Latest news with #LeaMond
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security Administration Relaxes ID Verification Rules After Backlash From Lawmakers And Advocates
The Social Security Administration has announced changes to its identity verification requirements following criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups. The new rules, which were initially set to take effect on March 31, have been revised to make it easier for certain beneficiaries to verify their identity without visiting a Social Security office in person. The SSA announced last week that starting April 14, individuals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income who cannot use a personal my Social Security account will be able to complete their applications over the phone. This change aims to accommodate vulnerable populations and improve customer service. Don't Miss: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – "We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country's most vulnerable populations," SSA Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek said in a statement. He added that the agency is also extending the policy's effective date to allow time for employee training on the new procedures. While the updated policy makes it easier for SSDI, Medicare, and SSI applicants to complete their claims without visiting an office, other beneficiaries will still need to verify their identity in person if they are unable to do so online. This includes individuals applying for: Retirement benefits Survivor benefits Auxiliary benefits (for a spouse or child) However, the SSA said that in extreme cases — such as terminal illness or a prisoner pre-release scenario — the in-person requirement may be waived with proper documentation and management approval. Trending: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —? The policy adjustments come after widespread criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups of the SSA's initial announcement to remove the capability for over-the-phone identity verification altogether. This would have required millions of beneficiaries to verify their identity in person. Critics argued that this would have created unnecessary barriers for vulnerable populations, including older Americans and people with disabilities. AARP Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer,Nancy LeaMond welcomed the SSA's revised policy but said more work remains. "Merely delaying the implementation of this change is not enough," LeaMond said in a statement. "SSA should take a deliberate approach to its proposed changes to customer service that seeks public input, follows a clear communication plan, and allows a reasonable timeframe for compliance." The updated identity verification policy is part of the SSA's broader effort to prevent fraud and improve security. The agency plans to implement the Department of Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service's Account Verification Service, which provides instant bank verification to reduce the risk of fraudulent direct deposit support the stronger identity verification measures, the SSA has also required nearly all employees, including frontline staff, to return to working in offices five days a week. The agency says this will improve customer service and help enforce the updated policies. For most beneficiaries, the revised rules should make it easier to access benefits without the need for an office visit. However, individuals applying for retirement or survivor benefits or those changing direct deposit information may still need to visit a Social Security office if they are unable to verify their identity online. The SSA emphasized that it will continue to monitor the impact of the new policies and adjust them as needed to balance security with accessibility. Read Next:Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Social Security Administration Relaxes ID Verification Rules After Backlash From Lawmakers And Advocates originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
CBS News
26-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Social Security says it will delay in-person ID verification. Advocates say that's not enough.
A new Social Security policy that requires in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing beneficiaries will delayed by two weeks, the agency said on Wednesday. The two-week delay to the policy, which had sparked a furor among seniors advocacy groups, lawmakers and beneficiaries, means the in-person verification requirement will now begin on April 14, rather than March 31 as originally planned, the Social Security Administration said. In addition to delaying the policy by two weeks, the SSA also said it was exempting Medicare, disability and Supplemental Security Income applications from in-person ID verification. Supplemental Security Income is a program for low-income seniors and disabled people. Social Security beneficiaries who can't use their online my Social Security account to apply for benefits will still need to show up in person at a field office if they are applying for retirement benefits, as well as for survivors or auxiliary benefits, which are payments for spouses and children, the agency said. "The agency will not enforce these requirements in extreme dire-need situations, such as terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios," it added. The delay is a "good first step" but "is not enough," AARP chief advocacy and engagement officer Nancy LeaMond in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. The SSA's plan to require in-person ID checks has sparked concern that the agency is placing unnecessary restrictions on millions of Americans. The requirement means some beneficiaries will need to visit an agency field office at a time when the Social Security Administration is shuttering offices around the country and cutting thousands of workers . "Our members nationwide have told us this change would require hundreds of miles and hours of travel merely to fill out paperwork," AARP's LeaMond said. "SSA should be prioritizing customer service effectiveness and efficiency, and as older Americans tell us, the announcement requiring visits caused confusion and distress."
