We can help you manage your case with the Social Security Administration
(SSA) or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Contact my
Nashville office at 615-736-5295 for help. In order to assist you, we will need
a signed Privacy Release Form. You may also visit the Social Security Administration
online at www.ssa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I apply for Social Security benefits?
To apply for benefits, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at
1-800-772-1213 or TTY connection at 1-800-325-0778. You can also call the local
office at 615-781-5800. You can ask SSA to send you the correct forms, and they
can answer questions you may have. You can apply online at www.ssa.gov.
Who is eligible for retirement benefits?
In order to be eligible for retirement benefits, you have to have enough
"credits" (10 years of work--you earn one credit per certain amount
of money that you make) and have paid into Social Security.
You are eligible for SSA retirement benefits when you reach age 65 (however,
beginning in 2003, the age at which you can apply for retirement benefits will
increase gradually from 65 to 67), but you can apply early at age 62. If you
apply early, the benefits you receive will be reduced, but you will receive them
for a longer time. The amount you receive depends on how much you earned when
you were working.
You can also delay applying for Social Security retirement. If you do so, your
extra income may increase your benefit amount, and you will receive a credit.
To find out more about credit you may receive, contact the Social Security
Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and who
qualifies?
Two types of disability benefits exist - Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI; see below).
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is payable to disabled workers,
disabled widows and widowers or adults disabled since childhood who are
otherwise eligible. In order to qualify for these benefits, you must be unable
to perform work of any kind and your disability must be expected to last at
least one year or result in death. You must also have worked long enough
(earned certain number of "credits") and recently enough under the Social
Security System. The specific numbers depend on individual situations.
The SSA receives numerous applications for disability benefits. Because of the
large volume of applications, it can take a long period of time to receive a
decision. If your first application is denied, you have 60 days to request a
reconsideration of your claim. If that application is denied, you have 60 days
to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. It may take several
months before a hearing is scheduled. If you are denied at the Administrative
Law Judge level, your next course of action would be to appeal the judge's
decision to the Appeals Council in Virginia within 60 days. Once the Appeals
Council receives your file, it will take about two years for a review.
If you receive disability benefits, the benefits won't begin until the sixth
full month after the date the Social Security Administration decides the
disability began. In addition, you must wait two years before you qualify for
Medicare coverage.
What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
The other type of disability benefit is Supplemental Security Income, an income
assistance program for adults or children who are disabled or blind, who have
limited income and resources and who meet other eligibility requirements. The
monthly benefit varies in different states and the amount changes periodically.
For the most current information, contact the SSA. You can generally expect an
answer on whether you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) within
two to six months.
How do I apply for Survivors' Benefits?
Certain family members may be eligible for survivor's benefits when a relative
who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies. Up to 10 years of work is
needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person's age at time of
death. Monthly survivor's benefits can be paid to certain family members,
including the beneficiary's widow or widower, dependent children and dependent
parents. For more information and publications, visit the Social
Security Web site for Survivors Benefits.
A family member or other person responsible for the beneficiary's affairs
should do the following:
Promptly notify Social Security of the beneficiary's death by calling SSA
toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. If monthly benefits were being paid via direct
deposit, notify the bank or other financial institution of the beneficiary's
death. Request that any funds received for the month of death and later be
returned to Social Security as soon as possible. If benefits were being paid by
check, DO NOT CASH any checks received for the month in which the beneficiary
died or thereafter. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as possible.
One-time Lump Sum Death Benefit: A one-time payment of $255 is payable to the
surviving spouse if he or she was living with the beneficiary at the time of
death, OR if living apart, was eligible for Social Security benefits on the
beneficiary's earnings record for the month of death. If there is no surviving
spouse, the payment is made to a child who was eligible for benefits on the
beneficiary's earnings record in the month of death.
How do I apply for Medicare benefits?
If you are already getting Social Security retirement or disability benefits or
railroad retirement checks, Social Security will contact you a few months
before you become eligible for Medicare and give you the information you need
to register.
If you are not already getting checks, you should contact Social Security at
1-800-772-1213 about three months before your 65th Birthday to sign up for
Medicare.
If I continue working past 65, should I still apply for Medicare
benefits then?
You should sign up for Medicare even if you don't plan to retire at age 65 or
you may be penalized a 10 percent premium surcharge for each year past age 65
that you do not have Medicare. To register for Medicare, contact Social
Security at 1-800-772-1213 about three months before your 65th birthday.
However, if you are age 65 or older and are covered under a group health plan
either from your own employment or you are covered from your spouse's
employment, you may delay enrolling in Medicare medical insurance (Part B)
without having to wait for a general enrollment period or pay the 10 percent
premium surcharge for late enrollment. The rules allow you to:
Enroll in Medicare Part B any time while you are covered under the group health
plan,
-or-
Enroll in Part B during an eight-month special enrollment period that begins
with the month your group health coverage ends or the month employment ends,
whichever comes first.
Privacy Release Form
When requesting information it is sometimes necessary to provide a privacy
release form to give us access to retrieve your information. Please download
this form, fill it out, sign and mail to the appropriate location.
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