On May 13, 2011, The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2036, one year earlier than was projected last year. For more information, read our press release.

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed H.R. 3590, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” into law.  The new law, also known as the “Affordable Care Act,” makes important changes to Medicare Part A and Part B.

First, the Affordable Care Act provides free Medicare Part A, along with eligibility for Part B and D, to individuals exposed to certain health hazards within areas federally determined to represent an environmentally-based public health emergency.  Currently the only area under such a declaration is Libby, Montana, with Medicare eligibility applicable to individuals suffering from certain asbestos-related ailments.  To be eligible, these individuals must have been present in Lincoln County, Montana for a total of at least six months during a period ending 10 years or more before the diagnosis.   For more information, please visit our Libby, Montana Outreach Site.  

Second, the Affordable Care Act changes the Medicare Part B enrollment period for TRICARE beneficiaries. This change will allow for Part B enrollment without increased premiums.

Other Information

On March 16, 2011, Commissioner Astrue hosted the agency’s seventh public hearing on Compassionate Allowances.  Commissioner Astrue joined Robert H. Carter, Deputy Director, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and other Social Security officials in hearing testimony from some of the nation’s leading experts on autoimmune diseases about the possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for adults and children with autoimmune diseases.  See press release for more information.

On November 9, 2010, Commissioner Astrue hosted at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the agency’s sixth public hearing on Compassionate Allowances.  Commissioner Astrue joined Susan B. Shurin, Acting Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and other Social Security officials in listening to testimony from some of the leading experts on cardiovascular disease and multiple organ transplants regarding possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for both adults and children. See press release for more information.

On November 18, 2009, Commissioner Astrue was joined by Philip Wang, M.D., Dr. P.H., National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, and Social Security officials, to hear testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on schizophrenia about possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for young adults with schizophrenia. See press release for more information.

On July 29,2009, Commissioner Astrue was joined by Marie A. Bernard, M.D., Deputy Director of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, and other Social Security officials, to hear testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on early-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias about possible methods for identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for people with early-onset Alzheimer's. See press release for more information.

On November 18, 2008, Social Security held a third disability hearing on Compassionate Allowances. Click here for the press release.

On October 26, 2008, Commissioner Astrue announced that  SSA is rolling out Compassionate Allowances nationwide. This groundbreaking initiative allows us to identify rare diseases and other medical conditions that are certain to be approved under our disability rules and fast track those cases for quick processing.

Recent changes to Medicare law have required SSA to undertake a number of additional Medicare-related responsibilities. Detailed information about SSA's activities are available here.

Current information about the status of Social Security totalization agreements with other countries.