Judging from the remarks here, there are several people who need to talk to a social security person because the remarks they have made are not true. Don't believe everything you read here.

"that includes guaranteed universal medical coverage for little or no cost"

have you lived on SS medicare for any amount of time?

I have and it isn't free and it doesn't cover everything. often not much of anything. It also limits your medical care givers, as many won't take Medicare patients.

It would be helpful if those who are saying that there is incorrect information in this thread would provide a little more detail.

"My sister's two kids got benefits after their father died...it wasn't all that much."

I know a situation similar. A friend and co-worker who had custody of his kids died. His kids went to live with their mom who'd moved out of state (she remarried) and she got about 1,000 a month for each of the 2 kids. She never paid support for the kids and wasn't use to what it cost to feed and cloth the kids, so it was a good and needed amount of money. I have no idea if she got death benefits tho. I'm sure the money made them comfortable enough with the kids living there, but I don't think they were living the high life on it with the added expense of the kids. Neither his X or her dh had high paying jobs.

The kids were pre-teen at the time and going into the teenage yrs is expensive and a boy can eat you out of house and home. Girls are expensive in other ways. I also don't know if they had medical insurance after his death. He had coverage on them at work, but that would have ceased when he died.

" But I was informed by my local office that my benefits were significantly in excess of his (longer, more consistent and higher paying employment), so no dice."

I checked that out also and was told that I could get around 30% of my X's SS and that I got more going on what I had made, so that's what I did.

Nothing was said about death benefits, most likely because he wasn't dead. If he dies, I'll have to check into that. Actually, I'll ask my friend who was an auditor and worked for several yrs for H&R Block after she retired from the tax dept of a local city. Plus, her X died this past year, so she should know about it.

The "death benefit" I received from SS when my husband died was a one-time payment of $255.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of soc sec, but I do know enough to suggest that everyone should research their own case. It isn’t hard to do, it just takes time. What is right for one is not necessarily right for the next one.

desertsteph quoted something I said and then added

"have you lived on SS medicare for any amount of time?

I have and it isn't free and it doesn't cover everything. often not much of anything. It also limits your medical care givers, as many won't take Medicare patients."

No, I'm in the group I mentioned who worked hard to improve his life circumstances and through as a result I was able to retire early and comfortably.

But you missed what I was saying with the passage you quoted. I wasn't talking about whether living on only social security was or wasn't comfortable at that point, I was talking about the hypocrisy of people who have some income and some amount of medical care through social security BUT YET are against similar programs for younger people in our population.

I know not all physicians accept Medicare patients. But there's an irony. Some of the best docs and medical experts in our country are at medical schools and most all, if not all, medical schools and their groups accept Medicare.

I agree with kris - everyone needs to investigate their own circumstances with the relevant experts, not by following hearsay and individual experiences (that may or may not be right) such as appear in this thread. Information and help are easily obtained.

Be sure to file at the earliest date of eligibility. If you wait, those benefits do not accumulate, they are lost. I waited a few months after my husband passed away to apply for the increased rate. I was told that the benefits begin the day you apply.

I had my plans all set and then they changed the law. In addition, due to the amt of money we make, they are now clawing back some of DH's SS benefits despite the fact that he's over 70 and not working. So yeah, I wouldn't make any SS decisions until I talked to someone at SS who knows what's what. Even if you knew what's what, it could be different now.

Also, be aware that if you want full SS benefits, you may have to wait longer than age 65 to get them. As part of the 'save SS' effort under Alan Greenspan way back when, for baby boomers, they started jacking up full retirement age. See here.

CindyMac, be sure to double check about Medicare...I have something nagging at the back of my mind about a problem if you don't sign up when you're first eligible, but when I looked online, it mentioned a late enrollment penalty that seemed to be waived if you're still working and getting health insurance benefits through your employer. I would check to make sure that applies to you as a retired spouse.

Olychick, I did contact our health insurer and I don't need Medicare Part B until dh actually retires. I was automatically signed up for Part A since I collect SS benefits.

