“I am proud that Social Security has maintained its standing as one of the top federal agencies to work for,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.  “Social Security is a can-do agency because of our hard-working and talented employees.  This survey demonstrates how satisfied our employees are with their careers at SSA.”

The “Best Places to Work” rankings are based on the results of the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Human Capital Survey, a government-wide assessment of federal employees’ job satisfaction and perceptions of their agency’s human capital efforts.  The survey identified teamwork and skills-to-mission match as the biggest drivers of overall employee engagement.

Social Security’s winning formula is based on:

• continuing to promote, enhance, and utilize development programs at all levels;
• developing a new performance management and communication approach;
• strategically recruiting a diverse and productive applicant pool; and
• linking human capital management programs to the agency’s mission.

“Social Security has just started hiring more than 10,000 new employees over an eighteen month period,” said Commissioner Astrue.  “I certainly hope that those interested in public service will consider joining our talented and diverse workforce.”

To learn more about the report, please go to www.bestplacestowork.org.

Social Security employee Tim Evans also was a finalist for the 2009 Citizen Service Medal for his role in analyzing public feedback and making improvements to Social Security’s highly-rated Retirement Estimator.  For more information about this honor, please go to www.ourpublicservice.org and look for the link to 2009 Service to America Medals Finalists Announced.  Commissioner Astrue said, “President Obama has pledged to make it ‘cool’ again to work for the federal government.  Please check out the cool work of Tim and his team at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.”

To learn more about careers with the Social Security Administration, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov/careers.

News Anchor: Government spending of a different kind, the kind that many in America are probably happy to see. Today recipients of Social Security will begin to see a little more in their mail boxes or in their bank accounts if it’s an electronic transfer. It is the day that the SSA begins mailing out the first of over 52 million Economic Recovery Act payments. Joining us on a Fox Business exclusive is Michael Astrue. He is the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael welcome.

Michael Astrue: Thank you.

News Anchor: 250 bucks?

Michael Astrue: 250 bucks.

News Anchor: To everybody on Social Security?

Michael Astrue: 52 million Americans.

News Anchor: One-time payment or every month?

Michael Astrue: One-time payment.

News Anchor: Okay, now I guess you guys have done a survey on what people may spend. What are they doing to do?

Michael Astrue: Well, survey would be too scientific, but we’ve had 4,100 Americans go on our website and explain what they were going to do with the check. And it goes from the very mundane like, “I’m going to buy tires, I’m going to buy furniture” to very moving story by a woman who is dying of lung cancer buying things for her children. Most of them indicated they’re going to spend it. Only about 2% said they were going to save it, 98% so far said they were going to be spending it.

News Anchor: So it will go back into the economy?

Michael Astrue: Right, it fits with what Congress was trying to achieve in having it go right back in the economy.

News Anchor: The money is coming from the stimulus plan?

Michael Astrue: It’s coming from the stimulus plan. And the important thing for people to remember is that about half the money is going out today. If you have direct deposit you will get it today. If you’re not in that half, paper checks take a little longer. Money will be going out over the next 3 weeks. So if you don’t have it today, don’t panic. Wait until June 1st, June 4th and then call us if there is a problem. But we’ve done this before, usually we’re pretty good about getting the checks the right place.

News Anchor: I know $250 to a lot of people might seem to be a lot of money, but as a whole, you wonder if the economic impact is going to be great enough to justify the long term cost.

Michael Astrue: Right. I think what they’re trying to do now is to get money quickly into the economy. And you look at an average sized state, you’re getting a quarter billion dollars all of a sudden into the local economy. And the economic thinking is that we need to do at least as much as we’ve done to try to give a little bit of the stimulus… get local economies back faster than they would otherwise do. So the thinking is that it’s not really a long term investment, it’s to get people spending, it’s to get some of those businesses and the people on the margin spending and staying on their feet.

News Anchor: I’m 37.

Michael Astrue: You’re a lot younger than I am.

News Anchor: Is Social Security going to be available for me?

Micheal: Absolutely.

News Anchor: Can you please tell it’s going to be available, because every month I’m putting money into it.

Michael Astrue: No, it’s going to be there. We need…

News Anchor: But I got to tell you, to be honest with you, I’m planning like it won’t be around. I hope it’s there, but as I create as my own family financial plan, I assume it will not be there.

Michael Astrue: I don’t want to be too critical of that because as a nation we went to a negative savings rate briefly right before this recession hit and hopefully this will be a learning moment for the country, and as the economy gets better we will remember that we brought some of this on ourselves by getting away from some of our traditional values of thrift and savings.

But, the trustees’ report is next week, the funds as of last year were fully solvent through 2041. And even after that date if Congress did nothing, people would be getting 78% of their benefits. That’s not perfect, but I think as the President has said and I think as the senator said yesterday in the Washington Post, it’s a math problem. It’s pretty obvious what needs to be done. We have relatively limited number of choices, some political pain. I think it’s going to get done if not next year, within the next couple of years.

