A Look at Social Security’s Special Services for Beneficiaries

Social Security is one of the most efficient government programs that keeps millions of Americans out of poverty. Beneficiaries include those who receive SSDI and SSI benefits. Disability benefits are granted on the basis of a detailed medical record review of the applicant. The applicant’s disability should fall under the list of impairments compiled by the SSA (Social Security Administration) and considered eligible for disability allowance. The SSA has always attempted to go the extra mile for its beneficiaries by offering special services.

Compassionate Allowance for Seriously Ill Patients

Sensitive to the difficulties faced by applicants who are seriously ill and to help them avoid the long waiting time for decisions on their disability applications, Social Security created the Compassionate Allowances list that includes 225 serious health conditions. Applicants suffering from any of these conditions would be quickly granted disability status once their medical records are reviewed and the disability established. This list includes rare diseases, traumatic brain injury, cancers, early onset Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias, stroke, cardiovascular disease, schizophrenia, autoimmune diseases and multiple organ transplants. The administration will approve such applications within weeks.

Social Security Number for New Baby

Parents can request a number for their newborn baby at the hospital where the child was born. This request can be made at the same time when registration for a birth certificate is made. This helps avoid calling Social Security’s toll-free number or going to the local office with the baby. The advantages of getting this number right away include:

• Obtain health insurance coverage for the child
• Open a bank account for the baby
• Apply for government services for the baby
• Declare the child as a dependent on the parents’ income tax return

The Administration even helps with naming the baby, with its list of the most popular names for babies born each year.

Appointing a Representative to Manage the Beneficiary’s Money

The SSA’s Representative Payee Program helps to appoint a representative to manage the beneficiary’s money in case they need help. Usually, family members or friends are considered first for this position. In case such people are not available, SSA would contact qualified social service and similar agencies to find representative payees. The role of the representative payee is very important because he/she will have to take charge of the benefits sent to the beneficiary and manage the money for the beneficiary’s needs. He/she must maintain records and also account for his/her actions by filing reports to the SSA.

International Social Security Agreements

Americans who work in offshore locations and foreign nationals working in the U.S. often face the problem of double payroll taxation of their wages. These people also face the issue of accretion of too few credits in any country that will make them eligible for benefits. The SSA has entered into agreements with 25 foreign countries which have systems similar to the U.S. Social Security. As per this agreement, workers need pay taxes only to one country’s system at a time. When they are about to retire, they can pool the credits earned in more than one country. The SSA would pay benefits to an American expatriate by recognizing the credits he/she earned when working in another country.

Assistance of an Interpreter

People who don’t speak English but need to communicate with the staff at the SSA about benefits can make use of the free interpretation services the administration provides. Many languages are covered. People can call the agency at a toll-free number and choose the desired language option. In case the phone call doesn’t serve the purpose, they can make use of the appointment Social Security would schedule at a local office, where they would also arrange for an interpreter to be present.

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