Q & A
When do I get credit for my 2013 earnings?
Full Question: I retired effective January 2014, so my current Social Security payment only reflects earnings through 2012. When will my retirement amount include 2013 wages? What do I need to do to make that happen? Answer: Earnings for 2013 are automatically…
I understand that to get Social Security disability benefits, my disability must last at least a year or be expected to result in death. But I’m disabled now. Does this mean that I must wait a year after becoming disabled before I can receive benefits?
Answer: No. You do not have to wait a year after becoming disabled. If you’re disabled and expect to be out of work for at least a year, you should apply for disability benefits right away. It can take months to process…
What are the requirements for receiving disabled widow’s benefits?
Answer: You may be able to get disabled widow’s or widower’s benefits at age 50 if you meet Social Security’s disability requirement. Your disability must have started before age 60 and within seven years of the latest of the following dates:…
When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, who is eligible for survivors benefits?
Answer: Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to: ∎ Widows or widowers — unreduced benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60. ∎ Disabled widows or widowers — as early as age 50. ∎ Widows…
I stumbled onto your YouTube channel while looking at funny cat videos. Why does Social Security produce cat videos?
Answer: It’s just one of many ways for Social Security to connect to people where they already spend time. It’s important for Social Security to let everyone know about what it does for Americans, and the agency especially interested in getting the…
Social Security Trust Fund: How Does It Work?
Answer: Social Security is confusing to many people, because the program has a trust fund that is at risk of running out of money. In assessing your own benefits, it’s useful to know exactly what the Social Security Trust Fund…
What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits?
Answer: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the Social Security definition of disabled. You must have worked under Social Security long enough to earn the required number of work credits and some of the work must…
Do Medicare Supplemental Plans include prescription drug coverage?
Answer: No. The strategy here is simply to choose a separate stand-alone prescription plan to complement the Medicare Supplemental plan. Easy to do. Source: Penn Health Insurance Solutions, Inc., July 7, 2014 Notice: The “Read more…” link provided above connects readers to…
What are Medicare Supplemental Plans (a/k/a Medigap) ?
Answer: Medicare Supplemental plans…also known as “Medigap plans” are “secondary” insurers to Medicare because they pay the “gap” – the payment due to doctors/hospitals that Medicare doesn’t pay. When we seek medical care with a Medigap plan, we show the health…
Do Medicare Advantage plans include prescription coverage?
Answer: Medicare Advantage Plans will often bundle prescription coverage as past of the plan package, but plans are also offered without prescription coverage. Prescription co-pays vary based on the whether the prescription is a generic or a name-brand. Source: Penn Health Insurance…