blog.ssa.govSSA Official Blog

An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowHere's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Social Security Matters Menu Home SSA.gov Online Services Comment Policy Search Search for: SearchBar my Social Security Securing Today and Tomorrow Securing today and tomorrow starts with being informed. Learn more about our tools, online services, and how our programs benefit people just like you. Sign up below. Stay Up to Date, Subscribe Today! Enter Your Email Address to Subscribe Browse By Categories General (315) Retirement (121) Disability (166) Survivors (46) Medicare (36) SSI (80) Social Security Number and Card (26) Online Services (171) FraudsScams (90) COLA (13) Guest Bloggers (58) COVID-19 (38) Taxes (22) Close General , Online Services Olivia and Liam reign supreme — 2023 Most Popular Baby Names May 10, 2024 • By Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications Reading Time: 3 Minutes Olivia and Liam are once again America’s most popular baby names, with 2023 being the fifth consecutive year that parents have chosen the monikers for their little ones. Also, for the fifth consecutive year, Noah took the second slot for boys, and Emma for girls. Only one new name appeared in the Top 10 lists […] Continue reading "Olivia and Liam reign supreme — 2023 Most Popular Baby Names" → Tags: Baby names , online services Disability , General , SSI Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a Public Assistance Household May 9, 2024 • By Jeffrey Buckner, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications Reading Time: 2 Minutes The Social Security Administration recently published a final rule, Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household.” This final rule announces one of several updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to […] Continue reading "Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a Public Assistance Household" → Tags: Disability , General Information , SSI , supplemental security income General Social Security 2024 Trustees Report May 6, 2024 • By Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary Reading Time: 1 Minute Today, the Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds. Want to learn more? Read our press release. You can also watch this video from Commissioner O’Malley.  Please share this information with your family and […] Continue reading "Social Security 2024 Trustees Report" → Tags: General Information , Trustees Report FraudsScams , PrivacyIdentity Protect Your Online Identity With Strong Passwords May 2, 2024 • By Mark Majestic, Associate Commissioner, Office of Program Integrity Reading Time: 1 Minute World Password Day is an annual event dedicated to promoting awareness about the importance of strong password security practices. On May 2, people and organizations all over the world will work to encourage better password habits to keep our online data and accounts safe and secure. Here are some tips to help make sure your […] Continue reading "Protect Your Online Identity With Strong Passwords" → Tags: data privacy , fraud , scams General Social Security Publishes Native Language Action Plan to Improve Access to Our Programs and Services April 30, 2024 • By Renee Ferguson, Acting Director of Native American Partnerships, Office of the Commissioner Reading Time: 2 Minutes We have published our first Native Language Action Plan to improve access to our programs and services. Our focus is on increasing our support to people who primarily communicate in native languages. In our new Tribal Consultation and Call to Action Plan, we outline our commitment to engage in consultation and outreach in American Indian […] Continue reading "Social Security Publishes Native Language Action Plan to Improve Access to Our Programs and Services" → Tags: AIAN , equity , General Information , social security , SSA Aging , General , Online Services Representative Payees Help You Manage Your Social Security April 25, 2024 • By Lizbeth Portalatin-Perez, Director for the Division of Strategic Communications Reading Time: 2 Minutes Some people who receive monthly Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments may need help managing their money. When we receive information that indicates you need help, we’ll work with you to find the most suitable representative payee to manage your benefits. A representative payee is someone who receives your monthly benefit payment […] Continue reading "Representative Payees Help You Manage Your Social Security" → Tags: General Information , representative payee , Social Security benefits COLA , General , Online Services Celebrate Earth Day 2024 by Opting Out of Paper Notices April 22, 2024 • By Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications Reading Time: 2 Minutes The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, to promote the protection of our planet. At Social Security, we’re doing our part by reducing paper usage. We send notices as a way of communicating with our many customers – the 71 million Americans who receive benefits and the people who do business with […] Continue reading "Celebrate Earth Day 2024 by Opting Out of Paper Notices" → Tags: General Information , my Social Security , my Social Security account , online services , representative payee General SSA Talks: Commissioner O’Malley’s Top Priorities April 18, 2024 • By Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications Reading Time: 1 Minute Commissioner Martin O’Malley joined SSA Talks to discuss his top priorities. Since being sworn in on December 20, 2023, Commissioner O’Malley has been focused on the most pressing issues facing the agency and three top priorities: 1) Reduce call wait times, 2) Issue faster disability decisions, 3) Resolve inequities in overpayments and underpayments. In this 18-minute […] Continue reading "SSA Talks: Commissioner O’Malley’s Top Priorities" → Tags: Commissioner , General Information , social security , SSA Disability , General , SSI Social Security to Expand SSI Rental Subsidy Policy – Agency Continues to Remove Barriers to Accessing SSI Payments April 17, 2024 • By Jeffrey Buckner, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications Reading Time: 2 Minutes Last Thursday, the Social Security Administration published a final rule, Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients.” This rule provides the second of several updates to the agency’s SSI regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. Our mission is to continue to help people access […] Continue reading "Social Security to Expand SSI Rental Subsidy Policy – Agency Continues to Remove Barriers to Accessing SSI Payments" → General , SSI Why It’s Important To Tell Us About Your Financial Accounts April 11, 2024 • By BJ Jarrett, Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner Reading Time: 1 Minute Do you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? If so, you need to tell us about any financial accounts you own, alone or jointly with someone else. You must also promptly inform us of any changes to those accounts to ensure you receive the correct payment amounts. What You Need to Tell Us You need to […] Continue reading "Why It’s Important To Tell Us About Your Financial Accounts" → Tags: General Information ,...