USA Today
11-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Family caregivers spend $7,200 a year. This proposed federal tax credit could help
Family caregivers spend $7,200 a year. This proposed federal tax credit could help Show Caption Hide Caption How to talk to your parents about death and money Talking to your loved ones about death and money can be an uncomfortable conversation, but experts say it's necessary to prevent future stress. Ana Tris had to retire early from her lucrative corporate job because as an only child, the care for her mother required her full attention. But it also requires two hired caregivers to help Tris, 66, and her husband, care for her 91-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer's disease at their Miami home. The out-of-pocket cost for the caregivers alone was $80,000 last year, said Tris. Tris is among an estimated 48 million caregivers in the U.S. who provide support to a parent, spouse or loved one, according to the AARP. Family caregivers shoulder roughly $600 billion worth of unpaid labor yearly, the organization said. Sixty-one percent of those caregivers also have a part-time or full-time job, on top of their caregiving responsibilities. The average caregiver in the U.S. spent $7,242 in out-of-pocket costs in 2021, according to the AARP. New caregiver tax credit introduced in Congress On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and members of the House of Representatives re-introduced a piece of legislation that if passed, would provide help in the form of a federal tax credit for eligible working family caregivers. The Credit for Caring Act, if passed, would provide up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit for eligible working family caregivers, that would cover 30% of qualified expenses they incurred above $2,000. The bill would help cover some of the more than $7,200 that families spend on average each year on out-of-pocket caring costs, such as home care aides, adult day care, respite care, transportation, home modifications, or other supports. The family member does not need to be living in the same house, but the costs would need to be incurred by the caregiver seeking the tax credit, not expenses paid for by the loved one being cared for, AARP said. The personal financial toll on families is big enough, said Nancy LeaMond, chief advocacy and engagement officer for AARP. But it is also taking a toll on caregivers' work life, she said. "This has huge impacts on employers because these family caregivers are taking time off for work, they're not accepting promotions and they may not be able to travel or do that part of a job," LeaMond said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY. "This legislation is an attempt to give some relief to hard-working individuals who are trying to provide care for their loved ones and trying, at the same time, to continue to work and do what they need to do for themselves and their families," LeaMond said. Who is sponsoring the bill? AARP has been working with legislators for 10 years on previous versions of the bill. But LeaMond said she believes the time is finally right for it to become law – and bring relief to many caregivers. The most recent version of the bill was introduced Tuesday in both chambers. In the Senate, the lead sponsors are Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado). In the House of Representatives, the lead sponsors are Reps. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) and Linda Sanchez (D-California). At least two of the co-sponsors of the bill have personal experience as family caregivers. 'The Credit for Caring Act is a great tool to help ease the financial burden caregivers face, and I am proud to join with my colleagues in reintroducing this bill that aims to accomplish that,' said Capito, who is chairman of the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. 'Like so many Americans, I helped care for both of my parents as they battled Alzheimer's at the end of their lives, and therefore, I understand the emotional and physical toll it can take on individuals and families," she said. "By passing this bill, we can help caregivers focus more on their loved ones and less on how much it will cost them.' Sanchez also has personal experience. 'Caring for both of my parents after they were diagnosed with Alzheimer's has given me a personal understanding of the emotional, physical, and financial challenges families face when caring for a loved one," said Sanchez. "Family caregivers – two-thirds of whom are women – often juggle work, family responsibilities, and the time and financial demands of caregiving. The Credit for Caring Act will ease some of these challenges by providing much-needed financial relief through a tax credit for home care and adult day care.' A version of the bill introduced last year, with 98 co-sponsors, did not make it out of committee. But LeaMond said momentum has risen over time. In the last few years, more elected officials have seen and heard from caregivers, including their own families, she said. During the presidential campaign, both candidates recognized the importance of family caregivers. President Trump talked about the fact that there should be a tax credit to help hard-working family caregivers and supported a tax credit, said LeaMond. Having that backing and bi-partisan support from members of Congress, hopefully will make the tax credit law. she said. Additionally, more than 102 organizations signed a letter of support for the Credit for Caring Act, AARP said. Voters in a poll support need for a caregiver tax credit Results of a national poll of 4,000 voters were released by AARP in February, showing 84% said they supported a caregiver tax credit. Here's some other highlights from the poll: Support for the caregiving tax credit spans party lines, with strong majorities of Republicans (84%), Independents (82%), and Democrats (87%) in favor. 76% of voters agree that "Before Congress extends any tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, it should support working Americans with a tax credit to help cover the expenses of taking care of a loved one." Family caregiving crosses party lines, with nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) serving as family caregivers at some point in their lives—many of them struggling financially. Most voters (63%) say they are worried about their personal financial situation. More men are becoming family caregivers Men face a unique set of challenges when it comes to stepping into the role of a caregiver. Tax credit could be helpful Tris' mother, Elvira Tris, has been living with Tris and her husband for nine years. Ana Tris originally retired from her job with a luxury retailer to care for her mother and handled the care exclusively for two years. But she quickly found out that she needed more help. Caregiving, especially without assistance, is very hard, Tris said. "Basically, no life, no sleeping because she was in tremendous duress initially," Tris said. Her mom's original brain atrophy diagnosis has since developed into Alzheimer's, she said. Even with paid caregivers – one of whom stays with the family over the weekend – there are still stresses, said Tris. On Monday, the caregiver called in sick and Tris needed to go to a doctor's appointment for herself. So her husband, who is still working, had to stay home and care for his mother-in-law. Work-life balance: Family caregivers are struggling at work, need support from employers to stay, AARP finds A Caregiver Tax Credit would be a welcome relief, said Tris. "I do feel like it's a beginning," said Tris. Anything is helpful, she said. In order to qualify for the tax credit, the person needs to be a working caregiver with earned income of more than $7,500 a year, said Megan O'Reilly, AARP's vice president for government affairs for health care and family issues. The credit also phases out for caregivers at higher incomes, fully phasing out at $125,000 for an individual and $200,000 for joint filers. Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@ or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @ on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