Something that everyone who is married should know about SS benefits. If you are receiving less SS than your spouse and your spouse dies you can receive the amount of your spouse's benefit if you apply for it. You can not receive both yours and your deceased spouses benefit but you can receive whichever one is the higher amount if you apply for it. Always talk to your SS office when there is a life change the office.

I find it very easy to speak with SS on the phone.

Have to say I had a totally pleasant experience yesterday. The gentleman my husband contacted about his own Medicare enrollment was also able to help me with a couple issues. I couldn't thank him enough. Wish it were like that every time.

Cindymac it may not be Parts A and B but Part D. I too have seen mention of a coming requirement that everyone has to be signed up for Part D even if they do not use it. I need to check on it because I believe it starts next year which means signing up for it this fall.

I know this thread is primarily about SS, but wanted to toss this out there. We recently contacted a state assistance program to help with Medicare explanations. It's hardly an easy process. This link provides info for each state.

https://www.medicare.gov/contacts/#resources/ships

Cindymac it may not be Parts A and B but Part D. I too have seen mention of a coming requirement that everyone has to be signed up for Part D even if they do not use it. I need to check on it because I believe it starts next year which means signing up for it this fall.

This is from the official US government handbook (Medicare & You 2018) on Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D):

"If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you're first eligible, and you don't have other creditable prescription drug coverage or get extra help, you'll likely pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later. Generally you'll pay this penalty for as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage."

It's called reality

I agree.

Some people DO make poor choices, but most do the best they can with what they have. The reality is that many people because of family, health, or other issues do not make finances their highest priority. We all make, (and live with), our choices. I have friends that are way more affluent than I am, and friends that have very little and they are all by and large happy.

I do get pissed when people, unasked, see fit to lecture others on their life choices (which by the time the lecture is delivered are mostly long settled), because I think most people can decide for themselves what is important to them.

CindyMac it may stay that way but any information about changes for 2019 will not be in the handbook you referenced which is why I mentioned 2019. Just in case no one has noticed the information concerning this should be found when you look at the information on employers insurance when you are required to sign up for next year or receive a letter as I did last year that mentions the medical coverage is equal to or better than that is required.

I'm not clear on what you're saying. Also where did you mention 2019 except in the previous post?

Another point about signing up for Medicare. When you first sign up for Medicare Part B, you have a limited amount of time to also sign up for a private Medigap insurance policy that covers what Medicare does not cover. There are several different plans that cover more or less. If you sign up at that time, you care guaranteed coverage without having to pass a physical or excluding pre-existing conditions. If you wait, you probably will not be bale to get this coverage at all.

Outside, I believe what you said is incorrect. I don't think payments from retirement plans, like 401 (k) or others, are considered "wages". If so, there's no reduction of social security monthly benefits.

Check it and let me know. But another example of why people need to get their own situations addressed and questions answered by consulting with the people at the respective agencies.

I didn't read all the comments. My financial advisor recommended that I collect on my ex-husband's SS until I reached 70, then switch to my own. I collected half of my ex's amount, same as any spouse. I'm not sure how long you had to be married but it wasn't all that long. Now I collect a much larger sum from my own SS because I deferred it by a few years. Something to consider if you can.

I also have income from a pension and investments and it has no impact on my SS.

CindyMac you are correct that I did not mention 2019 but did mention " I too have seen mention of a coming requirement". New requirements normally only happen in following years not the current 2018 year so I did not see a need to mention 2019 although apparently there was.

Yes, the only thing that can/will lower SS benefits is paid employment. All retirement savings plan payouts or pensions are exempt. And even paid employment will have no effect as long as you have already reached full retirement age........but that exact date will vary according to when you were born for SS benefit determination. For example, I receive two pensions that I filed for at the same time I did SS, as soon as I became eligible. No impact on my monthly SS benefit. And because I am self employed with a small, at-home business I have had a couple of instances when my benefits were reduced when my other income exceeded SS allowable limits. Now that I have exceeded my official SS retirement age, I can earn all I like from my business without penalty.

