              When You Get Benefits...What You Need To Know
                                    
                           U.S. Department of
                        Health and Human Services
                     Social Security Administration
                      SSA Publication No. 05-10077
                              January 1994
                               ICN 468300

Why You Should Read This Booklet

Now that your Social Security benefits have started, you have
important rights  and equally important responsibilities. This
booklet explains them to you. It tells you what services we offer
you and what we'll do to keep you up-to-date about changes that
may affect your benefits. It also explains what you need to
report to us so that we can keep your benefits coming on time
every month and in the right amount.

We suggest that you take time now to read this booklet and then
put it in a safe place so you can refer to it in the future.
If you receive a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) check in
addition to a Social Security check, remember that there are
different rules for that program. The booklet, When You Get
SSI  What You Need To Know (Publication No. 05-11011), explains
those rules. Copies are available from Social Security.

There are also different rules for people who receive Social
Security benefits because they have a disability. The booklet,
When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits  What You Need
To Know (Publication No. 05-10153), tells about those rules.
Copies of that booklet are also available from Social Security.

What's Inside

 
Part 1: About Your Benefits                  

Your Social Security Checks                  
Direct Deposit                              
Paying Taxes On Your Benefits                

Part 2: Services We Offer                    

Our Toll-Free Telephone Numbers              
Free Service                                 
What We Will Report To You                   
Part 3: What You Need To Report To Us        
Your Responsibilities                        
Any Change In Your Estimated Earnings        
If You Move                                  
Changing Direct Deposit Accounts             
A Person Who Is Unable To Manage Funds       
Getting A Pension From Non-Covered Work     
Marriage Or Divorce                          
If Your Name Is Changed                      
Caring For A Child Who Receives Benefits     
Adoption                                     
Imprisonment                                 
Leaving The United States                   
The Death Of A Beneficiary                   


Part 4: Working And Getting Social 
     Security At The Same Time               

How Earnings Affect Your Check              
A Special Monthly Rule                      
What Income Counts ... And When 
     Do We Count It?                         
Reporting Your Earnings                      
Your Earnings Estimate And Your Benefits     
Part 5: Other Important Information          
If You Become Disabled                       
Benefits For Children                        
A Word About Medicare                       
Can You Get SSI?                             
If You Disagree With A Decision We Make      
Part 6: The Most Frequently 
     Asked Questions                       



Part 1  About Your Benefits

Your Social Security Checks

Social Security benefits are paid on the third day of the month.
If the third falls on a weekend or on a Monday holiday, benefits
will be paid on the previous Friday.

The post office makes a considerable effort to deliver Social
Security checks on time, but sometimes mail is delayed. If your
check is not delivered on its due date, allow three more workdays
before reporting the missing check to Social Security.

The most common reason checks are late is because a change of
address was not reported.

You shouldn't sign a check until you are at the place where you
will cash it. If you sign it ahead of time and lose it, the
person who finds it could cash it.

If your check is lost or stolen, contact Social Security
immediately. Your check can be replaced, but it takes time. To be
safe, you should cash or deposit your check as soon as possible
after you receive it.
A government check must be cashed within 12 months after the date
of the check or it will be void.

If you receive a check you know is not due you, take it to any
Social Security office. Or, return it to the U.S. Treasury
Department, Division of Disbursement, at the address on the check
envelope. Enclose a note telling why you are sending the check
back.

Direct Deposit

Many people want their Social Security benefit sent directly to
their savings or checking account. They find that direct deposit
of their benefits is safer and more convenient than getting their
checks by mail.

If you would like to start direct deposit, contact us so that we
can make the change for you.

If you decide to change financial institutions, don't close your
old account until direct deposit to your new account has started.
You can call your financial institution to make sure it has
received your check.

Paying Taxes On Your Benefits

Some people who get Social Security have to pay taxes on their
benefits. You will be affected only if you have substantial
income in addition to your Social Security benefits.

