HISTORY PAGE WINS

LYCOS HONORS

Ever wonder what a world-class

Internet home page looks like? If

so, be sure to stop by www.ssa.gov/

history the next time you’re online

and check out Social Security’s 

history page. There you’ll find 

valuable information about Social

Security, how it got started and how

it evolved over the years. 

If you think the site rates as

something special, you’re not alone.

Lycos, one of the largest Internet

search engines, recently named it

among the top five percent of the

sites on the Web. Lycos said,

“Considering that most young adults

don’t believe Social Security will be

around when they get old, they

might want to check out the program’s history at the official Social

Security Administration (SSA) site.

Academics and historians will find a

ton of resources here, from old 

photos and court rulings to transcribed interviews with those instrumental in creating the landmark

program. A fascinating and exhaustive collection – one worth preserving for future generations, regardless of their stake in the federal entitlement till.”

According to SSA Historian

Larry DeWitt, one of the co-creators

of the page, the site gets about

2,000 hits a day. “It really is a worldwide web. We get traffic from over

50 countries. Our goal is to have as

much information as possible in this

easily accessible media, so students,

researchers, archivists and the general public won’t have to travel to

Baltimore to see it.”

For the past year, Larry and his

co-worker Bob Krebs have been converting many of Social Security’s

paper records into electronic format

for the Internet. Some of the material has been specially written, such

as the brief history of Social Security

for general audiences. And, of

course, there’s an extensive amount

of original material for those who

want more in-depth information.

Included are the speeches and articles written by Arthur Altmeyer, 

SSA’s first Commissioner. “It lets visitors get an insight into what policymakers were thinking in the early

years of the program,” Larry says. 

A catalog listing oral interviews 

with more than 120 key policy makers over the years is also available

and gradually the interviews themselves are being converted into online documents. More than a dozen

items include sound bites and video

clips from the past. 

What’s the most requested information? The original Social Security

Act of 1935 and the subsequent

Supreme Court rulings on its constitutionality lead the list. Other items

of interest are Presidential speeches

about Social Security, frequently

asked questions and a brief history

of the agency itself, including everything from why it’s located in

Baltimore to the Oklahoma City

bombing.

For those who want to test their

Social Security IQs, there’s also a

fun-and-games page featuring a

Social Security quiz, crossword puzzles and picture puzzles from Social

Security’s past. It all adds up to a

site you might want to put on your

favorites list.

Volume 3, Number 1 An official publication of the Social Security Administration January / February 1998

SOCIAL SECURITY

TODAY
MEET A 

BENEFICIARY

JONATHAN STRICKLAND TEACHES DOCTORS

“Don’t expect your patients to go along

with everything you say.” That’s the message

from 16-year-old Social Security beneficiary

Jonathan Strickland of Alton, New

Hampshire. For the past two years, Jonathan

has spoken to several classes of third-year

medical students at Harvard Medical

School about patient-doctor relations. And

Jonathan should know a lot about patientdoctor relations. Since age 5, he’s had more

than 48 surgeries to treat complications

from congenital craniosynostosis, an abnormality resulting from a premature closure

of the bones of his skull during fetal development. More recently, his medical needs

have centered on obstructive sleep apnea,

which causes labored breathing during

sleep, and osteochondritis dissecans, which

gives him discomfort and frequent locking

in his knee.

Jonathan says, “I’m tired of

operations. I’ve had enough.”

To the class he says, “Patients

have their own feelings and

they’ll do what they feel is

right. Offer what assistance you

can to make it easier. And, oh yes, get rid

of those scrubs. They’re scary.”

Even though Jonathan’s physicians 

recommended surgery to treat his most

recent conditions, Jonathan believed the

procedures were unnecessary and refused

them. His refusal became a source of family

tension and he was referred to a counselor,

Gordon Harper, M.D., at Harvard Medical

School. The counseling he received eventually led to his position in front of the class

of medical students. “I told them what

scared me about surgery and what my 

doctors did to help me, and, in some cases,

what they could have done differently.”

Dr. Harper, instructor of the PatientsDoctor III Commons course at Harvard’s

Children’s Hospital, says, “Jonathan’s case

presents an opportunity for students to

become more familiar with how to evaluate

a patient’s past procedures and the needs

of adolescent patients.” The course is

designed 

to support 

medical 

students in 

the transition 

from pre-clinical 

studies to the 

years of 

clinical training ahead.

As the son of a disabled Vietnam War

veteran, Jonathan has been getting Social

Security benefits since 1989. More recently,

he became eligible for Supplemental

Security Income payments, too, based on

his own disability and his family’s finances.

“The money goes to help with the day-today cost of living.”

Right now, Jonathan is a sophomore 

at Alton Central High, studying human 

biology, algebra 1, college prep English,

economics and computer literacy. His

favorites are biology and computer literacy.

In his spare time, he works on his motorbike and truck. After high school and 

college, Jonathan plans to go on to medical

school himself and a career as a doctor. If he

does, he’ll certainly be one up in patientdoctor relations. 

EDITOR:

The note, “Retirement Age Increasing”

in Social Security Today for September/

October states: “When Social Security was

set up in 1935, the age for retirement benefits was 65. But only about half of those

working actually lived long enough to 

collect them.” In the mid-1930s, the life

expectancy at birth was a little less than 65.

Based on this “fact,” many persons conclude – quite incorrectly – that most workers (or worse, all workers) would not, under

those conditions, reach retirement age.

The fallacy of this analysis, which the

aforementioned note picks up, is that one

should consider life expectancy at, say, age

20 when a person generally enters the labor

market. On this basis, the mid-1930s life

expectancy of the new entrants to the work

force was to age 68, so that about 60 percent survived to age 65. Moreover, if one

considers all persons of all ages who were

working when Social Security went into

effect, the survival proportion would have

been about 75 percent. Both of these 

figures are well above the “only about half”

in the note.

Robert J. Myers

Former Chief Actuary

Social Security Administration

Ed’s note: Today the life expectancy of

someone entering the work force at age 20

is 77.4 years.

A number of readers caught an error in

the table published in the September/

October article, so we are reprinting the

new retirement age table in its entirety.

Here’s the rundown on retirement ages

that could affect you. 

Year of birth Full retirement age

1937 or earlier 65

1938 65 and 2 months

1939 65 and 4 months

1940 65 and 6 months

1941 65 and 8 months

1942 65 and 10 months

1943-1954 66

1955 66 and 2 months

1956 66 and 4 months

1957 66 and 6 months

1958 66 and 8 months

1959 66 and 10 months

1960 and later 67

A WRONG NUMBER CAN DELAY

YOUR TAX RETURN

As regular as clockwork, the Internal

Revenue Service (IRS) reminds us to pay our

taxes by sending us a Form 1040 soon after

the first of the year. If you’re due a refund,

you also want to make sure you receive it

promptly. You can avoid delays by verifying

that all names and Social Security numbers

are recorded correctly on your tax return.

