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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2009)
Spilyay Tyrnoo, W arm Springs, Oregon Page 10 M ay 21, 2 0 0 9 Social Security brings new service to reservation Springs? Answer: Social Security is in troducing a free, video-on-de m and service option that allows Warm Springs residents to inter act face to face with an agency representative. C o n v ersatio n s tak e place through a secure line, but are not recorded. In addition to Internet and toll-free telephone service, this new technology offers an other way that people can con duct business with Social Secu rity. By Dave McMechan Spilyay Tymoo Tribal m em bers no longer have to travel to Bend in order to speak face-to-face with a rep resentative o f the Social Secu rity Administration. T he administration last week presented its new video service center, located in conference room 2 in the BIA area o f the tribal adm inistration building. T h e serv ice is available o n Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. T he video service center is one o f only two in the Seattle region o f the Social Security Administration (SSA), the other one being in Kenai, Alaska. T h e SSA v ideo c e n te r in W arm Springs is the first one to be located on an Indian reser vation. T here are only 36 total in the U.S. T he video service center will be very helpful for tribal m em bers w ho receive SSA services. T he problem the center ad dresses is that o f having to travel to Bend each time a tribal m em bers wishes to speak face-to- face with an SSA representative. Now, a person can sit in front o f the video service m onitor, and see and speak with the SSA person in Bend. T he SSA per son can also see the person in W arm Springs. This allows for face-to-face conversations regarding any So cial Security question or issue that a tribal m em ber may have. T he system is very easy to use, and requires no com puter skills, said Carol Maartense, ad ministration district manager. “Anyone can do it,” she said. “You simply sit down and talk. T his will save long trips and som etim es long w aits in o u r Bend office.” Theresa Quade, manager o f the Bend Social Security office, said, “T he use o f the video ser vice equipm ent provides an other option the public can use to access Social Security person nel w ho can assist them in filing Question: W ho can use this new system? Answer: Anyone can easily use this video system. Simply sit down in front o f the m onitor and talk directly with the repre sentative. N o com puter knowl edge is required, and there are no buttons to push. A room is set aside for you to have a private, confidential interview. A contact person will m eet you and direct you to this area. O nce that person turns on the screen, you may conduct your interview w ithout needing to do anything else. I f you wish, family m em bers or social work ers may also accompany you to the interview. Dave McMechan/Spilyay Councilwoman Bernice Mitchell uses the new video system in the tribal administration building to talk with a Social Security representative in Bend. a claim, reporting changes or an swering questions.” T he system was p resented last Thursday, May 7. O n hand were Tribal Council and m an agement; and SSA representa tives from Bend, Eugene and Seatde. T he following are are som e q uestions and answ ers that help explain the new SSA video center: Q u estio n : W hat is Social S e c u rity ’s n ew v id e o conferencing system in W arm Question: W hat are the ben efits o f using this technology? Answer: The greatest benefit is savings. By visiting the video conferencing location in W arm Springs, you will n o t only save money on travel expenses to the nearest field office, b u t you’ll also save time traveling and wait ing in line. It’s that convenience that makes this exciting new ser vice option so appealing. In just a few minutes, you can be speak ing direcdy w ith a representa tive, as, i f you were right .across the desk. Q u estion : W hat kinds o f business can be conducted us ing this system? Answer: Many key services are offered. You can file for re tirement, spouse’s or even dis ability benefits; apply for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs; request p ro o f o f incom e letter or Social Security statement; and change your ad dress o r phone number. Although requests for new or rep la c e m e n t Social S ecurity num ber cards can be made, cer tain proofs m ust be sent to the Social Security office for verifi cation. A list o f acceptable identity and o th er docum ents can be found on the w ebsite: www. Socialsecurity.gov. I f you are considering dis ability benefits, you may prefer to apply online by completing the “A dult Disability and Work History” report. You can do this at: w w w .so cialsecu rity .g o v / disabilityreport. Q u e stio n : C an a p e rs o n make an appointm ent to file for benefits at the W arm Springs site? Answer: Yes! Call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule. A confirm ation letter will be mailed indicating the time and location o f the appointment. It will describe w hat to do w hen you arrive. This notice may also ask that you bring certain docu m ents with you that are needed to process your benefit appEca- tion. Q uestion: W hat happens if the documents are needed? Answer: D ocum ents can be held up to the camera so that the Social Security representa tive may view them. However, they may also need to be sent to the office for verification. Q uestion: W hen and where is this new service option avail able? .... Answer: Service is available on Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bureau o f Indian A ffairs/ W arm Springs Agency, located at 1233 Veterans Street. T he ser vice is also available on Ene at www,socialsecurity.gov; or by calling 1-800-772-1213. < Cliff’s Repair & Auto sales Ap? X d Repair Free towing with any bill exceeding $500 475-6618 330 S.W. Culver Hwy. Madras, OR 97741 V. Free Battery Check & Installation with purchase a
