Learn Online with Social Security

Learn Online with Social Security

Social Security & You
By Brandon P. Smith, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

With more people learning online, we would like to highlight some of the digital resources we have for educators. Chances are, a student will know someone who receives retirement or disability benefits. This could be a way to relate our many programs to a new audience. Showing young people that our programs help wounded warriors and children with disabilities can help them develop greater empathy and provide a path to inspired learning.

We offer an educator’s toolkit teachers can use to engage students and educate them on our programs.  The toolkit includes:

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

You can access the toolkit at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/educators.html.

Parents are a child’s first educators  You can use our toolkit to introduce your child or grandchild to the importance of having a social safety net for hardworking Americans. 

We value and welcome the efforts all teachers make to educate America’s young people, and we want to help spark discussions with students about the benefits Social Security provides to millions of people. Please share our toolkit with your favorite educators today.

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.

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