What Is the Official Site for Social Security?
The U.S. Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Social Security program is the largest federal program in the country. And the SSA itself is also one of the largest federal agencies. Not only does it assign Social Security numbers, but it also oversees disability insurance programs, Social Security survivors programs, Social Security retirement payments, and the Supplemental Security Income program for people with disabilities, older adults and people who meet certain income requirements.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the SSA as part of his New Deal in 1935, and it started out with no furniture, staff or even a budget — only to become a cabinet-level program in 1939. Today, the SSA provides benefits to nearly 70 million people in the U.S., many of whom use the agency’s website, SSA.gov, to manage their own program participation. You can get started using the official SSA website by learning more about the basics below.
What Can I Do On SSA.gov?
Using the tools on SSA.gov, you can complete a variety of tasks. You can change your name, request a replacement Social Security card, request a Social Security number, update your personal information and do much more. You can also apply for benefits for retirement, Medicare or SSI or request extra help with prescription drug plan costs. If you’re self-employed or own a small business, the site has sections that tell you how to pay into Social Security.
How Can I Sign Up for Medicare on SSA.gov?
When you visit SSA.gov, you’ll see separate pictures with links. Medicare is on the right-hand side under the disability section. You can also navigate to the Medicare signup page by clicking on the menu section, which expands to show various link options. Under the benefits section on the white area of the page, Medicare is the third link down.
Clicking the link takes you to another page that discusses the parts of Medicare, the special enrollment period, what happens after applying for Medicare and other related information. In the table of contents, there’s a link that takes you to the section outlining which documents and information you need to apply for Medicare and a button that takes you to the page where you can sign up. You can only apply during regular service hours, which are listed in Eastern time.
When you visit the SSA website during service hours, there’s a Medicare application available that takes up to 30 minutes to complete. Once you complete the application, click the “Submit Now” button to send it to the SSA electronically. Once you do that, the screen shows you a printable receipt to keep for your records, as well as an application number so you can check the status of your application. Once the SSA has reviewed your application, you’ll receive a letter regarding the decision. Someone from the SSA will contact you if they need more documents or clarification to make their decision.
Is SSA.gov Secure?
One current issue with the SSA is that scammers who obtain your Social Security number can go online to set up a My Social Security account in your name and collect monthly payments in your name once you reach the minimum age for collecting Social Security retirement benefits. This is why it’s essential to set up your account as early as possible, even before you’re ready to apply for Social Security. Fortunately, there’s a secure sign-in process with Login.gov, which offers optional protection to guard against identity theft.