All of this is easily found onine if you search SS benefits.......they are very clear in their explanation :-) However I have found that nothing about Medicare is very clear. That is one of the more confusing morass of data I have encountered!!

Do I understand this... if I collect spousal benefits I quailfy for medical coverage???

Contact the agency, get your information from them.

Elmer I intend to do exactly that...but in the meantime are you implying I have no right to ask this kind of question at the kt.

You're the one who often tells people what to post and what not to post, ironically. Not me. I don't care, I'm not the village sheriff.

You don't always have a good understanding of the matters you talk about and that was my suggestion to help as this thread has a lot of misinformation. In case you didn't notice. Do whatever you want, it doesn't matter to me at all. I offered a suggestion for answering your question.

DH didn't take Medicare Part D when he was first eligible. At that time it was *optional*. We never noticed when it became *mandatory*, thus he was several years late getting a Part D policy. Social Security now takes the penalty our of his benefit. The penalty has increased a very small amount every year. Advice: Even if you do not need help with prescription medication, get a policy. You don't want the penalty, and you will almost certainly need some expensive meds one day. Also...*review* the policy against what else is being offered every year; don't just keep the same one if others have cheaper premiums or cover more of you meds at a lower cost.

We've heard people claim that they pay $10 or some other small amount for their medications or as co-pays for medical services. They don't tell us the cost of the premiums. We don't know if their policies limit where they can go for care.

Beware new Medicare supplement plans. With a Trump change from the Obama legislation, companies are again going to be allowed to offer minimal coverage. You will be able to buy *cheaper*, and policies no longer have to meet comprehensive standards on what they will cover.

You don't get medicare until you are age 65. At age 65 you are automatically enrolled whether working or not but at that time you must take part B unless you are covered under an employers insurance and are exempt from penalties for delaying Part B.

Medicare part A which just about everyone gets at age 65 is hospitalization only. If you are 62 it is important to educate yourself about these things now. If your spouse is employed you have to see if coverage to you will still be offered at the time you turn 65. Then you have to weigh whether you want(or have to) to pay for part B and a supplemental plan or if you want to stay on what the employer offers if that is an option.

Bottom line is you cannot take spousal benefit early based on your husband's work record unless your husband files for his benefit first or you are widowed. The loophole of file and suspend was closed a few years ago.

You don't get medicare until you are age 65. At age 65 you are automatically enrolled whether working or not but at that time you must take part B unless you are covered under an employers insurance and are exempt from penalties for delaying Part B.

You are not automatically enrolled unless you're receiving SS benefits.

You are not automatically enrolled unless you're receiving SS benefits.

False. DH got his card sent to him when he turned 65. He did not apply for benefits and was a full time employee. You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

You both may be correct. It’s so easy to get accurate info...

https://www.medicare.gov/people-like-me/new-to-medicare/getting-started-with-medicare.html

Dh is still working and had to apply online.

Maybe the rules have changed in the past 6 years. I know DH never applies for anything without being prompted. I have to stay on top of insurance enrollment etc. every year.

My husband was 64 when he died 13 years ago today; I was 61. I chose to take his SS at that time, even though it reduced the amount due to my age. He worked far longer than I did, so all this was based on me as his widowed spouse. I did not become eligible for Medicare until I was 65, and yes, at 64 1/2, ones mailbox will be filled with information about this, what one must do, exceptions etc.

I did become eligible for TriCare when he reached 60, as he had spent 6 years on active duty in the Navy, and an additional 14 in the active Reserves. Someone who has spent 20 years in the military is eligible for retirement benefits which are both a pension and medical coverage. There was a small death benefit (can't remember how much), and a free headstone (very limited selection, but DH was quite adamant about wanting the headstone he had earned!).

At age 65 when Medicare begins, TriCare for Life starts - this is what one has as a Medicare-supplement policy and it is free - no monthly fee at all. Some doctors will accept TriCare patients (those not yet 65 and eligible for Medicare), some will not. They re-imburse at a very low rate. But ALL must accept TriCare for Life beneficiaries, even if they do not accept Medicare patients. They will be reimbursed at the same rate as Medicare. At age 74, I think there has been one time where I owed anything for my medical treatment - between Medicare and TriCare for Life, it has covered everything. It's a true blessing for me with my chronic pulmonary issues.

