Women and Social Security Are your Social Security benefits taxable? Social Security office is ready to serve you
2 | Saturday, March 1, 2014
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
LITTLE CHANGES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SERVING YOU By Laurie Jones Social Security District Manager in North Platte, Nebraska A new year is a time for change. People across the world make resolutions and set goals to better themselves and the world around them. Whether you want to shed a few pounds, secure your finances for retirement, devote more time to charity or go on a vacation you’ve always dreamed about, chances are you have some ideas for a fresh start in 2014.
Technology is vital to delivering quality service, and we continue to provide more options for customers to do business with us over the Internet or through self-service kiosks. For example, my Social Security provides people who use the Internet a secure way to do business with us in an easy and convenient way at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
Social Security is no different. Our goal is to provide the best service possible to everyone who comes to us for help, whether they’re applying for disability benefits or getting verification of their Social Security number. By investing in new technologies and finding innovative, cost-effective ways to deliver service, we are able to reach this goal. We continue to rank high in customer service satisfaction and have the best online services in government, providing the best service to those who come to us for help.
We are making changes in the way we provide some services so we can serve the vast majority of Americans better and more efficiently. Most people won’t even notice the changes. So allow us to fill you in. Later this year, Social Security will stop providing benefit verification letters in our local offices. You can still get an instant letter online by creating a personal my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity. gov/myaccount, or by calling our toll-free telephone number at 1-800772-1213 to request one by mail. In addition, we will discontinue providing Social Security number printouts. These printouts have no security features and could be easily misused or counterfeited. If you need proof of your Social Security number and you do not have your Social Security card, you may apply for a replacement card by completing the Application for a Social Security Card and providing the required documentation. You’ll find the application online at www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf. As always, we continue to work directly with other agencies to minimize the need for furnishing proof of your Social Security number. You may want to check out our webinar that aired live on January 9, “Benefit Verification Letters Online, Easy as 1-2-3.” The webinar explains how to establish an account on my Social Security, how to get a benefit verification letter and other services offered at our website. Watch the webinar at www.socialsecurity.gov/webinars. We wish you all the best in 2014 and hope that you are successful in meeting your own goals and resolutions. If one of them is to do business with Social Security, or even if it is not, we will strive to continue providing the best and most secure customer service possible. Learn more about Social Security and what we do for you at www. socialsecurity.gov.
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
Saturday, March 1, 2014 | 3
WHEN “STORMS” HIT, SOCIAL SECURITY HAS YOU COVERED By Mike Sylvan Social Security Assistant District Manager in North Platte, Nebraska You’ve probably noticed the unusually cold and stormy weather we’ve been experiencing this year. That makes it more appropriate than ever to recognize National Umbrella Month this March. National Umbrella Month is a time to celebrate a useful invention used by most everyone. It’s no coincidence that the month comes at the beginning of the rainy season. April showers may bring May flowers, but the rain starts pouring in March. When the rain pours, an umbrella has you covered. If you work and pay Social Security taxes, we have you covered too. Whether the storm that hits you unexpectedly is a disability, the loss of a loved one, or an unexpected early retirement (such things can sneak up on you like a sudden storm), Social Security’s umbrella of coverage will keep you protected from the harsh weather. You qualify for Social Security benefits by earning credits when you work in a job or are self-employed and pay Social Security payroll taxes. In 2014, you receive one credit for each $1,200 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year. Most people need 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits.
The number of credits you need for disability benefits depends on how old you are when you become disabled. For example, if your disability occurs before age 24, you generally need 1 1/2 years of work (six credits) in the three years before you became disabled. At age 31 or older, you generally need at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled. In most cases, you need to have worked about 10 years for surviving family members to qualify for survivors benefits. Survivors of very young workers may be eligible if the deceased worker was employed for 1 1/2 years during the three years before his or her death. Umbrellas have been around for thousands of years. Social Security has only been around since 1935. Yet the Social Security umbrella covers an expanded range of services for you and your family. When you need to learn more about disability, survivors or retirement, the place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov. And you don’t even have to grab your umbrella on your way to apply—just do it online from the dry comfort of your own home or office computer.
