Q & A
My same-sex partner and I recently married. Will we qualify for Social Security benefits?
Answer: You may be eligible to apply for Social Security benefits. Many factors affect your eligibility for benefits, including how long you worked and your age. Social Security is now processing more claims in which entitlement or eligibility is affected…
Social Security Q&A: How many credits do I need for benefits?
Question: I’ve only been working for a few years, and I’m wondering how I earn Social Security benefits. What are credits and how many do I need to qualify for benefits? Answer: We use your total yearly earnings to calculate your Social…
Is $1 Million Enough to Cover the Average American’s Expenses in Retirement?
Even though $1 million may not go as far these days as it used to, it’s nevertheless more than enough to cover the average American’s expenses in retirement. The average cost of retirement Every year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor…
What is the penalty for being a late enrollee to Medicare Part D?
Answer: The first challenge to being a late enrollee into Medicare Part D is that you have to wait until the open enrollment period to enroll in a plan. Again, that is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 and coverage will commence…
I am in the donut hole already and it is only May. Can I change plans now?
Answer: No. You can only change plans during Open Enrollment. If you get into the donut hole early in the year, you have a greater chance of getting out of it before year’s end. If you get out of the…
I stayed with the same Part D plan I had last year, and my drugs all stayed the same. Why am I paying a higher co-pay for one of them this year?
Answer: This could be caused by a few different scenarios: First, drugs can shift between tiers. First check what tier that drug was classified as last year, and compare it to what tier it is classified as this year. Different tiers…
I have been enrolled in Medicare Part A & B, and a Medicare Supplement for the past five years, but have not enrolled in Part D (prescription drug coverage). My doctor just prescribed a drug that is costing me over $500 a month. How can I enroll in a plan now?
Answer: You cannot enroll in a plan now, but will have to wait for Open Enrollment which runs from Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 and the new coverage will commence on Jan. 1. You need to enroll in a Part D…
What is the best way for my parents to maximize their Social Security benefits?
Complete Question: I want to help my parents maximize their Social Security benefits. My father is 73 and collects $2,510/month. My mother is 63 years-old and she has not started collecting yet, but she is planning on retiring soon. Since…
What happens after a disability hearing?
Social Security Disability – What happens after my hearing? If you have filed a claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and are denied on both your Initial Application and your Request for Reconsideration, you are…
What is the purpose of WEP and GPO?
Complete Question: I am a teacher, so not surprisingly I will get a teacher’s pension. A fellow teacher in my school just retired and was very upset when she applied for Social Security. Apparently, because she’s getting a teacher’s pension,…