50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Rock Island, Illinois Office

By Cristina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABLITY HELPS PEOPLE WHO WORK
People with disabilities are challenged with both overcoming barriers and with convincing others that those barriers do not define them.
That’s why we wanted to mark this October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month by reminding you that Social Security is an earned benefit for millions of disabled individuals, and we can assist them in going back to work.

The Social Security disability insurance program, or SSDI, is perhaps the most misunderstood program of Social Security. Some people may think that SSDI recipients have never worked and are taking advantage of the system by receiving money for minor impairments.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  First, anyone who qualifies for SSDI must have worked enough to pay into the system and be “insured.” Second, Social Security has some of the strictest requirements in the world for disability benefits. To qualify, a person must not only have an impairment that will last one year or more, or result in death, but they must be unable to perform any substantial work.

Consequently, Social Security disability beneficiaries are some of the most severely impaired people in the country, and they greatly depend on their benefits. You can learn more by visiting the Faces and Facts website at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityfacts. At the website, you will find many personal stories of those who have benefitted from Social Security when they needed it most.

We also have incentives that give beneficiaries with disabilities — who are able — the opportunity to return to work. These work incentives include continued cash benefits for a period of time while you work, continued Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and help with education, training, and rehabilitation to start a new line of work. In some cases, we may even be able to deduct certain impairment-related work expenses from your countable income, making it possible to earn more and also remain eligible to receive benefits. Examples of these expenses are wheelchairs, transportation costs, and specialized equipment needed for work.

Social Security also offers the Ticket to Work program, which gives participants a “ticket” to go back to work while keeping their disability benefits. This program is free and voluntary. Ticket to Work gives access to an employment network, which offers assistance with job searches and placement, and vocational rehabilitation and training.
Those who enroll find the Ticket to Work program makes it easier to explore whether going back to work is right for them. Some even find that they are able to eventually get back to work and earn far more than the disability payments they once received.

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work for more information on the Ticket to Work program and work incentives. You may also call 1-866-968-7842 (TDD 866-833-2967).

THIS INTERNATIONAL SKEPTICS DAY, CHECK YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY STATEMENT

International Skeptics Day falls in October, making it a month of second-guessing and, hopefully, getting to the truth of the matter. At Social Security, we believe that a healthy bit of skepticism encourages you to get the facts.

We have created an easy way to cast aside doubt about Social Security, and you can access this resource any time of the year, day or night. You can clear any amount of skepticism you might have about your Social Security earnings by creating a safe and secure my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

With a my Social Security account, you can instantly check your Social Security Statement. Financial experts have said that your Statement is “… probably the most crucial financial planning document for every American.”

By thoroughly checking your Social Security Statement, you can make sure each year that your work was correctly documented. This will ensure you get a correct Social Security benefit when you start collecting.

There are many other valuable features of my Social Security that will stave off that skepticism. You can:

•  Keep track of your earnings and verify them every year;
•  Get an estimate of your future benefits if you are still working;
•  Get a letter with proof of your benefits if you currently receive them; and
•  Manage your benefits:
­–    Change your address;
–    Start or change your direct deposit;
–    Get a replacement Medicare card; and
–    Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.

If you do find a discrepancy on your Statement, you will need to collect the proper documentation from your employer to correct any misinformation and submit it to Social Security. For detailed instructions, you can access the publication How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Join the over 20 million people who are accessing their personalized accounts from the comfort of their home or office at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.