4 | Saturday, March 1, 2014
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
YOUR SPOUSE MAY BE COVERED BY SOCIAL SECURITY By Cindy Lupomech Social Security Operations Supervisor in North Platte, Nebraska If you have a spouse who does not earn an income or who earns less than you do, your spouse (including a same-sex spouse) may be entitled to Social Security spouses’ benefits based on your record. Social Security can be an important financial asset for married couples when the time comes to apply for retirement benefits. In many cases, one spouse may have earned significantly more than the other, or may have worked longer. Or it could be that one spouse stayed home to do the work of raising the children, caring for elderly family members, or managing the household while the other focused on a career. Whatever your situation, Social Security will look at all possibilities to make sure both spouses receive the maximum Social Security benefits possible, whether based on each spouse’s earnings record or the higher wage-earner’s record. Your spouse can apply for benefits the same way that you apply for benefits on your own record. He or she can apply for reduced benefits as early as age 62, or for 100 percent of the full retirement benefits at “full retirement age.” Not sure what the full retirement ages are? To learn your and your spouse’s full retirement ages, based on birth year, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm. The benefit amount your spouse can receive at full retirement age can be as much as one half of your full benefit. If your spouse opts for early retirement, the benefit may be as little as a third of your full benefit amount. Note that benefits paid to your spouse do
not decrease your benefit amount. If you have already reached full retirement age but continue to work, you can apply for retirement benefits and request to have the payments suspended until as late as age 70. This would let you earn delayed retirement credits that will mean higher payments later, but still would allow your spouse to receive a spouse’s benefit. People can also apply for spouse benefits based on the earnings record of an ex-spouse or deceased spouse if married for at least 10 years. Spouses can consider a number of options and variables. We make it easier to navigate them. A good place to start is by visiting our benefits planner at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners. Take note of the “Benefits As A Spouse” section. If you are ready to apply for benefits, the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way is to apply online! You can do so at www.socialsecurity. gov/applyonline and complete your application in as little as 15 minutes. Due to a Supreme Court decision, we now are able to pay benefits to some same-sex couples. We encourage people who think they may be eligible to apply now. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ same-sexcouples. Whether you receive benefits on a spouse’s record or your own, rest assured we will make sure you get the highest benefit for which you qualify. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question How do I know when it’s the right time for me to begin getting retirement benefits? answer If you use our online Retirement Estimator, you can get estimates of your benefit at various ages from age 62, the earliest eligibility age, to age 70, the age when you can take full advantage of delayed retirement credits. It allows you to key in a multiple scenarios so you can get an instant, personalized estimate of your future retirement benefits. It’s the best way to begin planning for your retirement. Now available in English and Spanish, you can find the online Retirement Estimator by clicking on “Estimate your retirement benefits” on www.socialsecurity.gov.
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
Saturday, March 1, 2014 | 5
WOMEN AND SOCIAL SECURITY By Cindy Lupomech Social Security Operations Supervisor in North Platte, Nebraska March is Women’s History Month. The Social Security program treats all workers — men and women — exactly the same in terms of the benefits they can receive. But women may want to familiarize themselves with what the program means to them in their particular circumstances. Understanding the benefits may mean the difference between living more comfortably versus just getting by in retirement. One of the most significant things women need to remember about Social Security is the importance of promptly reporting a name change. If you haven’t told us of a name change, your W-2 may not match the information in Social Security’s records and this could affect the amount of your future benefits. Not changing your name with Social Security also can delay your federal income tax refund. To report a name change, please fill out an Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5). You can get the form by visiting www.
socialsecurity.gov, or any Social Security office or card center, or by calling Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You must show us certain identity documents, including one recently issued to prove your legal name change. If expanding your family is in your plans, it’s a good idea to apply for a Social Security number for your baby in the hospital, at the same time that you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. Social Security will mail the card to you. If you wait, you must then separately provide evidence of your child’s age, identity, and U.S. citizenship status, as well as proof of your identity. Then, we must verify your child’s birth record, which can add 12 weeks to the time it takes to issue a card. When women start receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, other family members may be eligible for payments as well. For example, benefits can be paid to a husband: · If he is age 62 or older; or
Question How do I update or correct the name on my Social Security card? answer To update or correct the name on your Social Security card: • Complete an Application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5) , available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf. • Show us original documents providing your legal name change, identity, and U.S. citizenship (if you have not already established your citizenship with us), or immigration status if you are not a U.S. citizen; and • Take or mail your completed application and original documents to your local Social Security office. Note that we must see originals and cannot use photocopies. We will return any original documents you mail to us. • Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov.
· At any age, if he is caring for your child (the child must be younger than 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits on your record). Benefits also can be paid to unmarried children if they are: · Younger than age 18; · Between 18 and 19 years old, but in elementary or secondary school as full-time students; or · Age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started before age 22). The family of a woman who dies may be eligible for survivors benefits based on her work. For more information about women and Social Security, ask for the publication, What Every Woman Should Know (SSA Publication No. 05-10127) or visit our special Women’s page online at www.socialsecurity.gov/women.
