SOCIAL SECURITY Q & amp;A

Q: I have severe high blood pressure. Does that qualify as a disability for Social Security purposes?
A: The law says you will qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you have an impairment that is severe enough to keep you from working, and your disability is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death. Many people with high blood pressure are able to work because they take medications that keep the pressure in check. But if your condition is severe enough and can't be controlled, talk to your doctor about applying for disability benefits.
Q: I work for a city government. I do not pay into Social Security or Medicare. My husband doesn't pay Social Security or Medicare taxes either. Now that we're almost 60, we're starting to worry about medical coverage after retirement. The city I work for does not provide any health care after I retire. What are we supposed to do? Can we get Medicare even though we didn't pay Medicare taxes? I earned about 25 Social Security credits before I started working for the city.
A: Anyone older than 65 who hasn't paid Medicare taxes and qualified for premium-free Medicare can buy the coverage. The cost would be about $374 per month for full (Part A and B) coverage. Those are today's prices. You might want to consider taking a part-time job. Because you already have 25 credits, you need just 15 more to get the 40 credits you'd need for the free Part A Medicare. Then you would have to pay only the Part B Medicare premium (currently $58.70 per month). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, so in less than four years, you'd have enough credits for free Part A Medicare. And with the 40 credits, you'd also earn a small Social Security benefit.
Q. What should I do if my Social Security card is stolen?
A. If your Social Security card is stolen, contact your local police department to file a report. Contact Social Security at (800) 772-1213 to request a replacement Social Security card. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place. Don't carry it with you unless you know you need it. Visit our Web site at www.ssa.gov or visit your local Social Security office.
XThis column was prepared by the Social Security Administration. For answers to specific Social Security questions, contact Social Security toll-free at (800) 772-1213.
Knight Ridder Newspapers