Understanding your Social Security benefit options can be daunting. We are fortunate to have Vonda Van Til, Public Affairs Specialist at Social Security, who provides advisors clarity and insight on some of the most important considerations. We will be sharing an overview of relevant information from her from time to time as it relates to our readers.
Phone Call Scammers
Unscrupulous people are making unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from Social Security and stating that your benefits will stop unless you give them your personal information.
Social Security will never do any of the following:
- Call to demand immediate payment from you;
- Demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount due;
- Require a specific means of payment such as with a pre-paid debit card;
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone;
- Threaten you with arrest or deportation.
You may report these calls to the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
New Online Feature
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, the process for reporting your wages is now online and available to your or your representative.
Only the person reporting wages needs an account to access the application. Here is a link to create your account or sign in if you already have one: www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
Please feel free to share this link with your friends and family.