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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Rock Island, Illinois Office

By Cristina Vital  Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office
(866) 414-9166   Mon.-Fri. 9 am – 4 PM

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question:

I have been getting Social Security disability benefits for many years. I’m about to hit my full retirement age. What will happen to my disability benefits?

Answer:

When you reach “full retirement age,” we will switch you from disability to retirement benefits. But you won’t even notice the change because your benefit amount will stay the same. It’s just that when you reach retirement age, we consider you to be a “retiree” and not a disability beneficiary.

Question:

What is the waiting period for Social Security disability benefits?

Answer:

The law states Social Security disability benefits can be paid only after you have experienced a disability continuously throughout a period of 5 full calendar months. Social Security disability benefits begin with the 6th full month after the date your disability began. You are not able to receive benefits for any month during the waiting period. The 5-month waiting period is waived for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or for those applying for expedited reinstatement of SSDI benefits. Learn more at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/approval.html.

Question:

I know you need to have limited resources to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But what is considered a resource?

Answer:

Resources are things you own that you can use for support. They include cash, real estate, personal belongings, bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. To be eligible for SSI a person must have no more than $2,000 in countable resources. A married couple must have no more than $3,000 in countable resources. If you own resources over the SSI limit, you may be able to get SSI while trying to sell the resources. Not all of your resources count toward the SSI resource limit. For example:

• The home you live in and the land it’s on do not count.
• Your personal effects and household goods do not count.
• Life insurance policies may not count, depending on their value.
• Your car usually does not count.
• Burial plots for you and members of your immediate family do not count.
• Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse may not count.
• If you are blind or have a disability, some items may not count if you plan to use them to work or earn extra income.

For more information read our section on “resources” in the booklet, Understanding SSI at www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-understanding-ssi.htm.

Question:

Are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments subject to federal income tax?

Answer:

No. SSI payments are not subject to federal taxes. If you get SSI, you will not receive an annual Form SSA-1099.

Question:

I recently retired and am approaching the age when I can start receiving Medicare. What is the monthly premium for Medicare Part B?

Answer:

In 2025, the standard Medicare Part B premium for medical insurance is $185.00 per month. Some people with higher incomes must pay higher monthly premiums for their Medicare coverage. You can get details at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Question:

How do I terminate my Medicare Part B (Medical insurance)?

Answer:

You can voluntarily terminate your Medicare Part B (medical insurance). This is a serious decision that could negatively affect you in the future. Therefore, you’ll need to have a personal interview with a Social Security representative to review the risk of dropping your coverage. The representative will help you complete Form CMS-1763 (Request for Termination of Premium Hospital and/or Supplementary Medical Insurance). To schedule your interview, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.medicare.gov.