Appeal Your Non-Medical Decisions Online
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: December 12, 2016
Social Security has a new way for you to conduct business with us online. You no longer need to visit our offices or call us to appeal a denial or adverse action related to your benefits. Beginning December 10, 2016, you can file an appeal online for non-medical issues, even if you live outside the United States. Examples of non-medical appeals include those for overpayments and Medicare premium rates.
The online appeals application is simple, convenient, and secure; it guides you through every step of the process. From outlining your rights to an appeal, to publications on the appeals process, a fair review of your case is right at your fingertips. The online application also lets you upload supporting documentation and save your submission.
Submitting your appeal and necessary documents online will save time and can help expedite the decision. Here are some things you’ll need when you’re ready to submit an appeal:
- Notice date or receipt from Social Security that explains what adverse action you wish to appeal; and
- Supporting documentation you wish to add to your request for appeal.
You can learn more about our appeals process by reading our publication Your Right To Question The Decision Made On Your Claim.
Social Security is constantly looking for ways to make our services accessible and readily available when you need them. It’s part of our commitment to delivering excellent service and providing you with more options, like an online appeal, to conduct your business.
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Tags: Medicare, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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Marlene J.
My husband and I received our notices Medicare premium. I understand that it is based upon 2019 IRS taxes. In 2019, we sold 2 rental properties in preparation for retirement. The IRS has reported this as income. However, it is not typical income but a one-time occurrence. It is our understanding that the gain from the sale of the 2 properties should not be used when determining our Medicare premium
V.V.
Hi Marlene, thank you for using our blog. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
JOHN B.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR MEDICARE MEDICAL INSURANCE AND MEDICARE DRUG PLAN. I AM A MEMBER WITH THE VETERANS HOSPITAL AND THEY COVER ALL MY MEDICAL EXPENSES AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. I AM PAYING FOR SERVICES I WILL NOT USE.
V.V.
Thank you for your service, John! Enrolling in Medicare is your choice. However, because you can only sign up for Medicare Part B during designated enrollment periods, if you choose not to enroll when first eligible and later change your mind, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage.
Check out the Veterans Administration web page for additional details on VA health care and how it works with Medicare and other health insurance.
Robert H.
My wife an I recieved the IRMAA 2019 adjustment for our premiums and we don’t agree with the results.We are both 72 yrs. old and have only social security as income. Having been self employed and being disabled at 62 my benifits are low. We sold a one time parcel which showed the earnings in 2019 and paid 42k in capital gains tax and with no 401k it’s all we have. If we can’t get an adjustment we may have to cancel our Medicare. Why doesn’t it matter the tax returns over the last 10 yrs. since I started received social security?
V.V.
Hi Robert, thank you for using our blog. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Martha Z.
I received a notice that my part B and D premiums would be substantially increased next year. My income last year was higher because I had to sell property. My husband died and I was unable to maintain it by myself. I do not ever expect to have such a high income again. Please reconsider my premiums. Thank you.
V.V.
Hi Martha, thank you for using our blog. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Arlette M.
I received notice on Dec. 5, 2020 that my Medicare Part B IRMAA will be almost $60. I have reduced my work schedule this year since 2019 and cannot afford to pay this extra premium. This is the first and only time my income reach the threshhold for the IRMAA deduction. How do I appeal this decision due to reduced work hours this year?
MICHAEL P.
I received notice on 12/4/2020 that my monthly social security check (IRMAA ) will be reduced significantly due to a sizable increase in my 2019 income. This increase is actually the result of a mistake I made completing my 2019 1040SR
Federal tax return. The error was an inclusion of both the gross and taxable figures on income from pensions, annuities lines (4c and d). This inflated my income some $106,000. I have reported the error to the IRS and filed an amended return, but have not heard back from them as yet. Please advise.
V.V.
Hi Michael, thanks for using our blog. If you amend your tax return and it changes the income we counted to determine the income-related monthly adjustment amounts, let us know. We need to see a copy of the amended tax return you filed and your acknowledgment receipt from IRS. We will update our records with the information you provide, and correct or remove your income-related monthly adjustment amounts, as appropriate.
You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Alan a.
My wife and I each received a notice dated November 25, 2020 that outlined each of our Medicare costs for 2021. In the notices, it stated that our costs were based on our 2018 income tax return (joint return). This is inconsistent with the information appearing on the website which states that costs for 2021 are based on 2019 income tax returns. Why do our notices state that our cost of Medicare for 2021 is based on our 2018 income tax return rather than our 2019 income tax return?
V.V.
Hi Alan, thanks for using our blog. To determine your 2021 income-related monthly adjustment amounts, we use your most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. Generally, this information is from a tax return filed in 2020 for tax year 2019. Sometimes, the IRS only provides information from a return filed in 2019 for tax year 2018. If we use the 2018 tax year data, and you filed a return for tax year 2019 or did not need to file a tax return for tax year 2019, call us and we’ll update our records.
You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Alan a.
Unfortunately, our 2018 tax return included the largest MAGI we have ever reported due to a severance payment included as income because of my wife’s retirement. This has caused our IRMMA to be significantly higher in 2020 and now 2021 even though our 2019 tax return reported MAGI that was substantially less ($48,000) than the 2018 tax return. Contacting a local office is no easy feat. Yesterday I tried to contact a local office in the Cincinnati area. After being on hold for approximately 30 minutes, a representative answered. As we talked, I thought he was based in the local office however that was not the case. He was based in California and said calls that could not be answered by local offices were transferred there. WOW!! Any more suggestions?
V.V.
Hi Alan, thanks for using our blog. For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Marie J.
My husband and I received notice on 12/03/20 that we must pay a much larger
deduction from our monthly social security checks (IRMAA) due to an increase in our income for 2019. I am ninety-one years old.
My husband is ninety. We sold our home, our primary residence in 2019 that is why we had an increase in our income. We are protesting these very large deductions from our monthly SS checks. We need the money for home assistance. Additionally, my husband has Alzheimer’s and will have to be admitted to an assisted living facility. This is very expensive. We need our entire SS checks to cover many costs because we are elderly and need daily assistance. Please advise how we can go about to receive my entire SS monthly benefits????
s
V.V.
Hi Marie, thank you for using our blog. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
John N.
Both my wife and myself received notice of IRMAA adjustments for 2021. Our income will go down significantly to the adjusted income of approx. $100,000. My wife does not and hasn’t worked for several years so do we need to file an appeal for each of us or can we just file one for me?
V.V.
Hi John, thanks for using our blog. To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, each of you would need to complete and return form SSA-44 to your local Social Security office.
You can contact your local Social Security office with any questions regarding completion of the form. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. Once completed, send both forms to your local office. We hope this information helps.
Bonnie G.
I have received notice on Nov. 25, 2020 that I am required to pay a higher premium for Medicare Part A in 2021, based on my 2019 income tax returns. But I retired on Feb 14, 2020, and my 2020 income has drastically decreased. I have consulted the document entitled “What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare
Income-Related Premium is Incorrect”, which is a little confusing. My understanding is that since I have experienced a life-changing event (retirement), I do not actually need to file an appeal, but instead I should file form SSA-44. Could you please confirm that I’m correct? My second question is: Is there a way for me to submit form SSA-44 online without filing an appeal? (I would file it in person, but the offices are closed for COVID-19. I actually filed form SSA-44 on March 9, 2020 at my local SS office and it went into effect for the year 2020. However, it appears that now I have to file it again for the year 2021.)
V.V.
Hi Bonnie, thanks for using our blog. To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return form SSA-44 to your local Social Security office via mail. We hope this helps.