Stan Fromuth & Joe Olenski
www.socialsecurityretirementconsultants.com
Providing guidance and assistance to the American public in making decisions on their
Social Security eligibility and continuing Social Security issues.
Qualifications – Stan Fromuth & Joe Olenski
• Former employees of the Social Security Administration
• Retired with 76+ years of service with agency
• Regarded as program and policy experts on
Social Security issues
• Both involved in writing and interpreting Social Security
policies and procedures
• Both spent many years as District Managers working
directly with public on Social Security issues and problems
Why do people need assistance and guidance
in making decisions related to Social Security?
1. Social Security programs are very complex
2. Avalanche of baby boomers becoming eligible for Social
Security
benefits is overwhelming the Social Security Administration
3. Changes in Social Security Regulations make it more difficult
for applicants/beneficiaries to amend their decisions
4. YOU MAY LOSE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY
IF YOU FAIL TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS
Benefits Administered By SSA
Sources for Additional Information
Social Security Website
-
www.socialsecurity.gov
Medicare Website
-
www.medicare.gov
SSA’s National 800#
-
1-800-772-1213
Medicare’s National 800#
-
1-800-633-4227
Benefits Administered by the Social Security
Administration
Social Security Cash Benefits
Supplemental Security Income Cash Benefits
Medicare (limited involvement)
Types of Social Security Benefits
Retirement Benefits
Disability Benefits
Spouses/Divorced Spouses Benefits
Widows/Widowers and Divorced Widows/Widowers Benefits
Mothers/Fathers and Divorced Mothers/Fathers Benefits
Childrens Benefits
Parents Benefits
Lump Sum Death Benefit
Retirement Benefits
• Must have attained retirement age – at least age 62
• Must be insured for benefits
• Must be retired within the meaning of the Social Security Act
• Amount of the benefit depends on how much you
contributed to the Social Security during your lifetime
‘Retired’ Within the Meaning of the SS Act
• You do not need to stop working to be considered “retired”
for Social Security purposes
• Social Security has set up certain income limits to
determine if or to what extent an individual is retired
• The income limits depend on your age
Disability Benefit
• Must be disabled and unable to work
• Disability must be expected to last at least one
year or result in death
• You must be insured for Social Security benefits
• You must have a current attachment to
employment
• Amount of the benefit depends on how much you
contributed to the Social Security benefit during
your lifetime
Spouses Benefits
•
Payable to the spouse of a wage earner who is entitled to retirement or
disability benefits
•
Spouse must be at least age 62 or have a child of the wage earner in
his/her care. That child must be under age 16 or be disabled
•
Must be married to the wage earner for at least 12 months or married to
the wage earner and be the parent of the wage earner’s biological child
•
Amount of the benefit is equal to 50% of the wage earners unreduced
benefit. (Reduced for age if the spouse is collecting based on age and is
under full retirement age)
Divorced Spouses Benefits
• Divorced spouse must be at least age 62 . No benefit payable for child in care
• Wage earner must be entitled to retirement or disability benefits (EXCEPTION:
Independently entitled divorced spouse provision)
• Must have been married to the wage earner for at least 10 years
• Be unmarried
• Amount of the benefit is equal to 50% of the wage earners unreduced benefit.
(Reduced for age if the spouse is under full retirement age).
Widows/Widowers Benefits
• Benefits payable to the surviving spouse of a deceased wage earner.
• Surviving spouse must be at least age 60. (age 50 if disabled)
• Surviving spouse must be unmarried. Remarriages after age 60 do not affect
eligibility.
• Must be married to the wage earner for at least 9 months OR must be married to
the wage earner and be the parent of the wage earner’s biological child.
• Benefit amount depends on the age of the widow. At FRA,
the widow receives the same amount the deceased was receiving.
If the deceased died before filing for benefits, the widow/widower receives the
deceased’s full, unreduced benefit amount at FRA. Benefits claimed prior to
FRA can be reduced for age.
Divorced Widows/Widowers
•
•
•
•
Benefits payable to the surviving divorced spouse of a deceased wage earner
•
Benefit amount is the same as widows/widowers.
Same age requirements as widows and widowers
Marriage to the wage earner must have lasted at least 10 years
Divorced spouse must be unmarried. Remarriage after age 60 does not affect
eligibility.
Mothers/Fathers Benefits and Divorced
Mothers/Fathers Benefits
• Benefits payable to surviving spouse of a deceased wage earner if
the surviving spouse has a child of the wage earner in his/her care.
The child must be under age 16 or disabled.
• The surviving spouse must be unmarried. Remarriage bars
entitlement or terminates entitlement to benefits.
• The amount of the benefit is equal to 75% of the deceased
unreduced benefit amount.
Children’s Benefits
• Payable to the children of retired and disabled workers who
are entitled to benefits and to the children of deceased
workers.
• Child must be under age 18 OR under age 19 and still in
high school OR disabled prior to attaining age 22
• Amount of the benefit for the child of a retired or disabled
worker is 50% of the workers unreduced benefit
• Amount of the benefit for the child of a deceased worker is
75% of the workers unreduced benefit
Parents Benefits
• Benefits may be payable to the parent of a deceased wage
earner.
• The parent must be at least age 62.
• The parent must have been receiving at least ½ support
from the wage earner.
• The amount of the parents benefit is 82.5% of the deceased
wage earners unreduced benefit.
Lump Sum Death Payment
• A one time payment of $255 payable on the account of a
deceased worker.
• Payable to the surviving spouse who was living with the wage
earner at the time of his/her death.
• If no living with spouse, benefit payable to a spouse entitled to
monthly benefits on the deceased wage earners account.
• If no eligible spouse, the benefit is payable to children eligible for
cash benefits on the wage earners account.
• If no eligible spouse or child, no death benefit payable on the
account.
Other Issues Relating to Monthly Benefits
• Multiple Entitlements – receive only the amount of the highest benefit
• Family Maximum Limitation and Divorced Spouse Affect on Family Max
• Deemed Filing for Reduced Benefits
• No Deemed Filing at FRA provided individual is at least 62 before January 2,
2016
• Independently Entitled Divorced Spouses
• No Deemed Filing In Widows/Widowers Claims
• File and Suspend
Same Sex Benefits
Benefits for same sex couples are the same as benefits for
heterosexual couples.
Filing for Benefits
• 4 months prior to entitlement
• On-line
• Face-to-face at local office
• By phone
Make an appointment!
Call 1-800-772-1213
How to obtain information and/or contact the
Social Security Administration
www.socialsecurity.gov
1-800-772-1213
Medicare Benefits
• Eligibility
 At Age 65
 Twenty-four months after disability benefits begin
 Chronic Renal Disease or ALS
• Part A – Hospital
• Part B – Doctors
• Part D – Prescription Drugs
SSRC
Q
A
www.socialsecurityretirementconsultants.com