When processing tax returns, IRS

checks all names and Social Security numbers for accuracy. In the past, IRS matched

the names and numbers of taxpayers and

their spouses. Now, the names and numbers

of all dependents, including newborns, listed on the tax return are checked.

When IRS discovers an incorrect Social

Security number on your tax return, the

agency will send you a letter explaining the

discrepancy. You must fix the problem by

giving IRS the correct Social Security number before you can get a tax refund. If you

don’t already have a number or if you need

one for a dependent, call or visit a Social

Security office.

In addition, check the Social Security

number on your W-2 statement and pay

stubs to make sure it matches the one on

your card. If it doesn’t, tell your employer

immediately.
COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE

Kenneth S. Apfel 

Commissioner 

of Social Security 

Upon

assuming office, 

I directed this

agency to conduct a top-tobottom review

of the implementation of the childhood disability 

provisions of the welfare reform law. This

review was needed because Congress, the

President and the American public

deserved to know whether the law and the

regulations were being applied fairly.

We examined a number of aspects of

the implementation including quality assurance data, developed case profiles, reviewed

adjudicators’ instructions and conducted

other oversight activities with this goal: to

ensure that our implementation process

permitted every child who is eligible for disability benefits to receive them.

Overall, Social Security and the states

did a good job implementing the childhood

disability provisions of the law, but we did

find problems with the manner in which

certain redeterminations were made. 

Most importantly, I want to emphasize

that our review was not about numbers — it

was about children. And because of that, we

are now taking steps above and beyond normal action to make sure that no child

whose benefit should have continued is

overlooked. We are now reviewing approximately 45,000 of the SSI childhood disability cases that were ceased during this

process. All benefit cessation cases showing

the mental retardation code, as well as all

denials of initial applications filed on or

after August 22, 1996, with the mental retardation code, are being reviewed. In addition, for children with the code for mental

retardation and an IQ score of 75 or below,

we are reopening their cases, developing

them as needed and providing a new redetermination if their benefits were ceased or

their applications were denied. In cessations

of children with the code for mental retardation and an IQ score above 75, we are

reviewing their cases and, if deficiencies

exist, reopening them, developing the cases

as needed and providing a new redetermination. 

Also, while the accuracy of decisions has

been above the regulatory threshold for

accuracy nationally, our quality assurance

data show that the accuracy varies by state

and by impairment. Therefore, to ensure a

uniform level of accuracy, we are reviewing

a portion of the cessation cases in each state

in those areas which have been found to

have the greatest likelihood of errors.

In addition, families of all children

whose eligibility for Supplemental Security

Income has been ceased under the new law

and who have not appealed will receive

another opportunity to do so, and a new 10-

day period to request benefit payments to

continue during the appeals process. Also,

we are making a concerted effort to ensure

that families are aware of available legal

assistance by providing toll-free numbers in

our field offices, teleservice centers, our

Internet site and on the notices we send.

Our initial estimate of 135,000 children

losing benefit eligibility has been modified.

We now believe that about 100,000 children, approximately 10 percent of the children who were receiving benefits based on

a disability, will be impacted.

During the review, we also sampled 151

cessation cases to help us answer the question, ‘Who are these children?’ We found

that the children affected do have limitations in functioning, but by and large, their

conditions are not as severe as those of the

900,000 children who will continue to

receive benefits. The majority of cases in

which children came off the rolls involved

learning problems, such as attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorders. A third of the children sampled had

demonstrated medical improvement. 

This was an exhaustive process that

received input from many people—advocates, service providers, members of Congress

and the public. We could not have conducted

this review without their support, and I want

to personally thank them. I also want to say

that this agency is doing all that it can to protect the rights of disabled children.

A COOL PLACE TO

WARM UP

There’s a new hangout for kids that’s been

catching a lot of attention

lately. It’s Social Security’s

web pages for children, a

specially designed

Internet site that explains

Social Security in terms

young people can understand. The site includes

information and educational materials suitable

for grades kindergarten

through six –“Social

Security Kid’s Stuff”– and

grades seven through 12 –

“Hot Questions for Cool

Teens.” There’s also a 

section for parents, “What

Every Parent Should

Know About Social

Security,” and a kit for

teachers, “Social Security

and You,” that can be

downloaded for further

use. 

In its first two weeks on

the Internet, the site was 

visited by more than

10,000 people. To get to

the Social Security web

site for kids, go to

www.ssa.gov/kids.

TUNE IN TO SOCIAL SECURITY

In the July/August issue of Social

Security Today, we published a list of recently produced videos to fill viewers in on various aspects of Social Security. The results

were overwhelming; we received more

than 1,200 requests for videos from our

readers. In this issue, we offer another list

of videos. Most of these tapes are for specific audiences with a number explaining

things employers need to know to make

submitting information easier and more

accurate. 

To get a copy of any of the videos listed

below, just fax Social Security’s Distribution

Center, 1-410-965-0696. A single copy of

each is available without charge.

PREPARING A W-2/W-3 

20:00

Explains how employers should complete W-2/W-3 forms for their employees to

make sure they contain all the information

required by Social Security. 

SSA: THE EMPLOYER’S PERSPECTIVE 

12:00

Looks at Social Security from an employer’s point of view and shows how Social

Security processes a W-2 form. Also gives

tips on avoiding most common problems in

processing W-2s.

CRITICAL LINKS 

15:00

Explains how important it is to provide

accurate names and Social Security numbers on W-2s. Also shows employers correct

ways to enter difficult names on W-2s and

how to avoid most common name errors. 

REPORTING SPECIAL WAGE PAYMENTS 

15:00

Explains how employers should report

special wage payments—those made to an

employee or retiree in a prior year—and

avoid reducing the retiree’s Social Security

benefit.

A GUIDE TO PULMONARY FUNCTION

STUDIES 

20:00

Designed to improve the quality of medical evidence submitted by doctors and respiratory technicians, this program acquaints

specialists with Social Security’s specific evidentiary requirements in this area.

WHAT , S NEW
ANNUAL REPORT NO

LONGER REQUIRED

People who receive Social

Security benefits and work and

earn over the annual limit no

longer need to file an annual

report of earnings. As one way to

provide these workers with better

service, last year Social Security

began accepting the earnings

information employers report on

W-2s or income reported on selfemployment tax returns to adjust

benefits. In previous years, working beneficiaries were required to

send Social Security an annual

report of earnings no later than

April 15.

