SSA and Child Support -- What’s the Connection Ellery Brown Ann Ziff Dee Price-Sanders 2

History - Social Security’s Programs 1935 Retirement Insurance 1935 Retirement Insurance 1956 Disability Insurance 1956 Disability Insurance 1939 Survivors Insurance 1939 Survivors Insurance 3

Other Programs 1965 Medicare 1965 Medicare 1972 Supplemental Security Income 1972 Supplemental Security Income 2003 Medicare Part D 2003 Medicare Part D 4

Types of Social Security Benefits ■Retirement ■Disability ■Auxiliary/Survivors 5

Social Security Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation Internal Revenue Service Department of Defense Veterans Affairs National Security Agency FPLS External Locate Sources 6

SSA ■State Verification and Exchange System (SVES) Title II, Title XVI, Prisoner ■Self-employment indicator & income (AWR) ■SVES for children ■Proactive SVES match ■Pending Title II claims ■Title II Sweep 7

■W-2 Information ■Self-employment indicator ■Self-employment income Annual Wage Record NCP’s Business Inc. 123 Main St Anytown, USA

SVES Data Exchange SSA Title II (earned) Aged, Retired, Survivors, Disabled SSA Title XVI (needs tested) Supplemental Security Income Aged, Disabled Prisoner Data Local, State, Federal Institutions 9

Prisoner Data ■Over 6,500 correctional institutions ■Cost recovery program ■Data reported at time of incarceration ■Release date - not updated ■Prison/facility address ■Contact name and phone number 10

Prisoner Resources ■Federal Bureau of Prisonshttp:// ■Victims Information and Notification Everydayhttp:// 11

Insured Status for a Number Holder (NH) ■Each $ 1,120 in earnings gives you one credit ■You can earn a maximum of 4 credits per year ■Example: To earn 4 credits in 2011, you must earn at least $4480. Earning 40 credits throughout your working life will qualify you for a retirement benefit. 12

Social Security’s Disability Definition: ■A medical condition preventing substantial work for at least 12 months, or expected to result in death. ■The determination also considers age, education & work experience. ■The determination is done by a State Disability Determination Section (DDS) on SSA’s behalf. 13

Who Can Get Disability?  Must have paid into Social Security five out of last 10 years ✷ Note: Workers under the age of 31 can work 5 years or less depending on age. ✷ Disability Benefits, SSA Publication No , August 2009 ■ Applicants must be determined to be disabled by the State DDS. 14

How Work Affects SSD Checks ■9 month trial work period ■Wages must be at least $ to count as trial work month ■After 9 trial work months evaluate work for Substantial Gainful Activity ■In 2011, Substantial Gainful Activity is defined as earnings of $1, or more per month 15

Auxiliary/Survivor’s Benefits ■If a wage earner receives a benefit his/her eligible children, spouse and divorced spouse(s) may be also be eligible for benefits. ■If the wage earner is deceased but was insured at the time of death, his/her surviving children, spouse and divorced spouse(s) can be eligible for survivors benefits. ■In some cases parents of the wage earner may also be eligible. 16

Application Process ■Application ✷ Online at ✷ Telephone ✷ In person ■If NH is filing for Disability, their medical information is sent to Disability Determination Services for a medical decision 17

■Claim approved – benefits begin ■Claim denied – file appeal ✷ Reconsideration ✷ Hearing (Office of Disability Adjudication & Review) ✷ Appeals Council ✷ District Court Application Process 18

SSI ■SSI is a needs based payment that is available to individuals who are either: * Age 65 or older. * Disabled * Blind * Children that are disabled or blind ■SSI payments are not subject to garnishment 19

Title XVI Data ■Recipient name, address, and date of birth ■Date of benefit or denial ■Current payment status and amount ■Benefit payee information ■Historical payment information ■Verified death information 20

Title II Data ■Recipient name, address, and date of birth ■Claim Number & Beneficiary ID Code ■Date and amount of entitlement ■Current pay status ■Historical record of benefits ■Denial, suspension and termination dates ■Verified death information ■Railroad retirement indicator Send IWO to: Railroad Retirement Board 844 North Rush Street Chicago, Illinois

SVES for Children ■Returns same data as provided for adults 22

Proactive SVES Match ■Returns SVES match data for person added or changed on the FCR ■Return SVES on children when locate requested on an adult 23

Title II Pending Claims ■Proactive match for new and changed claims ■Send Income Withholding Order (IWO) ■SSA will hold IWO and apply to initial lump sum payment 24

Garnishment Orders ■Legal Process brought by individual in a State Court for enforcement of a legal obligation to provide: 1. Child Support and/or 2. Alimony Payments 25

Court Order Garnishment System (COGS)  Automated system allows local office to effectuate actions  Sends notices sent to garnished beneficiary and the court  Individuals do not have any right of appeal to SSA 26

 If garnishment is for a percentage of payments, COLA increases in benefits will increase the garnishment amount ■When the garnishment order is received in the field office, information is entered into COGS unless … ■there is no master beneficiary record present and no currently pending application COGS 27

COGS ■COGS automatically computes the percentage of benefit with-holding based on the state of residence of the beneficiary and whether there are any other dependents. ■The field office can also input an amount 28

■If there are benefits being paid to the garnished individual, COGS will begin to deduct payments beginning with the next scheduled check release. ■If benefits have not begun COGS will update the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) so that when benefits do begin the garnishment amount will be deducted COGS 29

■Deductions are made from any retroactive payments that are released as well COGS COG S 30

■July ,126 garnishments $70,499,544 total child support payments Social Security Collections 31

■July 2011  43,924 garnishments  $7,451,634 total child support collections Social Security Collections 32

Additional Information OCSE Web Site SSA Web Site 33

Contact 34 Dee Price-Sanders Dee