6 | Saturday, March 1, 2014
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
ARE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TA XABLE? By Laurie Jones Social Security District Manager in North Platte, Nebraska If you’ve recently begun receiving Social Security benefits or plan to apply in the near future, you may be wondering this tax season: are Social Security benefits taxable? The short answer is: sometimes. Some people have to pay federal income taxes on their Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return) in addition to your Social Security benefits. There is never a case when a person pays tax on more than 85 percent of his or her Social Security benefits, based on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Now, let’s get down to the numbers.
If you file a federal tax return as an individual and your income is between $25,000 and $34,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50 percent of your benefits. If your income is more than $34,000, then up to 85 percent of your benefits may be taxable. If you are married and you file a joint return, and you and your spouse have a combined income that is between $32,000 and $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50 percent of your benefits. If your combined income is more than $44,000, then up to 85 percent of your benefits may be taxable. Note that your “income” for the purpose of determining whether you must pay taxes on some of your Social Security benefits includes your adjusted gross income, your nontaxable interest, and one half of your Social Security benefits. In January, you should have received a Social Security Benefit Statement showing the amount of benefits you received last year. You can use this statement, or SSA-1099, when completing your federal income tax return to find out whether some of your benefits are subject to federal income tax. If you didn’t receive yours, you can request one at www. socialsecurity.gov/1099. So, are your Social Security benefits taxable? Maybe. To learn more, read page 14 of our booklet, Retirement Benefits, available at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs or visit www.irs.gov/ to obtain more detailed information on the subject. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
SENIOR BUFFE T DAY EVERY MONDAY & TUESDAY 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Over 30 Items to Choose From FEATURING: Chicken Fried Steaks • Fish Chicken & Noodles • Casseroles • Salads & Desserts
6
$
NORTH PL ATTE
69
Includes drink
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
Saturday, March 1, 2014 | 7
IN IDITAROD AND RETIREMENT, PREP IS KEY By Laurie Jones Social Security District Manager in North Platte, Nebraska The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, held each March in Alaska, is one of the harshest, most challenging races known to man (or dog). Mushers embark on a race from Anchorage to Nome that takes between nine and 15 days. Contestants bear sub-zero temperatures with gale-force winds that can cause wind chills as low as negative 100 degrees Fahrenheit! It takes endurance, preparation, and careful planning to make it from start to finish. The same can be said for your race toward retirement and Social Security. No one would hit the trail without being ready for the challenges. Similarly, no worker today should be navigating toward retirement without a little bit of preparing, planning, and stick-to-itiveness. Choosing your steps is as important as selecting the right sled dogs. Your first step in planning for a comfortable retirement is to look at your Social Security Statement, which you can do online easily with a my Social Security account. The online Statement is easy to use and provides estimates you should consider in planning for your retirement. It provides estimates for disability and survivors benefits, making the Statement an important financial planning tool. Your Statement allows you to review and ensure your earnings are accurately posted to your Social Security record. This feature is important because Social Security benefits are based on average earnings over your lifetime. If the information is incorrect, or you have earnings missing from your record, you may not receive all of the benefits to which you are entitled in the future. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to set up a my Social Security account and get started. Before heading into the snowy terrain, you want to make sure you have prepared for a number of different possible obstacles on the trail. For
retirement planning, you’ll want to test out the Retirement Estimator to see how changes in your income, retirement age, and other variables may change your overall plan. Use our Retirement Estimator, where you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your future retirement benefits using different retirement ages and scenarios. Visit the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Out in the cold, you’ll be thankful for the provisions you’ve brought along. In retirement, you’ll understand why it was so important for you to save early on. The sooner you begin your financial planning, the better off you will be. Social Security replaces about 40 percent of the average worker’s pre-retirement earnings, but most financial advisors say that you will need 70 percent or more of pre-retirement earnings to live comfortably. You also will need other savings, investments, pensions or retirement accounts to make sure you have financial security to live comfortably when you retire. Visit the Ballpark Estimator for tips to help you save. You’ll find it at www.choosetosave.org/ballpark. Use our online library of publications as your trail map or guidebook to help you when it comes to planning for retirement. Check out When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits. It and many other useful publications can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. As you mush, mush, mush toward retirement, remember that it’s not about the destination, but all about the journey. Spending a little time to prepare along the way will make all the difference when you cross the finish line into retirement.
