Stay informed about certain important facts regarding Social Security Insurance Programs.

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Social Security Insurance
Programs – Some Facts to
Know
Medical Record Reviews
www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com | 1-800-670-2809

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Social Security disability benefits provide relief to individuals with serious
impairments and are unable to work. This program into which you have been paying all
your working life will provide financial security for your family and yourself, by replacing a
portion of your income. Disability benefits offer basic but essential protection to
Americans, and for 8 out of 10 beneficiaries it is their only main source of income.
The disability benefits average around $1165 per month, and the program’s eligibility
criteria are among the strictest in the world. This insurance is available only for those
Americans with the most significant disabilities and severe illnesses. Increase in women’s
workforce participation, population growth and aging baby boomers have all contributed
to the growth of the program. The growth has leveled off now and is expected to decline
in the coming years with the baby boomer group retiring. The social security retirement
fund and the disability insurance trust fund are routinely rebalanced to keep both trusts
on strong footing. Now since the disability insurance trust fund is facing a financing
deficit, it is expected that rebalancing the two will put the entire SS system back on firm
footing until 2033.
Private vs. Federal Disability Insurance Plans
Considering the private sector, only one in three private sector employees has long term
disability insurance provided by the employer. These plans are often less adequate than
Social Security. In the case of low wage workers, only 7% of workers making less than $12
an hour have disability insurance provided by the employer. The coverage is mostly

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available to white-collar professionals whereas workers in industries such as hospitality,
retail and construction are among those least likely to receive coverage provided by the
employer. Moreover, private insurance plans often exclude workers in high risk
occupations and those with pre-existing conditions. They also exclude certain types of
impairments.
The Social Security Administration takes pride in their efforts to better serve and clearly
communicate with the American public. They enjoy consistently high ratings in customer
satisfaction and usability. The SSA website is easy to navigate and understand. They have
also an FAQ section that answers most of the queries one may have.
Can You Change Your Social Security Number?
The Social Security Number issued to each individual is unique and a new number will be
provided only under exceptional circumstances such as the following:
 If your identity has been stolen and your SS number is being continuously abused
 If sequential numbers assigned to members of your family are causing problems
 If more than one person has been assigned the same number
 If there are cultural or religious objections to certain digits or numbers in the
original number.
 If there is a situation such as threat to life such as domestic violence, abuse or
harassment

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Changing one’s Social Security number comes with certain risks. Employment information
and medical records may be associated with the former number. A new number may
therefore bring unexpected problems. In domestic violence cases, applicants are usually
advised to change their name first. Such victims can also choose to have access to their SS
information blocked electronically. Applicants requesting change of number will have to
go in person to a Social Security office and provide the necessary documentation stating
valid reasons for the request. In all cases, applicants will need to submit documents
showing proof of citizenship and immigration status, preferably the original documents.