CHIP
What CHIP path (s) can I find information about assistance to pay for my SMI premiums?
Action-Medicare-Medicare Other Issues- HI/SMI Premiums, Type of Action: Financial Assistance in paying premiums
or
Action- Medicaid-Medicaid- Medicaid Inquiry Type- Medicare Savings Program Inquiry
or
Action-Medicaid- MSP
What action do I perform on PCOM screen 09, 06
Alpha Query- used to look up SSN for someone using their name and DOB
What does DCN stand for and what does it mean?
Double Check Negotiation- Two paper checks cashed for same month
What should I do if I get a call claiming there is a problem with my Social Security number or account?
If there is a problem, we will mail you a letter. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. The latest scam trick of using robocalls or live callers has increased. Fraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number, account, or benefits.
Scammers may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. They often demand payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or mailing cash.
Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. Social Security may call you in some situations, but will never:
Don’t be fooled! You should look out for:
How to protect yourself and your family!
Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/.
What is a first party report?
A first party report is an event reported by:
•
the beneficiary or recipient
•
the beneficiary's representative payee, agent (i.e., lawyer, accountant) or authorized representative.
•
a competent adult entitled on the same Social Security number (SSN) who is acting at the request of the beneficiary
•
a relative, friend or neighbor, who is acting at the request of the beneficiary.
NOTE 1: A death report of a deceased beneficiary or recipient received from a relative can also be processed as a first party report if the reporter can provide the identification (ID) information required in TC 01001.020.
NOTE 2: A death report of a deceased beneficiary or recipient received from a friend or neighbor is a third party report. See TC 01001.010C for information on third party reports.
EXCEPTION: A request for direct deposit action can only be accepted from a beneficiary, recipient or payee. If a beneficiary or recipient has a representative payee, see TC 16001.015 for processing instructions. See TC 01001.020 for information on identifying reporters, and TC 01001.030A for instructions for processing a first party report.
Which CHIP path would I use on this call:
Hello, I received a notice stating you would withhold my entire payment on the 3rd next month. My bills are too much for me to lose an entire check. Can you help me establish an arrangement?
Action- Overpayment- Inquiries/Processing- T2- Reason for contact Overpayment Recovery- Recovery Type- Partial change in withholding
What PCOM path do I access if CHIP is down to query a nonreceipt for T2?
02, 01, QUERY (3) PEMU screen, PEN1 screen, PEN2 screen
How long is a government check valid for?
limited payability- 12 months
How much will the COLA amount be for 2022 and when will I receive it?
How much is the increase: Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for approximately 70 million Americans will increase by 5.9% in 2022. This is the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). By law, federal benefits increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
When the increase takes effect: The increase will begin with benefits that Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2022. Increased SSI payments will begin on December 30, 2021.
When your notice will arrive in the mail: We mail COLA notices throughout the entire month of December. It is possible that your friend or family member will receive their notice in the mail before you. Please wait until January before contacting us about your mailed notice. However, you may not need to wait for your mailed notice to learn your new benefit amount for 2022: you can view your COLA notice online with your personal my Social Security account.
Who can see their notice online: COLA notices are available online to most beneficiaries through the Message Center of their personal my Social Security account if they created their account by November 17, 2021. my Social Security is a secure, convenient way to receive COLA notices online and save the message for later. You can also opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online.
Sign up for your own account and get an email or text message the next time your COLA notice is available online for you. You can also use your account to manage your benefits and much more!
For more information see:
What should I do if I access a restricted record?
B. Handling Restricted Records
Employees must immediately follow the procedures outlined below when they receive the “restricted record” alert.
1.
Explain to the caller special handling of their record is required and you must refer the call to your manager.
2.
Immediately notify your supervisor of the call and “restricted record” alert. If your immediate supervisor is not available, find another supervisor or management official.
3.
Provide the supervisor/management official with all information associated with the call including any paper documentation (notes) and SSA queries obtained during with call.
4.
Apologize to the caller for the delay.
5.
Transfer the call to your supervisor.
6.
Select “OK”; the Customer Help and Information Program (CHIP) will automatically return to the “Start New Call” screen.
Hello, I need a letter that shows my payment amount each month for my bank representative. Can you help?
Action- Benefit Verification
What screen on PCOM Main screen can I access to send an MDW if CHIP down?
Modernized Development Worksheet
Where should a caller return a payment that is older than 12 months?
FO
What is the eligibility for Social Security spouse's benefits and my own retirement benefits?
If you have not worked or do not have enough Social Security credits to qualify for your own Social Security benefits, you may be able to receive spouse’s benefits.
To qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of these:
Your full spouse’s benefit could be up to one-half the amount your spouse is entitled to receive at their full retirement age. If you choose to begin receiving spouse’s benefits before you reach full retirement age, your benefit amount will be permanently reduced.