8 | Saturday, March 1, 2014
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
APPLY FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS FROM THE CONVENIENCE OF HOME By Mike Sylvan Social Security Assistant District Manager in North Platte, Nebraska Have you been thinking about applying for Social Security disability benefits, but you are unable to visit a Social Security office to complete the interview? Or perhaps your disabling condition makes it difficult to visit a Social Security office. We have good news: you can complete your application for Social Security disability benefits from the convenience of your home. Get started at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability. The application process involves determining 1) whether you have sufficient work to be eligible for Social Security; 2) the severity of your medical condition; and 3) your ability to work. Because we carefully review so many cases — more than three million each year — it can take us three to five months to determine whether you are eligible to receive benefits. The amount of time it takes to make a decision on your application can vary depending on a number of factors, such as: · the nature of your disability; · how quickly we obtain medical evidence from you, your doctors, hospitals, or other medical sources; and
· whether we need to send you for a medical examination to obtain evidence to support your claim. We have several important initiatives to speed up the process. For example, our Compassionate Allowances initiative allows us to fast-track certain cases of individuals with very severe disabilities. Two hundred different types of disabilities qualify for this expedited decision, and the list continues to expand. Since Compassionate Allowances began in 2008, the agency has fast-tracked more than 250,000 disability applications, getting benefits to people in a matter of days instead of months. Learn more about Compassionate Allowances at www. socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances. Another way we speed up decisions is with our Quick Disability Determinations initiative, which uses technology to identify applicants who have the most severe disabilities and allows us to expedite our decisions on those cases. Read more about Quick Disability Determinations at www.socialsecurity.gov/ disabilityresearch/qdd.htm.
There are things you can do to help speed up the decision process too. The more information you provide up front, the less time it will take us to obtain the evidence we need — and the faster we can make a decision on your application. The types of information we need include: · medical records or documentation you have; we can make copies of your records and return your originals; · the names, addresses, and phone numbers for any doctors, hospitals, medical facilities, treatment centers, or providers that may have information related to your disabling condition; · the names, addresses, and phone numbers for recent employers and the dates you worked for each employer; and · your federal tax return for the past year. If you’re not able to work due to a disability and getting to an office is troublesome, don’t worry. You can apply online for Social Security disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
Saturday, March 1, 2014 | 9
THE SAFETY NET FOR AGED, BLIND, DISABLED PEOPLE WITH LIMITED IMCOME AND RESOURCES By Mike Sylvan Social Security Assistant District Manager in North Platte, Nebraska There’s a safety net out there for those who might otherwise slip through the cracks. It’s called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Administered by Social Security, SSI makes payments to people with limited income and few resources who are age 65 or older, blind, or have a disability. Funding for the SSI program comes from the general revenues of the U.S. Treasury, not from Social Security payroll taxes. When we consider people’s income, we count things such as wages, Social Security benefits and pensions. However, Social Security does not count all of your income when it decides whether you qualify for SSI. For example, we don’t count food stamps or most home energy assistance. Resources we count in deciding whether you qualify for SSI include real estate (other than the home you live in), bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds. A person with resources worth no more than $2,000 may be able to get SSI. That resource limit is $3,000 for couples. To qualify for SSI, you must live in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands and be a U.S. citizen or national. In rare cases, Question Is it illegal to laminate your Social Security card? answer No, it is not illegal, but we discourage. It’s best not to laminate your card. Laminated cards make it difficult, sometimes even impossible, to detect important security features and an employer may refuse to accept them. The Social Security Act requires the Commissioner of Social Security to issue cards that cannot be counterfeited. We incorporate many features that protect the card’s integrity. They include highly specialized paper and printing techniques - some visible to the naked eye and some not. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov.
noncitizen residents can qualify for SSI. If you live in certain types of institutions or live in a shelter for the homeless, you may qualify for SSI. People with blindness or disability who apply for SSI may be able to get free special services to help them work. These services may include counseling, job training, and help finding work. The monthly maximum Federal SSI payment is the same nationwide and amounts to $721 for a person and $1,082 for a married couple. However, the amount you receive depends on factors such as where you live, your living arrangements, and income. Some states also supplement or add money to the Federal payment. To learn more about SSI, read the online publication, You May Be Able To Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/11069.html or visit the SSI page at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi. Or call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY, 1-800-325-0778). If you’re too disabled to work but haven’t paid enough into Social Security to qualify for benefits on your record, SSI may be the program to help you.