If you file a Federal tax return as an "individual," and your
combined income* is between $25,000 and $34,000, you may have to
pay taxes on 50 percent of your Social Security benefits. If your
combined income is above $34,000, 85 percent of your Social
Security benefits is subject to income tax.

If you file a joint return, you may have to pay taxes on 50
percent of your benefits if you and your spouse have a combined
income
     *    that is between $32,000 and $44,000. 

If your combined income
     *    is more than $44,000, 85 percent of your Social
          Security benefits is subject to income tax.

If you are a member of a couple and file a separate return, you
probably will pay taxes on your benefits.

No one pays taxes on more than 85 percent of his or her benefits.
Some pay taxes on a smaller amount of their benefits according to
a formula developed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
After the end of each year, you will receive a Social Security
Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) in the mail showing the amount
of benefits you received. You can use this statement when you are
completing your federal income tax return to find out if any of
your benefits are subject to tax.

Most people who are neither residents nor citizens of the U.S.
will have up to 15 percent of their benefits withheld. If you are
subject to this tax and you become a U.S. resident or citizen,
you should notify Social Security.

For more information, call the IRS's toll-free telephone number,
1-800-829-3676, to ask for Publication 554, Tax Information for
Older Americans, and Publication 915, Social Security Benefits
and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits.

Part 2  Services We Offer

Our Toll-Free Telephone Numbers

For your convenience, Social Security provides toll-free
telephone service. The number is 1-800-772-1213. Most inquiries
and reports can be handled by phone, saving you the time and
expense of a trip to our office. You can call anytime (24 hours a
day). If you call between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., you can speak to a
service representative. And if you have a push-button (tone)
phone, recorded information and services are available after 7
p.m. weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays.
Hearing-impaired callers using "TDD" equipment can reach Social
Security between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days by calling
1-800-325-0778.

If you want to speak to a representative, the best times to call
are early in the morning and early in the evening. And, if you
can, it's best to call later in the week and later in the month.
Be sure to have your Social Security number handy when you call.
The Social Security Administration treats all calls
confidentially  whether they're made to our toll-free numbers or
to one of our local offices. We also want to ensure that you
receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a
second Social Security representative monitor some incoming and
outgoing telephone calls.

Free Service

You never have to pay for information or service at Social
Security. Some businesses advertise that they can provide name
changes, Social Security cards, or earnings statements for a fee.
All these services are provided free by Social Security.
The Social Security Administration itself is the best source of
information about Social Security.

What We Will Report To You

From time to time, we will send you important information about
your Social Security benefits. Here is a list of some of the 
things we'll report to you:

Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLA)

Each January, your benefits will increase automatically if the
cost of living has increased. We will notify you of your new
benefit amount in January.

Annual Earnings Limit

There is a limit to the amount you can earn and still receive all
your Social Security checks. This amount increases each year
also. We will notify you of the new amount each January. For more
information, see Part 4 of this booklet.

Your Earnings Report Forms

If we know you're working, we'll send you a form in January to
report your earnings and another form in September to revise your
earnings estimate. It's your responsibility, though, to inform us
of your earnings, even if you don't receive the report forms in
the mail.

A Benefit Statement For Your Tax Return

In January, we will send you a Social Security Benefit Statement
(Form SSA-1099) that shows the total amount of benefits you
received in the previous year. You may need this when you file
your income tax return. You also can use the SSA-1099 when you
need proof of your benefit amount.

Any Other Changes In Your Benefit

If any other change occurs that affects the amount of your
benefit, we will let you know promptly.

How We Will Report To You

We usually use the mail when we want to contact you, but
sometimes a Social Security representative may come to your home.
Our representative will show you identification before talking
about your benefits. If you ever doubt someone who says he or she
is from Social Security, call the Social Security office to ask
if someone was sent to see you.

Part 3  What You Need To Report To Us

Your Responsibilities

It is important to notify us promptly whenever one of the changes
listed on Pages 9-14 occurs. Information you give to another
government agency may be provided to Social Security by the other
agency, but you also must report the change to us.

