General

Question: I lost my Social Security card, but I remember my number and I don't plan to change careers anytime soon. Do I really need a new card?

Answer: The only time you may need the card is when you apply for a job and your prospective employer asks to see it. If you do decide to get a new card or your old one turns up, don't carry it with you. Keep your card somewhere safe, with your other important papers. You are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example, changes in marital status that might require card updates do not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

---

Question: I recently noticed on my annual statement that my date of birth in Social Security's records is wrong. How do I get that corrected?

Answer: To change the date of birth shown on our records you can take the following steps:

• Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5); and
• Show us documents proving:
• U.S. citizenship or legal noncitizenship status (if you have not previously established your citizenship status with us);
• Age; and
• Identity.
• Take (or mail) your completed application and documents to your local Social Security office.

Remember that all documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. For details on acceptable documents, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ss5doc.

---

Retirement

Question: What information will I need to have if I'd like to complete the online application for Social Security retirement benefits?

Answer: Although not required in all cases, we suggest that you have the following information at hand when you apply online for benefits. It will make completing the application much easier for you.

• Your date and place of birth, and your Social Security number;
• Your bank account number and your bank's routing number, for direct deposit;
• The amount of money you earned last year and this year. If you are applying for benefits between September and December, you may also need to provide an estimate of what you will earn next year;
• The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year;
• The beginning and ending dates of any active military service you had prior to 1968;
• The name, Social Security number, and date of birth of your current spouse, and, if applicable, any former spouses from marriages that lasted more than 10 years or ended in death. You should also know the dates of marriage, places of marriage and the dates of divorce or death; and
• A copy of your Social Security Statement.

In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you're done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any further information is needed. To get started, www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

---

Question: I am 65 and my wife is 62 and receiving spouse's benefits. When will she qualify for Medicare?

Answer: Most people must wait until age 65 to apply for Medicare. Some people can get Medicare at any age. This includes people who:

• have been getting Social Security disability benefits for 24 months;
• have kidney failure and require dialysis;
• have had a kidney transplant; or
• receive disability benefits because they suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

As someone who already receives retirement benefits, your wife will be enrolled automatically for Medicare coverage when she becomes eligible at age 65. Some people choose to delay filing for Medicare. Such people can now apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov by selecting the "Retirement/ Medicare" bar in the center of the page.

---

Disability

Question: Why is there a five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits?

Answer: By law, Social Security disability benefits can be paid only after a worker has been disabled continuously throughout a period of five full calendar months. The first benefit paid is for the sixth month of disability and is paid in the seventh month. This waiting period ensures that we pay benefits only to persons with long-term disabilities and avoid duplicating other income protection plans (such as employer sick-pay plans) during the early months of disability. To learn more, read our online publication, Disability Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.

---

Supplemental Security Income

Question: I just found out I qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). How much will I receive in SSI benefits?

Answer: SSI is a needs-based program. The benefit amount depends, in part, on other income and resources you might have. The maximum federal SSI payment nationwide throughout 2010 for an eligible individual is $674 a month, and for an eligible couple is $1,011 a month. The amount of your SSI benefit also depends, in part, on where you live. Some states add money to the federal payment. Learn more by visiting our library of SSI publications at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/index.html#SSI.

---

Question: I get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. I plan to move to a new apartment this summer, but I have direct deposit. Do I still need to notify Social Security of my new address?

Answer: Yes. Even though you have direct deposit, we may still need to contact you by mail. Someone who receives SSI needs to report any change in living arrangements, income, or resources by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or by visiting a local office within 10 days after the month the change occurs. If you call, you can speak to a representative from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on business days. If you don't notify us in a timely manner, you could end up receiving an incorrect payment and have to pay it back. To learn more about SSI and reporting responsibilities, read our online fact sheet, What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11011.html.

---

Medicare

Question: What happens to my Medicare coverage if my Social Security benefits stop because I go to jail?

Answer: If you were getting Medicare and monthly Social Security benefits before you went to jail, your benefits will stop but your hospital insurance (Part A) coverage will continue. To keep your medical insurance (Part B) coverage, you must pay the premiums. If your coverage ends while you are in jail because you did not pay your Medicare premiums, you will be able to enroll again during the next General Enrollment Period (January through March of each year). Your coverage will start again in July of the year you reenroll. If you do reenroll, you will be responsible for any unpaid past-due premiums and your ongoing premium may be higher.

---

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!