Q: Ms. P asks: “My father recently passed away, and my mother’s income was automatically raised. I called Social Security office to talk with them (I have POA for her finances and medical — she has Alzheimer’s) and they said I needed to bring the POA papers to them before they would talk to me. All I really was wanting to know is: Do I assume the amount they’ve given her is correct or do I still need to go out there and talk with them? Thanks!”

A: While family members often use a “power of attorney” as a way of handling a family member’s finances, for Social Security purposes, a “power of attorney” is not an acceptable way to manage a person’s monthly Social Security check. Social Security recognizes only a representative payee for handling the beneficiary’s funds. After a careful investigation, we appoint a relative, friend or other interested party to serve as the “representative payee. We will not be able to discuss your mother’s Social Security with you without her permission or unless you are her representative payee. This means that, if you agree to be a representative payee, we’ll pay you her benefits to use on her behalf. We will also be able to discuss her record and/or payments with you. To be the representative payee, contact your nearest Social Security office to file an application.

Q: Mr. L writes: “My ex-wife will soon be 62. She paid Social Security taxes for about 25 years, then got a job for a city government and paid none (for about 15 years). When she retired in 2007, with a generous city pension, a co-worker told her she would be ineligible for any retirement benefits from Social Security. Is this true?”

A: Your wife’s coworker was no doubt talking about the windfall elimination provision of the Social Security program. This provision affects how the amount of the retirement or disability benefit is calculated if the person receives a pension from work where Social Security taxes were not taken out of the pay. If a person earns a pension in any job where he or she did not pay Social Security taxes and, also worked in other jobs long enough to qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefit, the amount of Social Security benefit is calculated using a modified formula. This usually results in a lower Social Security benefit than would otherwise be paid. While benefits are lower using the modified windfall elimination provision (WEP) formula, they are never totally eliminated. For more information, see our Online WEP Calculator at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/anyPiaWepjs04.htm .

Q: “I am receiving Social Security disability benefits.  Will my benefits be affected if I work and earn money?”

A: Social Security wants to help you go to work if that’s what you’d like to do. We offer work incentives that will help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare coverage while you test your ability to work. For example, there is a trial work period during which you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity to us and continue to have a disabling impairment.  For more information about work incentives, we recommend that you read Working While Disabled-How We Can Help http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html . You’ll find it online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10095.html.

Q: “Is there a time limit on Social Security disability benefits?”

A: No. Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you cannot work.  Your case will be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10153.html#6. If you are receiving disability benefits when you reach full retirement age http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=160, they will automatically be converted to retirement benefits.

Get answers to your Social Security questions each Thursday from Social Security District Manager Eleanor Jones. Submit questions to her attention by writing to Business Editor John Vass Jr., Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447, or by e-mailing him at jvass@timesfreepress.com.