News Anchor: Do you foresee a possibility that the age… we’re living longer. The average age of an Americans female is now about 81. Men are living about 3 years less, unfortunately, that we might have to raise that age cap a little bit.

Michael Astrue: It’s one of the topics that’s entered discussion.

News Anchor: We have already.

Michael Astrue: At some point there are only two ways to do it: you increase revenues or you decrease benefits in some way. The last time Congress did this they did raise the normal retirement age. That’s already being debated and discussed. But I don’t think anything is set yet, it is not clear what Congress will do when Congress really starts focus on that.

News Anchor: It’s an interesting process done by people much smarter at math than I am. Okay, we got to go to the President. We’re going to leave it there Michael Astrue, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, welcome you back anytime.

Michael Astrue: I’d love to come back any day.

HAROLD: Well greetings YouTube subscribers and YouTube friends, I want to talk to you briefly about a policy that the Social Security Administration implemented that I think you need to know about, especially if you’re filing for Social Security disability and have been denied and you are going to have a hearing before an administrative law judge.

The wait time from the time that you’re denied your claim to the time that you appear before an administrative law judge can be a year, up to two years, I mean it’s a long time.

And many of you, many people who are trying to get their disability benefits, are struggling with this process and struggling waiting for the hearing.

If you have compelling new medical documentation, compelling medical information, something to share that’s new or that’s different from when you originally applied, or you want to have another review of your disability claim before it goes to a hearing, there is something called an on-the-record appeal and decision.

It’s called on-the-record appeal and decision. Now, according to Social Security policy, this should be done without the claimant or without a claimant’s attorney asking for this.

And I have a wonderful, wonderful positive feeling about the good folks at the Social Security Administration and with the folks that work at the DDD and the DDS offices across the country, the state offices where these decisions are made.

So I have no beef with the Social Security Administration. However, I’m a kind of person that even though it ought to be “automatic,” I’m still going to ask anyway.

So if you had a Social Security disability claim processed and denied and you’re waiting for a hearing, ask for an on-the-record decision. If you have an attorney, they should ask for it, or you can request it.

Even if you don’t need to, there’s no harm, no foul in asking. It might serve by way of a reminder that “hey, I’ve got some new information. I have some compelling information.”

Let me share a quick story with you about someone I was helping and he’d been denied and I had heard his medical history and I thought, “why had you been denied? What’s going on?”

And he told his doctor, and as a matter of fact, he had been even denied by a hearing judge, an administrative law judge and was now taking his appeal to Baltimore. He told me his doctor temporarily disabled him and did not declare on his paperwork that he was permanently disabled. He could not work and his disability would last for longer than a year and will result in his death.

I said, “Now, there’s a reason you’re being denied.” I said, “You’ve got to sit down with your doctor and find out if this is permanent, and if it is, the doctor has to put that in writing and if the doctor puts that in writing, you’ve got to get that new information to the Social Security Administration for review.”

But that would be an example of compelling medical information that you would want to get before you have an actual hearing before an administrative law judge, and this is part of the policy that was initiated in March 2008 by the Social Security Administration. So it’s called an on-the-record decision.

If you’d like more information about it, you can go to the Social Security Administration website. You can contact the Social Security Administration headquarters. You can contact your State Department of Determination for Disability Services.

But if you can’t find the right person to communicate with regarding this and you or your attorney doesn’t know or can’t help you, in other words, you need more information and you don’t know where to go, e-mail me at harold at bepositiveday.com, or go to my blog www.haroldsays.typepad.com, and actually there is a post about this on-the-record appeal and decision, but I’ll be glad to provide you with any information and help that I can.

Well, I hope this helps you and if you are applying for disability, don’t give up. Please don’t quit if you’re a legitimately, legitimately, permanently disabled and cannot do substantial, gainful activity and cannot do a job, five days a week, eight hours a day, and you just cannot work, hang in there, appeal your claim, if you need to. Do whatever you needed to do, but don’t give up, and be sure, of course, to reach out to me if you need help.

And if you have been denied and are going before an administrative law judge for a hearing, certainly, certainly you want to get a good attorney to represent you.

If you need more information, reach out to me. I’d be glad to help you. Remember, love wins, and I hope you’re enjoying an absolutely, terrifically, positive day today, and I hope your week is a wonderful one.

Again, thanks and bye for now.

When you work, you are required to pay the SS Administration a certain amount of tax. After taking its cut to fund its operation, the administration forward the money to other people who no longer work. Research proves that post-retirement is supported by Social Security at a maximum rate. Social Security income is the most applicable and practical way to lead your life after retirement.

