You Don’t Need A Magic 8 Ball To Find The Answers To Your Questions
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Sometimes, finding answers to your questions on government websites can feel a lot like asking questions of a Magic 8 Ball™. That’s not the case with Social Security’s frequently asked questions.
In 2015, Social Security won the “ClearMark Award of Distinction” for best plain language websites and documents from the Center for Plain Language for our redesigned Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) website. We continue to improve our communications to provide you with clear, helpful information and easy access to our services.
We recently narrowed down our FAQs from more than 500 to less than 200. The newly revised FAQs are more clear and concise. You come to our website for immediate answers, not a long drawn out experience. We’re all busy, right?
Social Security wants our online content and our communications with you to be accurate and easily accessible. We want you to locate the information you’re looking for faster than a magician could wave his wand. We are constantly searching for ways to improve navigation throughout our online presence and use feedback from your comments and suggestions when making changes to our website.
Visit our new FAQ home page to find the answer to your question. We promise that with our award-winning site, you won’t get the result reply hazy, try again later. When it comes to getting an answer, you’ll find out that your outlook is good.
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About the Author
Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
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floristmedan
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Doris W.
I would like to know if the raise we are to get in 2018 is actually going to us or to medicare. All that 2017 raise did was cut down on our benefits because it raised our gross income food stamps went down which really hurt a lot of people. I know some people who only get $621 a month. Can you live on that? Then you get a small raise which cuts down on your benefits and you are worse off than before. We actually have not had a raise for 4 years unless you want to call 2017 a “raise”.
Ray F.
Information about Medicare changes for 2018, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov.
David E.
My educated guess is that the computer at SSA is comparing data from several years ago to what I entered online today. Several years ago i asked my brother to go to the internet> on my behalf>’
He is now deceased.
Please delete the old and process the new.
Linda
I am on SSDI and work. I have closely followed the guidelines and never make more than the allocated . $1,170. However, I get paid bi- weekly. In June I got 3 paychecks instead of the 2. Will the SSA understand that I have followed the guidelines.
Ray F.
Hi Linda! A person may still be eligible for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program if they work. However, their earnings cannot exceed a certain amount. This is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit. In 2017 the SGA limit is $1,170 per month (or $1,950 for blind applicants). We count the gross amount of your monthly wages. In addition to the amount of money you make, Social Security may also look at the number of hours you’re able to work. Social Security has Work Incentives for people on disability who want to work. See our publication: “Working While Disabled – How We Can Help” and visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page on disability for more information. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our agents for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Charles G.
Hi,
I have been going all through this website trying to find the answer to a question for my father but to no avail. My dad was a licensed home inspector in Long Island for over 25 years and he was employed by the same company during his entire career as a home inspection professional (licensed & certified) and SS is paying less because records for 2 years right in the middle of his stay were just magically “missing”. If logic stands to reason he was there 2 years before and 2 years after then he was there during these years as well. Do I have any recourse for this, he of course does not have these records as they are from ages ago when he was still living on Long Island, can you give any advice?
Ray F.
Thank you for contacting us Charles. Our publication “How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record” and our Frequently Asked Questions web page provide guidelines on what to do, when trying to correct your earnings record. Due to privacy and disclosure requirements, your father will have to contact us directly. If he cannot find documents supporting his claim, he will have to provide us with specific information about his work activity during the years the wages are missing. To make an appointment or to speak with one of our representatives, your father can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, he’ll have a shorter wait time if he calls later in the week, or later during the day. Or he can contact his local Social Security office directly. We hope this helps.
Jami
My husband has gbm-brain cancer. He finally had to apply for disability and has been approved. His cancer is on compassionate allowance list. I don’t understand why he still has to wait for the 5 months to receive benefits. Many diseases on the list won’t allow you to be returning to work- at all! He made himself work much longer than he should have- most days I took him and picked him up- because he didn’t want a handout and didn’t want to “not work”. No way I could work during this time either. Because of this ethic, we have to go for 6 months with no income. This doesn’t seem fair at all? Is there something we need to know? And something needs to change for people in these circumstances.
Ray F.
Hi Jami, current law requires that before entitlement to disability benefits (SSDI) can begin, individuals serve a waiting period consisting of 5 full calendar months. This period is long enough to permit most temporary disabilities to be corrected or for the individual to show definite signs of probable recovery. See POMS for additional information.
Gary
Thanks. I did and it is under review/report via a reconciliation form forwarded to Operation from local Office.Thx again for your assist.
Gary
Yes it does. thx. I have another situation that is currently under review by Operations. I retired in June 2015 and SS was set up on approx. 34k earnings that year. I received a one time lump payment earned before I retired and it shows up on my earnings for 2015 but no adjustments made for the additional 16k in earnings That I and my employer both paid apprx 950 in SS taxes. Should this be recalculated and if not what happens to the money paid in on this lump sum.Thx for your assistance.
Ray F.
If you receive Social Security benefits and your total yearly earnings include a special payment, you will need to contact us. You can visit your local office directly, or you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance or to make an appointment. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Gary
My wife has been drawing on her social security for 5 years,since she was 62. At the time of filing she was told her ebenfit would be greater than filing on mine. Now that she is over 66 can she suspend her filing on her account and file for mine without any 30-35% penalty.
Ray F.
Thank you for your question Gary. If a person begins to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits the person may qualify for. Your wife may still be eligible to collect reduced benefits on your record. Remember, if someone is eligible for both, his or her own benefit and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay their own first. If their spousal benefits are higher than their own retirement benefits, he or she will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. If you have specific questions, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and speak with one of our representatives.
Gary
Seems like double jeopardy. How does the deemed rule apply. Since she was born b4 the cutoff date, 03-17-1950 birthdate,she was not deemed to have claimed on my beneifits. Anyway,thx for the clarification.
Jenna Y.
Hi Gary, if she turns 62 before January 2, 2016, deemed filing rules will not apply if she files at full retirement age or later. This means that she may file for either her spouse’s (divorced spouse) benefit or her own retirement benefit without being required or “deemed” to file for the other. In this case, she may also restrict her application to apply only for spouse’s (divorced spouse) benefits and delay filing on her own retirement in order to earn delayed retirement credits. However, she turns age 62 on or after January 2, 2016, she is required or “deemed” to file for both her own retirement and for any benefits she is due as a spouse, no matter what age she is. We hope this helps.
David S.
The SSA sect is inherently evil. Actually, the SSA doesn’t exist, being it is a fiction. What exists are the people who operate the SSA sect. Therefore, real people, in the form of living souls, both men and women, are the ones who are doing evil and violence to others and do not want to be responsible for their deeds. Amazing, to me at least, that people have a desire to participate in the sect at all. The love of money I suppose, and power over others. Those real people who comprise the entire State, which is religious (impossible to not be religious), and hide behind their fictional titles, departments etc. will eventually be judged by the one and only righteous Judge, Jesus the Christ. One of the more popular write-ups on social security: http://www.mercyseat.net/ssnarticle.html