Social …

Somewhat-Reticent

The SSA will restructure and streamline to implement efficiency and reduce costs.
( Ex: AI transcription replaces recording hardware for hearings. )

egeezer

Yeah, I got a letter from SS with an SS screw up I have to get fixed. I received a one time total distribution of about $3K from a public employee retirement fund. Based on the PERS records, tax documents and the 1099 distribution I received, they have mistakenly coded the amount as a continuing yearly distribution.

Now into the depths of the new “efficient” SS system to get to corrected.

Lesson du jour: keep all copies of tax returns, SS and public employee history, distributions, payments and other transfers for at least seven years. Having kept records since 1999, this will hopefully be my ticket to resolutions.

Rook

And make things harder for old people.

Rook

egeezer On the bright side, at least they didn’t declare you deceased and clean out your bank account.
That happened recently to someone living in Seattle.

Anybody know how many Social Security offices they plan on closing?

vaxvms

Rook

Anybody know how many Social Security offices they plan on closing?

Too many

Rich221976

They will probably start with the social security card centers. They have tons of people constantly waiting in line to get a SS card or replacement and stuff.

I had to do that a few times for myself and my mom to replace our cards since we couldn’t replace it online. Granted we could have mailed in the form but it was better to do it in person.

Sparkchaser

Rich221976 They will probably start with the social security card centers. They have tons of people constantly waiting in line to get a SS card or replacement and stuff.

I’m in that mess now. Misplaced (lost) my SS card. Don’t need it, that I know of, except for Real ID.

Kathy_9

Rich221976 I had to do that a few times for myself and my mom to replace our cards since we couldn’t replace it online.

I’m curious why you could not replace your cards online.

Sparkchaser

Kathy_9 I’m curious why you could not replace your cards online.

I had the same problem. Filled out everything on line and they said I had to go in to the SS office to wait in line to get it replaced. 😠

What’s annoying is I’m pretty sure it’s in the house. I never use it. I know it and that’s always sufficient when people want to know the number.

antdude

Does SSA’s logins require old username accounts to transition and start using login.gov/id.me logins by the end of this month?

Rich221976

Kathy_9

I think for my mom since she is 83 years old and never had a card replacement. The system would not allow us to request one for her.

For me, I locked myself out of the social security account online. I had to wait on a letter to come in the mail to get access back.

Rich221976

antdude Does SSA’s logins require old username accounts to transition and start using login.gov and id.me logins by the end of this month?

You may not need it. I do have my old login information and was able to log into the site using that information but I never got the option to transition to my login.gov account.

I already had a login.gov account, but I can’t remember why I have one.

However, it was not linked to social security. I was able to fill out the information, name, address social security number and phone number and it transition me over to the login.gov id.

It also disabled my old userid and password.

Rich221976

Sparkchaser I had the same problem. Filled out everything on line and they said I had to go in to the SS office to wait in line to get it replaced. 😠

What’s annoying is I’m pretty sure it’s in the house. I never use it. I know it and that’s always sufficient when people want to know the number.

My very first card was stolen back in 1994. I had to go in person then to get a new one. Got it replaced and I still have it. The only reason I got a new one is because the current one that I have is hard to read.

Now here is the kicker. I lost the replacement to the current one. It is somewhere in this house. I have no idea where in this house but it is in here, because it is still in the envelope that it came in.

So for that one, I was able to request a new one online and I have that one put away. It is still in the envelope and available if I need one. I also still have the one that is hard to read.

My mom on the other hand never had hers replaced before. I did find her original card, but it didn’t look like a social security card since it was really old. Her new one is locked up in the fireproof box as well.

I also had to order my birth certificate since I am in the process of getting my passport. I still have my original one but it would not be acceptable for the passport since it was a very short cert and didn’t have the full information needed to get the passport.

antdude

Rich221976 You may not need it. I do have my old login information and was able to log into the site using that information but I never got the option to transition to my login.gov account.

Wow, you never got an option to transition after logging with your old username account? My colony and I got that option. It did say the old username login will go away and to use id.me/login.gov. I really dislike having this SSO for government web sites. Yes, it’s nice to have a single account but bad for security if one is able to log into it and have access too all government accounts. 🙁

px_eliezer_

antdude

As I understand it (as of a couple of weeks ago anyway) they are strongly pushing ID.ME or LOGIN.GOV but that the older SSA.GOV logins will still work for now.

It’s a good idea regardless to log in now, review your earnings record, and print out the earnings record and/or your most recent social security statement. Make at least a couple of physical copies.

By the way, for anybody who recently applied for SS benefits (or even applied for Medicare without seeking SS benefits yet) the Statement tends to become unavailable for a few months (!) as they process the application.

Based on recent experience…

Kathy_9

antdude Does SSA’s logins require old username accounts to transition and start using login.gov/id.me logins by the end of this month?

Here are the options.

antdude

Kathy_9 Here are the options…

Yes for now. I was asking when they will remove that SS username option and force us to use login.gov/ID.me. after you log in with old SS username, it will ask you to transition now or later since old SS username will be going away. Will that be at the end of this month too?

broknsymetry

px_eliezer_ As I understand it (as of a couple of weeks ago anyway) they are strongly pushing ID.ME or LOGIN.GOV but that the older SSA.GOV logins will still work for now.

They’ve already removed the UN/PW option for va.gov and myhealthevet.gov Since March 4th (I think) the only options are Login.gov or ID.me.

Kathy_9

antdude Will that be at the end of this month too?

It sounds like that will be the case.

https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-strengthens-identity-proofing-requirements-and-expedites-direct-deposit-changes-to-one-day/

Here’s a partial excerpt:

The agency’s two-week transition plan includes training frontline employees and management about the new policy and careful monitoring of policy compliance. At the conclusion of the transition period, on March 31, 2025, SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing. SSA will permit individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online my Social Security services to start their claim for benefits on the telephone. However, the claim cannot be completed until the individual’s identity is verified in person. The agency therefore recommends calling to request an in-person appointment to begin and complete the claim in one interaction. Individuals with and without an appointment will need to prove identity before starting a transaction. Individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online my Social Security services to change their direct deposit information, can visit a local office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.

GrumpyCanadian

px_eliezer_ they are strongly pushing ID.ME or LOGIN.GOV

Please forgive the ignorance of a foreigner, but am I to understand that your government is using a domain associated with the ccTLD of a foreign country (Montenegro) for critical government identity services, or is it just a name that doesn’t actually have that domain to go with it?

From a cursory reading (via Wikipedia), it looks like that’s exactly what they’re doing, but not only that, the service is provided by a third-party, private company. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’d be rather worried about such an arrangement and its potential consequences. It sounds like a monumentally bad idea to me.