Traditionally speaking, the advice given to citizens is that they can reap benefits from the agency as soon as they turn 62. But contemporary financial planners say that, by delaying to start receiving benefits from age 62 to 66, there will be a rise of 8.25% in payments. Doesn’t that sound good? The longer you wait, the more you get. Also, the amount you will receive depends on how much you have contributed to the system in the past. If you have any doubt, you can check your expected Social Security income with the Social Security Benefits Calculator.

To receive benefits you should apply either by sending in a form or by applying online. Call center assistance is also given to people with queries. Important details like date of birth, Social Security number, previous income, and planned age of retirement should be submitted along with the application.

The benefits that you will receive as Social Security income are monthly benefits, survivor’s and disability benefits etc. The SS Agency is looking out for you to make sure you have a secured and happy life after retirement.

As a precautionary measure Social Security advises all those with Social Security accounts to be careful when giving out confidential data. An even better way of preventing being conned is to never impart your private information and facts either over the telephone or through the internet. However, if you were the one who initiated the call to a verified phone number, and your personal numbers are asked for verification, then it’s okay to do so.

The SSA’s Office of Inspector General is looking into the accounts of these commotions. You can call their hotline at 1-800-269-0271 to convey doubtful transactions. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.)

Online complaints may be reported by filling out a form at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/

If you suspect a fraudulent SSA agent, make sure to report it to Social Security’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 to be able to confirm the legitimacy of the caller. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)

The pamphlets that are being handed out to people between the ages of 25 and 35 works to dispel some of the rumors about Social Security, and better inform workers about that benefits of saving. Some of the information speaks about the chances of SS being around for their retirement, as it has been projected that funds will run out by 2041.

It also explains the importance of adding small investments over time, as even $25 a week, with compounded interest of 5%, will come out to almost $165,000 within forty years, which would put many of the young workforce at retirement age. This would be in addition to benefits that the SSA assures us will still actually be there.

According to the Social Security Board of Trustees, in 2041, taxes will still allow for “$780 for every $1,000 in benefits scheduled”, which will be enough to supplement an already well established retirement fund. But this is fully the responsibility of the worker, and so the issue is an important one.

Young workers can start expecting to see the inserts within the coming months, which are similar to those given to workers over the age of 55, explaining all possible benefits, the way compound interest increases investments, and how to make the most out of your retirement funds. It also discusses the way that Social Security payouts work, and the chances of applying for, and receiving, disability in the case of early retirement.

My friend used to live here with hubby and I and he’s retired and he gets Social Security benefits. He had a letter in the mail that said, “Dear Mr. So and So, we regret to inform that we can no longer continue to send you your Social Security benefits because we do not have a correct address for you.”

And at that point I kind of wondered how the letter got to him since the letter had his address on it and got to him. Yeah, the Social Security Administration wrote him a letter addressed to him at his address which said they didn’t have an address for him.

Watch the video here.

February 2009 is the much awaited date when Social Security will collaborate with a number of healthcare providers such as Kaiser Permanente, Med Virginia and the North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communications Alliance to modify the procedure of a person requesting for their disability claims. This innovative method is anticipated to be a faster way of redeeming funds since it is said to do the job in minutes rather than in several months.

This alliance with various healthcare providers is a part of the Federal Government’s motivation to create a network for nationwide health information with the objective to digitally link up purchasers, contributors and those who supports the importance of not only health but healthcare as well.

The SSA’s Senior Adviser, Debbie Somers, said that nowadays the handling of a disability claim usually takes 2 to 3 months and it takes that long because waiting for the medical records to be released takes quite some time.

The Industry Standard interviewed Jeff Odell, VP of Marketing and Business Development at Med Virginia, and according to him this new process “is truly revolutionary.” He also said that the old course of action is a lengthy and painstaking process and that with this new electronic system, the work can be cut in seconds instead of having to wait for weeks. “We are confident that more providers will want to take this same approach,” Odell said. “Doing so helps their patients by expediting the disability determination process while lowering the administrative burden.”

Hopefully it will lighten the load of not only those who process the papers and the records but those who are anticipating their SS payments as well. Change is good but efficiency and satisfaction is always better.

The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an agency of the federal government. Its primary purpose is to track individuals for taxation purposes. In recent years the SSN has become a de facto national identification number.

The first SSNs were issued by the Social Security Administration in November 1936 as part of the New Deal Social Security program. By the end of 1937, over 37 million numbers had been issued.

Before 1986, people often did not have a Social Security number until the age of about 14, since they were used for income tracking purposes, and those under that age seldom had substantial income.

In 1986, American taxation law was altered so that individuals over 5 years old without Social Security numbers could not be successfully claimed as dependents on tax returns.

Since then, parents have often applied for Social Security numbers for their children soon after birth.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no law requiring a natural born US Citizen to apply for a Social Security number to live or work in the United States. Although some people do not have an SSN assigned to them, it is becoming ever increasingly difficult to engage in legitimate financial activities without one.