The earnings limit for people

65 through 69 is $14,500 this year.

For workers under 65, it’s $9,120.

There are, however, a few

instances when beneficiaries still

need to file an annual earnings

report. Generally, working beneficiaries under age 70 need to file

annual reports when their actual

earnings are not the same amount

as those reported on their W-2

and/or self-employment tax

return. Also, people who are eligible to receive benefits under the

monthly earnings test and certain

self-employed people, as well as

people who had earned income in

another year, should call their

local Social Security office to find

out whether they must file an

annual report. 

ADVICE FOR TAX TIME

If you’re receiving Social

Security, you should know that you

may have to pay taxes on some of

your benefits. Couples whose combined income is between $32,000

and $44,000, and individuals with

incomes between $25,000 and

$34,000, may have to pay federal

income tax on up to 50 percent of

their benefits. Couples whose

combined income exceeds

$44,000, and individuals whose

income is over $34,000, may have

to pay taxes on up to 85 percent

of their benefits. For those whose

income is below these levels,

Social Security benefits are not

taxed.

For tax purposes, income is

defined as the couple’s or individual’s adjusted gross income as

reported on Form 1040, plus one

half of the total Social Security

benefits received for the year, plus

nontaxable interest.

The taxes are due along with

other taxes you have to pay when

you file your federal tax return.

Because the law currently prohibits Social Security from withholding taxes from benefits, you

may want to file quarterly estimated tax returns and pay the

amount due at that time.

Legislation to permit tax withholding from Social Security benefits is pending in Congress.

MORE BENEFITS FROM

MEDICARE

Starting in January, Medicare

is adding more benefits to help

you stay healthy. Yearly mammograms, pelvic and breast examinations, including Pap smears, and

colorectal cancer screening are

now covered by Medicare medical

insurance. Talk to your doctor to

see if any of these examinations

are right for you.

MEDICARE ENROLLMENT

PERIOD ENDS MARCH 31

The annual open enrollment

period for Medicare medical

insurance (Part B) ends March 31.

That means if you’re eligible for

this important protection, but

aren’t enrolled, you’ll have a

chance to sign up. Medicare medical insurance helps pay for doctors’ services and a variety of other

medical services and supplies that

are not covered by Medicare hospital insurance. Each year, as soon

as you meet the annual medical

insurance deductible, Medicare

medical insurance generally will

pay 80 percent of the approved

charges for covered services you

receive during the rest of the year.

This year, the deductible is $764.

If you didn’t enroll for

Medicare Part B when you first

became eligible, your premium

will be 10 percent higher than the

basic monthly premium for each

year you were eligible but did not

enroll. The basic monthly

Medicare Part B premium did not

change in 1998; it’s still $43.80.

If you’re 65 or older and not

eligible for Medicare’s premiumfree hospital insurance (Part A)

coverage, you can buy this coverage along with Part B coverage

during the annual enrollment

period.

If you want to sign up for

Medicare Part B, call your local

Social Security office, or our tollfree number, 1-800-772-1213, any

business day between 7 a.m. and 7

p.m. The lines are busiest during

the middle of the day. It’s best to

call early in the morning or in the

evening.

FIRST CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

PERMIT NO. G-11

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

4-J-10 WEST HIGH RISE

BALTIMORE MD 21235

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

FIRST CLASS

Social Security Administration

SSA Publication No. 05-10110

KEEP IN MIND

Looking forward to a carefree

retired life? Plenty of rest, relaxation and playing with the grandchildren? Do those grandchildren

live out of state? What happens to

your Social Security benefits when

you visit them, go on vacation or

are away from home for other reasons? When you apply for Social 

Security, be sure to sign up for 

direct deposit, too. Then you’ll 

know your benefits are safely 

deposited in your bank, credit 

union or savings and loan, every

time, no matter where you are.

If you don’t already have an

account, think about opening one

before you retire. Contact the

bank, credit union or savings and

loan of your choice, and they’ll be

glad to help you. If you already 

have a bank account, bring your 

bank statement or personal 

check and your Social Security

number with you when you apply

for Social Security benefits.

Do you always pay by cash?

When you use direct deposit, you

have the option of writing a check

to pay your bills from the safety of

your home. You also can write a

check to buy your groceries, all

without carrying a lot of cash with

you. Even if you still want a little

cash in your pocket, direct

deposit makes it easy. With ATMs

you have easy access to cash just

about anytime, day or night. 

Even if direct deposit doesn’t

appeal to you at first, you should

look into the advantages. When

you retire, you want the freedom

to come and go as you please.

Why tie yourself down waiting for

your benefit check in the mail?

Send it to the bank, 

credit union or

savings and loan 

of your choice, and 

enjoy your carefree 

retired 

years.

ARE YOU CHAINED 

TO THE BANK?
Social Security Today

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Volume 3, Number 3

An official publication of the

Social Security Administration

May / June 1998

SSA Publication No. 05-10110

SOCIAL

SECURITY

TODAY

SOLVENCY INCREASES

The Social Security trust funds are in better shape today than they

were a year ago. That's according to the Social Security Board of

Trustees which recently released its 1998 report on the Old Age and

Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds.

The report shows that the funds will remain solvent until 2032, up three

years from the last report. The Social Security trust funds support

benefit payments to more than 44 million Americans.

Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel said that "the good

news can be attributed to a period of sustained economic growth,

reduced unemployment rates and low inflation." He added, "I believe

that today's report confirms that the long-term financing issue is one of

manageable proportions. Although there is no immediate financial

crisis, the time to act is now to prevent a crisis from ever occurring."

The trustees reported that income from payroll taxes will become

insufficient to meet all Social Security obligations in 2013, a year later

than forecast in last year's report. At that time it will be necessary to

begin using interest income to pay benefits. Beginning in 2021, it will

be necessary to redeem trust fund assets to pay benefits until 2032,

when the trust fund reserves will be exhausted and income going into

the trust funds will provide money to pay only three-fourths of benefits.

Over the 75-year long-range forecast, the trustees predicted the

shortfall will be 2.19 percent of taxable payroll, rather than 2.23

percent as estimated last year.

The trustees emphasized that "it is important to address both the

OASI and DI problems soon to allow time for phasing in any necessary

changes and for workers to adjust their plans to take account of those

changes.

Extensive public discussion and analysis of the practical implications of

alternatives is essential to developing the broad support needed to

enact any Social Security reform legislation. Thus, we cannot overstate

the importance we attach to President Clinton's plan for bipartisan

forums on Social Security reform across the country this year followed

by a White House conference in December and development of

bipartisan legislation early next year.

