Q: Mr. B of Chattanooga writes: “When is the Congress going to vote about the $250 that the President wants to give us the first part of the year since we were not able to receive a raise for 2010?”
A: I do not have any information regarding another stimulus payment to Social Security beneficiaries. However, since another stimulus payment would require congressional action and approval, I have referred your inquiry to the local congressional office.
Q: “My wife doesn’t have enough work under Social Security to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits or Medicare. But I am fully insured and eligible. Can she qualify on my record?”
A: Yes. The question you’ve raised applies to husbands as well as wives. Even if your spouse has never worked under Social Security, she (or he) can, at full retirement age, receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as government employment, the amount of his or her Social Security benefits on your record may be reduced. For more information, take a look at the fact sheet, Government Pension Offset, Publication No. 05-10007 at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10007.html . Your wife is eligible for full spouses benefits at her full retirement age, or reduced spouses benefits as early as age 62, as long as you are already receiving benefits. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the “Retirement” tab.
Q: “My cousin said he applied for Social Security retirement benefits on the Internet. Can you really do that?”
A: Yes you can! Applying online is the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits. There’s no need to fight the traffic to visit an office or wait for an appointment. Our Web site makes it simple, allowing you to apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. You can get started now at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.
Q: “What is the ‘Part B’ Medicare monthly premium for 2010?”
A: The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium is $110.50 in 2010. However, because there was no cost-of-living adjustment in 2010, some beneficiaries are paying less than the standard premium. The Department of Health and Human Services determines the Medicare Part B premium. The premiums paid by beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B cover physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items. For most beneficiaries, the government pays a substantial portion — about 75 percent of the Part B standard premium — and the beneficiary pays the remainder. Since 2007, higher income beneficiaries have been paying a larger percentage of their Part B premium based on income they report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In 2010, a small number of beneficiaries with higher incomes (individuals with income exceeding $85,000 and married couples with income exceeding $170,000) will pay a monthly premium equal to 35, 50, 65 or 80 percent of the total cost, depending on what they reported to the IRS. However, the higher premium affects less than 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries, so most people newly enrolled for Medicare will pay the standard premium without an income-related adjustment. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the “Medicare” tab.
Get answers to your Social Security questions each Thursday from the Social Security District Director Martin Coffey. Submit questions 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.
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