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This is being done by eroding the agency from within. They are discrediting Social Security’s front line employees to make the agency look incapable of fulfilling its charter. Social Security’s front line employees come in two varieties: service representatives you meet in your local field office, and Tele-Service representatives you speak with when you call the national 800 number. These front line workers are unionized under the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). After the Bush Administration’s effort to privatize Social Security failed, the Administration took sweeping measures to limit AFGE’s ability to represent its members. Social Security employees were given a contract that prevents the union from representing its members as it has in the past.

The Bush Administration is implementing a “pay-for-performance” appraisal plan for Social Security employees and a subjective call monitoring initiative that has resulted in the unprecedented attrition of Social Security employees. Social Security’s 800 number representatives are monitored by members of management following subjective guidelines for quality; this monitoring is being enforced with a record number of employee suspensions at the nation’s Tele-Service Centers. Employees are being suspended for infractions ranging from their “tone of voice” to what is being called “rude and discourteous behavior.”

This may sound trivial to the casual observer; however, with no clear guidelines for Service representatives and without considering the context of the calls being taken, the one to five day suspensions being handed down are clearly designed to drive the employee attrition to current levels that call centers in the private sector would shudder at. The unprecedented levels of employee turnover has resulted in a hiring spree of new employees and the expense of their training; a blatant waste of your tax dollars.

Other initiatives designed to drive Social Security employees out are a mandatory four minute limit on each call. If an employee is unable to solve the caller’s problem within four minutes they are required to place the caller on hold and seek assistance from their supervisor. How can a four minute limit on calls serve the best interests of the public? On top of this employee unfriendly work environment, the agency is threatening its employees with work furloughs where each employee would have mandatory unpaid time off each month. These furloughs are designed to further drive employee attrition and make the agency look incapable of managing its budget, all in an effort to sway public opinion in favor of private Social Security. Social Security’s front line employees serve the public day in and day out; they deserve better treatment than this.

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To designate voluntary tax withholding for your Social Security benefits you need to complete a form W-4V. This form is not available on Social Security’s website for some reason and the only way to get it is to call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for one or visit your local Social Security office.

Once you have the form you will designate the percentage you want withheld, sign on the dotted line and return the form to Social Security. There are only five percentages to choose from: 0%, 7%, 10%, 15% and 25%. You would select 0% only if you would like to stop the withholding. Once you have returned the form it will take 30-60 days for Social Security to process before the withholding starts. (It seems to take Social Security 30-60 days to do just about everything)

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Social Security does have a process for representation. The agency can designate you as the “Representative Payee” for this individual if you have good cause for becoming one. To do this you would need to take your “Power of Attorney” documents and photo identification to the local Social Security office and fill out the Representative Payee application. You don’t need “Power of Attorney” to become payee, just a good reason for doing so.

It takes the local Social Security office about 30 to 60 days to process the application. If your application is approved Social Security will send you a letter letting you know that you have been appointed as Representative Payee for the person in question. All correspondence while you are payee will be sent in your name for the beneficiary. Payment will also be issued in your name for the person you are Payee for. You are responsible for seeing that the Social Security check is spent in an appropriate manner.

All representative payees are required to document in an annual report how the money you are responsible for is being spent. Social Security will mail you an annual “Representative Payee Report” for this purpose. Being a representative payee is not a responsibility you should take lightly; if the person you are seeing is overpaid for example, you could be liable for paying back the overpayment.

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In order to replace your Social Security card you will need to fill out an application; the application is Social Security form SS-5. You must sign and date the form. If you are a US citizen you will need to prove your identity for the application to be processed. You need to provide your original driver’s license, State ID card, or US passport to have the application processed. Social Security does not accept photocopies and you will be required to present original documents for the replacement Social Security card. If you are a non US citizen you will be required to show current immigration documents, the unexpired passport from your country of origin, or the work permit issued to you by Homeland Security.

It is possible to submit the application through the mail; however, you will need to mail the original identification documents to Social Security for them to process the application. The local Social Security office will mail your identification back to you when they finish. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of mailing your identification your best bet is to visit your local Social Security office and submit the application in person.

If you are changing your name due to a marriage or divorce you will need to show proof of the name change. This proof could be your marriage license or marriage certificate, or your divorce decree or court order authorizing the name change. You will generally be required to show proof of identity in both names before Social Security will approve the change.

Social Security has also placed limits this year on the number of replacement cards you can request. The limit on replacement cards are three per year and a lifetime limit of ten. If you receive a replacement card due to a name change, that card is not counted towards your annual or lifetime limit. Social Security states they are imposing these limits to make it more difficult for criminals to exploit Social Security numbers with false identification or immigration papers.

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If you start receiving your Retirement benefits from Social Security at age 62, you will be receiving a reduced amount. Social Security reduces your monthly benefits by the number of months prior to your full retirement age that you start benefits. For most people, you will receive more money in the long run by drawing Social Security between age 62 and your full retirement age than you will by waiting.

The only catch is that your earnings from employment are limited. In 2006, the most you can earn without Social Security taking money away from your benefits is $12,480. For most people, the year you reach your full retirement age you can earn $33,240; the year after this there is no limit on your earnings. If you earn over the $12,480 limit, Social Security will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. The year that you reach your full retirement age if you earn over the $33,240 limit, Social Security will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $3 you earn over the limit.

