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What to Know for Thursday, June 11th, 2026: |
1: SSA Commissioner claims record low wait times — 5 minutes average in May 2026, but lawmakers skeptical given 8,000+ staff cuts |
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(Image Credit: Getty Images) |
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Bisignano testifies phone wait times improved dramatically: 89% reduction to under 5 minutes, answers 90% of calls: SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano told Congress agency achieved "lowest level in a decade" for average speed of answer — May 2026 average under 5 minutes, down from all-time high of 42 minutes in FY 2024 (89% reduction) — claims 75% improvement in average wait times — says agency will have 800 million customer interactions this year while serving 300+ million Americans and issuing benefits to 71 million. Lawmakers questioning metrics: callback waits actually near 2 hours, different from reported 5-minute average: Rep. Judy Chu challenged whether data includes callers selecting callback option, citing OIG data showing nearly 2-hour waits for callbacks — Bisignano admitted callbacks counted as zero-minute waits as "industry standard" but disputed OIG findings, claiming average callback under 30 minutes — Rep. Gwen Moore noted constituents still experience long waits, quality varied due to agency staff shuffling. Improvements claimed despite 8,000+ worker losses between January 2025-April 2026: SSA lost more than 8,000 employees (14% workforce) in period Bisignano claimed improvements, raising questions about sustainability — agency attributed gains to new telecommunications platform and staff realignments, served 68 million callers in FY2025 (65% increase) — Bisignano says agency "has more metrics than ever before on the web" but withheld some public reporting previously.
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➜ Read the full article from CNBC here. |
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2: Paid search results for Medicare can hide scams — look for ".gov" websites, skip sponsored ads, watch for phishing |
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Scammers pay to appear at top of Medicare search results to steal personal and financial information: Businesses and scammers can pay for prominent placement in online search results — some sites legitimate, others designed to con users into revealing sensitive details — consumer investigator warns "answering questions involving finances or medical details on a scammer's website could really cost you." Identify paid ads and check website address to avoid traps: Look for "ad" or "sponsored" labels next to search results — labels show someone paid for placement but doesn't guarantee trustworthiness or usefulness — check website ending: ".gov" indicates U.S. government (safer), while ".com," ".org," or other extensions can be created by anyone, including scammers. Scroll past paid ads to find results ranked by relevance rather than payment: Most helpful information often appears lower in search results after paid placements — scrolling down helps identify sites ranked by relevance rather than who paid for visibility — extra caution needed when searching financial or medical information online, especially given rise of Medicare grocery card and flex card social media scams.
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➜ Read the full article from WGAL here. |
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3: SSDI provides $1,493/month average to disabled workers with 40 work credits — strict disability definition requires permanent condition lasting 1+ year |
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(Image Credit: New York Times) |
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SSDI earned benefit for ages 18-64 with qualifying work history and permanent disability: Must earn Social Security work credits through employment and payroll taxes — for 2026, earn $1,890 for one credit, maximum 4 credits per year — generally need 40 total credits with 20 earned in last 10 years before disability begins — check credits online via my Social Security account under "Eligibility and Earnings" or on Social Security Statement (mailed 3 months before birthday for age 60+). SSA strict disability definition: must prevent work and adjusting to new work, likely last 1+ year or result in death: Only for total, lasting disabilities (no partial or short-term) — SSDI beneficiaries "more than three times as likely to die in a year as other people the same age" — 2023 largest diagnoses (34%) from musculoskeletal/connective tissue conditions — SSA maintains extensive list of qualifying conditions and evaluates unlisted conditions by same severity standards. Average $1,634/month for workers with disabilities (Feb 2026) — about 8 million beneficiaries, plus surviving spouses/children also eligible: Beyond SSDI, may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SNAP food assistance, help with prescriptions/utilities/healthcare — $58 billion in benefits goes unclaimed annually; use free BenefitsCheckUp® tool to find additional programs — apply online, phone 1-800-772-1213 (Mon-Fri 8am-7pm), or local Social Security office.
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➜ Read the full article from the National Council on Aging here. |
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube: |
Check out our new YouTube videos for Thursday, June 11th. |
Social Security Pays June 17th — Here's Exactly Who Gets Paid Next Wednesday |
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Social Security Pays June 17th — Here's Exactly Who Gets Paid Next Wednesday |
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This newsletter is for information only. Always confirm your options directly with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or a qualified advisor before making big decisions about your benefits. |
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