Q: “I heard the Chattanooga Social Security Office is changing itstelephone number. Is this rumor true?”
A: The Chattanooga Social Security Office is in the process of installing a new telephone system, which will require a new telephone number. This new phone system and telephone number will go into effect today. The new telephone number for the Chattanooga office is 1-866-964-0029. This new phone number will permit local calling to all eight counties serviced by the Chattanooga office. It will be published in the same manner as the old one, but to give everyone time to get use to the new number the old telephone number will play a recorded message referring callers to the 1-866-964-0029.
Q: “What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits?”
A: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the strict Social Security definition of disability. To qualify for disability benefits, you must have worked long enough under Social Security to earn the required number of work credits and some of the work must be recent. You can earn up to a maximum of four work credits each year. The amount of earnings required for a credit increases each year as general wage levels go up and is currently $1,120. The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. For example, if you are under age 24, you may qualify with as little as six credits of coverage. But people disabled at age 31 or older generally need between 20 and 40 credits, and some of the work must have been recent. For example, you may need to have worked five out of the past 10 years. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.
Q: “What’s the difference between ‘SSID’ and “SSDI”?
A: SSID, or SSI, is the way some people refer to “Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability” benefits. SSI disability benefits are paid to people who have limited incomes and resources. SSDI is the way some people refer to “Social Security disability insurance benefits.” Social Security disability benefits go to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a long enough time to be covered for Social Security. Some people qualify for both “SSI” and “SSDI” if their Social Security benefit is low enough for them to receive SSI. To learn more about Social Security and SSI, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.
Q: “I get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because I am elderly and have no income. My sister recently died and left me the money she had in a savings account. Will this extra money affect my SSI benefits?”
A: The money inherited from your sister is considered income for the month you receive it and could make you ineligible for that month, depending on the amount of the inheritance. If you keep the money into the next month, it then becomes a part of your resources. You cannot have more than $2,000 in resources to remain eligible for SSI benefits. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY, 1-800-325-0778) to report the inheritance. A representative will tell you how your eligibility and payment amount might be affected. Learn more by visiting us online at www.socialsecurity.gov.
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.