Q & A
How Do IRA Withdrawals Affect My Social Security?
Full question: I am brand new to reading your column. I am interested in the effect that withdrawing money from my IRA (taxable income) will have on my Social Security benefits. Is it best to withdraw money from the IRA until…
How can I become a representative payee?
Answer: If you know someone who receives Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and who needs assistance managing his or her payments, contact your local Social Security office about becoming his or her representative payee. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/payee for more…
How do I sign up for Medicare Part B if I already have Part A?
Answer: If you already have Medicare Part A and wish to sign up for Medicare Part B, call Social Security’s toll-free number (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Or, contact your local Social Security office. To learn more about Medicare, visit our website…
How do I know if I meet the eligibility requirements to get Social Security disability benefits?
Answer: To qualify 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 Social Security’s strict definition of disability. We consider an…
What are Compassionate Allowances?
Answer: Compassionate Allowances are Social Security’s way of quickly identifying severe diseases and other medical conditions that qualify a person for disability benefits without waiting a long time. Compassionate Allowances permit Social Security to target the most obviously disabled individuals for…
If I get Social Security disability benefits and I reach full retirement age, will I then receive retirement benefits?
Answer: Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries reach full retirement age. In most cases, the payment amount does not change. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits simultaneously…
What is the purpose of Supplemental Security Income, or SSI?
Answer: The purpose of SSI is to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little income and few resources to support themselves. It provides financial assistance to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. You can receive SSI even…
Does starting Social Security as a widow prevent me from receiving my own retirement?
Answer: No. If eligible for SSA survivors benefits as widow or widower and also for your own retirement, you can start the smaller one first and switch to the higher later on. Based on age, survivors benefits can start as early…
If you have a severe identity theft, will Social Security allow you to obtain a new Social Security number to help you eliminate having to continually explain the theft of your identity with future creditors?
Answer: You may be able to get a new Social Security number but it’s unlikely to solve all your problems and it can create others. So think carefully before pursuing this option. The Social Security Administration says it can assign a different Social…
Should I Claim Early and Invest in the Market?
Full Question: Thanks for your most informative book. I’m 60 now and have been studying the file and suspend until 70 approach. During an office discussion with a colleague, he explained the “file at 62 and invest what you receive from…