"It is critical that every citizen, young, old and in-between, participate in

or follow closely the information and arguments brought out in the

DEC AUG OCT

16

1998 2000 2001

5 captures

3 Dec 98 - 8 Jul 01

Clos

He
Social Security Today

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forums and make their own views known. There is time to discuss and

evaluate alternative solutions with deliberation and care, and we must

use the coming months to find changes that effectively guarantee a

basic level of income for the aged, disabled and survivors of deceased

workers. Social Security is too important both to individuals who

receive benefits and to our society as a whole to fail to find an

acceptable means for protecting this program's future."

The Board of Trustees reports to Congress annually on the current and

estimated future financial condition of the trust funds, as required by

law. The report uses annually updated economic and demographic

assumptions, reflecting the nation's recent experience and available

research.

Based on their intermediate assumptions, the trustees also report—

About 147 million workers in 1997 worked in jobs covered by

Social Security and 44 million people were receiving benefits

each month.

Income to Social Security's combined OASDI trust funds totaled

$457.7 billion and outgo totaled $369.1 billion. In 1996, income

totaled $424.5 billion, and outgo was $353.6 billion.

The trust fund reserves stood at $656 billion at the end of 1997

(up from $567 billion in 1996) and interest income amounted to

$43.8 billion, representing an effective annual interest rate of

7.5 percent.

Administrative expenses totaled $3.4 billion, or about 0.9

percent of benefit payments.

The Board of Trustees is composed of six members: the Secretary of

the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and

Human Services, the Commissioner of Social Security, and two public

members who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the

Senate to serve four-year terms.

MEDICARE FUNDS UP, TOO

The same report that showed improved projections for Social Security's

trust funds also had good news for Medicare. Exhaustion for the

Health Insurance Trust Fund is now 2008, back seven years from last

year's report.

The trustees base this increase on legislation in the Balanced Budget

Act of 1997 enacted to help control Medicare cost growth. The trustees

said the legislation not only pushed back the exhaustion date of the

Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, but also reduced by one-half the

projected long-range financial imbalance facing that program.

"We are also pleased that program integrity efforts aimed at reducing

waste, fraud and abuse appear to be having an impact on cost growth

in some areas," said the trustees. "Finding good solutions to providing

medical care for the elderly and disabled will be a continuing and

difficult challenge as our population ages and medical care evolves.

The action taken last year was a significant first step in meeting that

challenge."

MEET A BENEFICIARY

SPOTLIGHT ON CENTENARIANS
Social Security Today

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It's true. People are living longer. And not only that, more people are

living to be 100 and older. In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau counted

35,808 centenarians and it estimates that by the year 2000, more than

100,000 people in the U.S. will have reached the century mark.

As part of Older American's Month, Today visited three ladies who

have reached that milestone and are still doing their own thing.

Sarah Kirkland is 106 and still fairly self-sufficient. She does her own

cooking, goes to church frequently and still reads the Bible. She

credits her longevity to her strong faith and the fact that she stuck to

the old-fashioned way she was raised. One of Sarah's most vivid

memories is learning to drive on a Model T Ford.

Lois Gillis Hall is still active in many organizations. She lectures – by

memory – for a book club and belongs to a club that reviews plays.

Over her lifetime, she has been president of 10 different organizations.

After receiving her master's degree from the University of Oklahoma,

she was head of the English department at Northeasten State

University for 19 years.

Even though she can see out of only one eye, she still reads every

day. Lois has been around the world twice. When she was 83, she

went to China and walked further along the Great Wall than anyone

else in her tour group. A healthy lifestyle is one of the keys to her

longevity. Her parents instilled an optimistic attitude in her and always

made her think anything was possible.

Alice Horwedel was born on a farm in Pennsylvania in 1896. She

graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1913. During her lifetime, she

has lived in many parts of the United States, from California to

Georgia. In the early 1920s, she worked for United Artists and MGM

and had an opportunity to meet several film stars, including Charlie

Chaplin and Walter Brennan. Her first husband was the plant manager

for General Motors, so she had a lifelong fascination for beautiful cars.

She was an avid camper and fly-fisherwoman for many years. Alice

has one daughter, with whom she now lives, and two grandchildren.

When asked what they attributed their longevity to, they all mentioned

hard work. While it's easy to think of centenarians as a homogenous

group, as these ladies show, individually, they are as varied, interesting

and charming as any other individuals, only with more memories.

WORLD-CLASS SERVICE

THE WOMAN AT MY DESK

—by Eric D. Goodman

Claims Rep, Columbus, Ohio

The woman before my desk was in an unfortunate situation. Upon her

arm she wore a bandage in feeble attempts to deter the pain of her

worsening arthritis. Her left breast had been removed due to the

cancer which still spread. Pain was worn upon her troubled face with

the wrinkles of occasional grimaces. She had come to the Social

Security office to file for disability benefits. The pools in her eyes

overflowed when I told her that she was ineligible. She was an alien

who had only been in our country for three years: too short to file for

citizenship, not long enough to have paid enough tax for coverage

regardless of her strong work history for the duration of her residency.

Our government had invited her with open arms. Now that she had

become disabled, the same government refused her.
Social Security Today

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This is one example of a challenge faced by federal employees; even

in situations where help is obviously needed, we must abide by the

laws passed and deny benefits. Generally good regulations do not

always fit individual situations.

Another challenge is bad publicity. In addition to the general distrust of

big government, bad press often results from such difficulties as

managing increasing workloads with shrinking resources and denying

claimants due to new regulations. We face the negative publicity and

challenge it — federal employees work hard to serve the public.

The challenges of tomorrow will be very much the same at the core.

Distrust of big government has existed for some time. We accept these

challenges head-on and show the public that federal employees do

care about the people they serve.

In this ultimate challenge we also discover the dream for tomorrow: to

find a way to assist members of the public even when funding and

regulations make it difficult.

The woman at my desk had nowhere to turn. Her sponsor had left her.

She had broken all ties with her country in aspirations of becoming an

American. Rather than strip her of what little hope she had left, I took

the time to make a few phone calls. A homeless shelter offered her a

place to stay. A hospital explained that they would not refuse

treatment. A church was willing to provide food. A social agency would

pay for her needed medication.

The tears of pain which entered the office left as wide eyes of hope.

Regularly, I see discouraged faces transformed to contented smiles.

For this woman ... for these people, federal employees do make a

difference.

This will keep the dream alive for tomorrow as much as it allows

dreams to exist today for the thousands of people helped by federal

employees.

Ed's note: Eric's essay won first place in the Columbus and Central

Ohio Federal Executive Association Essay Contest. The theme of the

contest was "A Federal Career: The Challenges for Today and the

Dreams for Tomorrow."

COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE

Kenneth S. Apfel

Commissioner of Social Security

I often tell audiences there is a dramatic demographic shift under way

in the country –-one that will affect all of us in coming years. The

number of older Americans will increase dramatically, and it is this fact

that is driving the need for change in Social Security. Longer life spans

represent a major accomplishment of the 20th century ... but increased

life spans, together with the looming retirement of more than 70 million

baby boomers, will also place a strain on the nation's retirement

system as we enter the next century.

President Clinton has consistently made the point that he wants to deal

with the Social Security issue now, while times are good ... while there

is no immediate crisis ... rather than put it off for our children or

grandchildren to deal with.

The President said, "If we act responsibly and soon, we can strengthen

Social Security in ways that will not unfairly burden any generation:
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retirees, baby boomers, their children or their children's children. We

must be guided by a strong sense of duty to our parents and to our

children. We mustn't break the solemn compact between generations."

The President has called for a national nonpartisan dialogue on Social

Security reform throughout this year. And early next year bipartisan

negotiations on meaningful reform will begin.

How should we approach the tough choices that need to be made?

The President says we should adhere to some basic principles:

We need to strengthen and protect Social Security for the 21st

century.

We must maintain a system that is universal and fair. Today,

virtually every worker in America is covered by the Social

Security system. That is one of the program's strengths.

We need a Social Security system that provides benefits people

can count on, even if they outlive their savings and pensions.

Since the first Social Security monthly benefit payment was

made in 1940, no beneficiary has ever missed a "payday." They

know that the check will be in their bank or in their mailbox.

Any changes to Social Security must preserve that

dependability.

We need to make sure we continue to provide financial security

for disabled workers, survivors of deceased workers and lowincome beneficiaries. We can't abandon this commitment.

We must maintain our hard-won fiscal discipline in any longterm financing solution. In preserving Social Security for our

children, our grandchildren and future generations, we must not

jeopardize the progress we have made on the budget deficit.

For the first time in a generation, the nation now enjoys a

budget surplus.

It is important that we understand just a couple of things about

the budget surpluses. These surpluses won't solve the longrange shortfall, but they do give us an opportunity to devise a

solution ... while times are good, while there is no immediate

Social Security crisis.

If surpluses are drained before Social Security reform is addressed,

they will neither increase national savings nor strengthen Social

Security. If the surpluses are reserved, we create more maneuvering

room to deal with future challenges.

The national dialogue that is now under way is absolutely critical if we

as a nation are to reach the needed consensus for reform. We need

every community to hold forums to help educate the public. Having

now participated in a number of public forums, I know that people are

interested in this issue, that they want to know more, and that they

want to have their voices heard.

As President Clinton said, "Social Security reflects our deepest values

– our respect for our parents, our belief that all Americans need to

retire with dignity. We can't break this solemn compact between the

generations...and if we act soon and responsibly, we can strengthen

Social Security in ways that won't unfairly burden any generation."

MORE DISABILITY CASES REVIEWED

During 1998, Social Security will be mailing questionnaires to about

7,000 disabled widows and widowers, ages 50 – 60, and about

280,000 disabled adult children who currently receive benefits on a
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worker's Social Security record. The questionnaire is the initial step in

increasing the number of continuing disability reviews to ensure that

people who receive disability benefits are still eligible to do so.

In the past, insufficient resources limited Social Security to review only

wage earner's cases for continuing disability. However, additional

funding from Congress and a streamlined review process now enable

Social Security to conduct all the continuing disability reviews required

by law, including those for disabled surviving spouses and disabled

adult children.

The beneficiary's response will help Social Security decide if further

review is necessary. If not, the beneficiary will be notified that no

further action is required. If, however, more information is needed,

Social Security will send another letter explaining what the beneficiary

needs to do.

Since January, questionnaires have been sent to 100,000 disabled

adult children, beneficiaries over 18 whose disability started prior to

age 22. Additional questionnaires will be sent to disabled widows and

widowers and disabled adult children throughout 1998.

WHAT'S NEW

GET HELP WHEN HIRING

If you are an employer, you know when you hire new employees that

inaccurate or fraudulent information can be costly to your business. But

when your employee records agree with Social Security's, you can

report your employee's earnings accurately, saving time, money and

inconvenience. To make sure hiring new employees goes as smoothly

as possible, Social Security and the Immigration and Naturalization

Service (INS) are working together in a pilot project to help employers

keep accurate records and employ only people who are eligible to work

in the U.S.

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of

1996 requires Social Security and INS to pilot a new service. This

service verifies a new employee's Social Security number and

indicates if the new employee is eligible to work in the U.S. And it's all

done electronically. The two agencies are currently recruiting

employers from California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas to

participate in the pilot.

Employers who volunteer to participate must meet the following criteria

—

be non-discriminatory against anyone in hiring, firing or

recruitment practices;

hire employees and complete Form I-9 prior to initiating check;

verify all newly hired employees—verification is not selective;

make verification checks within three business days,

provide equipment needed to make inquiries (usually a PC with

modem); and

enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Social Security

and INS.

Here's how it works. After Form I-9 is com- plete, the employer sends

basic employee data to Social Security and, if necessary, to INS for

verification. An employer may receive a "tentative nonconfirmation" of

employee eligibility. This means that either Social Security or INS
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cannot verify the data submitted. If this happens, the employer must

notify the employee that there is a discrepancy. The employee has

eight working days to contact the appropriate agency to update his or

her record. Sometimes the employee's name is misspelled or the

Social Security number sent by the employer is incorrect. If the

employee doesn't update the record, a final nonconfirmation notice is

sent to the employer.

Employers who receive a nonconfirmation notice may terminate the

employee without civil or criminal liability under any law. The

termination action must be taken in good faith relying on information

provided through the confirmation system.

Social Security and INS will provide the four-year pilot of verification

services free of charge to employers. The confirmation system contains

safeguards designed to protect the integrity of personal information

contained in Social Security and INS databases, and employer

participation may be limited due to available resources. If you have any

questions or you would like to participate, call INS at (202) 514-2317.

Social Security Today is published bi-monthly to keep readers up-todate on important information about the Retirement, Survivors and

Disability Insurance programs. Supplemental Security Income and

Medicare. Permission is given to reprint articles, pictures and

information. We would appreciate crediting the Social Security

Administration as the source. Please direct correspondence to Editor,

Social Security Today, 4-J-10 West High Rise, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235 or send an e:mail to

RichardW.Schwartz@ssa.gov. Social Security Today is also available

on Internet at www.ssa.gov.

KEEP IN MIND

DIRECT DEPOSIT–IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

You've probably heard. Starting January 2, 1999, most federal

payments –- like Social Security and Supplemental Security Income

(SSI) benefits – will be issued by direct deposit.

