Q & A
Can I receive Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits at the same time?
Answer: Answer: You may be able to receive SSI in addition to monthly Social Security benefits if your Social Security benefit is low enough for you to qualify for SSI. Whether you can get SSI depends on your income and resources…
I worked the first half of the year, but plan to retire this month. Will Social Security count the amount I earn for this year when I retire?
Answer: Yes. If you retire mid-year, we count your earnings for the entire year. We have a special “earnings test” rule we apply to annual earnings, usually in the first year of retirement. Under this rule, you get a full payment…
I need proof of my Social Security income. Can I get verification online?
Answer: Yes. The best way to get a benefit verification letter is by using a “my Social Security” account. A personal account is a secure way to check benefits and payment information, change addresses, phone numbers and direct deposit information. The site is…
I heard there is a Social Security video available in American Sign Language. Where can I find it?
Answer: The video is called “Social Security, SSI and Medicare: What You Need to Know About These Vital Programs.” Find it on our website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/multimedia/video/asl. Available in American Sign Language, the video presents important information about our programs. It is a…
Several years ago I applied for Social Security disability, was not approved, and returned to work for a while before recently stopping again. Can I file for disability again?
Answer: Yes, you can using a medical onset date, meaning the date when the disability began, after the timeframe covered by your earlier application. More importantly, you would again need to have enough work at the right time to be insured…
I’m turning 65 next year and plan to work for a couple more years. Should I apply for Medicare even though I have coverage through my employer?
Answer: This is an important question that affects a growing number of workers. In fact, data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study (2006 to 2010) sponsored by the National Institute on Aging shows some eye-popping trends. According…
Several years ago I applied for Social Security disability, was not approved, and returned to work for a while before recently stopping again. Can I file for disability again?
Answer: Yes, you can, using a medical onset date, meaning the date when the disability began, after the timeframe covered by your earlier application. More importantly, you would again need to have enough work at the right time to be insured…
I am a retired CSRS Offset and will be turning 62 in a few months. Since the Office of Personnel Management will be calculating my benefits, and I will be collecting Social Security, will OPM send out paperwork for re-establishing retirement benefit choices such as survivor benefits?
Answer: No. That’s because you don’t have any choices. Your annuity will be reduced by the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while covered by CSRS Offset, whether or not you apply for a Social Security benefit. If you were…
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…
What are the rules for getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? I’m thinking about applying based on my disability.
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 money you receive such as wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions. Income also includes…