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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Davenport, Iowa Office

By Pam Shaw
Social Security District Manager
Davenport Social Security Office

GENERAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR MEDICARE PART B

If you did not apply for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) within 3 months before or after turning age 65, you have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period. The period runs from January 1 to March 31 every year.

If you didn’t enroll in Part B when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Your monthly premium will increase 10% for each 12-month period that you were eligible for Part B but did not sign up for it. Your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

To learn more about Medicare, please visit our Medicare Benefits page at www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare.

You may also read our Medicare publication at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf.

Please share this information with your friends and loved ones who may need it.

ARE YOU AGE 70 OR OLDER AND NOT YET RECEIVING BENEFITS?

Retirement is not one-size-fits-all. It can mean different things to different people. Perhaps you have not applied for Social Security retirement benefits because you’re still working or are delaying applying so you can get a higher benefit. If you’re age 70 or older, you should apply now for the benefits you’re owed. Your benefits will not increase if you continue to delay applying for them because you are 70 or older.

Did you know that you can receive benefits even if you still work? Your earnings can increase your monthly benefit amount – even after you start receiving benefits. Each year that you work, we check your earnings record. It’s possible your latest year of earnings is one of your highest 35 years. If so, we will automatically recalculate your benefit amount and pay you any increase due.

The best and easiest way to apply for your benefits is with a personal my Social Security account. You can create your free account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you create your account, you can get an estimate of how much you might receive each month based on when you want to start receiving benefits and then apply.

In your account, you can also:

• Access publications – like our fact sheet for workers ages 70 and up at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/assets/materials/workers-70andup.pdf.
• Learn about benefits for your spouse and family members.
• Manage your benefits once you start receiving them.

We’re here to help you secure today and tomorrow and we invite you to learn more about applying for retirement benefits at www.ssa.gov/apply. Please share this information with those who need it.

Question & Answer:

Question: Do Members of Congress have to pay into Social Security?

Answer: Yes. Members of Congress, the President and Vice President, federal judges, and most political appointees, have paid taxes into the Social Security program since January 1984. They pay into the system just like everyone else, no matter how long they have been in office. Learn more about Social Security benefits at www.ssa.gov.

Question: I own a small business. How can I verify employees’ Social Security numbers (SSNs)?

Answer: Employers can use our Social Security Number Verification Service to verify the names and SSNs of current and former employees for wage reporting purposes. For more information, go to www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnv.htm.

Question: How are my retirement benefits calculated?

Answer: Your Social Security benefits are based on earnings averaged over your lifetime. Your actual earnings are first adjusted or “indexed” to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then we calculate your average monthly indexed earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most. We apply a formula to these earnings and arrive at your basic benefit. This is the amount you would receive at your full retirement age. If you have a personal my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your personal retirement benefits and see the effects of different ages to begin receiving retirement benefits. If you don’t have a personal my Social Security account, you can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

For more information, read our publication, Your Retirement Benefit: How It’s Figured, at  www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf.

Question: How do I know if I meet the eligibility requirements to get Social Security disability benefits?

Answer:  To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, you must have worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security (usually 10 years). You must also have a medical condition that meets our strict definition of disability. We consider an adult to have a disability if they have a medical condition, or combination of medical conditions, that are expected to last for at least 1 year or result in death, and that prevent the performance of any type of work. If you think you may be eligible to receive disability benefits and would like to apply, you can use our online application at www.ssa.gov/disability or call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment to apply.