Although you can still receive your benefit by check, direct deposit

offers many advantages – your check can't be lost or stolen; you get

your benefit quickly and on time, even if you are out of town, sick or

unable to get to your bank, credit union or savings and loan; and both

you and your money are safe.

When government-wide direct deposit goes into effect, you'll have

several options. If you think direct deposit is right for you, and you

have a checking or savings account, contact your bank, credit union or

savings and loan. They will be glad to help you sign up.

If you don't have a checking or savings account, think about opening

one. You can sign up for direct deposit at the same time. A variety of

accounts are available, some with little or no fees. Look for one that

meets your particular needs.

Maybe you would like to wait a little longer. Later this year, the U.S.

Treasury will have more information about a new, low-cost account

that may be right for you.

If using direct deposit will cause you problems or be too inconvenient,

you'll be able to continue receiving your money by check. Whatever
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decision you make, your Social Security or SSI payments will be made

on time and without interruption. But it's a good idea to learn more

about direct deposit now, so the choice you make will be the one that's

right for you.

REMINDER FOR NONQUALIFIED ALIENS

More than 18,000 noncitizens who do not meet one of the

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility categories will lose their

SSI payments October l, 1998. Under current law, aliens must be U.S.

citizens or must adjust their immigration status to one of the noncitizen

eligibility categories for their SSI to continue beyond that date.

In February 1998, Social Security notified more than 20,000

noncitizens whose records show they do not meet the SSI eligibility

categories about the need to change their immigration status. The

notice described the SSI noncitizen eligibility categories and reminded

noncitizens that they could contact the Immigration and Naturalization

Service at 1-800-755-0777 for information about adjusting their

immigration status. Since February, 1,600 case records have been

changed to reflect either U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status.

BRIDES GET ONE MORE TASK

If you're a bride getting married soon, there's an easy way to avoid a

big mistake, forgetting to let Social Security know about your new

name. One of the most common mistakes occurs when brides'

earnings are reported under their new names. Social Security

computers are unable to process the earnings because the name and

Social Security number do not match on their Social Security records.

It's easy to change your records. Just stop by any Social Security

office with proof of your old and new names. Your marriage certificate

is ideal. You'll also need proof of your identity. That's all there is to it.

Your Social Security number will remain the same. That's yours for a

lifetime. But you should be sure to use your new name consistently on

all your work records.
SOCIAL SECURITY

‘dot’ INFORMATION

PLEASE

I think this is a wonderful website ... 

An easy to use service ... A good way of

obtaining information ... A boon to people

who have a hearing impairment ... I wish

the rest of the federal government would 

follow your lead in providing services online

... This is so convenient. I love being able

to request information from my own home ...

Much better than waiting on the telephone

or trekking down to my local Social Security

office 36 miles away.

These are examples of just a few 

of the 7,000 messages Social Security

receives from the public about its

Internet service every month. In addition to the numerous messages of

praise and appreciation, about 3,000

need some sort of personal reply to

answer a question or resolve a problem. Responding to the questions or

problems is the job of Social Security’s

Internet Response Team. 

“People want to know more about

Social Security,” says Nancy Pantoulis,

one of the team members. “We’re in

the papers everyday and people want

to know if Social Security’s going to 

be there for them. They want specific

information about our programs.”

Most responses are made within

three business days. Team member 

Joe Giordano points out that “People

are not used to getting a response this

quickly by conventional means.”

Internet users send messages by 

filling in a website feedback form. 

They click on a feedback form button,

enter their message, and include an 

e-mail address if they want a response.

It’s that simple. If you’ve never visited

Social Security’s web site, it might be 

a good idea to stop by. The address 

is www.ssa.gov. You’ll find an encyclopedia of information and material

about Social Security, nearly 10,000

pages in all. 

“We’ve had everybody contact us,”

says Team Leader Barbara Howard.

“Right now, our heaviest workload is

from the baby boomers. They’ll be

retiring soon and they’re getting ready.

We also get a lot of inquiries from

young people in the workforce, just

wanting to check on their earnings 

to make sure they are correct and to 

project their future benefits.”

The Internet Response Team uses 

e-mail to respond to most messages

over the Internet. However, because 

of security concerns, customers are 

discouraged from including personal

information, such as their Social

Security number, in their messages.

And replies that require the disclosure

of personal information are handled

over the telephone or by mail. In time,

Social Security hopes to overcome this

restriction with appropriate encryption

technology. 

The bottom line is the Internet is

one more way of providing customer

service. Some people prefer the faceto-face contact they get in a field office,

others like to contact Social Security 

by telephone at our field offices or at

our 800 number, but for a growing

number of people, it’s www.ssa.gov.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Volume 3, Number 4

TODAY

An official publication of the Social Security Administration July / August 1998
MEET A 

BENEFICIARY

SAG FOUNDER STILL TEACHES WINNERS

—by Betty Henderson 

Field Rep, Studio City, CA

Francis Lederer does not consider his

accomplishments to be significant.

However, at 98, he is one of the most

accomplished actors of this century. I had

the opportunity to interview him at the

American National Academy of Performing

Arts in Studio City, CA, which he founded

in 1957. He continues to teach a weekly

workshop for actors there, just as he has for

the past 41 years, with great enthusiasm and

passion for his craft. 

Born Frantisek Lederer in Prague,

Czechoslovakia, his stage career progressed

rapidly while touring with various production companies throughout Europe. His

early repertoire included roles in plays by

Shakespeare, Ibsen and Shaw. His versatility

became evident when he appeared in musical comedies as a song and dance 

man. Roles in silent films soon followed.

Francis’ role in the classic 1928

German silent film, “Pandora’s Box,”

was a pivotal point in his career.

Considered

avante garde 

for its time, the

film drew the

attention of

audiences and

critics alike. By

his late 20s,

Francis emerged

as a matinee

idol in Berlin,

Vienna and

other European

cities. He recalls

that the transition from silent

movies to “talkies” was easy. “As an actor,

the performances were the same, you

act and react to your fellow actors.”

Appearing in a musical on the London

stage, Francis learned to speak English 

phonetically. He extended his London

stage success with the romantic comedy

“Autumn Cross.” Rewarded with rave

reviews, he came to the United States in

1932 to reprise his role on Broadway. 

This turned out to be his ticket to a

Hollywood contract. From 1928-1959,

Francis appeared in more than 30 feature

films, such as “Romance in Manhattan,”

“My American Wife,” “One Rainy

Afternoon,” “Midnight,” “The Man I

Married,” “A Woman of Distinction” and

“The Ambassador’s Daughter.” When

asked about his favorite film role, he says,

“I loved them all. The challenge was finding

the essence in each part.” 

