Everything You Need To Know About Identity TheftJust one glance of the evening news proves that the world we live in is becoming scarier by the minute. Everywhere you turn, there are people who are being victimized. This is why it is more important than ever to be extra careful when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones. One of the highest crimes on the rise is social security identity theft. Unfortunately, millions of people every year are dealing with this crime and its affects to their lives. Identity theft is one of the worst types of crimes because while it doesn’t steal “items” it steals your life. Those with once perfect credit find themselves with horrible credit. Those with all they ever wanted find themselves having to start from scratch all over again even well into their 90’s. While there isn’t always a way to stop scammers from trying, there are a few ways that you can help protect your family from identity theft. Before you toss those documents in the trash – stop. Many people make this major mistake. Many of us find it absurd that anyone would ever root through the trash. Yuck. However, quite honestly more people are willing to do this than you would believe. Thousands of claims are made every year from a document that made its way to the trash and somehow found its way back out again. Before you throw away any documents with personal information on them, shred them or burn them. This is also true for any documents with information about your children that includes location information like where they attend school. The world is such a scary place and you can never be too safe. Phishing is also a top way for scammers to obtain information on you and your personal accounts. Be wary of emails asking for any of your personal info or that ask you to “verify” your account number or passwords. PayPal had a big problem with scammers who had perfected their logos to a tee and were asking people to “verify” their account names and passwords. Sadly, this resulted in a wide spread identity theft ring. Never ever, answer these kinds of emails. Instead, contact your bank branch or online account company and ask them if they sent this email. You can also check your bank statements and alerts online. If there is a problem with your account, it should be posted there, not sent in an email. The best way to fight against identity theft is summed up in one word – prevention. Make sure to always shred those documents before they hit the trash bin, avoid emails or websites that appear suspicious and also check your credit listings twice a year with free credit report companies such as Equifax. This will help ensure that you aren’t seeing any fraudulent attempts on your credit. Today’s world requires that we suspect before we trust and it is better safe than sorry. Your identity is a precious thing . . . it belongs to you and no one else. Always, always be safe. |
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Social Security Disability is Full Not Partial Disability
By Timothy Moore
The federal disability system provides a safety net in the form of social security disability and SSI disability benefits. However, the benefits offered by the social security administration are for full, not partial, disability, with the idea being that a person will be unable to return to work.
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Federal Disability Retirement Under FERS & CSRS - A Second (And Sometimes Third) Bite at the Apple
By Robert McGill
Federal and Postal Workers who file for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS must consider when to file, and how many times to file. Filing a second time can sometimes be a problem if you have already taken your first case to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
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