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.
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