As a Hollywood player, he took part in

the earliest discussions about the formation 

of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

Accordingly, he is one of SAG’s earliest

members.

Over the years, Francis varied his career

between stage and screen in extremely

diverse roles. “Terror Is A Man,” filmed in

1959, was Francis’ last feature film, but not

because his passion for acting waned. At

age 60, he was ready to move in new directions. He entered the medium of television

and returned to his roots performing live

on “Playhouse 90.” He also appeared on

“Ben Casey,” “The Untouchables,” “Mission

Impossible” and “Night Gallery.”

At a stage in life when many people

think about retirement, Francis decided to

teach. His desire to share his knowledge

and experience with other actors led to the

establishment of the Academy. Its walls are

filled with photos and stories about former

students, among them Helen Hunt, 1997

Academy Award winner for best actress. 

After he and wife Marion married in July

1941, they settled in Canoga Park, a Los

Angeles suburb. Francis took great interest

in his community and served as Honorary

Mayor of Canoga Park, CA, for 26 years.

While he was the Commissioner of the

Department of Parks and Recreations for

the City of Los Angeles, Marion was the

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs. Francis

also served as president of the American

National Theater and Academy and director of its Academy of Performing Arts. He

has been receiving Social Security retirement benefits since 1965.

When asked about the secret of his

longevity, Francis says, “the secret is to live 

a long time.” He and Marion exercise every

day. And if you ask about his hobbies, he is

emphatic that his only hobby is “living life.”

His philosophy about life and acting is 

simple: “learn by doing.”

Francis Lederer does not consider his

accomplishments significant. I respectfully

disagree. At 98, his dedication to his craft 

is extraordinary; his zest for living, contagious. This remarkable man continues to

inspire others, and this may be his greatest

achievement.

BENEFITS TO PRISONERS

SUSPENDED

From March 1997 to April 1998, Social

Security suspended Supplemental Security

Income (SSI) payments to over 44,000 

prisoners who are ineligible to receive

them. For that same period, 4,059 prison

facilities received incentive payments for

providing information that resulted in the

suspension of SSI to prisoners. 

Federal law prohibits paying SSI to 

people who are confined in jails, prisons

and certain public institutions for more

than 30 days. For confinements beginning

March 1997 and later, the law also provides

incentive payments to penal institutions for

promptly reporting inmate data to Social

Security that leads to the suspension of SSI

payments. Money for SSI payments comes

from taxpayer dollars, not from the Social

Security trust funds. 

Limited staffing and financial resources

have made it difficult for some jurisdictions

throughout the U.S. to comply with the 

federal government’s request for inmate

information. The incentive payments help

to offset some of the costs that law enforcement agencies incur to collect data. State

and local penal facilities that want to participate in the incentive payment program

must sign reporting agreements with Social

Security. Participants are required to transmit information electronically to Social

Security’s central office in Baltimore, MD.

Since 1995, Social Security has suspended

SSI payments to more than 200,000 prisoners. Increased participation of state and local

law enforcement agencies helps save taxpayer dollars and ensures that SSI payments are

made only to eligible individuals.

Social Security Today is published bimonthly.

Permission is given to reprint articles, pictures and

information. Please credit the Social Security

Administration as the source. Direct correspondence to

Editor, Social Security Today, 4-J-10 West High Rise,

6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235 or

send e:mail to Richard.W.Schwartz@ssa.gov. Social

Security Today is also available at www.ssa.gov.

If you’d like more information about any of the

items in Social Security Today, call Social Security at

1-800-772-1213 weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

To get through as fast as possible, call early in the

day. Other good times to call are later in the week and

later in the month. If you have access to the Internet,

you can also get a variety of information about Social

Security at www.ssa.gov.
COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE

Kenneth S. Apfel

Commissioner 

of Social Security 

Supplemental

Security Income

(SSI) provides

financial assistance to 6.5 million aged, blind

and disabled

individuals who

have little

income or

resources. These people are among the

most vulnerable members of our society.

For them, SSI is often the program of last

resort, the safety net that protects them

from impoverishment.

While the SSI rolls grew substantially

between 1985 and 1994, in the last four

years there has been little or no growth in

the number of people on the SSI rolls.

There are several reasons: one is the strong

national economy; but another is the

increased attention that Social Security has

been devoting to SSI program integrity.

It is important to note that much of

what is often characterized as SSI program

fraud is, in reality, payment inaccuracy. The

SSI program requires an individual’s needbased eligibility to be matched with his or

her income, resources and living arrangements – on a monthly basis. All sources of

an individual’s income, as well as any assets,

have to be considered. Some individuals 

forget to report some of these items to us.

Others may not understand what we need

to know, and still others may not fully

understand that their financial accounts or

real property may affect their SSI eligibility.

This can lead to payment inaccuracies.

Payment inaccuracy, unlike fraud that

results from a deliberate act of deception, 

is caused by inadvertent failure to report a

change in eligibility criteria. Or, it may be

caused by changes that are reported after

the monthly benefit has been paid.

For example, every time the wages of a

disabled child’s parents fluctuate because 

of working extra hours, the possibility of an

overpayment exists. Or a slight change in a

bank account balance, or an unanticipated

living arrangement change may cause an

overpayment.

Several initiatives we are taking will

improve the current payment accuracy rate

of 94.5 percent to better than 96 percent by

2002. Such an improvement will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in SSI

program funds.

Some of these initiatives involve computer data matching, which currently results in

a benefit-to-cost ratio of 8-to-1. Social

Security is pursuing new and more frequent

matches to give us more current information than we now have. For example: 

• We will soon begin quarterly matching

beneficiary payments with earnings data

from all states through the Office of Child

Support Enforcement.

• We have been looking into the possibility of electronically verifying amounts of

resources in applicants’ and beneficiaries’

bank accounts.

• During 1998, we began to match 

data from the Health Care Financing

Administration, twice a year, to identify 

individuals in nursing homes in all states

who are no longer eligible for full monthly

SSI payments. 

We have also increased our continuing

disability reviews for both the SSI and Social

Security disability programs to ensure that

only those individuals who are truly eligible

receive benefits. 

Although the most significant results in

strengthening the SSI program come from

improved payment accuracy and debt 

collection, fraud still remains a significant

concern. Social Security and the Social

Security Office of the Inspector General

have developed a comprehensive anti-fraud

plan called “Zero Tolerance for Fraud.” 

It has three goals:

• to change programs, systems and operations to reduce instances of fraud;

• to eliminate wasteful practices that

erode public confidence in Social Security;

and

• to prosecute rigorously those who

undermine the integrity of our programs.

