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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Davenport, Iowa Office

By Pam Shaw
Social Security District Manager
Davenport Social Security Office

CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS CLAIM ONLINE

If you applied for Social Security benefits, or have a pending reconsideration or hearing request, you can check the status online using your free personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to review the following information about your appeal:

• Date of filing.
• Current claim location.
• Scheduled hearing date and time.
• Incomplete applications.
• Servicing office location.
• Publications of interest, depending on the claim and current step in the process.

If you have questions about retirement, disability, Medicare, or survivor benefits, or about Supplemental Security Income, visit our webpage at www.ssa.gov/benefits.

Please share this information with your loved ones.

PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE DURING FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH

Every April we celebrate Financial Literacy Month to promote financial education and well-being in the United States. Financial Literacy Month also serves as a reminder that Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan. Our online tools are here to help you understand your potential Social Security benefits and how they fit into your financial future.

You should periodically review your Social Security Statement using your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your Statement is an easy-to-read summary of the estimated benefits you and your family could receive, including potential retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

If you’re planning to retire, you can read our publication When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10147.pdf. This publication provides resources to help you prepare for retirement.

Please tell your friends and family about the steps they can take to improve their financial knowledge by exploring their personal my Social Security account. If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SSI AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

You may be able to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) even if you already receive Social Security benefits. About 2.5 million adults and children get SSI and Social Security at the same time.

We pay Social Security benefits to workers and their eligible family members based on the worker’s earnings. SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to people with little or no income and few resources.

People younger than 65 must be blind or have a disability and meet SSI income and resource limits, while people 65 and older do not have to have a disability. About 1.4 million people 65 and older receive both SSI and Social Security.

What do we mean by “little or no income”?

In 2025, you may be eligible for SSI if your total income – including your Social Security benefit – is less than $987 per month (the 2025 SSI monthly federal benefit rate
plus $20).

We consider income from all non-work sources, including pensions, veterans’ benefits, unemployment, and Social Security disability, retirement, and survivor benefits. We also count some – but not all – earnings from work, including self-employment.

What do we mean by “few resources”?

Resources are things that you own that you could change to cash and use to support yourself. They include vehicles (if you own more than one) and money in bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. We do not count your home and the land it’s on, as long as you live there. To be eligible for SSI, your resources cannot be worth more than:

• $2,000 for a single person.
• $3,000 for a married couple living together.

For more information visit our blog article, You May Be Eligible for SSI and Social Security Benefits at blog.ssa.gov/you-may-be-eligible-for-ssi-and-social-security-benefits.

Please share this information with others who may benefit – and post it on social media.

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question:

Can I refuse to give my Social Security number (SSN) to a private business?

Answer:

Yes. You can refuse to disclose your SSN, and you should be careful about giving out your number. But be aware, the person requesting your number can refuse services if you don’t give it. Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone’s number and use it for any purpose that doesn’t violate a federal or state law.