2016
S o c i a l S e c u r i t y U N R AV E L E D
Question 8: Should I sign up for Medicare Part B if I am working and have health insurance coverage through my employer?
Answer: Choosing to sign up for Medicare is an important decision that involves a number of issues you may need to consider. The decision you make will depend on your situation and the type of health insurance you have. You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare Part B without a late enrollment penalty if you or your spouse (or another family member, if you’re disabled) is working, and you’re getting health insurance benefits based on current employment. In many cases, if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B. Also, you may have to wait until the General Enrollment Period (from January 1 to March 31) to enroll in Part B, and coverage will start July 1 of that year.
Question 9: My husband and I are both entitled to our own social security benefits. Will our combined benefits be reduced because we are married?
You have options for applying. Apply online by visiting https://www.ssa.gov/retire/ OR Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY LOCATIONS: Social Security Administration 11111 Gateway West Blvd. El Paso, Texas 79935 866-563-9310, 866-563-9310 TOLL FREE Social Security Administration 600 Texas Ave El Paso, Texas 79901 866-964-6229, 866-964-6229 TOLL FREE Website: www.socialsecurity.gov
Answer: No. When each member of a married couple works in employment covered under Social Security and both meet all other eligibility requirements to receive retirement benefits, lifetime earnings are calculated independently to determine the benefit amounts. Therefore, each spouse receives a monthly benefit amount based on his or her own earnings. If one member of the couple earned substantially less than the other or did not earn enough Social Security credits (40) to be insured for retirement benefits, he or she may be eligible to receive benefits as a spouse.
Question 10: How far in advance should I apply for social security retirement benefits?
Answer: You should apply three months before you want your benefits to start. Even if you aren’t ready to retire, you should still sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. When you’re ready to apply for retirement benefits, use our online retirement application for the quickest, easiest, and most convenient way to apply.
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