Q & A
My brother recently left me some money. Will this inheritance affect my SSI benefits?
Answer: We consider the money inherited from your brother as income for the month you receive it. That could make you ineligible for SSI that month, depending on the amount of the inheritance. If you keep the money into the next…
How do I apply for retirement benefits?
Answer: You can apply online or make an appointment with a Social Security representative at a local office. Generally, it is easier and faster to apply for benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov. The process takes as little as 15 minutes and, in most cases,…
When I start receiving benefits, will the amount stay the same for the rest of my life?
Answer: No. Generally, your benefit amount increases every year to protect you against inflation. An increase in the consumer price index will give you a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For 2014, that COLA adjustment is 1.5 percent. Your benefit also may increase…
Is there any penalty for beginning to take my benefits at age 62?
Answer: Yes. If you start taking your benefits before your full retirement age, the amount you can collect will be lower than the amount you can collect at your full retirement age. (If you wait until full retirement age, your benefits…
How early can I begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits?
Answer: You can get a reduced benefit as early as age 62. The 1983 Social Security Amendments raised the full retirement age for people born in 1938 and later, but it did not change the minimum retirement age. Source: The Jackson County…
My husband doesn’t have enough work credits to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. Can he qualify on my record?
Answer: A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker’s full benefit unless the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age. If your husband begins collecting benefits based on your Social Security record before he reaches full retirement age (age 65…
What is a Social Security “credit”?
Answer: During your working years, you earn Social Security credits based on how much you earn in wages. The amount of earnings you need for one credit rises as average earnings levels rise. In 2014, you receive one credit for every…
I need a surgical procedure, and want to find the best hospital to have it done. Can Medicare help me and my doctor in this search process?
Answer: Yes, Medicare has lots of information available to help you. Of course, if you need emergency treatment, go to the hospital closest to you without delay. But if you need treatment that isn’t an emergency, you should take time to…
If delayed, to what age do SSA survivors benefits increase?
Full Question: My husband and I both worked so each of us received our individual Social Security retirement, although his amount was more. I was age 64 when he died a year ago but decided to delay starting SSA survivors benefits…
I want to apply for Supplemental Security Income, but I don’t know whether I qualify since I own my own home. Can I still get SSI?
Answer: Yes, it is possible for you to qualify for SSI even if you own your own home. To be eligible for SSI, you cannot own more than $2,000 in resources for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. However,…