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
You don’t have to be retired or even close to retirement to benefit from your online personal my Social Security account. Most people can conduct their Social Security business online with their account, whether they receive benefits or not. ...
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Unlike other important cards you carry with you at all times a– like your driver's license, credit card or Medicare card — keep your Social Security safe at home most of the time. The best way to “Guard Your Card” is to keep it in a safe place and share it only when required. In fact, in most cases, just knowing the Social Security number should be enough. ...
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You've got enough on your plate. You can save time with online tools and services and make your life easier without needing to contact Social Security. Here are five webpages that can make your life easier... ...
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If you pay at least $2,400 in wages to a household worker, you must do all of the following: 1) Deduct Social Security and Medicare taxes from those wages, 2) Pay these taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and 3) Report the wages to Social Security. ...
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Social Security has served a vital role in the lives of women for more than 85 years. Women have longer average life expectancies than men, which means they live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income. It’s important for women to plan early and wisely for retirement. ...
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If you’re among the many people covered under Social Security, you should know what your future benefit may be. These monthly payments will likely be an important part of your retirement income. Your benefit payment will be based on how much you earned during your working career. ...
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The most effective way to defeat scammers is to know how to identify scams and to ignore suspicious calls and emails. One common tactic scammers use is posing as federal agents or other law enforcement. They may claim your Social Security number is linked to a crime. They may even threaten to arrest you if you do not comply with their instructions. ...
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You are never too young to begin saving. Younger workers may think they have time to put off saving for their future, but the sooner they begin, the more their money can grow. Visit and share the Social Security website for young workers at ssa.gov/people/earlycareer where you will find resources that can help you secure today and tomorrow. ...
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