March 2024
Celebrate National “Slam the Scam” Day with Social Security
This year, Thursday, March 7 is National “Slam the Scam” Day.
Slam the Scam raises public awareness about the government imposter scams that continue to spread across the United States. Slam the Scam is part of National Consumer Protection Week, March 3 – March 9.
Please encourage your clients to visit our Protect Yourself from Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam for more information about National “Slam the Scam” Day and Social Security-related scams. Your clients can report potential scams to the Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
We hope you will help us “Slam the Scam” on March 7! Please share this information with your clients.
Social Security’s Top 5 Scam Awareness Articles
We know how important it is to raise awareness about scams. That’s why we want your clients to have all the information they need to protect themselves. Our top 5 scam awareness articles are described below.
- We work with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect your clients from scams that use Social Security as bait. In How We Protect You from Misleading Advertising and Communications, we detail what they should do if they receive a suspicious advertisement or imposter communication. Please see blog.ssa.gov/how-we-protect-you-from-misleading-advertising-and-communications.
- Identity theft affects millions of people each year and causes serious harm. Here are 10 ways your clients can protect themselves and their personal information: blog.ssa.gov/10-ways-to-protect-your-personal-information-2/.
- Financial crime against all Americans is an ongoing problem. People living with dementia have a higher risk of becoming victims of fraud. Your clients can learn how to minimize this risk for their loved ones at blog.ssa.gov/minimizing-the-risk-of-scams-for-people-living-with-dementia.
- Fraudsters also target veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. To learn what to look for and how to help the veterans and military members in their life, your clients can check out blog.ssa.gov/stay-alert-fraudsters-target-veterans-active-duty-service-members-and-their-families.
- Quick Response (QR) codes are very popular these days. A QR code is a scannable barcode that directs users to a website or social media account. Do your clients know scammers place fake QR codes on top of official ones? It’s among the latest trends we list in this post about combatting scams: blog.ssa.gov/new-years-resolutions-to-combat-scams.
We encourage your clients to review these articles and bookmark them for future reference. Please share this information with them so they can protect themselves and their loved ones.
How We Protect Your Clients from Misleading Advertising and Communications
We work with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect your clients from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties on people, companies, and other organizations using misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications.
The OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who:
- Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or otherwise authorized by Social Security.
- Operates an imposter website or social media account designed to look as though it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security.
- Makes telephone calls or sends emails or text messages claiming to be from Social Security.
- Sells Social Security’s free forms, applications, and publications without our written approval.
- Charges a fee for a Social Security service without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.
If your clients receive a suspicious Social Security-related advertisement or imposter communication, please let us know immediately. We encourage them to report potential scams at oig.ssa.gov. Your clients can also send an email to OIG.1140@ssa.gov.
Your clients should try to capture as much information about the communication as they can. For example:
- For suspicious websites or social media accounts, they can take a screenshot of the page. Have them note the website address or social media link – and how they came across it.
- For emails and text messages, they can capture the entire message and any message links.
- For U.S. mail, they can retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.
- For telephone calls, they can note the caller’s phone number and any company name or callback number provided by the caller or a recorded message.
These details will help OIG locate the source of the suspicious communication and take appropriate action.
For more information, your clients can check out our What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising fact sheet at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf and review Section 1140 of the Social Security Act at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.
Please share this information with them.
Social Security Celebrates Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus on women’s past contributions and celebrate their accomplishments in the 21st century. At Social Security, we are here to provide vital benefits and financial protection for all women.
Nearly 55% of people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Today, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history.
Women also have longer average life expectancies and tend to live more years in retirement than men. This means women have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income while their Social Security benefit continues for life. That’s why it’s especially important for women to plan early and wisely for retirement.
Our publication, Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf, provides detailed information about how life events can affect a woman’s Social Security benefits. These events include marriage, death of a spouse, divorce, self-employment, and other life or career changes.
Learn more about how Social Security benefits women at www.ssa.gov/people/women. Please share this information with your loved ones.
Social Security Improves Customer Experience Ranking
Social Security is committed to improving customer service by providing your clients more access to our programs and services – and our efforts have paid off.
We’re proud to announce our improved ranking on Forrester’s 2023 Federal Customer Experience Index. With an increase of 3.3 points from 2022, we made the most significant gain of any federal agency on the list.
We achieved this higher ranking by focusing on several key initiatives in 2023. For example, we:
- Implemented online scheduling for in-office enumeration appointments. Your clients can now schedule appointments online for both original and replacement Social Security cards for themselves and their minor children. This service is available in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
- Conducted a targeted mail campaign with enrollment information to reach your clients who may be eligible for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. Your clients can learn more in our online publication, SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10508.pdf.
- Employed strategies to help people facing barriers access our programs and services, including your clients with:
- Limited income and resources.
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
- A risk of homelessness.
- Mental and behavioral disabilities.
- Partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services to test new ways to make it easier for Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) applicants and recipients to access nutrition assistance programs. For more information, your clients can check out our press release at www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#12-2022-2.
Forrester’s’ recognition of our customer service improvements reflects our commitment to making it easier for the public to do business with us and get the services they need. We invite your clients to learn more on www.forrester.com.
Please share this news with them.