Issue 13.12
GENERAL
Question:
I lost my Social Security card, should I get a new one?
Answer:
If you know your Social Security number, you may not need a replacement card. You can replace your Social Security card for free if it is lost or stolen, but you are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
Question:
I worked for the last 10 years and I now have my 40 credits. Does this mean that I can stop working and get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit when it’s time to retire?
Answer:
The 40 credits are the minimum number you need to qualify for retirement benefits. However, we do not base the amount of the benefit on those credits; we base it on your earnings over your working lifetime. To learn more about Social Security retirement benefits and how your benefit amount is figured, read our online publication, Retirement Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10035.html.
RETIREMENT
Question:
I want to estimate my retirement benefit at several different ages. Is there a way to do that?
Answer:
Use our Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator to get an instant, personalized retirement benefit estimate based on current law and your earnings record. The Retirement Estimator, which also is available in Spanish, lets you create additional “what if” retirement scenarios based on different income levels and “stop work” ages.
Question:
If both my spouse and I are entitled to Social Security benefits, is there any reduction in our payments because we are married?
Answer:
No. We calculate lifetime earnings independently to determine each spouse’s Social Security benefit amount, and couples are not penalized simply because they are married. When each member of a married couple meets all other eligibility requirements to receive Social Security retirement benefits, each spouse receives a monthly benefit amount based on his or her own earnings. If one member of the couple earned low wages or failed to earn enough Social Security credits to be insured for retirement benefits, he or she may be eligible to receive benefits as a spouse. Learn more about earning Social Security credits by reading our publication on the subject at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10072.html.
DISABILITY
Question:
I am receiving Social Security disability benefits. Is there a way for me to try working and not lose my benefits?
Answer:
We have special rules called “work incentives” that help you keep your benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. For example, there is a “trial work period” during which you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment. For more information about work incentives if you collect disability benefits and want to return to work, we recommend that you read the leaflet, Working While Disabled-How We Can Help at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html.
Question:
I currently receive Social Security disability benefits. Is there a time limit on how long you can collect Social Security disability benefits?
Answer:
Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you cannot work. We will review your case at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled. Learn more by reading our publication, Disability Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
Question:
Is it true that a person can own a home and still be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits?
Answer:
Yes. A person who owns a home and lives in that home can be eligible for SSI benefits. Although there is an asset limit for people to qualify for SSI, some things don’t count toward that limit, such as a house, a vehicle, and some funds set aside for burial expenses. To learn more about SSI and the eligibility requirements, browse our booklet, Supplemental Security Income at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.
Question:
I know you need to have limited resources to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But what is considered a “resource?”
Answer:
Resources are things you own that you can use for support. They include cash, real estate, personal belongings, bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. To be eligible for SSI a person must have $2,000 or less in countable resources. (A married couple must have $3,000 or less in countable resources.) Not all of your resources count toward the SSI resource limit. For example:
The home you live in and the land it’s on do not count.
Your personal effects and household goods do not count.
Life insurance policies may not count, depending on their value.
Your car usually does not count.
Burial plots for you and members of your immediate family do not count.
Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse may not count.
If you are blind or have a disability, some items may not count if you plan to use them to work or earn extra income.
You may also wish to read our material on “resources” in the booklet, Understanding SSI at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi/text-understanding-ssi.htm
MEDICARE
Question:
I want to apply for Medicare Part B medical insurance this year. When is the deadline to apply?
Answer:
If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out. The deadline for applying during the general enrollment period is March 31. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until 2013 to apply. Medicare Part B covers some medical expenses not covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), such as doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical supplies. You can learn more about Medicare by reading our electronic booklet, Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html.