Dating Over The Internet

The Social Security Administration has published final regulations dealing with the filing date to be assigned to claims for benefits filed over the internet. The issue arises because a claimant may start to file a claim over the internet, but not complete the process until a later date. The date of filing may affect the number of months of benefits to be paid to the claimant. The new rule indicates that normally Social Security will use the date that the claimant began filing the claim. This is consistent with Social Security practice when claimants use the telephone to start the claim. The new regulations also correct a small error in the existing regulations on widows benefits.