The Social Security Administration is required to provide Spanish letters as a result of the "Cruz v. Califano Stipulation" that was signed by both parties and issued by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on September 26, 1979.
Specifically, when Social Security beneficiaries indicate that they would prefer to receive notices in Spanish or when they meet certain criteria specified in the case, the settlement requires Social Security to send a Spanish letter that advises beneficiaries of an adverse action and informs them of any appeal rights.
In addition, in response to a provision in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, Social Security Administration reported to Congress on the service it was providing to its non-English speaking customers. Congress asked Social Security Administration to develop alternatives that would improve access to Social Security programs for non-English speaking customers.
In that report, Social Security committed to expanding service to Social Security’s Spanish-speaking clients. Please note that it is desirable and cost-effective to provide notices in Spanish. A survey of Social Security field offices showed that out of 1,282 offices included in the study, 827 (64.5 percent) provide service to non-English speaking populations.
Out of those 827 offices, 757 of them (91.5 percent) provide service to Spanish-speaking claimants. Because Spanish-speaking customers did not understand the English notices Social Security sent them, they were contacting field offices and teleservice centers for explanations of information Social Security had sent to them in English. Providing notices and commonly used pamphlets in Spanish eliminates the need for repeated contacts with Social Security, freeing up the Social Security Administration’s employees to provide other kinds of needed service. The Social Security Administration’s objectives are to provide Spanish-speaking customers with better service and also to make the most effective use of Social Security’s employees' services.
