SOCIAL SECURITY Q & amp;A

Q: Will you pay Social Security benefits to a person who has severe mental disabilities?
A: Any physical or mental impairment might qualify for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income disability benefits if it is severe enough to keep a person from doing substantial work for at least 12 months.
If a person is approved for disability payments, and if medical records show that person is not capable of handling his or her own funds, we will issue the Social Security or Supplemental Security Income payment in the name of a responsible person we designate as the "representative payee."
Q: Why is the government taking Medicare premiums out of my Supplemental Security Income payment?
A: Medicare premiums are deducted from Social Security payments, not Supplemental Security Income payments.
If you are on Supplemental Security Income, but you also get Social Security and have Medicare premiums taken out of your Social Security payments, you should contact your state or county social services office. You may qualify for a program that requires the state to pay your Medicare premiums for you. It's usually called the "qualified Medicare beneficiary program."
XThis column was prepared by the Social Security Administration. For fast answers to specific Social Security questions, contact Social Security toll-free at (800) 772-1213.