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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK) [mailto:JenniferN.Wright@ky.gov] <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 22, 2013 10:36 AM<br><b>To:</b> Flanagan, Allison A (OFB-FK); 'Ann Smits'; 'Becky Cabe'; 'Bess Douthitt'; 'Bill Deatherage'; 'Cathy Jackson'; McNabb, Cora L (OFB-FK); 'David Lawson'; 'Don Gerard'; 'George Stokes'; Gordon-Brown, Gerry (CAP-FK); Gerry Rader Slusher; Jim Shaw; Joey Couch (ki4vjd@gmail.com); Kathy Eversole; 'Kelly Foust'; 'Kim Zeigler'; Michael Freeholm; Nesbitt, Richard (OFB-FK); Shirley, Patrick B (Education Cabinet); Paul Wiese; Paula Wiese ; 'Rebecca Murrell'; 'Rhonda Logsdon'; Sharon Fields; Sharon Fields (Home); Deeley, Stephen P (OFB-LV); 'Susan Ament'; Hammons, Twyla S (OFB-SS)<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: SSA Announces New Online Services with mySocial Security Account<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>FYI<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>News Release <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>SOCIAL SECURITY</span><span style='font-size:16.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>SSA Press Office <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>440 Altmeyer Building 6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21235 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>410-965-8904 FAX 410-966-9973 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Social Security Announces New Online Services Available with a <i>my Social Security </i>Account<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is expanding the services available with a <i>my Social Security </i>account, a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing throughout the time they receive Social Security benefits. More than 60 million Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients can now access their benefit verification letter, payment history, and earnings record instantly using their online account. Social Security beneficiaries also can change their address and start or change direct deposit information online. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>“We are making it even easier for people to do their business with us from the comfort of their home, office, or library,” Commissioner Astrue said. “I encourage people of all ages to take advantage of our award-winning online services and check out the new features available through an online <i>my Social Security </i>account.” Social Security beneficiaries and SSI recipients with a <i>my Social Security </i>account can go online and get an official benefit verification letter instantly. The benefit verification letter serves as proof of income to secure loans, mortgages and other housing, and state or local benefits. Additionally, people use the letter to prove current Medicare health insurance coverage, retirement or disability status, and age. People can print or save a customized letter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Social Security processed nearly nine million requests for benefit verification letters in the past year. This new online service allows people to conduct business with Social Security without having to visit an office or make a phone call, and very often wait for a letter to arrive in the mail. It also will reduce the time spent by employees completing these requests and free them to focus on other workloads. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>People age 18 and older can sign up for an account at <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount">www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount</a>. Once there, they must be able to provide information about themselves and answers to questions that only they are likely to know. After completing the secure verification process, people can create a <i>my Social Security </i>account with a unique user name and password to access their information. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>People age 18 and older who are not receiving benefits can sign up for a <i>my Social Security </i>account to get a personalized online Social Security <i>Statement. </i>The online <i>Statement </i>provides <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='page-break-before:always'><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>eligible workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information, and estimates of future benefits they can use to plan for their retirement. In addition, the portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability and Medicare.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='page-break-before:always'><span style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>“Given our significantly reduced funding, we have to find innovative ways to continue to meet the needs of the American people without compromising service,” said Commissioner Astrue. “These new enhancements will allow us to provide faster service to more people in more places.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>For more information, please go to <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount">www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt'># # #</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Jennifer Wright</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Office for the Blind</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>275 East Main Street</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>2nd Floor Mail Stop 2-EJ</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Frankfort, KY 40621</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Phone: (502) 782-3407</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Toll Free (800) 321-6668</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fax: (502) 564-2951</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>