Q & A
FAQs about hospice, home care answered
With increased attention being focused on ways to decrease health care costs and provide care in the most cost effective ways possible, patients and their families may have many questions about health care and home care in particular. The theme for…
I didn’t change my Medicare prescription drug plan, but now some of my medications are not covered by my 2014 plan — even though they were covered by my plan last year. What can I do?
Answer: There are three steps you can take if your medications are not covered by your 2014 Medicare Part D plan. (1) If your medication is still a part of the Medicare program, you can ask your Medicare prescription drug plan…
I took an early retirement from the Social Security Administration in 2005 as a CSRS employee. In 2009, I returned to work as a full-time CSRS employee and make CSRS retirement contributions. I will be eligible for a redetermined annuity early in 2014, when I will be 56. From 1975 to 1981, I had civilian service, during which I made no CSRS contributions. I paid a deposit for this service when I retired in 2005. Office of Personnel Management regulations indicate that I will need to make another election regarding this when I retire again next year. Will I have to pay this civilian service deposit again when I retire and elect a redetermined annuity? If so (and the difference between a supplemental annuity and a redetermined annuity isn’t too great), I may retire sooner.
Answer: Once you have made a deposit to get credit for nondeductions service, you don’t have to do it again. Since CSRS retirement contributions are being taken from your pay, I have no idea why you would need to make…
I have been working for the federal government for just over five years. I am in need of my third spinal surgery. This one will be a doozy and will put me out of commission for over a year, and I will no longer be able to sit comfortably, which will make it impossible to do my eight-hour desk job. According to Social Security, I would qualify for full disability, but I have not applied yet. Would I be eligible for both Social Security disability and the early disability retirement under FERS being only 41? If so, which is done first: surgery, Social Security or retirement?
Answer: You only have to have 18 months of FERS service to be eligible to apply for disability retirement. If you do that, you must also apply for Social Security disability benefits. Otherwise, the Office of Personnel Management won’t process your…
Are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments only paid to people with disabilities?
Answer: No. SSI payments also are made to people who are blind or who are age 65 or older — as long as they meet all the qualifications including having low income and limited resources. SSI benefits are available for both…
Can I ask for a new decision about my Medicare Part B income-related monthly adjustment amount?
Answer: Sometimes something will happen in your life that affects your income. You can request a new decision if any one of the following happened and the change will make a difference in the income level we consider: you have gotten…
Where Do I Apply for Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors?
Answer: Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration for wounded warriors are different than those paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). You will need to complete a separate application. SSA expedites claims for military service members who became disabled…
Long-term disability insurance vs using retirement savings in the event of permanent disability?
Full Question: My husband is 54 and is looking at purchasing long-term dbl ins. His financial advisor said it would be wiser to invest the money elsewhere and to rely on retirement savings that don’t have a tax/penalty consequence in the…
I am in CSRS offset, and I am eligible to retire now. I turned 66 on April 8. I started collecting Social Security benefits as of Jan. 1 and continue to work. How will my retirement calculation change when I retire? Most, but not all, of the Social Security benefits were earned while I was under CSRS offset. I copied the following excerpt from “Ask the Experts”: “In the year you reached your full retirement age, it would be reduced by $1 out of every $3 you earned. After that, there wouldn’t be any reduction.” I don’t understand what will be reduced from my Social Security or my retirement when I retire?
Answer: The quote applies to the Social Security earnings test. Once Social Security recipients reach their full retirement age, they can earn as much as they want from wages or self-employment without it affecting that benefit. On the other hand, when…
Refund on Medicare?
Full Question: I am a retired disabled military member who works in the federal government. Since I am retired, I did not opt for any of the Federal Employees Health Benefits, as I am covered through Tricare as well as the…