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Social Security
News
By Erin Thompson, Public Affairs Specialist in Toledo, OH
Guest Column
Question:
I run a bed and breakfast. By this time every year, I am
tired of all the paperwork involved with filing taxes. Is
there an easier way for small businesses to file W-2s for
their employees?
Answer:
Absolutely. If you are a small business owner or
entrepreneur, you should check out Social Security’s
Business Services Online (BSO) website. There, you can file
your employees’ W-2s and W-2cs electronically and print out
the W-2s to provide paper copies to your employees. You also
can verify the Social Security numbers of your employees.
Our online services are easy to use, fast, and secure. Visit
our BSO page at
www.socialsecurity.gov/bso.
Question:
I'm expecting a baby this June. What do I need to do to get
a Social Security number for my baby?
Answer:
Apply for a number at the hospital when you apply for your
baby's birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth
certificates will share your child's information with us and
we will mail the Social Security card to you. You can learn
more about the Social Security number and card by reading
our online publication Social Security Numbers for
Children , available at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Question:
I noticed that my date of birth in Social Security’s records
is wrong. How do I get that corrected?
Answer:
To change the date of birth shown on our records, take the
following steps:
Note that all documents must be either originals or copies
certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept
photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
For details on the
documents, visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/ss5doc.
Question:
I stumbled onto your YouTube channel while looking at funny
cat videos. Why does Social Security produce cat videos?
Answer:
It’s just one of many ways for us to connect to people where
they already spend time. It’s important for us to let
everyone know about all we do for Americans. We’re
especially interested in getting the word out about our
easy, convenient, and secure online services. That’s why we
look for creative ways to reach people, young and old. Our
popular YouTube videos are not only a hit with viewers, but
they let people know the best way to apply for
benefits—online. See the videos for yourself at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Just select the YouTube link at the bottom of the page. By
the way, the cat videos have already received more than one
million views.
Question:
I got married and I need to change my name in Social
Security’s records. What do I do?
Answer:
If you change your name due to marriage or for any other
reason, you’ll need to report the change and get a corrected
Social Security card with your new name. You will need to
fill out Form SS-5. You can get a copy of this form by
visiting
www.socialsecurity.gov/ss5doc
or by calling our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY
1-800-325-0778). You’ll also need to provide the original
marriage certificate showing your new and old names. You can
mail or take the documentation to your local Social Security
office. In some cases, we may need other forms of
documentation as well. For more information, visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
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