Commissioner Martin O’Malley Makes the Case to Congress about Customer Service Challenges, Importance of More Funding, and Better Training
Commissioner O’Malley champions for more resources for the Social Security Administration to better serve the American public and support agency employees. We invite you to watch and share these brief video excerpts from the Commissioner’s recent opportunity to appear before Congress.
What I Told Congress When They Asked About the 800 Number (:43)
In the What I Told Congress When They Asked About the 800 Number video, Commissioner O’Malley responds to Representative Judy Chu about the agency’s 800 number. He explains our need to hire more telephone agents due to a 24 percent decline in our workforce. Despite the challenges, our employees are providing the best customer service possible. “They are my heroes, ” said Commissioner O’Malley.
What I Told Congress We'd Do With Additional Funding (:36)
In the What I Told Congress We'd Do With Additional Funding video, Commissioner O’Malley explains to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden what we would do with additional funding. We would use those resources to increase staffing, decrease the disability claim backlogs, and improve technology.
Fighting for You and Those We Serve (1:51)
In the Fighting for You and Those We Serve video, Commissioner O’Malley explains that it’s been nine years since Congress held a budget hearing for SSA, staffing challenges facing the agency, and thanks agency employees.
We Must Improve Our Training (:44)
In We Must Improve Our Training video, Commissioner O’Malley discusses the importance of better training for agency employees.
Please share these videos with your clients and encourage them to subscribe to our YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/SocialSecurity.
May 2024
Commissioner O'Malley is now on X!
Commissioner Martin O’Malley is now on X! He is the first Commissioner in the history of Social Security to have a social media account. On his X account, the Commissioner addresses agency priorities such as customer service improvements. Commissioner O’Malley is committed to reducing wait times, decreasing fraud, addressing overpayments, and increasing staffing to ensure all your needs are met. We encourage you and your clients to follow @OMalleySSA to hear directly from our Commissioner.
The Most Popular Baby Names of 2023 are Coming — Get Them Straight from the Source!
Our list of 2023’s most popular baby names is coming soon! We historically release the top list on the Friday before Mother’s Day – this year, that falls on May 10. Visit our Baby Names page at www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames on May 10 to see where your favorite names rank. Social Security is here for you from day one, which makes us the source for the most popular baby names and more!
While you’re on our website to check out the top baby names list, we encourage you and your clients to create a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Free and secure, my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use in their working years and later when they’re receiving Social Security benefits.
Why It's Important for Your Clients To Tell Us About Their Financial Accounts
Do your clients receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? If so, they need to tell us about any financial accounts they own, alone or with someone else. That’s because SSI is a needs-based program, and eligibility is determined by their resources as well as their income.
What your clients need to tell us
They need to tell us about changes to their financial accounts or account balances to ensure they receive the correct SSI payment amount. Let us know if your clients:
- Open a new account.
- Close an account.
- Add a joint owner to an existing account.
- Increase their account balance over the SSI resource limit of:
- $2,000 for an individual
- $3,000 for a married couple living together and receiving SSI.
How Your Clients Can Report Changes to Their Financial Accounts
- Call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Contact their local Social Security office. They can find their local office at www.ssa.gov/locator.
For a complete list of SSI reporting responsibilities, please refer your clients to the publication, What You Need to Know When you get SSI at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11011.pdf. Please share this information with your clients.
Save The Date – National Disability Forum
We will host the next virtual National Disability Forum (NDF) on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The title is “How Artificial Intelligence May Affect the Landscape of Social Security - Part 2.” The event will take place through Microsoft Teams from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.
For more information about the NDF, we encourage you and your clients to visit our What’s New page at www.ssa.gov/news/advocates.html. You and your clients can email questions to OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.
We're Making It Easier to Get a New or Replacement Social Security Card!
Your clients may be able to request a new or replacement Social Security card while saving a trip to their local office. Here’s how.
Getting Started
To find out the best way to replace their card, your clients should visit www.ssa.gov/number-card and answer a series of questions to determine whether they can:
- Complete the application process online with their personal my Social Security account.
- Start the process online, then bring any required documents to the local Social Security office to complete the application.
- Complete the application at the local office.
If an office visit is required, your clients can still save time by starting the application online.
What Your Clients Should Know if They Need to Visit an Office
Your clients may be able to use our new Online Self-Scheduling option. By scheduling an in-office appointment online, they can save time when they visit the office. This option allows your client to:
- Select the most convenient office to receive service.
- Choose to receive communications or appointment reminders via email or text.
- Use their mobile device to conveniently check in for an appointment.
They can also reschedule, modify, or cancel an appointment online without having to call or visit us.
Please share this information with your clients.
Social Security Celebrates National AANHPI Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. We celebrate the 2024 National Heritage Month theme: "Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” This month honors the AANHPI visionaries and trailblazers who have contributed to the rich heritage that shaped America’s history. Members of the AANHPI community have offered ingenuity and creativity while navigating significant cultural and systemic barriers.
Join us as we pay tribute to the generations of AANHPI who continue to enrich America and ensure its future success. We invite your clients to celebrate the achievements and contributions of AANHPI communities with us.
Your clients can learn how we support the AANHPI community at www.ssa.gov/people/aanhpi/.