Failure to report a change can result in an overpayment. If you
are overpaid, we will recover any payments not due you. Also, if
you fail to report changes timely or you make a false statement,
you can be penalized by a deduction from payments or a fine or
imprisonment.

You can call, write, or visit us to make a report. Have your
claim number handy. If you receive benefits because of your own
work, your claim number is the same as your Social Security
number followed by a letter. If you receive benefits on someone
else's work record, your claim number will be shown on your check
or on any letter about your benefit that you get from Social -
Security.

Any Change In Your Estimated Earnings

If you're working, we usually ask you to estimate your earnings
for the year. If you later learn your earnings will be higher or
lower than you estimated, let us know as early in the year as
possible so that we can adjust your benefits. See "Working And
Getting Social Security At The Same Time" on Page 15 for help in
making accurate estimates.

If You Move

Let us know your new address and phone number as soon as you know
them. Tell us when you plan to move.

Even if you receive your benefits by direct deposit rather than
by mail, Social Security must have your correct address so we can
send letters and other important information to you. Your
benefits will be stopped if we are unable to contact you.
When you report your new address, let us know the names of any
family members who also should receive their Social Security
checks there. Be sure to file a change of address with the post
office, too.

Changing Direct Deposit Accounts

If you change financial institutions or open a new account, we
can change your direct deposit information over the telephone.
Have your new and old account numbers handy when you call us.
They will be written on your checks or account statements.

A Person Who Is Unable To Manage Funds

Sometimes a person is unable to manage his or her own funds. When
this happens, Social Security should be notified. We can then
arrange to send benefits to a relative or other person who agrees
to use the money for the well-being of the beneficiary. We call
this person a "representative payee."
Please Note:  If a person has "power of attorney" for someone,
that does not automatically qualify him or her to be the
representative payee.


Getting A Pension From Non-Covered Work

If you start receiving a pension from work not covered by Social
Security  for example, from the federal civil service system or
some state or local pension systems   your Social Security
benefit may need to be refigured or offset. Also, tell us if the
amount of your pension changes.

For more information, call Social Security to ask for a copy of
the factsheets, Government Pension Offset (Publication No.
05-10007)  for government workers who may be eligible for Social
Security benefits on the record of a husband or wife and A
Pension From Work Not Covered By Social Security (Publication No.
05-10045)  for government workers who are also eligible for their
own Social Security benefits.

Marriage Or Divorce

If you get married or divorced, it may affect your Social
Security benefits, depending on the kind of benefits you receive.

If you get:

Your own retirement benefits  your benefits will continue.
Wife's or husband's benefits  your benefits will stop if you get
divorced unless you are 62 or older and you were married at least
10 years.

Widow's or widower's (including divorced widow's and widower's)
benefits  your benefits will continue if you remarry when you are
60 or older.

Disabled widow's or widower's (including disabled divorced
widow's and widower's) benefits  your benefits will continue if
you remarry when you are 50 or older.

Any other kind of benefits  your benefits will stop if you get
married, except in special circumstances. Your benefits may be
started again if the marriage ends.

If Your Name Is Changed

If you change your name  because of marriage, divorce, or court
order  notify us of the change so we can show the new name on our
records.

Caring For A Child Who Receives Benefits

If you are receiving benefits because you are caring for a child
who is under 16 or disabled, you should notify us right away if
the child leaves your care. Give us the name and address of the
person with whom your child is living.


A temporary separation may not affect your benefits if you
continue to exercise parental control over the child, but your
benefits will stop if you no longer have responsibility for the
child. When the child returns to your care, we can start sending
benefits to you again.

Your benefits will end when the youngest unmarried child in your
care reaches 16. Your child's benefits can continue as explained
in the "Benefits For Children" section of Part 5 of this booklet.
If you become the parent of a child after you begin receiving
Social Security benefits and the child is in your care, be sure
to notify us so that the child can also receive benefits.

