SSA and Child Support --SSA and Child Support --What’s the What’s the

ConnectionConnection

Ellery BrownAnn ZiffDee Price-Sanders

2

HistoryHistory - Social Security’s - Social Security’s ProgramsPrograms

1935Retirement Insurance

1956Disability Insurance

1939Survivors Insurance

3

Other ProgramsOther Programs

1965Medicare

1972Supplemental Security Income

2003Medicare Part D

4

Types of Social Security Types of Social Security BenefitsBenefits

■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

SSASSA

■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 RecordAnnual Wage Record

NCP’s Business Inc.

123 Main StAnytown, USA 12345

8

SVES Data ExchangeSVES 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 DataPrisoner 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 ResourcesPrisoner Resources

■Federal Bureau of Prisonshttp://www.bop.gov/iloc2/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jspLocateInmate.jsp

■Victims Information and Notification Everydayhttp://www.vinelink.comhttp://www.vinelink.com

11

Insured Status for a Number Insured Status for a Number Holder (NH)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 Social Security’s Disability Definition: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?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. 05-10029, August 2009

■Applicants must be determined to be disabled by the State DDS.

14

How Work Affects SSD ChecksHow Work Affects SSD Checks

■9 month trial work period■Wages must be at least $720.00 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 $1,000.00 or more per month

15

Auxiliary/Survivor’s Benefits 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 ProcessApplication Process

■Application✷ Online at www.socialsecurity.gov✷ 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 ProcessApplication Process

18

SSISSI

■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 DataTitle 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 DataTitle 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 Board844 North Rush StreetChicago, Illinois 60611-20922

21

SVES for ChildrenSVES for Children

■Returns same data as provided for adults

22

Proactive SVES Match 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 ClaimsTitle 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 OrdersGarnishment Orders

■Legal Process brought by individual in a State Court for enforcement of a legal obligation to provide:

1. Child Support and/or2. Alimony Payments

25

Court Order Garnishment System Court Order Garnishment System (COGS)(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

COGSCOGS

27

COGSCOGS

■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

COGSCOGS

29

■ Deductions are made from any retroactive payments that are released as well

COGSCOGS

COGS

30

■July 2011 390,126 garnishments $70,499,544 total child support

payments

Social Security CollectionsSocial Security Collections

31

■July 2011 43,924 garnishments $7,451,634 total child support

collections

Social Security CollectionsSocial Security Collections

32

Additional InformationAdditional Information

OCSE Web Sitehttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/

SSA Web Sitehttp://www.ssa.gov

33

ContactContact

34

Dee Price-Sanders303.252.9829dee.pricesanders@ngc.com Dee

303-252-9829