10 | Saturday, March 1, 2014
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security
BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH (AND EVERY DAY) By Cindy Lupomech Social Security Operations Supervisor in North Platte, Nebraska “Beware the Ides of March,” said the soothsayer to Caesar in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar. We at Social Security recommend you beware not only the Ides of March, but every day—and every time— you go on the Internet. Identity theft and cyber-crimes are among the fastest-growing crimes in America. Today’s savvy thieves have added identity to the list of things they can rob. Their targets are people who use the Internet, and by the time you realize you’ve been robbed, Brutus may already have done his damage and escaped. “Et tu, Brute?” Caesar said as his good friend Brutus betrayed him. Even webpages and online sources that appear friendly and trustworthy could be plotting against you. This is why you should protect your personally identifiable information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth and mother’s maiden name. Never give this information out in an email or fill it in on a website asking for it, unless you are absolutely sure that you know and trust the source. And even then, be cautious. That said, if you conduct business on www.socialsecurity.gov, there’s no need to worry. Our online transactions are secure and convenient. You are protected when you are on our website.
If you think you’ve been the victim of an online Brutus, don’t simply tear your toga. You should contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/identitytheft. Or you can call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877438-4338); TTY 1-866-653-4261. There will continue to be those who believe it won’t happen to them. And there will continue to be victims. “The Ides of March have come,” Caesar said, doubting the prophecy that he would become a victim on March 15. “Aye, Caesar,” the soothsayer replied, “but not gone.” Sure, you may have used the Internet for years and may consider yourself savvy. But there’s always tomorrow for a Brutus to strike. When it comes to providing personal information on the Internet, treat every day as though it’s the Ides of March. Unless you’re in a secure place that you trust, like www.socialsecurity. gov. After all, on the Ides of March and every day of the year, Security is our middle name—literally. Learn more about identity theft by reading our online publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number, available at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Question Can I get a new Social Security number is someone has stolen my identity? answer We do not routinely assign a new number to someone whose identity has been stolen. Only as a last resort shouldyou consider requesting a new Social Security number. Changing your number may adversely affect your ability to interact with Federal and State agencies, employers, and others. This is because your financial, medical, employment and other records will be under for your former Social Security number. We cannot guarantee that a new number will solve your problem. To learn more about your Social Security card and number, go online and read the publication on the subject at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10002.html.
North Platte Telegraph | Social Security, 2014 | 11
SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE IS READY TO SERVE YOU
Social Security reaches almost every family and at some point will touch the lives of nearly all Americans. ounties served by the C Monthly North Platte SSA office Beneficiaries Amount
Arthur
115
$113,512
Blaine
118
$115,032
Brown
855
$878,716
Chase
943
$1,037,168
Cherry
1,386
$1,414,125
Custer
2,602
$2,730,341
Dawson
4,185
$4,617,341
Dundy
489
$514,521
Frontier
580
$611,373
Furnas
1,452
$1,565,945
Gosper
542
$626,612
Grant
183
$196,866
Hayes
100
$100,235
Hitchcock
843
$915,034
Hooker
224
$230,902
Keith
2,111
$2,426,612
Keya Paha
188
$179,034
Lincoln
7,022
$7,359,096
Logan
199
$209,760
Loup
106
$97,810
McPherson
101
$98,806
Perkins
641
$749,712
Red Willow
2,426
$2,763,719
Rock
385
$382,247
Thomas
156
$149,226
Total
27,952
$30,083,745
The North Platte Social Security office serves a total of 25 counties in central and western Nebraska. The employees of the North Platte office are dedicated to providing you the best service possible and look forward to serving you each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am-3:00pm. And, on Wednesday’s from 9am-12:00 noon. While nearly 39 million Americans who benefit from Social Security are retirees, Social Security also helps workers who become disabled and families in which a spouse or parent dies. Today, about 160 million people work and pay Social Security taxes and about 62 million people receive monthly Social Security benefits. While Social Security provides an important financial safety net for many, it was never meant to be the only source of income for people when they retire. Social Security replaces about 40 percent of an average wage earners income after retiring, and most financial advisors say retirees will need 70 percent or more of pre-retirement earning to live comfortably. To have a comfortable retirement, Americans need much more than just Social Security. They also need savings and investments. The Social Security Administration wants you to understand what Social Security can mean to you and your family’s financial future. Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security programs. To learn more about how Social Security can help you, visit us at www.socialsecurity.gov.