Oct. questions and answers from Social Security
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[October 31, 2011]
GENERAL
Question: How
do I update or correct the name on my Social Security
card?
Answer:
To update or correct the name
on your Social Security card:
-
Complete an Application
for A Social Security Card (Form SS-5), available at
www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf;
-
Show us original documents
proving your legal name change, identity, and U.S.
citizenship (if you have not already established your
citizenship with us), or immigration status if you are not a
U.S. citizen; and
-
Take or mail your
completed application and original documents to
your local Social Security
office. Note
that we must see originals and cannot use photocopies. We will
return any original document you mail to us.
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Question:
How do I report a lost Social
Security card?
Answer:
You do not have to report a
lost Social Security card. In fact, reporting a lost or stolen card
to Social Security will not prevent misuse of your Social Security
number. You should let us know if someone is using your number to
work (call 1-800-772-1213; TTY 1-800-325-0778).
If you think someone is using
your number, there are several other actions you should take:
-
Contact the Federal Trade
Commission online at
www.ftc.gov/bcdp/edu/microsites/idtheft
or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338);
-
File an online complaint
with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at
www.ic3.gov;
-
Contact the IRS Identity
Protection Specialized Unit by calling 1-800-908-4490, Monday –
Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; and
-
Monitor your credit
report.
RETIREMENT
Question:
I work in retirement. How
much can I earn and still collect full Social Security retirement
benefits?
Answer:
Social Security uses the
formulas below, depending on your age, to determine how much you can
earn before we must reduce your benefit:
-
If you are younger
than full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted
for each $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2011, that
limit is $14,160.
-
In the year you reach
your full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted
for each $3 you earn above a different limit, but we count only
earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. For
2011, this limit is $37,680.
-
Starting with the month
you reach full retirement age: you will get your benefits
with no limit on your earnings.
Find out your full retirement
age at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm.
Question:
Do I have to pay income tax on
my Social Security benefits?
Answer:
It depends. Fewer than
one-third of our current beneficiaries pay income taxes on their
benefits. You will have to pay Federal income taxes on your benefits
if you file an individual Federal income tax return and your total
income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will
have to pay income taxes if you and your spouse have total income of
more than $32,000.
For more information, call the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) toll-free at 1-800-829-3676 and ask
for IRS Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad
Retirement Benefits,
www.irs.gov/publications/p915/index.html.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the IRS toll-free
number, 1-800-829-4059.
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DISABILITY
Question:
I am receiving Social Security
disability benefits. Will my benefits be affected if I work and earn
money?
Answer:
We offer work incentives that
can help you keep your benefits 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, we recommend that you read Working While
Disabled—How We Can Help. You’ll find it online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html.
Question:
Is there a time limit on
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.
If you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach
full retirement age,
we will convert those benefits to retirement benefits.
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