Q & A
I pay my monthly premium directly to my Medicare prescription drug plan provider. Why can’t I also pay my income-related monthly adjustment amount directly to my Medicare prescription drug plan provider?
Answer: By law, we must deduct your income-related monthly adjustment amount from your Social Security payments. If the amount you owe is more than the amount of your payment, or you don’t get monthly payments, you will get a separate bill…
Will my wife qualify for Social Security Disability and Medicare based on the fact she is now disabled?
Full question: My wife never worked outside the home. She is 52 and recently had a stroke. She is making progress. However, she is not going to be driving; nor will she be able to do many of the “routine” activities…
I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Can my children receive benefits because I receive SSI?
Answer: No. SSI benefits are based on the needs of the individual and are only paid to the qualifying person. There are no benefits payable to spouses, children or survivors as there are with Social Security benefits. For information, see Supplemental…
If I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability, what is the effect on my benefits when I take seasonal work?
Answer: Even a small amount of earned wages can cause a deduction in your SSI payment. However, it takes substantial work to make your benefits stop. In 2013, a person who receives SSI can earn up to $1,505 a month and…
Is it true that if you have low income you can get help paying your Medicare premiums?
Answer: Yes. If your income and resources are limited, your state may be able to help with your Medicare Part B premium, deductibles, and co-insurance amounts. State rules vary on the income and resources that apply. Contact your state or local…
I know I am eligible to apply for disability benefits based on my earnings record. But how does Social Security decide whether I am disabled?
Answer: Overall, we use a five-step evaluation process to decide whether you are disabled. The process considers any current work activity you are doing. It also considers the severity of your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. To…
Are Social Security numbers reassigned after a person dies?
Answer: No. We do not reassign Social Security numbers. In all, we have assigned more than 460 million Social Security numbers. Each year we assign about 5.5 million new numbers. There are more than one billion combinations of the nine-digit Social…
I need to get a benefit verification letter. Do I need to come into the office?
Answer: No, you can get it online. There’s no need to fight traffic and visit a busy government office in order to obtain proof of your benefits. To get your benefit-verification letter, simply visit us online at http://goo.gl/K8PB8 and set up a my…
When should you take Social Security benefits?
Answer: Some say take it now no matter what. I say be aware of the many options that you may have. Over the course of your working lifetime, with every paycheck you’ve dutifully paid taxes toward Social Security. When the time…
Can a person receive Social Security disability and workers’ compensation benefits at the same time?
Answer: Yes but workers’ compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce your Social Security benefits. If you receive workers’ compensation or other public disability benefits and SSA disability benefits for the same period, the total amount of these benefits cannot exceed…