AMAC’s Partnership with Social Security Administration: An Evolving Collaboration

Over the past few months, AMAC and Social Security Administration (SSA) officials have interacted extensively in an ongoing collaboration that is bearing fruit for members. Earlier this year, after an introductory virtual visit with Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, SSA hosted a meeting in their Baltimore office to learn more about AMAC’s mission in support of older Americans. Included in this March 3 discussion was an introduction of AMAC ’s Social Security Guarantee and its pathway to resolving the program’s looming insolvency.

Following these preliminary exchanges, our dealings with SSA have progressed to include a deeper review of AMAC’s Social Security Guarantee, a hands-on dialogue with key SSA staff members on the plan’s origins and scope, and a pledge to further review the specific recommendations included in the 15-point plan. Alongside work on the Social Security Guarantee, SSA launched partnership initiatives with AMAC that resulted in significant arrangements that further solidified AMAC’s engagement with the organization overseeing the administration of Social Security benefits for over 70 million Americans.

Cooperative Efforts Bringing Benefit to the AMAC Community

On May 11, AMAC’s partnership efforts with SSA led to the delivery of a public webinar hosted by the AMAC Foundation and focused largely on using personal Social Security accounts to access and maintain critical details on individuals’ relationship with Social Security. Hundreds of participants were led by a key member of SSA’s Office of Communications through the steps to set up their account and received practical guidance on using Social Security’s online tools and resources to better understand the benefits available to them. This May 11 webinar was rated a tremendous success, with similar educational offerings slated for the future.

The collaboration with SSA is also producing interaction electronically with AMAC, with a dedicated landing page now available as part of the AMAC.us website. This page, located at AMAC.us/SSA, highlights a variety of Social Security fundamentals, supported by a series of “how to” videos that guide newcomers through setting up personal accounts with SSA, along with links to additional Social Security tools and resources. As part of the collaborative effort, the SSA landing page includes a direct link to the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service where visitors can get help with specific questions about Medicare, retirement benefits, and more.

A Recurring Benefit of the Partnership

AMAC’s partnership with SSA gives us access to the agency’s Monthly Information Package (MIP), a collection of articles that provides updates on Social Security programs, services, and resources. In support of the AMAC Foundation’s mission to serve as a trusted educational resource for older Americans, we value this opportunity to bring more internal SSA information directly to the people we serve. This month’s package includes:

• Create Your Personal ‘my Social Security’ Account Today
• Five Social Security Resources That Can Protect Elders From Scams
• Go Digital! Visit Social Security Online at SSA.gov
• A Faster and More Convenient Way to Request a Social Security Number and Card
• Social Security Survivor Benefits for Children

Look for updated compilations in AMAC media every month and, if you have any questions or need any further detail on the topics covered, our AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service is available to help you.