3.6 Million Social Security Numbers Exposed after Hacker Attack

Last October 10, the entire nation was disturbed following news reports about a massive hacker attack broke.

According to news reports, the U.S. Secret Service learned that South Carolina’s (SC) Department of Revenue (DOR) system was hacked. After a series of investigation conducted by Mandiant, a private electronic security firm hired by the agency in light of the recent hacker attack, it was found out that the attack was said to have exposed some 387,000 credit and debit card numbers and 3.6 million social security numbers.

The stolen data included some information that people share with their tax returns like names, addresses, and taxpayer identification number. Unfortunately, most of those data had not been encrypted, which means that the hacker could readily view them without the need of any accessing code.

Moreover, the attack possibly affects anyone who has filed a tax return in South Carolina from 1998 up until the days prior to the discovery of the said security breach.

Apparently, the attack had occurred as early as August this year, but was only discovered last October 10. Moreover, after it was discovered, it took some 10 days more to close the hacker’s access and another six days to inform the public.

The State Law Enforcement Division Chief, Mark Keel said that the IP address used by the hacker appears to be foreign in nature.

Meanwhile, taxpayers are not yet properly notified of the issue since agents need some more time to determine exactly how much data have been compromised and who precisely are currently at risk of having their identities stolen.

Also, it is not yet known how the security breach has affected taxpayers and how the hacker might have used the data, whether it is for identity fraud or simply for exposure.

Meanwhile, the state’s Revenue Department has provided a toll-free phone line and a website for taxpayers who might have been affected by the hacking attack. In fact, the system was said to be overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of phone calls, according to the agency’s spokesperson, Samantha Cheek.

Incidentally, this is not an issue that has something to do with South Carolina alone. This is definitely an issue that the other 49 states will have to face since it could likewise happen to any other states in the U.S.

Apparently, this will now serve as challenge to every state’s cyber security defense, according to a Los Angeles disability lawyer.

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What to Expect from Social Security in 2013

In a few months time, fiscal year 2013 will start. In terms of good news, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has some big announcements for its members in the forthcoming year.

Accordingly, here are some changes that workers and recipients can expect from the agency next year:

Bigger monthly benefits

Recently, the agency announced that it will increase social security payments by 1.7 percent come 2013. Recipients will start receiving an increase in Cost-of-living Adjustment (COLA) by January next year, according to the agency’s official press release.

Higher taxes

Consequently, following the said increase in monthly payments, the maximum amount of total earnings subject to the social security tax or the so called taxable maximum will likewise increase. In fact, out of approximately 163 million workers who will pay social security taxes next year, nearly 10 million of whom will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase.

Payroll tax cut to expire

Under the current law, the temporary payroll tax cut will expire by the end of December this year. In 2013, workers will pay 2.6 percent of their income into the Social Security system in 2013. It is actually a 4.2 percent increase in 2012.

Increased earning limit

Accordingly, retirees who are currently working and collecting benefits at the same time will be able to earn $480.00 in time before their payments will be withheld next year.

Meanwhile, recipients who are younger than the full retirement age can collect up to $15,120.00, after which $1.00 of every $2.00 gained will be temporarily withheld from their monthly payments. For retirees who will turn 66 in 2013, their earning limit will be $40,080.00 in time, after which $1.00 of every $3.00 earned will be restrained.

When recipients turn their full retirement age, they can collect both or any amount without penalty and Social Security benefits at the same time. For recipients who are at their full retirement age, payments will be adjusted as well to reflect any benefits that were withheld and the continued earnings.

Maximum possible benefit increase

Wage earners who began collecting benefits at their full retirement age and receive $2,513.00 per month will be receiving $2,533.00 monthly in 2013.

No more paper checks

By March 1, 2013, the U.S. Treasury will stop sending paper checks to Social Security beneficiaries. All recipients will then receive their payments through a direct union account or loaded onto a Direct Express Debit MasterCard. Meanwhile, for recipients who do not prefer to receive their payments via electronic means, they will receive their payments through a pre-paid debit card. 

All the above-stated facts are actually announced previously by the agency through its official web page. However, the changes were scheduled to take effect by next year.