Adoption

When a child who is receiving benefits is adopted, let us know
his or her new name, the date of the adoption decree, and the
adopting parent's name and address. The adoption will not cause
benefits to end.

Imprisonment
Social Security must be notified immediately if a beneficiary is
imprisoned for committing a felony. Benefits will not be paid
during the months of imprisonment, but family members eligible
for benefits can continue to receive them.

Leaving The United States

If you are a United States citizen, you can travel or live in
most foreign countries without affecting your eligibility for
Social Security benefits. However, there are a few countries
where we cannot send Social Security checks.  These countries are
Cuba, Cambodia, North Korea, Vietnam, and the republics that were
formerly in the U.S.S.R. (except Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).
Let us know if you plan to go outside the U.S. for a trip that
lasts 30 days or more. Tell us the name of the country or
countries you plan to visit and the date you expect to leave the
U.S. We will send you special reporting instructions and tell you
how to arrange for your checks while you are abroad. Be sure to
notify us when you return to the U.S.

If you work outside the U.S., different rules apply in
determining if you can get your benefit checks.
For more information about working or staying outside the U.S.,
call us to ask for a copy of the booklet, Your Social Security
Checks While You Are Outside The United States (Publication No.
05-10137).

The Death Of A Beneficiary

When a person who receives Social Security benefits dies, no
benefit is payable for the month of death. That means if the
person died any time in July, for example, the check dated August
3 (which is payment for July) should be returned, unless the
check is made out jointly to a husband and wife. In that case,
the survivor can bring the check to the Social Security office to
have the payee information changed.

If the person's benefits were being deposited directly into a
financial institution, the financial institution should also be
notified of the death as soon as possible. It will return any
payments received after death.

Family members may be eligible for Social Security survivors
benefits when a retired worker dies.

If a spouse was living with the beneficiary at the time of death,
she or he will receive a one-time payment of $255. The payment
may be made to a spouse who was not living with the beneficiary
at the time of death if she or he was receiving Social Security
benefits based on the deceased's earnings record. If there is no
surviving spouse, a child (or children) who is eligible for
benefits on the deceased's work record in the month of his or her
death may claim the payment.

Part 4  Working And Getting Social Security At The Same Time
How Earnings Affect Your Check
You can continue to work and still get all of your Social
Security benefits as long as your earnings are under certain
limits.

These limits increase each year as average wages increase. In
1994, the earnings limits are $8,040 for people under 65 and
$11,160 for people age 65 through 69. Earnings in or after the
month you reach age 70 won't affect your Social Security
benefits.

You can work and earn up to the limit and still get all your
Social Security checks. If your earnings go over the limit, some
or all of your benefits will be withheld. Here's how it works:
If you are under 65, we will deduct $1 in benefits for each $2
you earn above $8,040.

If you are 65 through 69, we will deduct $1 in benefits for each
$3 you earn above $11,160.

Let's look at an example.

Mr. Jones:  Age 65
Benefit amount:  $800 a month ($9,600 year)
Earnings:$20,000 a year Minus earnings limit: $11,160
Difference: $ 8,840  3 = $2,946

Mr. Jones will get all but $2,946 of his Social Security benefits
for the year. He will get $6,654 in Social Security in addition
to his $20,000 earnings. His total income   $26,654.


If, on the other hand, Mr. Jones limits his outside earnings to
$11,160, he will get all his benefit checks. He will get $9,600
in Social Security benefits in addition to his $11,160 in
earnings. His total income  $20,760.

If you are under 65 and some of your benefits are withheld
because your earnings are over $8,040, there is some good news.
When you reach 65, your benefits will be increased to take into
account those months in which you received no Social Security
check. Here's why: your benefit was initially reduced five-ninths
of one percent for each month you were under 65 when you signed
up for Social Security. But at 65, we give you back five-ninths
of one percent for each month you didn't get a Social Security
check because your earnings were too high.

And there's another way that working may increase your Social
Security check. Your benefit is based on a percentage of your
earnings averaged over most of your working lifetime. If any
income you make after signing up for Social Security increases
your overall average earnings, your Social Security benefit
probably will also increase.

