Goodacre

I hope you won't mind my piggy-backing on this thread, having come over from a related thread elsewhere. My wife is in a similar situation to the one described here. She received her work permit in May and we were thrilled that it had come after a very long wait. She then went to apply for her SSN on May 8. They sent off the paper work to homeland security, saying we'd have to wait two months, and we have heard no more.

We are encouraged very much that it seems that she can work with the SSN pending, so many thanks for the advice on this one. But one question: the job she has been offered will effectively be a self-employed one (works on a contract basis for an employer). Should we have any further worries about going ahead as a self-employed while we wait for the SSN? Very many thanks

Elvira

No need to worry.

But I would definitely follow up on that SSN - 2 months is ridiculous. Insist you speak to a supervisor.

meauxna

hi again,
I don't know how much you know about Social Security and the purpose of the number in the larger scheme of things. It's really just a tax reporting ID number (but it's become so much more!).

I will just stick in here that you should make sure that you understand what being self-employed means from a tax standpoint. As a contractor, your wife has specific labor rules to follow (rather, the employer does--wife needs to make sure she's not being taken for a ride) and she will pay all of her own SS contributions, as well as er, whatchit.. FICA/Medicare. Employers normally pay half, and half is deducted from the employee.

SI tax is quite a bit higher than normal employment witholding, and she may be required to make quarterly income tax payments.

Elvira

Very true... :curse:

Around 50% of my income goes on taxes of various kinds...

mdyoung

If You Are Self-Employed:

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10022.html

Publication 334 (2006), Tax Guide for Small Business:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p334/index.html

Small Business Forms and Publications:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/...=99200,00.html

I agree it's time to head back into the SSA office were she applied and be sure that she takes her documents.

Goodacre

That's brilliant; thanks so much for the help. Having knowledgeable people here to talk to is fantastic.

abboy

No SSN yet, almost 3 months since he applied for it, tried calling all the SSA and USCIS offices but no one is answering, they will let me hold then will cut off after a while. Kept trying for so many times, same thing.
My son employer said they are not allowed to put dummy numbers and my son is still not receiving his pay(salary and commission), been working hard for 2 months already.

abboy

they are not answering the phone, I have left messages but they are not calling back.
Is it worth going to SSA state regional office to inquire? I think the local office can't do anything about it, or are they the one issuing the number?

meauxna

bah.. the employer is *so* wrong (legal? hmm)
It all comes down to how much you want to antagonize them.

Have you follwed mdyoung's suggestions about how to follow up with the document verification? You will likely have to go INTO an SSA office and speak with a manager.

abboy

I sent PM to you , not sure if you have received it.

I called the numbers but they told me its the wrong number and they dont have anything to do with SSN.

Do we need to start worrying that it is taking so long at this stage? or its just normal for some other people to wait this long?
Is it useful to go to the regional office to follow it up or talk to the regional manager?

mdyoung

That section of POMS is what was on the Website before they removed it, so the numbers might have changed, but did you ask if they were doing status verifications for G-845s sent from SSA offices, because they have no idea the SSA office needs it for an SSN application.

abboy

The man who answered the phone was very rude. I started asking about SSN and status verifcation but before I can finish the sentence, the man just cut me off , with a raise voice and said he has nothing to do with SSN and hanged up. I called again to explain and asked him he could refer me to the correct department but he said he does not know and hanged up. I called the third time and asked him what department did I call and who am I talking to, he got upset and asked me who I am and where did I get the nos. he just simply said the number is wrong and wont give me his name and hanged up on me again.

mdyoung

I guess that's why SSA took the numbers off the Website. It always struck me as funny that SSA offices have a sh*t fit if someone gives out the administrative number to a field office and they had the phone number off every status verification office posted on their Website.