50+ Lifestyles

Your Social Security

by Randoe Dice
Social Security District Manager, Davenport Iowa

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

GENERAL

Question:
My wife doesn’t have enough work under Social Security to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits or Medicare. But I am fully insured and eligible. Can she qualify on my record?

Answer:
Yes. The question you’ve raised applies to husbands as well as wives. Even if your spouse has never worked under Social Security, she (or he) can, at full retirement age, receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as government employment, the amount of his or her Social Security benefits on your record may be reduced. For more information, take a look at the fact sheet, Government Pension Offset, Publication No. 05-10007 at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10007.html. Your wife is eligible for full spouses benefits at her full retirement age, or reduced spouses benefits as early as age 62, as long as you are already receiving benefits. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the “Retirement” tab.

Question:
I recently received my annual Social Security Statement in the mail, and I noticed my taxes are only “estimated.” How did you calculate the amount?

Answer:
The Internal Revenue Service collects your Social Security and Medicare taxes. At Social Security, we do not keep a record of those taxes; we record only your earnings because your earnings are what we use to calculate your benefits. To estimate the total tax amounts we show on your Statement, we multiplied your reported earnings for each year that you worked by the tax rate for that year. We then added all the years together. If you had both wages and self-employment earnings in the same year, we estimated the taxes for that year as if the total amount was wages. If you had both Social Security earnings and government earnings that qualified for Medicare in the same year, we estimated the combined Medicare taxes you paid. To learn more, visit the Statement page at www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement.

RETIREMENT

Question:
My cousin said he applied for Social Security retirement benefits on the Internet. Can you really do that?

Answer:
Yes you can! Applying online is the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits. There’s no need to fight the traffic to visit an office or wait for an appointment. Our website makes it simple, allowing you to apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. You can get started now at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

Question:
What is the earliest age I can begin receiving retirement benefits?

Answer:
The earliest age you can begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits is 62. If you decide to receive benefits before your full retirement age, you will receive a reduced benefit. Keep in mind you will not be able to receive Medicare coverage until age 65, even if you decide to retire at an earlier age. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

DISABILITY

Question:
My brother had an accident at work last year and is now receiving Social Security disability benefits for himself, his wife, and daughter. Before his accident, he helped support another daughter he had by a woman he never married. Is the second child entitled to some benefits as well?

Answer:
Even though your brother wasn’t married to the second child’s mother, the child may qualify for Social Security benefits. Someone should file an application on the child’s behalf. If she is found to be eligible, both children would receive equal benefits. Learn more by reading our online publication, Disability Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.

Question:
I understand that to get Social Security disability benefits, my disability must be expected to last at least a year. So do I have to wait a year before I can apply for benefits?

Answer:
No. If you believe that your disability will last a year or longer, you should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take about three to five months to process an application for disability benefits. If your application is approved, your first Social Security disability benefits will be paid for the sixth full month after the date your disability began. For example, if it is determined that your disability began on January 15, your first disability benefit will be paid for the month of July. However, Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due, so you will receive your July benefit in August. For more information about Social Security disability benefits, refer to Disability Benefits (Publication No. 05-10029) at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME

Question:
What are the rules for getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? I’m thinking about applying.

Answer:
To be eligible to receive SSI benefits, you must be disabled, blind, or age 65 or older and have limited income and resources. Income is defined as wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions. Income also includes such things as food and shelter you receive from others. Social Security does not count all of your income when deciding whether you qualify for SSI. Resources include bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds. You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth no more than $2,000. A couple may be able to get SSI if they have resources worth no more than $3,000. Learn more by reading our publication, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.

Question:
I have an appointment to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). What kind of information will I need to take with me?

Answer:
To help make the application process go quickly and smoothly, you should bring:
• Your Social Security number;
• Your birth certificate or other proof of your age;
• Information about the home where you live, such as your mortgage or your lease and landlord’s name;
• Payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records, and other information about your income and the things you own;
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; and
• If you are applying for SSI because you are disabled or blind, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of doctors, hospitals, and clinics that you have been to.

Learn more by reading our publication, You May Be Able To Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11069.html.

MEDICARE

Question:
What is the “Part B” Medicare monthly premium for 2010?

Answer:
The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium is $110.50 in 2010. However, because there was no cost-of-living adjustment in 2010, some beneficiaries are paying less than the standard premium. The Department of Health and Human Services determines the Medicare Part B premium. The premiums paid by beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B cover physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items. For most beneficiaries, the government pays a substantial portion — about 75 percent of the Part B standard premium — and the beneficiary pays the remainder. Since 2007, higher income beneficiaries have been paying a larger percentage of their Part B premium based on income they report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In 2010, a small number of beneficiaries with higher incomes (individuals with income exceeding $85,000 and married couples with income exceeding $170,000) will pay a monthly premium equal to 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost, depending on what they reported to the IRS. However, the higher premium affects less than 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries, so most people newly enrolled for Medicare will pay the standard premium without an income-related adjustment.

For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the “Medicare” tab.