I do receive a spousal monthly retirement benefit for my husband's military service. I also receive his SS as a spouse/widow. It is greater than my own would be.

What many don't realize is that how much one pays for Medicare depends on ones total income (not just earned income like SS). One is put in one of 4 brackets if ones income is above a certain amount, and will pay anywhere between $187.50 up to a maximum of $428.60. The minimum paid is $134 if one meets the income threshold. Since Medicare cost is automatically taken out of ones SS benefit, when there is a Cost of Living increase in SS, one gets very little if one earns enough to be put in one of the 4 income brackets.

All of this is complicated and many people confuse SS eligibility with Medicare eligibility. Others confuse SS with SSI, which is something completely different. SSI is a program based on disability for those with little or no income. Someone receiving SSI may or may not qualify for Medicaid (NOT Medicare!).

ALL of this information is readily available online. One can also call and get information or make an appointment and see someone in person.

DO NOT take what others say as the truth (including me!)! And those tales of people getting over $20,000 a month in benefits are nothing more than Urban Legends. NO ONE gets that kind of benefits from SS or SSI. There is a maximum amount a family may receive and it's nowhere near that kind of money.

I thank my late husband every single day for putting in those 20 years in the Navy! The health care benefits (both TriCare for Life and also it's prescription benefits) are outstanding and save me a fortune. There is no "donut hole" in my prescription benefits, and most of my meds are free if I drive to a military base to pick them up 4 times a year. The few that are not on the formulary have a reasonable co-pay through ExpressScripts. One is $63 for a 3 months supply - price with no prescription plan is nearly $1600 a month!!! Yikes! Of course, he spent 6 years on active duty, some during the Viet Nam era, and then 14 years giving up one weekend a month for Reserve Duty (paid), and 2 weeks each year (also paid). Plus there was the risk of him being activated at any times as it's always based on "the needs of the military". As a school teacher, this extra income was very helpful.

People do not look into military benefits the way they once did. My DD went to college on an Army ROTC scholarship. It paid 80% of her tuition - didn't matter how high it was, still 80%. Yes, she then owed the Army 8 years in the Reserves or on Active Duty; she ranked highly enough to be able to choose the Reserves. And yes, at one point, she was terrified she was going to break activated and sent to the Middle East. At that time, she had a child who was a bit over 2 and a babe at breast. That would have been very, very hard. She was not, but she did have to do her 1 weekend a month/2weeks a year of Active Duty. It was well worth doing. She did not chose to stay in the Reserves due to the risk of being activated and parted from two very young children. If they had been older, she would have.

I was recently talking to my UPS driver - his children and my grandchildren went from the TwoDayTwos in nursery school through 5th grade, together. He told me that he pays NOTHING for his health insurance, and there are no deductibles. Yes, a package sorter would get that same benefit. This is HUGE! Yet, they are constantly looking for package sorters. I could put up with a LOT of boredom for that kind of benefit!

TriCare for Life was wonderful for my parents! Unfortunately, TriCare does not pay for assisted living so that's a downfall. My mother died in February and all her savings was gone. We barely managed the expenses above her monthly income.

TriCare for Life is nothing more than a Medicare supplement policy. No Medicare supplement pays for long term care, assisted or otherwise. Only Medicaid pays for long term care if one meets the income limitations.

Many people choose to buy long term care insurance so they don't die with all the assets acquired during their lifetime, totally gone. I do not have it but my IRA and the sale of my house would cover long term care for many, many years. If I hadn't had those, my husband and I would have gotten it.

File and Suspend was being abused for many years. I support the end of it.

Many spouses were collecting spousal benefits while working for cash. That's fraud.

File and suspend was a technique permitted under the law for a number of years. It was recommended in appropriate circumstances by "customer'-facing agency workers, who were doing their job by doing so. The law was changed and so that particular claim approach was eliminated.