For more information, call Social Security to ask for  How Work
Affects Your Social Security Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069).

A Special Monthly Rule

Sometimes, people who retire in mid-year have already earned more
than the yearly earnings limit before they retire. That's why
there's a special rule that applies to earnings for one year,
usually the first year of retirement. Under this rule, you can
receive a full Social Security check for any whole month you are
"retired," regardless of your yearly earnings.

In 1994, a person is considered retired if monthly earnings are
limited to $670 for people under 65 or $930 for people 65 through
69. The $1-for-$2 and $1-for-$3 rules cannot be applied to
selected months. This means that someone could lose a whole
month's Social Security benefit if earnings exceeded the monthly
limit by even $1.

If you're self-employed, we also consider whether you perform
substantial services in your business to help us decide if you
are retired. One measure of your service is the amount of time
you spend working. In general, if you work more than 45 hours a
month in self-employment, you are not retired; if you work less
than 15 hours a month, you are retired. Work between 15 and 45
hours a month may be considered substantial if you work in an
occupation that requires a lot of skill or you are managing a
sizeable business.

For detailed information about how we figure the amount of time
you spend in your business and whether your work is substantial,
call or visit us.
What Income Counts ... And When Do We Count It?

Only wages and net self-employment income count toward the Social
Security earnings limit. Income you have from savings,
investments, or insurance will not affect your benefits.

If You Worked For Wages

Wages count toward the earnings limit when they are earned, not
when they are paid. If you have income that you earned in one
year, but the payment was deferred to a following year, it should
not be counted as earnings for the year you receive it. Some
examples of deferred income include accumulated sick or vacation
pay, bonuses, stock options, and other deferred compensation.

The Social Security Administration has made arrangements with the
Internal Revenue Service to have employers report some types of
deferred compensation directly on the W-2 form. These amounts are
shown in box 14, "Nonqualified Plan." We will subtract the amount
shown in box 14 from your total earnings counted for the earnings
limit.

If your W-2 form includes deferred income, you should contact
Social Security before you file your annual report to tell us
about these earnings.

If You Are Self-Employed

If you're self-employed, income counts when you receive it  not
when you earn it  except if it is paid in a year after you become
entitled to Social Security and was earned before you became
entitled to Social Security. For example, if you start getting
Social Security in June 1994 and you receive some money in
February 1995 for work you did before June, it will not count
against your 1995 earnings limit. However, if the money you
receive in February 1995 was for work you did after June, it will
count against your 1995 earnings limit.

Reporting Your Earnings

If you earn more than the earnings limit and you receive some
benefits from Social Security, you must complete an annual report
of earnings. In this report, you provide your exact earnings for
the previous year and an estimate for the current year.
In the year you turn 70, we only count your earnings for the
months before the month you reach 70. You do not have to fill out
a report if you are 70 or older all year.

You can report your earnings by phone or by completing an Annual
Report of Earnings form. This form is available by calling or
visiting your Social Security office. If we know you're working
and you receive some benefits during the year, we will send the
form to you automatically.

You must submit an annual report of earnings by April 15 of the
year following the year you worked. If you do not receive a
report form in the mail by the end of February, you should call
our toll-free number to have one sent to you.

If you need help in figuring your earnings or you have questions
about your Annual Report of Earnings form, you should contact us.

Penalty For Late Filing

There is a substantial penalty for not filing an annual report of
earnings on time. You can be penalized up to one full month's
benefits for a first violation in addition to being required to
repay any overpayment.

Filing a federal income tax return does not take the place of
filing an annual report with Social Security.

Your Earnings Estimate And Your Benefits

We calculated how much of your benefit payments you will receive
this year based on the earnings estimate you gave us when you
applied for Social Security or on the estimate in your most
recent annual report.

If other family members get benefits on your Social Security
record, the total family benefits may be affected by your
earnings. This means we may withhold not only your benefits, but
those payable to your family as well. But, if you get benefits as
a family member, your earnings affect only your own benefits.

