General

Question: I applied for a replacement Social Security card last week but have not received it. When should I expect to receive my new card?

Answer: It takes approximately 10 to 14 days to receive your replacement Social Security card. We're working harder than ever to protect you, prevent identity theft, and ensure the integrity of your Social Security number. To do that, we have to verify documents you present as proof of identity. In such cases, we must verify the documents before we can issue the card. For more information about your Social Security card and number, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

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Question: What can I do if I think someone has stolen my identity?

Answer: You should do several things, including:

• File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime;
• Notify the Federal Trade Commission (1-877.ID.THEFT or 1.877.438.4338);
• File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; and contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax (800.525.6285); Trans Union: (800.680.7289); and Experian: (888.397.3742).

If your Social Security card has been stolen, you can apply for a replacement card. But you usually don't need a new card as long as you know your number

To protect yourself in the future, treat your Social Security number as confidential and avoid giving it out. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you. Learn more by reading our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html.

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Retirement

Question: How should I decide when to start receiving my Social Security retirement benefits?

Answer: The decision regarding when to start receiving retirement benefits is highly personal and depends on a number of factors, such as your current cash needs, your health and family longevity, whether you plan to work in retirement, and the amount of your future Social Security benefit. You may start receiving benefits as early as age 62. However, if you start benefits early—before your "full retirement age"—your benefits are reduced for each month before your full retirement age. For help in making your decision, as well as all the factors to consider, read our publication When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

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Question: Will my retirement pension from my job reduce the amount of my Social Security benefit?

Answer: If your pension is from work where you also paid Social Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit amount. However, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, some federal, state, local, or foreign government retirement systems) probably will reduce the amount of your Social Security benefit. For more information, read Windfall Elimination Provision (Publication No. 05-10045) and Government Pension Offset (Publication no. 05-10007). You can find both of these publications online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs under the "Retirement Benefits" section.

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Disability

Question: Someone told me that my mom might be able to qualify for a "compassionate allowance" because of her Alzheimer's. Is this true?

Answer: She might, but the only way to know for sure is for her to submit an application for disability benefits. Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The process allows us to identify and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals. Recently 38 more conditions were added to our original list of 50 conditions—25 rare diseases and 25 cancers. The expansion of the list means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities, such as early-onset Alzheimer's disease, now can get approved for benefits in a matter of days, rather than months or years. To learn more, and to see a complete list of the Compassionate Allowance conditions, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

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Question: I'm blind and can't read my mail. Is there any other way you can send me correspondence?

Answer: Yes. You can choose from five different ways to receive information from us if you are blind or have a visual impairment:

• Standard print notices by first-class mail;
• Standard print notices by certified mail;
• Standard print notices by first-class mail, followed by a telephone call within five work days to read the information to you;
• Standard print notices and Braille by first-class mail. (Delivery begins on April 15, 2010); or
• Standard print notices and compact disc by first-class mail. The compact disc will play only on a computer with software that can read Microsoft Word files. (Delivery begins on April 15, 2010).

In addition, if you have a question about a Social Security notice you receive, you may call our toll-free number, 1.800.772.1213 and ask us to read the notice to you, or ask about receiving notices in one of the alternative formats.

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Supplemental Security Income

Question: My mother receives supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. She may have to enter a nursing home to get the proper care she needs. Will this affect her SSI benefits?

Answer: Moving to a nursing home can affect your mother's SSI benefits, but it depends on the type of facility it is. In many cases, the SSI payment will be reduced or stopped. Be sure to notify Social Security when your mother enters or leaves a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital, skilled nursing facility, or any other kind of institution. Call Social Security's toll-free number, 1.800.772.1213 (TTY 1.800.325.0778).

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Question: I'm a noncitizen. Can noncitizens receive supplemental security income (SSI) benefits?

Answer: You might be eligible receive SSI if:

• You were lawfully living in the United States on August 22, 1996, and you are blind or disabled;
• You were receiving SSI on August 22, 1996, and you are lawfully living in the United States; or
• You were lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act and have a total of 40 Social Security work credits in the United States. (Your spouse's or parent's work also may count.)

There are other categories of noncitizens that may be eligible for payments. If you are a noncitizen and want to apply for SSI benefits, it is best to contact us to see if you are eligible. To learn more, read the online factsheet, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11051.html.

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Medicare

Question: How many parts to Medicare are there?

Answer: There are four parts to Medicare:

• Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care and other services;
• Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for doctors' fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A;
• Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans, available in some areas, allow you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. These plans may help lower your costs of receiving medical services, or you may get extra benefits for an additional monthly fee. You must have both Parts A and B to enroll in Part C; and
• Part D (prescription drug coverage) is voluntary and the costs are paid for by the monthly premiums of enrollees and Medicare. Unlike Part B in which you are automatically enrolled and must opt out if you do not want it, with Part D you have to opt in by filling out a form and enrolling in an approved plan.

More information may be found in our publication Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html or by visiting www.medicare.gov.

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Ginny Jordan is a Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. Her weekly column on all things Social Security appears in the Sunday Edition of the Sun-Sentinel.

Ginny has agreed to let us reprint her articles here for your convenience.

Thank you Ginny!