Social Security’s Programs

2. Social Security’s Programs • Social Security Retirement • Social Security Disability • Social Security Survivor’s Benefits • Supplemental Security Income • Medicare (Enrollment Only)

3. Social Security Retirement • Worker must have 40 Credits or 10 years of work to qualify • Earn up to 4 credits a year • $1,260 equals 1 credit in 2016 • To earn 4 credits for the 2016, earn $5,040 • Age 62- earliest age to receive benefits • Claim number SSN followed by an “A” • Benefits paid depending on date of birth

4. Full Retirement Age Year of Birth Full Retirement Age 1937 or earlier 65 1938 65 & 2 months 1939 65 & 4 months 1940 65 & 6 months 1941 65 & 8 months 1942 65 & 10 months 1943 – 1954 66 1955 66 & 2 months 1956 66 & 4 months 1957 66 & 6 months 1958 66 & 8 months 1959 66 & 10 months 1960 or later 67

5. Your Age At The Time You Elect Retirement Benefits Affects the Amount For example, if you were born from 1943 through 1954: • Age 62 75% of benefit • Age 66 100% of benefit • Age 70 132% of benefit

6. Benefits for Family Members Your spouse, if he or she is 62 or older. With little or no work history and his or her FRA amount is less than 50% of your FRA. Your spouse, at any age if he or she is caring for a dependent child who is younger than age 16 or disabled and not working If receiving as a spouse-SSN followed by a “B” If receiving as a widow/widower-SSN followed by a “D” or “E”

7. Benefits to Family Members • Your unmarried child, age 18 or older, if he or she has a disability that started before age 22. aka-DAC benefits (The child’s disability also must meet the definition of disability for adults) • Claim number for child: SSN followed by a “C”

8. Disability Programs Social Security Benefits for Workers (SSD) Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

9. SSA’s Definition of Disability Must have a physical or mental impairment (or combination of conditions) Disability must be expected to last 12 consecutive months or result in death Inability to perform substantial work activity ($1130 a month) We consider age, education and past work activity Claim number is SSN followed by an “A” Must meet requirements before Full Retirement Age (For 2016-Age 66)

10. Social Security Disability Insurance To qualify, the disabled person must have a recent work history ( Work 5 out of 10 past years) Special rules apply to younger persons who need less work to qualify Eligible for Medicare after receiving 24 months of SSA Disability Payments

11. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

12. Monthly cash assistance program for individuals disabled or blind or age 65 or older with low income and limited resources and little to none work history Administered by the Federal Government and financed from general funds of the US Treasury Department. Not paid out from Social Security or Medicare trust funds Receive benefits on 1st day of the month SSNs on notices will have a DI or DS at the end SupplementalSecurityIncome

13. Be a resident of the 50 states of the U.S., District of Columbia, or Northern Mariana Islands Be a citizen or qualified alien Have low income and limited resources Age 65 or older, blind, or disabled SSI Basic Eligibility Requirements

14. Monthly federal payment for 2016 $733 (maximum) Example: John Doe a single homeless veteran receives $780 in VA benefits . He is not eligible for SSI benefits. Income is over the limit. SSI recipients also receive Medicaid health insurance benefits from the state they reside in Supplemental Security Income

15. Anything an individual and/or household receives in cash or in-kind to meet needs for food and shelter Two types of Income: Earned and Unearned Basic Income Rule: As other monthly income increases, SSI monthly benefits decrease What is Income for SSI Purposes?

16. Earned: Gross Wages Self Employment Payment from Sheltered Workshop Unearned Income: Social Security Benefits VA Benefits (Based/Not Based on Need) Pensions Child Support Unemployment Cash gifts Free rent Free food Earned vs. Unearned Income

17. Value of food stamps Income tax refunds Assistance under a medical or social program (Ex.-VA Aid, Attendance, Housing Allowance-must verify to exclude) Excluded Income

18. Bank Accounts (CDs, IRAs) Second Car Stocks, Bonds, 401k Trusts Property other than where you live Life Insurance Policies ( Cash Surrender Value) Countable Resources

19. Home in which you live First car Burial plots Some resources set aside for burial Excluded Resources

20. The relationships between the individual and the people residing in the location. Example: A child lives with his mother, father, sibling and aunt. SSA must determine how the household expenses are being met Where you live can affect SSI benefits Example: A person resides in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid. Person is limited to $30 a month of SSI benefits. Not eligible if in prison or jail for more than 30 days Living Arrangement

21. Representative Payee • Social Security's Representative Payment Program provides financial management for our beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income payments. • Do not recognize Power of Attorney • Make an independent judgement who will best serve

22. Representative Payee • The local Social Security office makes the determination if a person is able to handle his or her benefits • If family member or organization states person is unable to handle finances, a form is sent to a treating physician for verification • Once form is received, the local office will begin the appointment process, if necessary

23. Tools You Can Use • Consent for Release of Information • Social Security’s website • mySocialSecurity Account

24. Release of Information • Individual can sign a SSA-3288 ( Consent for Release) for one time situation • Individual can give verbal or written permission for someone to receive info • Individual who has the inability to handle finances has a representative payee who speaks to SSA on his or her behalf.

27. mySocial Security • Your Online Account ... Your Control ... www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount my • mySocial Security is an easy-to-access, easy-to-use portal to view and update some of your own Social Security information.

28. Who Can Open amySocial SecurityAccount? You must be at least 18 years old and have a: • Valid E-mail address; • Social Security number; and • U.S. mailing address.

29. mySocial Security Services If you don’t get benefits, you can— • View, save, and print your onlineSocial Security Statement.  If you do get benefits you can— • Get your benefit verification letter; • Check your benefit and payment information and your earnings record; • Change your address and phone number; and • Start or change your direct deposit.

30. Online Benefit Verification Letter With mySocial Securityyou can get your benefit verification letter online and use it as official proof of: • Your income when you apply for a loan or mortgage, assisted housing, or other state or local benefits; • Your current Medicare health insurance coverage; • Your retirement or disability status; and • Your age.

31. mySocial Security Getting Started How to open a mySocial Securityaccount 1 Visit socialsecurity.gov/myaccount 2 Select: Create anAccount

32. mySocial Security Getting Started How to open a mySocial Securityaccount Provide some personal information to verify your identity. 3 Choose a username and password to create your account. 4

33. Join the millions. Discover your benefits today. Sign up today for a mySocial Security account.