Revising Your Estimate

When you work, you should save records of your earnings, such as
pay stubs. At any time during the year, if you see that your
earnings will be different from what you had estimated, you
should call us to revise your estimate. This will help us keep
the amount of your Social Security benefits correct.

Part 5  Other Important Information

If You Become Disabled

If you become disabled before reaching 65, contact us. You may be
able to get a higher benefit if you are eligible for disability
benefits.

Benefits For Children

If a child is getting checks on your account, there are important
things you should know about his or her benefits.
When A Child Reaches 18 

A child's benefits stop with the month before the child reaches
18, unless the child is unmarried and is either disabled or is a
full-time elementary or secondary school student.
About five months before the child's 18th birthday, the person
receiving the child's benefits will get a form explaining how
benefits can continue.

A child whose benefits stopped at 18 can have them started again
if he or she becomes disabled before reaching 22 or becomes a
full-time elementary or secondary school student before reaching
19.

If A Child Is Disabled 

A child can continue to receive benefits after age 18 if he or
she has a disability. The child also may qualify for SSI
disability benefits. Call us for more information.

If A Child At 18 Is A Student 

A child can receive benefits until age 19 if he or she continues
to be a full-time elementary or secondary school student. When a
student's 19th birthday occurs during a school term, benefits can
be continued up to two months to allow completion of the term.
Social Security should be notified immediately if the student
drops out of school, changes from full-time to part-time
attendance, is expelled or suspended, or changes schools. We
should also be told if the student is paid by his or her employer
for attending school.

We send each student a form at the start and end of the school
year. It is important that the form be filled out and returned to
us. Benefits could be stopped if the form is not sent back.
A student can keep receiving benefits during a vacation period of
four months or less if he or she plans to go back to school full
time at the end of the vacation.

A student who stops attending school generally can receive
benefits again if he or she returns to school full time before
age 19. The student needs to contact Social Security to reapply
for benefits.

A Word About Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance plan for people who are 65 or
older. People who are disabled or have permanent kidney failure
can get Medicare at any age.

Medicare has two parts  hospital insurance and medical insurance.
Most people have both parts.

Hospital insurance, sometimes called Part A, covers inpatient
hospital care and certain follow-up care. You have already paid
for it through part of your Social Security taxes while you were
working.
Medical insurance, sometimes called Part B, pays for physicians'
services and some other services not covered by hospital
insurance. Medical insurance is optional, and a premium is
charged. Unless you decline medical insurance protection, the
premium will be automatically deducted from your benefit. The
1994 premium amount is $41.10 a month.

If you applied for retirement or survivors benefits before your
65th birthday, you do not need to file a separate application for
Medicare. You will receive information in the mail before you
turn 65 that will explain what you need to do. Your coverage
starts automatically at age 65, even if you have not yet received
your Medicare card in the mail.

Help For Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

If you get Medicare and have low income and few resources, your
state may pay your Medicare premiums and, in some cases, other
"out-of-pocket" Medicare expenses such as deductibles and
coinsurance. Only your state can decide if you qualify. To find
out if you do, contact your state or local welfare office or
Medicaid agency. For more general information about the program,
contact Social Security and ask for a copy of the leaflet,
Medicare Savings For Qualified Beneficiaries (HCFA Publication
No. 02184).

Can You Can SSI?

If you have limited income and assets, Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) may be able to help. SSI is a federal program
administered by the Social Security Administration, but financed
from general revenues, not from Social Security taxes.
It pays monthly checks to people who are 65 or older, or blind,
or disabled. If you get SSI, you may get other benefits too, such
as Medicaid, food stamps, and other social services.

We don't count some income and some assets when we decide if
you're eligible for SSI. Your house and your car, for example,
are usually not counted as assets.

Call us for more information or to apply.

If You Disagree With A Decision We Make

If you have any questions about your payment amount or about a
letter we sent you, contact us.