In this regard, a Los Angeles long term disability lawyer is giving some hints of what is more likely to expect from the social security agency next year to keep people aware, especially those who are not informed about the said changes.

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SSA Announces Benefits Increase for 2013

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has some good news to millions of its recipients.

In its recent press release, the agency announced that it will increase the monthly social security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits by 1.7 percent in 2013.

Accordingly, the said increase in Cost-of-living Adjustment (COLA) will start with benefits that more than 56 million social security beneficiaries will receive in January next year, while the increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will start on December 31 of this year.

Moreover, the agency explained in its press release that some other changes that take will effect every January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.

Consequently, the increase would definitely mean that the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax or the so called taxable maximum will increase as well.

Out of nearly 163 million wage earners who will pay social security taxes next year, about 10 million will pay higher taxes due to the increase in the taxable maximum, according to the agency.

Incidentally, the announcement came to light after news surfaced about the agency’s alleged plan to reduce its office hours to cut cost. However, the said plan was opposed by several organizations for some reasons.

Although it would be a good news to recipients, taxpayers, on the other hand, will definitely not be pleased with the announcement, according to several Los Angeles social security claim lawyers.

Nevertheless, they are still pretty impressed that despite the financial downfall experienced by the federal agency, it still finds ways to provide the needs of seniors and individuals with disabling condition who cannot cope with the increasingly high cost of living.

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U.S.’s Largest Breast Cancer Org Declines Donations from Porn Site

As a sign of support to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the porn website, Pornhub.com recently announced that it will donate 1 cent to America’s largest breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for every 30 views of its breast-related videos for the current month.

Said campaign is actually the adult website’s second effort to fight against breast cancer and spread awareness regarding the disease. Last April, the company that owns the adult website launched a Boob bus in New York to provide breast examinations free of charge. A board-certified, licensed medical practitioner spearheaded the examinations.

Breast cancer is one of the primary causes of disability among women in the U.S. In addition, figures noted by the American Cancer Society revealed an alarming number of disability cases and deaths caused by the disease in the past few years.

Moving on with the said donation, previous reports claimed that the adult website announced that it will no longer allocate a portion of its October revenue to the said foundation.

Subsequently, the foundation firmly affirmed that it would not accept donations from the adult website. It likewise stressed out that Pornhub is not a partner of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In fact, the organization has asked the website to stop using its name for the latter’s own benefit.

Therefore, in its recent announcement, the company further claimed that it will be changing its beneficiary. The porn site is now urging other breast cancer foundations to come forward and consider being the new recipient of its generous donation.

At present, the website has gained more than 10 million visits, which could mean that it is on the right track to meet its targeted fund for breast cancer awareness by the end of the month, according to recent news featured in a blog post of a Los Angeles social security disability firm.

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How SSA Determines Disability among Cancer Patients

Generally, in order to qualify for social security disability benefits, cancer patients must first provide proofs that their malignant neoplastic disease is indeed disabling and prevents them from engaging in stressful activities.

However, the types of evidence needed to support such claims vary depending on the type of disabling condition that an applicant claims.

Necessarily, in cases of cancer, there are some factors that the Social Security Administration (SSA) takes into consideration before approving a claim. These include the following:

•    Origin of malignancy
•    Range of impact of the disease on your health
•    History treatment
•    Current treatment’s effect

Any evidence to support the above-said factors should come from a licensed medical professional. Several medical certificates to support evidence that may help a disability benefit claim include diagnostic reports, lab results, surgery notes, pathology reports, and official statements from physicians.

Subsequently, other than providing evidence of the cancer type, its duration, and treatment, an applicant may also use the treatment’s effect in order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Incidentally, cancers that resist treatments and patients who experience severe side effects of chemotherapy are absolutely qualified for the claim.

In its list of Compassionate Allowances Conditions, the SSA includes more than 20 types of cancers that are assessed for Social Security disability. Nevertheless, even if an applicant’s disease is not listed in the said classification or the condition does not meet the standards, an applicant may still pursue a claim with the help and guidance of a legal representative, like a Los Angeles permanent disability.

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