Q “What can I do if I think someone has stolen my identity?”
A You should do several things, including:
* File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime;
* Notify the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ or 1-877-ID-THEFT or 1-877-438-4338;
* File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov ; and contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax www.equifax.com or 800-525-6285; Trans Union www.transunion.com or 800-680-7289; and Experian www.experian.com or 888-397-3742.
If your Social Security card has been stolen, you can apply for a replacement card. But you usually don’t need a new card as long as you know your number. To protect yourself in the future, treat your Social Security number as
confidential and avoid giving it out. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you. Learn more by reading our publication, “Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number,” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html.
Q “Will my retirement pension from my job reduce the amount of my Social Security benefit?”
A If your pension is from work where you also paid Social Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit amount. However, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, some federal, state, local, or foreign government retirement systems) probably will reduce the amount of your Social Security benefit. For more information, read Windfall Elimination Provision (Publication no. 05-10045) and Government Pension Offset (Publication no. 05-10007). You can find both of these publications online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs under the “Retirement Benefits” section.
Q “I’m a noncitizen. Can noncitizens receive supplemental security income benefits?”
A You might be eligible receive SSI if:
* You were lawfully living in the United States on Aug. 22, 1996, and you are blind or disabled;
* You were receiving SSI on Aug. 22, 1996, and you are lawfully living in the United States; or
* You were lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act and have 40 Social Security work credits in the United States. (Your spouse’s or parent’s work also may count.)
There are other categories of noncitizens that may be eligible for payments. If you are a noncitizen and want to apply for SSI benefits, it is best to contact us to see if you are eligible. To learn more, read the online factsheet, Supplemental Security Income For Noncitizens, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11051.html.
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.