Social security Q&A

Published Saturday, January 25, 2003

Q: I'm 55 years old and have had some heart surgery. I'm recuperating now and plan to go back to work soon. But in case things take a turn for the worse, how do I sign up for Social Security disability benefits?

A: Instead of waiting for a "turn for the worse," you should consider filing for Social Security disability benefits right now. You can do it online at www.socialsecurity.gov . Or you can start the ball rolling by calling (800) 772-1213 (TTY: 800-325-0778).

File now because disability claims can take several months to process. If you end up going back to work, then you can simply drop your claim. But if you're forced into a disability retirement, your claim will be well along the way. The disability application asks a lot of questions about how your impairment prevents you from working. Be prepared to give us the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the doctors, clinics, hospitals, etc. where you received treatment. Make a list of all the medications you take, and make a separate list of all the jobs you've held in the last 15 years, together with a summary of your job duties.

Q: My mother gets a Social Security widow's benefit. Her bills are piling up, and I want to help her out financially. But a neighbor told me that any money I give her would reduce her Social Security check. Is this true?

A: No it's not. Your neighbor is confusing Social Security with a completely separate program called Supplemental Security Income. You could give your mother a million dollars and it wouldn't reduce her Social Security benefits by a nickel. But because SSI is a needs-based program for low-income people, we generally have to count all income, including gifts of cash from relatives, when determining eligibility.
