Social Security Closed on 12/24 and 12/25— But Open Online

They’ll Get Their Pay on the Usual Day

It’s Easier Than Ever to Save on Your Prescription Costs

Social Security’s 75th Anniversary

Social Security Closed on 12/24 and 12/25 — But Open Online

If you have clients who need to conduct business with Social Security over the holiday season, be sure to let them know that our offices will be closed on December 24 and December 25.  In addition, anyone calling or visiting a Social Security office between December 27 and New Year’s Eve might experience longer waits than usual due to the holidays.

However, our online services are available even on holidays. Anyone can visit www.socialsecurity.gov to complete a number of transactions.  For example, you can apply for retirement, disability, or spouse benefits, check the status of a pending application, get an instant, personalized estimate of future benefits with the Retirement Estimator, request a replacement Medicare card or apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs.

You can find a list of online services and their hours of operation at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. 

They’ll Get Their Pay on the Usual Day

We have an important announcement about a recent notice that went to beneficiaries about their payment amounts and dates.  Some of the notices that were sent out contained an error in the payment date.  The notices gave a January payment date one week earlier than usual. That is incorrect. Social Security has not made changes to the day of the month beneficiaries normally receive payments.

All other information on the notice is correct.  Social Security apologizes for any inconvenience or confusion the error may have caused.  Rest assured that payments will be made on their usual dates.

To learn more, see the press release on the subject.
www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/corrected-notices-pr.htm

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It’s Easier Than Ever to Save on Your Prescription Costs

Some Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for Extra Help to pay for the costs — monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments — related to a Medicare prescription drug plan. The Extra Help is worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify, a person must be a Medicare beneficiary, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.

Starting on January 1, 2010, changes in the law make it easier for some people to qualify for the Extra Help.  Under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, Social Security:

Learn more about these and other changes by reading our electronic fact sheet, It’s easier than ever to save on your prescription costs. Apply Now! at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10524.html

Or go directly to the Extra Help application at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020.

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Social Security’s 75th Anniversary

As we ring in 2010, we also will be ringing in the 75th anniversary of Social Security. On August 14, 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. Since then, for 75 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of our nation, touching the lives of almost every American at one time or another. We’re hoping that Congress will help us celebrate our anniversary by enacting legislation we proposed to name the Operations Building at our headquarters complex after former Commissioner Robert Ball.

Social Security has a rich history. We encourage you to learn more about it. Take a look at our History Page at www.socialsecurity.gov/history/.

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