If you disagree with a decision we made, you have the right to
ask that your claim be reconsidered. Your request must be in
writing and filed with any Social Security office within 60 days
of the date you receive the letter you are questioning.
There are further steps you can take after reconsideration if you


are still not satisfied. They are explained in the factsheet, The
Appeals Process (Publication No. 05-10041), available from Social
Security.

You have the right to be represented by an attorney or other
qualified person of your choice in any business with us. This
does not mean that you have to have an attorney or other
representative, but we will be glad to work with one if you wish.
For your protection, there are special rules about who can
represent you and what he or she can do. This is explained in the
factsheet, Social Security And Your Right To Representation
(Publication No. 05-10075), available from Social Security.

Part 6  The Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is my check?

Sometimes mail delivery is late. Allow three workdays after the
normal delivery date before reporting a lost check to Social
Security. See Page 4.

2. How do I get direct deposit?

Call Social Security to arrange direct deposit of your benefit.
The teleservice representative will ask you for your Social
Security claim number and information about your financial
institution, which can be found on a check or bank statement. 

3. How do I change my address?

Call Social Security and tell them your new address including the
ZIP code, your new telephone number, and your Social Security
claim number.

4. How will I know what benefits to report on my income tax
return?
The Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) shows the
amount of benefits you received in the previous year. A copy of
your SSA-1099 also is sent to the IRS. You pay income tax on your
Social Security benefits only if you have other income. 

5. I need proof of what I receive from Social Security. What can
I use?

Every year we will send you an SSA-1099 form showing how much you
received from Social Security in the past year. You can use this
as proof. If you have direct deposit, we'll send you a notice
when your check amount increases because of the cost of living
raise. You can show this notice as proof of how much you get.



6.How do I get a new Social Security card or Medicare card?
Call Social Security for your new card. Have your Social Security
number handy when you call.

7. Where is my local office?

The addresses of Social Security offices are listed in the
telephone directory under "U.S. Government" or "Social Security
Administration," or you can call our toll-free
number  1-800-772-1213  to ask for the local office's address.

8. Why is my neighbor's check more than mine?

Benefit computations are based on a person's date of birth and
complete work history, so differences are very likely. To protect
each person's privacy, we cannot give you information about
someone else's Social Security record.

9. Will you please explain this letter I got from you?

If one of our letters leaves you with additional questions, our
teleservice representatives can answer them. Some letters will
give you a local number to call, or you can call our toll-free
number: 1-800-772-1213.

10.How much can I earn this year?

The 1994 earnings limits are $8,040 for people under 65 and
$11,160 for people 65-69. There is no earnings limit if you are
age 70 or over. Call us if you need to revise your earnings
estimate.

11. Are my benefits figured on my last five years of earnings?

No. Retirement benefits are calculated on total earnings during a
lifetime of work under the Social Security system. Years of high
earnings will increase the amount of the benefit, but no group of
years counts more than another group.

12. Will my retirement pension from my job reduce the amount of
my Social Security benefit?

If your pension is from work where you also paid Social Security
taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit. Pensions
from work that are not covered by Social Security  for example,
the federal civil service or some state or local government
systems  probably will reduce the amount of your Social Security
benefit. 

13. What does Medicare cover?

The Medicare Handbook provides detailed information about covered
services. Your handbook will arrive in the mail close to the time
your Medicare entitlement starts.

14. Do I have the doctors' part of Medicare?

Medicare has two parts: hospital insurance (Part A) and medical
insurance (Part B). To determine which parts of Medicare you
have, look at the entries on your red, white, and blue Medicare
card. If you see the words, "Medical Insurance" or "Medical (Part
B)," you are covered for the "doctors' part" of Medicare.

15. How do I file a Medicare claim?

Service providers  doctors, hospitals, medical labs, etc.  are
required to submit Medicare claims. You should notify your
Medicare carrier if your doctor or other provider refuses to
submit a Part B claim for you. The phone numbers and addresses of
carriers are listed in The Medicare Handbook.