You will receive your full spouse’s benefit amount if you wait until you reach full retirement age to begin receiving benefits. You will also receive the full amount if you are caring for a child entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record who is younger than age 16 or disabled.
If you do have enough credits to qualify for your own Social Security benefits and you apply for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.
Here is an example:
Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400. At her full retirement age, she will receive her own $250 retirement benefit, and we will add $150 from her spouse’s benefit, for a total of $400.
Keep in mind that you may have options to increase your benefit amounts. For more information, see Filing Rules for Retirement and Spouses Benefits.
If you are at least 62 years of age and you wish to apply for retirement or spouse’s benefits, you can use our online retirement application to apply for one or both benefits.
If you are divorced
If you are divorced and your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you may be able to get benefits on your former spouse’s record.
See Benefits For Your Divorced Spouse for more information.
If your spouse or ex-spouse is deceased
See When A Family Member Dies for more information.
How do I post special message to the MBR?
How to Post Special Messages to the MBR
1.
From CHIP "Queries & Inputs," select Input, then select MONET (MBR Annotations), select 1 to establish and add a new special message. If updating a special message, select 2.
2.
On the IMAM screen, select 1 for Special Messages, beside the beneficiary name you wish to add the special message for. See MSOM MS 06307.007.
3.
On the SMS1 screen, use the first available field to enter the specific special message per TSCOG instructions. See MSOM MS 06307.008.
4.
Review your message for accuracy, and select Enter.
What CHIP path can I find what it is called when someone's disability benefits end due to work and earnings and they request reinstatement?
What screen on PCOM Main can I access to see MCS and query status of an T2 initial application?
1.- Initial Claims/T2
What queries can be used to help answer a caller's questions when they question why their payment is different than the amount he/she received in prior months?
MBR, ORS, SSR, PHUS
How do I replace a SSN for a child?
Views: 2403689
To replace an SSN card for a child:
Step 1: Provide evidence to prove the child’s:
See Learn What Documents You Need for more information and read our Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page to learn about changes to SSN card requests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Step 2: If you are filing the application on behalf of a child, you must also provide evidence to prove your:
If you are mailing in the application, and the child is a U.S. citizen applying for a replacement SSN card, you are not required to submit original primary evidence of identity for yourself (e.g., driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport).
See Learn What Documents You Need for more information and read our Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page to learn about changes to SSN card requests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Step 3: Complete an Application for a Social Security card.
Step 4: Contact your local Social Security office or your local Social Security Card Center for submission options.
We can only accept original documents or documents certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. We’ll return any documents you mail to us along with a receipt.
Important Information
We will mail the child’s card as soon as we have verified all required documents. You should receive the card within two weeks from the date on the receipt. The replacement card will have the same SSN as the previous card.
You may not need to get a replacement card for the child. Knowing the SSN is what is important. The child may need an SSN card to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and receive some government services. Otherwise, you do not often need to show the child's SSN card.
I have never seen my adopted brother. Can SSA help me locate him?
A. General
Effective May 19, 2014, the Social Security Administration no longer assists individuals in locating missing persons through the letter forwarding process. With the availability of alternative locator resources, i.e., the Internet, the letter forwarding process was no longer necessary.
B. Action
If you receive a request to locate a missing person(s) through the letter forwarding process,
•
advise the caller that we no longer provide assistance in locating missing persons through the letter forwarding process.
•
suggest resources to assist the caller such as the Salvation Army, Facebook, www.whitepages.com, etc.
Use CHIP to tell me about the TWP
TWP=
Trial Work Period (TWP) allows individuals to test their ability to work for nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within rolling sixty-month period. TWP can begin with later of date of filing or date of entitlement. Dually or technically entitled beneficiary can have different TWP on each entitlement.
Trial work month is any month in which an individual's earnings are over SSA's earnings limits for workers and self-employed. If individual is self employed, his/her net earnings over SSA's trial work month limits or 80 hours monthly constitutes trial work month. During TWP, full disability benefits will continue regardless of earnings amount as long as individual continues to be disabled.
What is the path in PCOM to find the QRSL?
09, 17
What should I do is a beneficiary with a rep payee calls to report a non-receipt? (Note: payee is not present)
Do not input the report. Refer the report to the FO for verification with the representative payee. Use a MDW or DW01 for MSSICS.
What are the three most browsed topics on SSA.GOV FAQ?
Social Security Number
Online Services
Retirement
What is the FOIA and how do I make a request?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives the public the right to request records from any federal agency. Federal agencies are required to disclose information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions. You can make a FOIA General Request for Social Security Records online or by mail:
Social Security Administration
Office of Privacy and Disclosure
617 Altmeyer Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
See Guide to FOIA at SSA for more information, including fees involved with a request