Commissioner Apfel Announces Initiatives to Improve National 800 Number Service

Social Security Commissioner Announces 2.4 Percent Social Security Increase

Social Security Begins Issuing Annual Statements to 125 Million Workers

Social Security Sponsors American Indian/Alaska Native National Conference

Proposed and Final Rules and Regulations for Public Comment

• Additional Medical Criteria for Evaluating Down Syndrome in Adults

  We propose adding medical criteria for Down syndrome to our current guidelines for adults, and, on October 12, 1999, we published our proposal for changing our rules. We invite the public to give us their comments by December 13, 1999.

• Assignment of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for Nonwork Purposes

  We want to reduce the possibility of fraud through the misuse of SSNs, and we believe that one way to do this is to limit SSN use by State and local governments. However, because of our concern about the impact on these governments, we published a request for public comments on October 12, 1999. The public comment period ends December 13, 1999.

• Reduction of Benefits Under the Family Maximum Provisions--Dual Entitlement

  On October 27, 1999, we published a revision of our rules for applying a limit called the "family maximum" to benefits of dependents or survivors who are entitled on more than one worker's record. Please submit comments by December 27, 1999.

On October 27, 1999, we rescinded Acquiescence Ruling 97-1(1) because we have adopted the change in the rules on a nationwide basis. Previously, we applied this change in our rules only in the First Circuit. Please use the link to our final rules page for more information.

• A guide to help with understanding the history, the benefits, and financing of the Social Security program of today, so that you can make informed choices about the Social Security program of tomorrow.
• Get an estimate of how much your Social Security benefit will be - request a Social Security Statement (formerly Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement).
• Need help in understanding the Social Security Statement that you have received - go to the My Statement page.
• For assistance in handling a deceased beneficiary's Social Security business, go to the page, What You Need To Do When a Beneficiary Dies.

the administrative costs of the Social Security Administration are about one cent of every tax dollar collected.

November 1936: The first Social Security cards were issued, in preparation for the beginning of the program in January 1937.