Q: Ms. N asks: "I am a recently retired teacher, age 56 1/2. I will start drawing my teacher's retirement this month. If I do not work anymore before I turn 62 (and therefore don't contribute any additional funds towards my Social Security) will this affect the amount of money I will receive at age 62? Each summer I receive a sheet from Social Security which states that I have earned enough credits and lists the amount I would draw at age 62. But is this based on me continuing to work until age 62 or have I contributed enough?
A: Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings. Your actual earnings are adjusted or "indexed" to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then Social Security Administration calculates your average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most. We apply a formula to these earnings and arrive at your basic benefit or "primary insurance amount." This is how much you would receive at your full retirement age, 65 or older, depending on your date of birth.
To get an estimate of your benefit, you may go to www.socialsecurity.gov and search for SSA Publication No. 05-10070 and it will have the link to the Retirement Estimator along with additional information about how your benefit is calculated.
Q: "I prefer reading by audio book. Does Social Security have audio publications?"
A: Yes, we do. You can find them at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Some of the publications available include What You Can Do Online, How Social Security Can Help You When A Family Member Dies, Apply Online For Social Security Benefits, and Your Social Security Card And Number. You can listen now at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Q: "I am expecting a child and will be out of work for six months. Can I qualify for short-term disability?"
A: No. Social Security pays only for total disability -- conditions that render you unable to work and are expected to last for at least a year or end in death. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability, including benefits while on maternity leave.
Submit questions to local Social Security Director Martin Coffey by writing to Business Editor Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447, or by e-mailing him at dflessner@timesfreepress.com.