SOCIAL SECURITY Q & amp;A

Q: I have a question I'm almost embarrassed to ask. I'm 72 years old and have been getting Social Security retirement checks for 10 years. Will my checks stop or be reduced when I reach the point where my total benefits equal the total amount of tax money I paid into Social Security?
A: No. You will continue to receive Social Security retirement benefits as long as you live. The amount of your benefits is tied to the earnings you've made over your lifetime. But the length of time you receive those benefits is not tied to your total tax payments.
Q: I have been getting Social Security disability benefits for many years. I was born in 1938 and turn 65 later this year. What will happen to my disability?
A: When you reach "full retirement age," and that is 65 and 2 months for people born in 1938, we will switch you from disability to retirement benefits. But you probably won't even notice the changeover because your benefit amount will stay the same. It's just that when you reach retirement age, we start thinking of you as a "retiree" and not as a disability beneficiary.
Q: I paid maximum Social Security for many years. I was born in 1938 and turn 65 and 2 months this year. What's the maximum I can get from Social Security?
A: The maximum Social Security retirement benefit for someone turning 65 and 2 months in 2003 is $1,741. But to get that, you must have paid the maximum Social Security tax for at least 35 years during your working career.
Q: How can I tell if I have both parts of Medicare? I was automatically enrolled in Medicare five years ago, but don't remember if I got both Parts A and B of Medicare.
A: Automatic Medicare enrollment comes with both Parts A and B of Medicare. So you probably have full Medicare coverage. You can check by simply looking in your wallet or purse. Your Medicare card will tell you if you have Parts A and B. If you don't have your Medicare card, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) to get a replacement and to verify you have both parts of Medicare. Or you can request a replacement Medicare card online at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Knight Ridder Newspapers