What counts as official Social Security news

Official Social Security Administration (SSA) news comes from three places: the SSA's own website at ssa.gov, the official Social Security social media accounts, and press releases issued by the agency's Office of Public Affairs. Anything else — including emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from Social Security — is not official news, even if it looks real.

The SSA posts updates about policy changes, benefit payment schedules, office closures, and security alerts on ssa.gov/news. These announcements affect when you receive payments, what documents you need, or how to reach your local office. The agency also publishes a monthly newsletter called the Social Security Bulletin, which covers research, statistics, and program changes in detail.

Social Security scams often impersonate official news to create urgency. Real SSA announcements never ask you to click a link, call a number, or provide personal information. If you see a message claiming to be from Social Security, check ssa.gov directly or call 1-800-772-1213 to verify it before responding.

Key Takeaways

  • Official Social Security news appears only on ssa.gov, through verified Social Security social media accounts, or in press releases from the Office of Public Affairs.
  • The SSA publishes updates about payment schedules, policy changes, and office information on ssa.gov/news, which you can check anytime without logging in.
  • The monthly Social Security Bulletin contains research and detailed information about program changes, available free on the SSA website.
  • Real Social Security announcements never ask you to click links, call numbers, or share personal details; if you receive such a message, verify it by visiting ssa.gov or calling the official number.

How to find news on ssa.gov

The SSA's news page at ssa.gov/news lists announcements in reverse chronological order — newest first. You can browse by topic using the filter menu on the left side of the page, which sorts updates into categories like "Benefits", "Retirement", "Disability", and "Fraud and Security". Each announcement includes the date it was posted and a summary of what changed.

If you are looking for information about a specific topic — such as when payments are sent or what happens during a government shutdown — the search box at the top of ssa.gov/news lets you type keywords. The SSA also maintains a separate page for payment schedules at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/payment-schedules, which shows the exact dates your benefit will arrive each month based on your birth date.

You do not need to create an account or log in to read news on ssa.gov. The information is public and available to anyone. If you want updates sent to you automatically, you can subscribe to the SSA's email newsletter through a link on the news page.

Social Security social media accounts

The SSA maintains official accounts on Facebook, Twitter (X), YouTube, and Instagram. These accounts post announcements, answer common questions, and share reminders about payment dates and office hours. You can find links to all verified Social Security accounts on ssa.gov/socialmedia.

Before following a Social Security account, check that it is verified. On Facebook and Instagram, a blue checkmark next to the account name means it is official. On Twitter, the verified badge appears next to @socialsecurity. Scammers often create accounts with names that look similar to the real ones — for example, "Social.Security.Admin" instead of the official account — so always check for the verification mark.

Social Security's YouTube channel posts videos about how to use my Social Security (the online account portal), how to report changes, and explanations of different benefit types. These videos are free and do not require you to sign up for anything.

The Social Security Bulletin and research reports

The Social Security Bulletin is a quarterly publication that covers research, statistics, and policy updates related to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Each issue includes articles written by SSA researchers and outside experts about topics like benefit trends, program changes, and how Social Security affects different groups of workers.

You can read the Bulletin free on ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/. Each issue is available as a PDF you can read or read online. The SSA also publishes an annual OASDI Trustees Report, which explains the financial status of Social Security's trust funds and projects whether the program will have enough money to pay full benefits in future years. This report is technical but is the official source for information about Social Security's long-term solvency.

If you want to understand how a recent policy change affects you, the Bulletin often contains detailed explanations written for a general audience. The SSA also publishes fact sheets on specific topics — such as how earnings affect retirement benefits or what happens when you reach full retirement age — on ssa.gov/benefits.

Press releases and policy announcements

The SSA's Office of Public Affairs issues press releases when the agency makes major announcements. These releases cover things like changes to benefit amounts, new office procedures, security alerts, or responses to legislative changes. Press releases are posted on ssa.gov/news and are dated so you can see when the announcement was made.

Press releases are written for news organizations and the general public, so they are usually shorter and more direct than the Bulletin. If a press release mentions a policy change that affects you, it will typically include a link to more detailed information on ssa.gov or the phone number to call for questions.

Some announcements are seasonal — for example, the SSA releases information each October about the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that affects benefit amounts the following year. If you want to know when these regular announcements happen, ssa.gov/news includes a calendar of upcoming releases.

How to tell real news from scams

Scammers impersonate Social Security to steal personal information or money. Real Social Security announcements have these characteristics: they come from ssa.gov, a verified Social Security social media account, or an official press release; they never ask you to click a link or call a number to "verify" information; they do not create artificial urgency or threaten to suspend your benefits; and they do not ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or passwords.

If you receive an email, text, or call claiming to be from Social Security and asking you to take action, do not respond to the message. Instead, go directly to ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to check whether the announcement is real. The SSA's official phone line is staffed during business hours and can confirm whether a message is legitimate.

The SSA publishes a Fraud and Security page at ssa.gov/fraud that lists current scams and explains how to report them. If you have been contacted by a scammer impersonating Social Security, you can report it to the Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or by calling 1-800-269-0271.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does the SSA post news updates?

The SSA posts announcements as needed when policy changes, payment schedules change, or security issues arise. There is no fixed schedule. The news page at ssa.gov/news is updated throughout the month, and you can check it anytime to see what has been posted recently. If you want updates sent to you, you can subscribe to the email newsletter through the news page.

Where can I find information about my specific benefit amount or payment date?

Your personal benefit information is not posted as public news. To see your benefit amount and payment date, you need to create or log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. This account is private and requires your Social Security number and password. If you do not have an account, you can create one on the same page.

What should I do if I see a Social Security announcement that looks suspicious?

Check the source. If it came through email or text, do not click any links. Go directly to ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to verify the announcement. If it is a fake, report it to the SSA's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or call 1-800-269-0271. Real Social Security news never asks you to provide personal information or click links in messages.

Can I get Social Security news sent to my phone?

The SSA does not send text messages or push notifications. You can subscribe to email updates through ssa.gov/news, and you can follow verified Social Security accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube to see announcements in your feed. Be cautious of any account claiming to send official Social Security alerts by text — these are scams.