Social Security Administration - Social Security Handbook 2014: Overview of Social Security Programs

Social

Security

Handbook

Overview of

Social Security

Programs

2014

Lanham Boulder New York Toronto Plymouth, UK

Published by Bernan Press

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706

www.rowman.com

800-865-3457

Copyright 2014 by Bernan Press

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. Bernan Press does not claim copyright in U.S. government information.

ISBN: 978-1-59888-706-8

E-ISBN: 978-1-59888-707-5

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

Preface

T he Bernan Press edition of the Social Security Handbook: Overview of the Social Security Programs, 2014 contains information about the benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration. The Handbook includes the provisions of the Social Security Act (the Act), regulations issued under the Act, and precedential case decisions (rulings).

The Social Security programs are so complex it is impossible to include information about every topic. The Handbook includes the most common and helpful information. In case of a conflict between the contents of the Handbook and the Act, Regulations, and Rulings, the latter take precedence.

The completely updated Handbook , organized by section number, is a readable, easy-to-understand resource for the very complex Social Security programs and services. It contains information on:

How Social Security programs are administered

Who is and is not covered under retirement, survivors, disability, and hospital insurance programs

Who is responsible for submitting the necessary evidence to support a claim

How claims are processed by the Social Security office

What Social Security benefits are owed to you

How to obtain information about your rights under Social Security policy

In developing the Bernan Press edition of the Handbook , every effort has been made to include information that is accurate, meaningful, and useful. The responsibility of the publisher of this volume is limited to reasonable care in the reproduction and presentation of public domain data from the Social Security programs and the Social Security Administration. Please visit http://www.ssa.gov /.

Chapter 1

Overview of the Social Security System

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

100.Purposes of Social Security

101.Obtaining A Social Security Card

102.Checking Individual Earnings Records

103.Application for Social Security Benefits, Medicare Coverage, or Medicare Protection

104.Who is responsible for proving a claim?

105.How are claims processed by the Social Security office?

106.Duty to Report Certain Events

107.Totalization Agreements

108.Who is NOT covered under retirement, survivors, disability, and hospital insurance programs?

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA)

109.How is the Social Security Administration (SSA) structured?

110.The Function of the Social Security Office

111.Program Service Center Functions

112.Where are earnings records maintained?

113.Recording Earnings Credits

114.SSI Claimants Residing Abroad

115.Determinations of Disability

SERVICES OF SSA

116.Information Program of the Social Security Office

117.Information Required by Law to be Made Available to the Public

118.Does the Social Security office make referrals to other government or community agencies?

DISBURSEMENT OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS

119.Social Security Benefits Payable

120.Who issues Social Security benefits and SSI payments?

121.Payment Dates

122.Direct Deposit of Benefits

123.Checks

124.How do you endorse your check if you cannot sign your name?

125.Entitlement To Retirement, Survivors, And Disability Insurance Benefits

126.Supplemental Security Income Benefits

127.Hospital and Medical Insurance Benefits Provided

128.Prescription Drug Benefits Provided

129.Benefits Not Transferable

130.Special Request For Expedited Benefit Payment

131.Checks to Husband and Wife

132.Are separate Social Security benefit checks mailed to each child in a family?

BENEFICIARYS OBLIGATIONS

133.Reporting to Social Security

134.Returning Checks To The Social Security Office

135.What is done if you receive more money than you are entitled?

FUNDING THE PROGRAMS

136.Sources of Funds for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Benefits

137.How are hospital insurance benefits funded?

138.How are medical insurance benefits funded?

139.How are prescription drug benefits funded?

140.Where are money gifts to Social Security deposited?

TRUST FUNDS

141.Trust Funds Available For Benefits

FRAUD

142.What investigative responsibilities does SSA have in administering the Social Security program?

143.Fraud In Connection With Benefit Claims And Earnings Records

144.Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustment And Other Automatic Increases

100. Purposes of Social Security

100.1 What are the purposes of Social Security?

The Social Security Act and related laws establish a number of programs that have the following basic purposes:

A.To provide for the material needs of individuals and families;

B.To protect aged and disabled persons against the expenses of illnesses that may otherwise use up their savings;

C.To keep families together; and

D.To give children the chance to grow up healthy and secure.

100.2 What programs are included under the Social Security Act and related laws?

The following programs are included:

A.Retirement insurance;

B.Survivors insurance;

C.Disability insurance;

D.Hospital and medical insurance for the aged, the disabled, and those with end-stage renal disease;

E.Prescription Drug Benefit;

F.Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs;

G.Supplemental security income;

H.Special Veterans Benefits;

I.Unemployment insurance; and

J.Public assistance and welfare services, including:

1.Temporary assistance for needy families;

2.Medical assistance;

3.Maternal and child health services;

4.Child support enforcement;

5.Family and child welfare services;

6.Food stamps; and

7.Energy assistance.

101. Obtaining A Social Security Card

101.1 What is a Social Security Number?

A Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine digit number SSA assigns to individuals to identify their records of earnings in employment or self-employment covered by Social Security and to pay benefits.

101.2 How can you obtain a Social Security Number?

To obtain an SSN, you need to complete an application for a Social Security card at your local Social Security office and submit certain documents. If you visit a Social Security office you can file your application electronically. If you prefer to mail in your application and documents, Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) is available for download at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html , or by calling 1-800-772-1213. These services are free.