California Employees: Everything You Need To Know About Your Pay

Social Security to Get Rid of Paper Checks to Save $1 Billion
The countdown begins for those who are receiving Social Security benefits by means of paper checks after the U.S. Treasury Department has announced its implementation of electronic payments in sending benefits after Sunday. The federal government foresees a $1billion savings for the next 10 years by shifting to electronic payments.

However, those 11 million beneficiaries who are currently receiving federal benefits such as retirement benefits, disability benefits and supplemental security income, among others, will still continue to receive paper checks until March 1, 2013.

U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios said that issuing payment checks costs 92 cents more than direct bank deposits. “It is the right thing to do for benefit recipients and American taxpayers alike,” she further said.

Along with this, the Social Security Administration has ceased on sending annual Social Security statements to cut off budget spending.
The Treasury Department also explained that paying beneficiaries electronically is more convenient for them. It is also proven to be safer than sending paper checks, avoiding lost or stolen benefits.

Now, recipients must have their personal accounts in banks or in other financial institutions capable of receiving direct deposits to receive their benefits.
This government program is just one of those plans to cut off federal spending and save Social Security from shutting down. The implementation of electronic payments is a great help to save money and resources.

Electronic payment can be a safer and more convenient means to pay benefits. Yet, the federal agencies must ensure that all safety issues have been resolved to avoid Social Security fraud and identity theft before implementing this program nationwide. If not, it is better to halt the plan and consider going back to paper checks.

Obama Supports Social Security Income Cap Increase

For years now, the government has been presenting a lot of proposals to alleviate the budget deficit. What’s sad about this, some plans tackle some considerations that will affect Social Security like altering retirement age, decreasing disability benefit amounts and even increasing income cap. However, it is unclear if these proposals can definitely help ease our budget deficit.

Last Tuesday, President Barack Obama expressed his support on the proposal to raise income cap on Social Security to strengthen fiscal budget for retirees. Yet, Obama’s advisers still has to determine how much would be the increase not to result much burden to the working population. Last year, a recommendation increasing the cap to $107,000 but the chief executive rejected it.

On his statement, Obama said that Social Security may not have contributed to the budget deficit but it may not be able to provide full benefits for retiring workers in the next few decades if no actions will be implemented to stabilize its finances immediately. A bit of adjustment to Social Security cap would bring significant amount to reinforce the program, Obama reiterated.

This year, Social Security will spend more in paying benefits than it will collect taxes. Experts believe that the program might have to borrow funds from the federal reserves by the year 2015 and if the government failed to come up with better solution, no funds will be available to pay benefits by the year 2037.

It is very critical for the government to resolve the budget crisis before our economy completely collapse. Nonetheless, it may also be important to consider sparing Social Security or at least implement programs that will not be too harsh for the members.

Workers must still be able to receive suitable disability benefits, retirement benefits and other support programs that they deserve even after budget measures have been implemented. Else, abolish Social Security and let private institutions handle the job.

How to Speed up Your Application for Disability Benefits

Incurring a disability limits a person’s ability to work and, therefore, earn income for his needs. So, disabled persons avail of the disability benefits to support themselves as managed by the Social Security Administration.

The agency handles around 3 million claims each year. Because of this, the process of determining your ability to work, disability, and eligibility can take months which delays the much-needed benefits for one’s food, shelter, and clothing.

To hasten your claims for insurance benefits, here are things you can do:

• Gather as much medical evidence as you can to prove your disabling medical condition. This way, the agency won’t have problems in locating your medical records and determining that you are disabled

• Sign a consent indicating that you are allowing the agency to retrieve information about your condition and work history so that it will be easier for them to verify the data you’ve provided

• Attach only the copies of original medical records and other documents as these things have a way of getting lost while your claim is being processed. By doing so, you can readily present copies of them in case the agency losses the one you send them.

• Indicate the names, addresses, and contact information of your doctor, medical and treatment facilities, as well as your former employers so that the agency can reach them immediately to confirm the information you’ve given them

It is always best to be prepared when filing claims for disability benefits so have these things in order.

Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/disability to know more on how you can easily apply online for disability benefits.

Celebrities Encouraging Americans to Visit SSA Website

SSA has found a new way how to urge people to use their services – by going online. And what is better way to do this? Use a celebrity as endorser.

George Takei and Patty Duke can be seen in at least eight commercials that encourage Americans to “Boldly Go” to the Social Security Administration’s website to know more about disability benefits, retirement benefits, Medicare, and other services and programs sponsored by the agency.

The two icons are joining forces to promote www.socialsecurity.gov where people can easily and safely interact with personnel regarding their benefits and Medicare.

In one of the commercials, the two are talking about how easy and convenient it is to file social security benefits online.

Commissioner Michael J. Astrue, on the other hand, commends the efforts of the two celebrities in promoting the “top-rated online services in the U.S” and the ease of applying online for their retirement benefits.

Aside from this, SSA’s website also has forms and instructions that are downloadable to help claimants of benefits apply for the financial aid that the agency offers. All they have to do is “Boldly Go” to www.socialsecurity.gov to learn more about the online services that they can use.

2012 Budget Proposal to Overhaul Medicare and Medicaid

The U.S. Congress has already released their 2012 budget proposal that would reduce more than $6 trillion in federal spending and streamline funds allocated for two major health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid.

The plan will spare Social Security that provides disability benefits. Under the proposal, the government will implement restructure on Medicare starting 2022 that includes discontinuing direct benefits payment for covered senior citizens. Their benefits will just come from their chosen private insurance companies subsidized by the government.

However, Americans aged 55 or older will not be covered by the proposal.
The White House expressed their arguments on Ryan’s proposal. On their statement, they implied that the plan will impose greater burden for the elders who rely mainly on Medicare, struggling families taking care of a disabled child, workers who have lost their health care coverage and poor students who rely on the program’s educational grants.

Although Congressman Paul Ryan’s initiative to give a fair and realistic resolution to our financial crisis is a good idea for some Americans, I agree with the critics. Instead of implementing financial cuts on government programs that help the elderly and poor Americans, why not find some other means?

The government may impose added taxes to those who can afford to pay more or just implement higher budget cuts on other programs that will not directly affect the poor.