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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 see the following information about your claim:

• 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.

Use your personal my Social Security account to check the status of your application or appeal at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

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

SOCIAL SECURITY ONLINE LEARNING TOOLS

Our online learning resources for educators are great for teaching others about Social Security! Chances are that a student will know someone who receives retirement or disability benefits.  Our educational resources help communicate information about our programs to a new audience and show them how our programs can help people other than retirees.  Understanding how Social Security helps wounded warriors, children, and adults with disabilities can inspire greater empathy and encourage them to learn more.

We offer an educator’s toolkit to engage students and teach them about our programs. Use the toolkit to create your own lesson plan!  You can also use our toolkit to teach your child or grandchild about Social Security’s important programs.

The toolkit includes:

• Lesson plans with objectives.
• Infographics and handouts for each lesson plan.
• Links to Social Security web pages.
• Talking points.
• Quiz questions and answers.

For more information, we encourage you to access the toolkit at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/educators.html and share it with your favorite educators today.

SOCIAL SECURITY LAUNCHES NEW AUDIO SERIES, SSA TALKS, AND NEWS HUB

Did you know we have a new audio series, SSA Talks? You can learn more about our top priorities by listening at www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.html.

In our first episode, Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi and Janet Walker, Associate Commissioner for Operational HR Services, discuss how our current hiring initiative is central to improving customer service.

The 17-minute episode includes a fact sheet and transcript. The fact sheet also provides more information about working at Social Security.

Please visit our SSA Talks page online at www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.html to listen and subscribe to receive alerts about future episodes!

Our new Communications Corner at www.ssa.gov/news provides a central hub for the public, the press, researchers, and other stakeholders looking for information about Social Security and our programs.  Visit the Communications Corner to access our blog, newsletter, bulletins, the new audio series, and more!

RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND THEIR FAMILIES

Social Security is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring people who are eligible for our benefits receive them.  We provide income security for the diverse populations we serve.  This includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.

Many parents and caretakers of children with disabilities lose work hours and income because of their children’s care needs.  Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly financial support to low-income families with children who have developmental and behavioral disabilities. These include ASD – and physical impairments.  For more information on SSI, please visit www.ssa.gov/ssi.

People with ASD may have questions about how ASD affects their employment options. They may also see their ASD as a barrier to employment. Employers have started to recognize that many people with ASD can bring a variety of skills and strengths to the workplace. Our Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security and want to work.  The Ticket Program helps get vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals, and other employment support services.  For more information about this program please read www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10061.pdf.

We recognize the need to support, understand, accept, include, and empower those on the autism spectrum.  Please share this information with friends and family and help us spread the word on social media!