50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Rock Island, Illinois Office

By Cristina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

NOT READY TO RETIRE? YOU CAN STILL APPLY FOR MEDICARE ONLINE

Did you know that you can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to retire? And it takes less than 10 minutes! There are no forms to sign and usually no required documentation. We’ll process your application and contact you if we need more information. To apply for Medicare and find other important information, visit www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare.
If you want to start receiving Medicare at age 65, you must apply for Medicare no earlier than three months before your 65th birthday and no later than three months after that birthday. We refer to this window of opportunity to apply for Medicare as your initial enrollment period.

Some Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for Extra Help to pay for the monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments related to the Medicare Prescription Drug program. You must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia to qualify for the Extra Help. For more information on Extra Help, visit www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp.

You may also want to read these publications:

• Apply Online for Medicare — Even if You Are Not Ready to Retire at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10530.pdf.
• When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10147.pdf.
  Help a friend or family member by sharing this information. Our programs are here for those who need them.

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question:

How can I protect myself against identity theft?

Answer:

First, don’t carry your Social Security card with you. Keep it secure at home with your other important papers. Second, don’t readily give out your Social Security number. While many banks, schools, doctors, landlords, and others will request your number, it is your decision whether to provide it. Ask if there is some other way to identify you in their records.

If you are the victim of identity theft, you should report it right away. To report identity theft, fraud, or misuse of your Social Security number, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (the nation’s consumer protection agency) recommends you:

• Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the following companies (The company you contact is required to contact the other two, which will then place alerts on your reports.):
  • Equifax, 1-800-525-6285.
  • Trans Union, 1-800-680-7289.
  • Experian, 1-888-397-3742.
• Review your credit report for inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you did not open, and debts on your accounts you cannot explain.
• Close any accounts you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
• File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
• File a complaint with the FTC at 1-877-438-4338 (TTY 1-866-653-4261).

Question:

I’m trying to decide when to retire. Can Social Security help?

Answer:

The best place to start is with a visit to the online Social Security Statement, which provides you with estimates of benefits for you and your family, your earnings record and information you should consider about retirement and retirement planning. It is easy to access your statement online by creating a my Social Security account. To create an account, please visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount. The “right” time to retire is different for everyone and depends on your individual situation. To help you make your own decision, we offer an online fact sheet, When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits, that highlights some of the factors to consider. Find this publication at www.ssa.gov/pubs/10147.html.