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Social Security – Questions and Answers
GENERAL
Question:
I can’t
seem to find my Social Security card. Do I need to get a
replacement?
Answer:
In most cases, knowing your Social Security number is
enough. But, if you do apply for and receive a replacement
card, don’t carry that card with you. Keep it with your
important papers. For more information about your Social
Security card and number, and for information about how to
apply for a replacement, visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
If you believe you’re the victim of identity theft, read our
publication Identity Theft and Your Social Security
Number, at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Question:
I own a small business. How can I verify employees’ Social
Security numbers?
Answer:
Employers can use our
Social Security Number Verification Service
to verify the names and Social
Security numbers of current and former employees for wage
reporting purposes. For more information, go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/ssnv.htm.
RETIREMENT
Question:
What can Social Security do to help me plan for my
retirement?
Answer:
Social Security has some great online financial planning
tools you can use to make an informed decision about your
retirement. Social Security's online Retirement Planner
and our online Retirement Estimator are both tools
you can access at any time. These will let you compute
estimates of your future Social Security retirement
benefits. They also provide important information on factors
affecting retirement benefits, such as military service,
household earnings, and federal employment.
You can access our Retirement Planner at
www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2.
And, you can use the Retirement Estimator at
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
Question:
How do I earn Social Security credits, and how many do I
need to qualify for benefits?
Answer:
We use your total yearly earnings to figure your Social
Security credits. The amount needed for a credit in 2015 is
$1,220. You can earn a maximum of four credits for any year.
The amount needed to earn one credit increases automatically
each year when average wages increase.
You must earn a certain number of credits to qualify for
Social Security benefits. The number of credits you need
depends on your age when you apply and the type of benefit
application. No one needs more than 40 credits for any
Social Security benefit.
For more information, visit our website at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
DISABILITY
Question:
What is substantial gainful activity?
Answer:
We use the term
“substantial gainful activity,” or “SGA,”
to describe a level of work
activity and earnings. Work is “substantial” if it involves
doing significant physical or mental activities or a
combination of both.
If you earn more than a certain amount and are doing
productive work, we generally consider that you are engaging
in substantial gainful activity.
For example, the monthly SGA amount for 2015 is $1,090.
For statutorily blind individuals, that amount is $1,820.
You would not be eligible for disability benefits. You can
read more about substantial gainful activity and if your
earnings qualify as substantial gainful activity at
www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/cola/sga.html.
Question:
Will my disability benefits be reduced if I get workers’
compensation or other public disability benefits?
Answer:
If you get either workers' compensation or public disability
benefit payments, we may reduce Social Security benefits for
you and your family.
Public disability benefit payments paid under a federal,
state, or local government law may affect your Social
Security benefit. This includes civil service disability
benefits, temporary state disability benefits, and state or
local government retirement benefits based on
disability. Disability payments from private sources, such
as a private pension or insurance benefits, don’t affect
your Social Security disability benefits. However, in some
cases, private disability insurers may require you to apply
for Social Security disability benefits before they pay you.
You may want to check to find out about your private
insurer’s policy.
We reduce the Social Security disability benefits you and
your family get if the combined total amount, plus your
workers' compensation payment, plus any public disability
payment you get, exceeds 80 percent of your average earnings
before you became injured or ill.
See the publication
What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security
Disability Benefits
at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs
for more information.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
Question:
What is the difference between Social Security disability
and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability?
Answer:
Social
Security is responsible for running two major programs that
provide benefits based on disability. Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based on prior earnings. SSDI
is financed through the taxes you pay into the Social
Security program. To be eligible for an SSDI benefit, the
worker must earn sufficient credits based on taxable work to
be "insured" for Social Security purposes. SSDI benefits are
payable to eligible blind or disabled workers, the
widow(er)s of a disabled worker, or adults disabled since
childhood.
SSI
disability payments are made based on financial need to
adults or children who are disabled or blind, have limited
income and resources, meet the living arrangement
requirements, and are otherwise eligible. SSI is a program
financed through general revenues. For more information,
visit
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question:
What is a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)?
Answer:
A
PASS
helps Supplemental Security Income disability beneficiaries
return to work.
It is a written plan of action for getting a particular kind
of job or starting a business. In it, you identify:
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the job or business (this is your work goal);
-
the steps you will take and the things you will need in
order to achieve your work goal (for example: education
or training, transportation, child care, or assistive
technology);
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the money you will use to pay for these things (this may
be any income (other than SSI benefits) or assets, such
as Social Security benefits, wages from a current job,
or savings); and
-
a timetable for achieving your goal
For more information, visit our publication on the subject
at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
MEDICARE
Question:
What can I do if my Medicare prescription drug plan says it
won't pay for a drug that my doctor prescribed for me?
Answer:
If your
Medicare prescription drug plan decides that it won't pay
for a prescription drug, it must tell you in writing why the
drug isn't covered in a letter called a "Notice of Denial of
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage." Read the notice
carefully because it will explain how to ask for an appeal.
Your prescribing doctor can ask your Medicare drug plan for
an expedited redetermination (first level appeal) for you,
if the doctor tells the plan that waiting for a standard
appeal decision may seriously harm your health. For more
information, visit
www.medicare.gov.
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