Isn't it the case that anyone collecting an income-limited government benefit can circumvent the rule by working for cash? Including now? Was there something specific to this technique that you know of?

Elmer, I had a brain cramp and deleted my post. I was wrong, wrong. My excuse is lack of sleep. After the discussion took a turn talking about Medicare, I confused the two in my mind for a critical moment.....Medicare premiums can be affected by income. Not SS benefits. I am sorry.

No, nothing specific, other than mostly service industry jobs. Just happy the option is discontinued. It saves $$$$ and creates an obstacle for fraudulent claimants.

MamaPinky - someone else mentioned it, you should check into getting paid to be Aimee's caregiver. I know a couple people who do that for their loved ones. I don't know who Aimee even is, or your story, but if you're a caregiver, you should get paid for it!

Julie. This is hard to explain and probably hard to understand at least for those who know my struggles. I've ask the state for some help. Medical for myself (rest of family has it) I've ask for some help twice to help provide something for Christmas for my two young kids still counting on Santa, I've ask for help with groceries a couple of times, I've ask for help to replace a broken furnace. .. I was denied every single time. Now although I would put my feelings aside and ask for help when needed I just can not accept money because I take care of my sick daughter. I chose this girl. I was there when she was born. I knew from the second she entered the world she was going to have a life of struggles and I knew I would also...but I chose to be her mother regardless. Absolutly the money would ease burdens, but it would also cause another sort of moral burden that I couldn't accept emotionally. I do accept help with home care nurses when needed. Once both my boys were admitted to hospital together so I had to have someone at the house with Amiee. A few times while on IV antibiotic therapy a nurse had to come. A few times I was unwell and someone came to help Amiee. I was grateful and happily accepted the help. I just can not make myself take money to care for her myself.

For anyone that is ready to jump on me about this.

This is not up for debate. I will not explain myself anymore than I have above. You don't have to agree with me but just for a second put yourself in my place.

That's interesting, mama. I respect your feelings on it. I guess from my perspective, everyone pays into it for this very reason - to use when needed. You've certainly already paid plenty through payroll taxes.

I do hope you're collecting for Amiee.

MP, i understand exactly what you mean. My oldest grandchild was born when the parents were still in high school. They had school and jobs so I kept the baby. The other gma suggested i contact the state because they would pay me for babysitting. WHAT??? Pay me to babysit my own grandchild??? I never could have taken money from the state for that!

BUT, your situation is quite a bit different. Maybe you should re- evaluate. Getting a little financial help may give Amiee a bit of pride that she's contributing. It wont hurt to think it over.

Moonie I've thought it over. Trust me Amiees health care coordinator is alwayssss bringing it up....but I am going to accept help for my little Chip and his asthma. Chips medical insurance called me awhile back wanting me to file for ssi for him. I couldn't figure out why they would care so I ask. Seems when a child gets ssi the federal government pays some of the medical so it doesn't all fall on the state. Anyway I did apply. He will probably be accepted and because he's my grandson Mikes income doesn't apply in any way. I know what a help this will be and with Chip not being able to run and play outdoors it will enable us to provide much more activities that he can do. Games and crafting stuff really is pricey. This will better the quality of Chips life a LOT. He had 9 admissions in 16 months the advocate working with me believes without a doubt he will be approved. Good news huh Moonie?

That's great news, mamapinky! I'm glad you went through with it. I have asthma also, but just last week the Dr said my lungs sound good. Still, i have a lot of tightness and use my neb several times daily. It's got to be really tough for a kid that has it as badly as Chip.

Moonie it is tough on him and his brother. Tim will so often stay in and play with Chip. I have to let him sometimes but other times I insist he play outdoors awhile (yes an adult is always outside with him) once Tim said its not fair that I can play out and Chippy can't. I had to sit him down and explain about life and fairness. LOL. Its great he thinks of his brother but he also has to understand he can't give up all his likes and the things he can do... and Chip reminded him that its not fair that he (Chip) can have extra video game time when Tim can't..LOL.

I know I shared too much about the ssi but I've alread ssid too much in the past and felt it only right that my friends know my good news also.

Thanks Moonie.