To start receiving your monthly check you will need to prove that you are a US citizen. Social Security requires original documents so you will need to produce your original birth certificate or US passport. It takes Social Security about 3 months to process your application; you will receive an award letter letting you know how much you will receive and when shortly after they have finished.

If you are planning your budget based on the first Social Security check, remember that Social Security benefits are paid one month behind, so you may not receive your first check for two months after your birthday. For example, if you turn 62 in May, your first month of eligibility is June; you will receive the check for June in July.

To schedule an appointment to file for your Retirement benefits contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

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If you did not receive your form 1099 form Social Security or have lost it, today is the first day to call and request a replacement. You do not have to have the paper copy to file your income tax; a Social Security representative can give you the amounts over the phone by calling Social Security’s 800 number.

There are three amounts you will need: the amounts paid to you by check or direct deposit, the amount paid to Medicare for premiums, and the sum of the two amounts. If you had payments returned to Social Security for any reason (for example if your bank account was closed and the direct deposit was returned to Social Security) there will be another important amount on the 1099. This amount shows money returned to Social Security.

When you have money returned to Social Security for a given tax year, the total amount paid to you by check or direct deposit will be over by the amount returned. Social Security has to account for money that was reissued to you; as a result, any money that was returned and reissued will also appear in the total you were paid for the year. For tax purposes you need to make sure and use the amount that was returned to Social Security or you will be off on your total annual income.

To request a replacement 1099 or to get the amounts you were paid for tax year 2005, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

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Generally for tax year 2005, if you are single and under the age of 65, and your income is less than $13,005 you are not required to file personal income tax. If you are over the age of 65 and your income is under $17,435 you are not required to file personal income tax.

If you are married the amounts will vary if you are filing jointly or individually.

Generally, if you are filling together and both of you are under the age of 65, the limit is $26,170. If you are over the age 65 and filing together, the limit is $34,870. There may be other conditions that have to be met in order to be eligible for exempt filing status. To be certain whether or not you have to file your personal income tax based on Social Security benefits and any other income you received, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Social Security sends out form 1099 statements throughout the month of January each year. You will need the amounts on this form to determine your filing status and to file taxes each year. If you have not received this document by February 1st contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for a duplicate.

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You can earn up to four “credits” for Social Security each year that you work and pay Social Security taxes. In 2006 you need to earn a minimum of $970 per quarter before taxes to earn one credit. If you earn a minimum of $3,880 in 2006 you will receive a total of four credits towards your benefits.

To qualify for Retirement benefits you need a minimum of 40 credits or 10 years of work. It is okay if you have periods of unemployment on your work history as long as your total work adds up to 40 credits. You will not be eligible for Retirement benefits on your own record until you satisfy the 40 credit requirement.

After you have earned your 40 credits to qualify for Retirement benefits, your earnings are still counted. You will not earn any more credits past 40; however, Social Security looks at 35 years of your earnings to calculate the amount you will receive each month. The amount you receive is based on a number of factors. These factors include the annual amounts of your earnings, the age in which you start benefits, and any possible offsets for pensions you may receive where you did not pay Social Security taxes.

The earliest you can start Social Security Retirement benefits is age 62. If you file for benefits before your full retirement age you will receive a reduced amount based on your age. To learn how much you will receive each month for your Retirement benefits check your Social Security statement. There are three benefit amounts pertaining to Retirement on the statement; these amounts are the reduced amount at age 62 and the unreduced amount you will receive at your full retirement age. The final amount is what you could receive if you wait until age 70. By waiting until age 70 before taking your retirement benefits you earn what are called “delayed retirement credits” which can significantly boost your monthly benefit amount.

To determine your full retirement age use the following chart:

Birth Date ————- Full Benefit Age
1937 or prior ——– 65
1938 ——————-65 plus 2 months
1939 ——————-65 plus 4 months
1940 ——————-65 plus 6 months
1941 ——————-65 plus 8 months
1942 ——————-65 plus 10 months
1943 to 1954 ——– 66
1955 ——————-66 plus 2 months
1956 ——————-66 plus 4 months
1957 ——————-66 plus 6 months
1958 ——————-66 plus 8 months
1959 ——————-66 plus 10 months
1960 to present —– 67

You should be receiving a Social Security statement in the mail each year around three months prior to your birthday. If you are not receiving a statement make sure the IRS has your correct address as Social Security does not maintain an address for you until you start benefits. You can reach the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

You can also request a Social Security Statement online from Social Security’s website at the following address:

http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement/

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Related Articles at Social Security Retirement:

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In fact, the taxes you pay on your wages fund the Social Security Trust Fund, which actively pays the people who are currently receiving Social Security benefits. When it’s your turn to retire or receive disability benefits, your payments will be funded by the people who are currently working and paying into the system.

The Trust Fund is how the government accounts for Social Security taxes paid by workers in the United States. The current system only works when there are enough people paying taxes to support the number of people collecting benefits for retirement and disability. The Trust Fund works like a giant checking account. When there is enough money coming in to cover the checks going out, all is well.

There is a crisis brewing for Social Security. When the generation of Americans known as “Baby Boomers” reaches retirement age, there will not be enough people working and paying the taxes needed to keep the trust funded. It is projected that by the year 2018 the Trust Fund will be in the red; Social Security will be entirely depleted by the year 2042. Congress and the President will have to take action to prevent this.

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