Guest guest Posted May 19, 2002 Report Share Posted May 19, 2002 Social Security eNews Published May 2002 Issue 30 Welcome to a new edition of eNews! Learn about changes in the way we issue Social Security numbers to noncitizens and new rules on musculoskeletal impairments, one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Meet the newest member of the Social Security Advisory Board. We even offer you the chance to look at your financial future. And we'll share the most popular names throughout the years. Take time to stop and read the eNews! A look at this issue of eNews: -- SOCIAL SECURITY GETS HIGHEST GRADE IN GOVERNMENT -- NEW RULES ON MUSCULOSKELETAL DISABILITIES -- SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR NONCITIZENS -- NEW MEMBER OF THE BOARD -- WHAT'S YOUR MAGIC NUMBER? -- SEE YOUR FUTURE WITH OUR BENEFITS PLANNERS -- POPULAR NAMES THROUGH THE YEARS SOCIAL SECURITY GETS HIGHEST GRADE IN GOVERNMENT The House Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, which helps regulate how the government handles its money, issues grades to the government's largest 24 agencies each year. While the government earned an overall grade of " D " for 2001, the Social Security Administration earned a " B, " the highest grade of the 24 agencies. This is a step up from a " B- " last year; the grades of every other agency either went down or remained the same. This should come as no surprise -- good stewardship of your money is one of our top priorities. Want to see the report card? Here it is. http://www.ssa.gov/enews/reportcard.htm NEW RULES ON MUSCULOSKELETAL DISABILITIES We've revised the medical criteria used to evaluate musculoskeletal impairments for people applying for disability benefits under Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Musculoskeletal impairments include spinal disorders, joint deformity, amputations, fractures and soft tissue injuries, including burns. They are some of the leading causes of disability in the U.S. Of the 5.6 million people getting Social Security disability benefits, one in five has a musculoskeletal impairment. Of the 4.1 million people getting SSI, the figure is one in 12. The changes in our rules reflect advances in medical knowledge and treatment. We use the criteria to decide whether a person is eligible for benefits. For more information, see the Social Security Program Rules page. http://www.ssa.gov/regulations/rin0960_ab01f.htm SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR NONCITIZENS Need a number? Better check our new rules. In an effort to work with President Bush to improve homeland security, we're enforcing stricter rules for issuing Social Security numbers. Noncitizen residents who need a Social Security number to work or file for federal benefits still can get numbers. But we no longer will issue numbers to noncitizens just so they can apply for state driver's licenses, even if the state requires one for a license. For more information on numbers for noncitizens, see the link below. http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_refno= 001101-000011 & p_created=973082930 NEW MEMBER OF THE BOARD Former Social Security Commissioner Dorcas Hardy is the newest member of the Social Security Advisory Board. Hardy, who served as Social Security's Commissioner from 1986 to 1989, was appointed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert. The Social Security Advisory Board is an independent, bi-partisan board established to advise the Congress and the Commissioner of Social Security on matters related to the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs. Members serve six-year terms. To learn more about the Board, visit its website. http://www.ssab.gov/index.html WHAT'S YOUR MAGIC NUMBER? You probably know that Social Security's retirement age is rising gradually to reflect the longer lives Americans enjoy. But do you know what your retirement age is? Do you know how old you need to be to retire and get full Social Security benefits? It's easy to figure out. Just select the year you were born on the illustration, and hit " retirement age. " You'll see in an instant the year you will reach full retirement age. Of course, you still can take early retirement as early as age 62, but your benefits will be reduced permanently. For the whole chart of retirement ages and reductions, check out the link below. http://www.ssa.gov/retirechartred.htm SEE YOUR FUTURE WITH OUR BENEFITS PLANNERS How well have you planned for your future? Our online Benefits Planners can help. It's as simple as plugging in your annual salary for a rough estimate. Or you can get a more exact estimate by entering exact amounts for all past years and estimates for future work years. You can calculate your benefit amount in today's dollars or in inflated dollars, updated for the year you'll receive benefits. What will the difference be if you retire at 62 or 67? In addition to retirement benefits, find out what you'll get if you become disabled, and what your family is entitled to if you die before retirement. Why not get started now? http://www.ssa.gov/planners/ POPULAR NAMES THROUGH THE YEARS In 2001, and were at the top of the list as the most popular names for newborn boys and girls. The popularity of given names goes in and out of fashion, but not as quickly as many people might think. For example, there's just something about . From 1880 to 1946, was the most popular name for a girl every year. Until 1925, was at the top of the list with for all but one year. For another 20 years, and went back in forth as the first and second most popular names for a boy as watched from the top. But in 1947, dethroned to sit at the top of the list with . Can you guess who sat at number two with ? ! To find out the most popular names of 2001 or any other year, visit our website. http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/NOTES/note139/note139.html ********************************************* Please DO NOT REPLY to this announce-only, electronic newsletter. Have questions? Contact us at http://www.ssa.gov/reach.htm Interested in prior issues? Check out http://www.ssa.gov/enews/prior.htm Must subscribe? Surf on over to http://www.ssa.gov/enews/ Need to update your e-mail address? Visit http://www.ssa.gov/enews/update.htm Care to change subscription settings? Go to http://www.ssa.gov/enews/ Want to unsubscribe? Stop by http://www.ssa.gov/enews/cancel.htm If you found this issue of eNews helpful, please forward it to your friends, family and colleagues. Thanks! If you received this newsletter from a friend, you're welcome to subscribe. Each month you'll get a free newsletter packed with important news from Social Security. You can also sign up for timely updates on disability, retirement, survivors, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, laws and egulations, press office news releases, wage reporting, seniors, and data studies and research. Go to http://www.ssa.gov/enews/ and subscribe now! __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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