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August questions and answers from Social Security
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[September 17, 2011]
GENERAL
Question:
What should I do if an
employee gives me a Social Security number but cannot produce the
card?
Answer:
Seeing the card is not as
important as putting the correct information on the worker's Form
W-2. You can verify employee Social Security numbers by using the
Social Security Number Verification Service. Just go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/bso.
This online service allows registered employers to verify employee
Social Security numbers against Social Security records for wage
reporting purposes.
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If the employee recently
applied for a Social Security number but does not yet have a card
when you must file the paper Form W-2, enter the words “Applied for”
on the Form W-2. If you are filing electronically, enter all zeros
(e.g., 000-00-0000) in the Social Security number field. When the
employee receives the card, file Copy A of Form W-2C, Corrected
Wage and Tax Statement with Social Security to show the
employee's number.
Question:
I worked for the last 10 years
and I now have my 40 credits. Does this mean that I get the maximum
Social Security retirement benefit?
Answer:
The 40 credits are the
minimum number you need to qualify for retirement benefits.
However, we do not base the amount of the benefit on those credits;
it's based on your earnings over a lifetime of work.
RETIREMENT
Question:
How can I estimate my
retirement benefit at several different ages?
Answer:
It’s easy! Use our
Retirement Estimator at
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator
to get a retirement benefit estimate based on current law and real
time access to your earnings record. The Retirement Estimator
also lets you create additional "what if" retirement scenarios to
find out how changes in your situation might change your future
benefit amount. It’s also available in Spanish at
www.segurosocial.gov/calculador.
Question:
If both my spouse and I are
entitled to Social Security benefits, is there any reduction in our
payments because we are married?
Answer:
No. We calculate lifetime
earnings independently to determine each spouse’s Social Security
benefit amount. When each member of a married couple meets all other
eligibility requirements to receive Social Security retirement
benefits, each spouse receives a monthly benefit amount based on his
or her own earnings. Couples are not penalized because they are
married. If one member of the couple earned low wages or failed to
earn enough Social Security credits (40) to be insured for
retirement benefits, he or she may be eligible to receive benefits
as a spouse based on the spouse’s work record. Learn more about
spouse benefits at
www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/yourspouse.htm.
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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:
It depends. We have special
rules called "work incentives" that help you keep your monthly
payments and Medicare coverage while you test your ability to work.
For example, 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 during a trial work period. For more
information about work incentives, we recommend that you read our
publication, Working While Disabled-How We Can Help at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html.
Question:
Is there a time limit on how
long I can receive Social Security disability benefits?
Answer:
Your disability benefits will
continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you
still cannot work. We will review your case at regular intervals to
make sure you are still disabled. If you are still disabled when you
reach your full retirement age, we will convert your disability
benefit to a retirement benefit at the same amount. You can learn
more about Social Security disability benefits at our website:
www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilit
By Judith Bartels
Social Security District
Manager in Springfield, IL
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