Social Security has long recognized the

dual responsibilities we have as stewards of

the SSI program. We must show compassion

for the well-being of the people this valuable program serves, and we must be always

vigilant of the use of taxpayer dollars that

fund the program.

If you’re reaching the big “4-0” within 

the next 12 months, you’re going to be 

getting a message from Social Security. No, 

it won’t be telling you it’s time to retire. 

But it will give you information to help you

plan your financial future,

including your retirement. 

Like the rest of the more

than 30 million people in 

the 40 through 47 age group,

you can expect to receive a

Personal Earnings and Benefit

Estimate Statement from

Social Security sometime

between October 1, 1998,

and March 31, 1999. About

24 million statements will be

mailed before December 15,

with the remainder mailed

between January 15 and

March 31. (People in older

age groups should have

already received their statements).

Your statement will list,

year by year, the earnings

your employers (or you, if

you’re self-employed) reported to Social Security. If your

records don’t agree, be sure

to let Social Security know

right away. 

The statement also will

provide you with estimates 

of the Social Security benefits that you and your family

may be eligible for now and

in the future. And you’ll see that Social

Security is more than just a program for

retired people. Social Security will provide

payments for you and for your dependents

if you become severely disabled and it will

help support your family when you die. 

Beginning in October 1999, all workers

25 and older will receive an annual statement of the earnings that have been 

posted to their Social Security record, 

along with an estimate of 

benefits they (and their

family) may be eligible to

receive. The statements will

help workers make sure their

earnings are correctly reported so they’ll be sure to get

credit for all their earnings

when they apply for Social

Security benefits.

If you’re between 40 and 

47 years of age and don’t

receive a statement by March

31, you can request one by

contacting Social Security at 

1-800-772-1213. Ask for a

Request For Earnings and

Benefit Estimate Statement.

You can get the information

even faster by completing 

the request form on Social

Security’s web site,

www.ssa.gov.

If you have questions about

the information on your statement or about Social Security,

visit www.ssa.gov or call 

1-800-772-1213. And by the

way, if you’re wondering how

Social Security got your

address, it was furnished by

the Internal Revenue Service.

WHAT , S NEW

NEWS FOR THE FORTY-SOMETHING SET
WHEN YOU CHANGE

YOUR MIND

You’ve heard about direct

deposit — it’s safe, secure and 

convenient. And maybe you’re

already using it. But what happens

if you want to change banks?

Maybe you’ve moved, or found 

a better interest rate.

Whatever the reason, if you

want to change your direct deposit

account to a different bank, credit

union or savings and loan, it’s easy.

Using direct deposit doesn’t stop

you from making a change. You

are in control. But be sure to wait

to close your old account until

after you start receiving payments

in your new account.

The best way to change your

account is to visit the new bank,

credit union or savings and loan

you’ve selected. There you can

explain that you want to open an

account and use direct deposit.

They’ll complete all the forms 

and send the information to 

Social Security. Or you can call

Social Security toll free at 

1-800-772-1213 and change

your direct deposit by telephone. If you call us, you’ll

need to have your new

account number, your

Social Security number and

your bank routing number

handy.

WHAT’S NEW 

ON FAX

Do you know how the

year 2000 will affect Social

Security payments? Or how

loans affect Supplemental

Security Income (SSI) 

payments? A number of

new factsheets have been

added to the Fax catalog

recently and are now available. Here’s a run down 

on some that may be of

interest to you.

144 SSI Spotlight On 

Financial Institution 

Accounts 

145 SSI Spotlight On 

Loans 

146 SSI Spotlight 

OnThe Prerelease 

Procedure

160 Social Security And 

The Year 2000

273 Supplemental Security 

Income For Noncitizens

To get any of the factsheets 

listed above, call Social Security’s

Fax line at 1-888-475-7000 from a

touch-tone phone. A voice menu

will lead you through the steps 

you need to follow. You’ll need 

the document number shown. 

You do not have to call from a 

Fax machine, but you will need 

to supply your Fax number.

You can also request Social

Security’s complete, 11-page Fax

Catalogue. The document number

is 0. Social Security’s fax line 

operates 24 hours a day. You can

request up to three documents

each time you call. 

KEEPING YOUR SOCIAL

SECURITY ON TRACK 

In an ideal world, every worker’s

earnings would be reported 

correctly to Social Security so they

could be properly posted on 

each individual’s earnings record.

Social Security uses an individual’s 

lifetime earnings record to 

compute his or her benefit

amount ... the higher the earnings,

the larger the benefit. However, in

the real world, reporting errors do

occur and a small percentage of

earnings cannot be posted to the

correct earnings record.

When this happens, the 

earnings are placed in what we 

call a “suspense” file. Usually it’s

because a worker’s name and

Social Security number on the

wage reports do not match the

information shown in Social

Security’s records. Of the more

than 220 million wage items that

Social Security processes yearly,

about 4 percent fail to pass name

and Social Security number match

up. Common errors include 

misspelled names or the use of

nicknames, transposed numerals

in the Social Security number or

use of an entirely wrong number. 

Before placing earnings in 

“suspense,” Social Security tries to

match the reported earnings to

the correct wage earner through

an extensive search of computer

records. Social Security may also

contact employers or workers to

resolve discrepancies. These

efforts reduce the actual suspense

rate to 1.5 percent. And even after

items are placed in the “suspense

file,” Social Security continues to

seek resolution.

Over 46 percent of reporting

errors occur in three industries:

agriculture — 16.8 percent, 

services — 16.3 percent, and bars

and restaurants — 13.2 percent. 

To help reduce this problem

even further, Social Security has

prepared a special information kit,

Social Security: What Employers and

Employees Need to Know. The kit

describes the Social Security 

program, explains the relationship

between benefits and earnings,

and shows the steps employers 

and employees can take to ensure

that earnings are correctly posted.

The kit is available on the Internet

at www.ssa.gov/employers.

Workers can help prevent

reporting errors by protecting

their own Social Security numbers

and cards from misuse, by making

sure that employers have their 

correct names and Social Security

numbers and by reporting name

changes to Social Security

promptly. They should also

check their W-2 statements

carefully to verify that their

Social Security numbers,

names, addresses and wage

information are correct. 

To verify the amount 

of earnings posted to their

Social Security earnings

records, workers can

request a Personal Earnings

and Benefit Estimate

Statement (PEBES) from

Social Security. The PEBES

also provides an estimate 

of the monthly benefits

payable to a worker and 

to eligible family members

in the event of retirement,

disability or death. A

PEBES request form 

(SSA-7004) is available by

calling Social Security at 

1-800-772-1213. Internet

users can request the form

at www.ssa.gov. It takes

about six weeks after

returning the completed

request to

receive a

PEBES by

mail. 

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