Social Security Announces New Service Updates for Account Holders

The Social Security Administration recently highlighted multiple service improvements such as reduced average wait times and disability claims backlog.

The Social Security Administration office in Waycross, Ga., on Aug. 28, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Aug. 22 that new features, such as a retirement calculator, access to certain documents, and status checks, were available for accountholders through their personal “my Social Security” accounts.

“Starting this week, my Social Security accountholders can take advantage of several new features available around the clock,” an SSA blog statement reads.

The new services now available include the ability to request a replacement Social Security card online, view claim status, use the Retirement Calculator, view Benefit Verification Letter along with form SSA-1099, and access the online Social Security Statement with age-based and earnings-based fact sheets.

The Social Security Benefit Statement, also known as SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S, is a tax form mailed to beneficiaries detailing the amount of Social Security income that needs to be reported to the IRS. Now, with the new service updates, SSA-1099 is available to be viewed online at any time.

The SSA has also expanded 24/7 access to some of the existing features.

These include the ability to view benefits and payment information and voluntary tax withholding information. Account holders can view direct deposit information and current address information, update special notice options, and access the Upload Documents tool along with Continuing Disability Review reports, also known as i454 forms.

The “my Social Security” account enables members to conduct much of their related business online without having to visit local branches. It’s free, and currently used by about 97 million people, according to SSA estimates. Being an online service, the features are available around the clock.

Members can also update documents, submit forms, get estimates, check statuses, and change addresses.

Members not receiving SSA benefits can get personalized retirement benefit estimates and estimates for a spouse’s benefits.

During the recent 90th anniversary of the agency, the SSA proclaimed several significant improvements in service delivery for beneficiaries.

These include reducing average wait times on the National 800 Number from 30 minutes last year to single digits last month, shortening field office wait times by 30 percent, reducing the initial disability claims backlog from 1.2 million to 940,000 cases, and decreasing disability hearing wait times by 60 days.

“Our strategy is clear: serve customer needs quickly and completely, no matter how they contact us,” Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a statement.

President Donald Trump, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Social Security Act into law, said, “I made a pledge to our seniors that I would always protect Social Security, and under this administration, we’re keeping that promise and strengthening Social Security for generations to come.”

New Scam Alert

The SSA warned Social Security beneficiaries to be aware of a new scam involving malicious software.

An alert posted last month by the agency’s watchdog, the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG), cautioned the public about emails that appear to be from SSA and include a link to download a utility tool.

The email lures people into going to unofficial websites that claim there is an issue that needs to be resolved through downloading a “security update tool.”

“THIS EMAIL IS NOT FROM SSA. This version of the scam email reads: ‘Official Notice: Download Your Social Security Statement Now. -ID : 70S802’. This is NOT an official SSA notice, nor is it from an official government email address. It does NOT have ‘.gov’ as part of the sender’s address,” the alert states.

Federal government agencies always have “.gov” as part of their official email address.

The advisory asks people to delete the email and desist from clicking on any links in it and to never engage with the scammers. When encountering such issues, people are encouraged to contact local law enforcement and file a police report.

“If you lost money, file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the alert states.

The amount of money victims lose through fraud increases with age, according to a report from nonprofit advocacy group AARP.

Citing data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the report stated that the median loss from fraud was $1,000 for someone aged 70–79, compared with $417 for those aged 20–29. It went even higher for those older than 80, who suffered a median loss of $1,650.

Michelle L. Anderson, assistant inspector general, said, “Scammers urge you to act fast, so you must be able to quickly recognize the signs of a scam to protect yourself and your data.”

With the increased proliferation of online usage, there is a higher risk that scammers target SSA members and beneficiaries through emails and other online methods.