SOCIAL SECURITY Q & amp;A

Q: I get widow's benefits. My neighbor gets her own Social Security retirement benefit, although she's over 70 and still working full time. I get a cost-of-living increase every year. But my neighbor insists she gets two Social Security raises every year, one in January and another later in the year. Why does she get two increases and I get just one?
A: All Social Security beneficiaries get just one annual cost-of-living increase that's paid in January of each year. Your neighbor is probably receiving an additional annual increase in her benefit to compensate her for her additional earnings. She would get such an increase if her current wages are high enough to increase her overall lifetime average wage, which forms the basis for her Social Security payment.
Q: My mother was married to my father for 30 years before he committed suicide several years ago. Mother never remarried and is about to turn 60. She has never worked outside the home. Is she eligible for widow's benefits on my dad's record? A neighbor told us that Social Security does not pay death benefits in suicide cases.
A: Your neighbor is wrong. Assuming your dad worked and paid Social Security taxes, your mother would be eligible for widow's benefits as early as age 60. About three months before her birthday, she should call (800) 772-1213 (TTY: 800-325-0778) to make an appointment, or she can file online at www.socialsecurity.gov. She will need her birth certificate, the marriage certificate and your father's death certificate.
Q: Can I have my Social Security checks deposited into a bank that is in a different state than where I live?
A: Yes, you can arrange for direct deposit of your Social Security check to almost any bank in which you have an account.
Q: Does Social Security pay benefits for short-term disabilities?
A: It depends on your definition of "short term." To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, the medical evidence must show that your impairment is severe enough that it will keep you from working for at least a year.
Q: I worked as a volunteer for many years and did not pay into Social Security. Prior to that, I only worked and paid Social Security taxes for a short period of time. My Social Security Statement says I am due less than $200 per month when I retire. Is there a way of directly investing in Social Security to build it up?
A: No, you cannot directly "invest" in Social Security. The only way to pay Social Security taxes is to work in a job covered by Social Security or to run a business where you pay self-employment Social Security taxes.
Q: I am getting Social Security disability benefits. I just got a package in the mail that talks about a "Ticket to Work." It looks official and I think it came from the Social Security Administration. But I've gotten other official-looking mail that turned out to be a scam. Is this legit?
A: Yes, it is an official package from the Social Security Administration. "Ticket to Work" is a voluntary program that's intended to help you find a job, with the eventual goal of becoming financially independent again and returning to the workforce. The program includes incentives that let you keep your government health insurance coverage for up to eight years and six months after returning to work, and allows you to get back on the disability program quickly if you are forced to quit your job because of your disabilities.
Q: I plan to stop working at age 62. Should I take my Social Security then, or wait until my full retirement age, which is 65 years and 6 months?
A: It is really a personal decision that depends on your circumstances. But here are some basic facts to consider. If you take Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, they will be reduced by about 22 percent. And that reduction stays with you forever. If you wait until age 65 and 6 months, you will get your full benefit rate. However, you would have given up three and one-half years of Social Security benefits. If you wait until age 65 and 6 months, it generally would take you about 12 years to make up the money you lose by not taking early retirement. You can use our online calculators at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/index.htm to determine your "break-even point."
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.
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