacob, remained the same for the 10th year in a row. Read our press release.
Commissioner Astrue and Senator Bingaman Tour New National Hearing Center in Albuquerque (April 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today joined U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) for a tour of the agency's new National Hearing Center (NHC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Commissioner Astrue and Senator Bingaman also announced that Social Security plans to hire approximately 80 people for positions throughout New Mexico before the fiscal year ends in October and open an additional field office in the Albuquerque area in 2010.  For more information, read our press release.
Vice President Biden Announces $250 Recovery Payments to Go Out in May (March 2009)	Vice President Joe Biden and Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that the federal government will send out $250 economic recovery payments to people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits beginning in early May 2009 and continuing throughout the month. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Administration Receives Top Marks from Employees (February 2009)	The Social Security Administration has been named the top Government Employer by readers of Equal Opportunity Magazine and also has received Top Ten Ranking in the 2008 Federal Human Capital Survey. For more information, read our press release.
Commissioner Astrue Signs President's Ethics Pledge (February 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that he has voluntarily signed President Obama's Ethics Pledge, an action required only of new political appointees in this Administration. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security's Online Services Continue to Win Accolades (February 2009)	The Social Security Administration's online services have earned the highest overall score in the most recent e-Government Satisfaction Index.  The Index, which is administered by ForeSee Results in conjunction with the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), also gave three of SSA's applications the highest scores in government.  In a separate survey, Nextgov, a website devoted to technology and the federal government, listed www.socialsecurity.gov as one of the top five federal websites in its review of best online practices. For more information, read our press release.
Social Security Releases Annual Report on Hearing Backlog (February 2009)	Social Security has released the Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report on the agency's efforts to eliminate the hearing backlog. You can read the full report here. (1.4MB) .
Social Security Expands Fast-Track Disability Processes (January 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that improvements to the agency's computer modeling system have increased the number of claimants receiving expedited approvals for disability benefits. For more information, read our press release.
The Cousins are Back and They’re Filing Online for Social Security Benefits (January 2009)	Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and Patty Duke, Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy winning actress, today unveiled Social Security's new online retirement application and launched the agency's Retire Online campaign.  Featuring cousins Patty and Cathy Lane from the hit 1960's sitcom, "The Patty Duke Show," the campaign will let Americans know that it's now easier than ever to retire online at www.socialsecurity.gov.  For more information, read our press release.
Notice of Settlement Agreement in Kaplan Court Case (April 2008)	All non-United States citizens who are receiving or have received Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") and are or will be subject to the seven-year limit on receiving SSI pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1612(a)(2)(A) (such as refugees and asylees), prior to becoming a naturalized United States citizen. You are hereby notified that a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement and Release has been signed by the parties, resolving the claims that have been brought on your behalf in this law suit. Details about settlement agreement are accessible below. Notice of settlement agreement in class action for non-citizens who have received or are receiving Supplemental Security Income.