Archives by: Brandon Smith
About the author
Brandon P. Smith is the author of Northeast Ohio Thrive’s Social Security & You blog. He is a Social Security public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration, based in Cleveland. A Cleveland native, he joined the SSA in 2003. He is the primary contact for media relations, outreach, and presentations for the agency in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, and Geauga counties. In addition to other communications awards, Brandon received a Deputy Commissioner Citation from Social Security’s Office of Communication in 2015 for his outstanding public affairs support of the agency’s national communication initiatives.
Brandon Smith Posts
Our educator’s toolkit is a great way to introduce our many programs to a new audience and show them that our programs help people other than retirees. Understanding how Social Security helps wounded warriors, survivors, children, and adults with disabilities can teach students to have greater empathy, provide a path to inspired learning, and increase awareness of programs that can provide financial security. ...
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Knowing when to apply for Medicare is very important! You must apply during your limited initial enrollment period. If you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that date. If you miss your initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium. The good news is, you can apply online. ...
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Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your future Social Security benefits. We track your earnings so we can pay you the benefits you’ve earned over your lifetime. That is why it’s so important for you to review your earnings record. ...
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Fraudsters are on the prowl, over the phone, on the internet, preying upon your identity and your Social Security benefits. Here are the five most important resources about Social Security scams that you should know about. ...
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Over the past 90 years, the Social Security Administration has provided vital benefits and services to hardworking Americans. To meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population, new webpages have been created that speak directly to groups of people who may need information about Social Security programs and services ...
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If you receive Social Security benefits, the easiest way to change your address and phone number is by creating a personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Then you can update your contact information from your preferred location. ...
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If you need an original or replacement Social Security Number card, there is now a new – and faster – way for you to start online. Just go to the Social Security Number and Card webpage at ssa.gov/ssnumber to start the process. ...
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You may know someone who gets a monthly Social Security benefit or Supplemental Security Income payment and who also needs help managing their money. If someone you know needs help, we can appoint a person or an organization to act as a “representative payee” responsible for receiving and managing a person’s benefits. ...
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