8 Things You Didn't Know Social Security Could Do for You
For many people, Social Security benefits begin and end with a monthly payment. And, to ensure that benefits get delivered on time to tens of millions of older adults, people with disabilities, and members of their families. But over its history, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has added numerous special services to help customers. Here’s 8 lesser-known things Social Security can do for you.
1.) Expedite Disability Claims. As of late 2021, the average processing time for a Social Security disability claim was more than five months. Because that can be hard for people with illnesses, they established the Compassionate Allowances program – a list of more than 250 serious medical conditions that meet Social Security’s standard for disability. Applications involving those conditions are flagged for quick approval.
2.) Representative Payees. Not all Social Security recipients are able to manage their own benefit payments. Some have disabilities or some are small children. In such cases, Social Security can appoint someone to serve as the beneficiary’s representative payee. These representatives have authority to receive another person’s benefits to meet that person’s essential needs.
3.) Help With Medicare Drug Costs. Extra Help, a program run by Social Security and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), can reduce prescription drug expenses for low-income Medicare beneficiaries by an estimated $5,100 a year. The aid can be put toward premiums, deductibles and copays related to a Medicare drug plan.
4.) Translation and Interpretation. Like everyone else, people who speak little or no English may need to talk to the staff at Social Security about benefits or other concerns. To address this, Social Security provides free interpreter services to anyone who requests or shows a need for language assistance.
5.) International Social Security Agreements. Many Americans work in foreign countries, and many foreign nationals work in the United States. These workers may be subject to dual payroll taxation: having to pay into two countries’ retirement systems from the same wages. To minimize that risk, Social Security negotiated agreements with 30 countries that have comparable programs for retirees. These pacts provide for workers to pay payroll taxes to only one country’s retirement system at a time.
6.) Proof of Income. Applying for a loan, or for a government benefit like food stamps, requires proving your income to make you eligible for aid. If that income includes Social Security benefits, you can get the evidence you need in minutes via SSA’s online My Social Security service. You can review your earnings history and quickly print a copy of your benefit verification letter, which serves as proof of your Social Security income.
7.) Benefits for Grandchildren. If you are providing at least half of a minor grandchild’s financial support, the child can collect dependent or survivor benefits when you retire, become disabled or die. If you are already on Social Security when a grandchild comes into your care, you must legally adopt the child for him or her to receive benefits on your record.
8.) Baby Names Galore. The SSA is there for new parents, who can apply for baby’s Social Security number before they even leave the hospital. SSA is also the go-to resource for all things in naming babies. It famously releases an annual list of the most popular choices (Olivia has been the No. 1 girl’s name since 2019; Liam has led the way for boys since 2017), but its baby names index also lets you search for top names by year and state. It’s a treasure trove of ideas for naming your newborn.
Want to learn more about Social Security benefits and what happens if you retire early? Don’t miss our GreenPath Webinar on August 10, at 1:00 pm EST: Retirement 101. Three steps to prepare for retirement! Learn how to take control of your budget and savings, an overview of the different types of investment options, and how your retirement age can impact your Social Security benefits.
