Table of Contents
Introduction: Your Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions Companion 1
Locating Chapters That Fit Your Needs 2
1 Social Security: The Basics 9
History of Social Security 10
Social Security Defined 14
Eligibility for Benefits 17
Earning Work Credits 22
Determining Your Benefit Amount 24
Your Social Security Earnings Record 28
U.S. Citizens' Rights to Receive Benefits While Living Abroad 28
Receiving Benefits as a Noncitizen 29
2 Social Security Retirement Benefits 31
Work Credits Required 33
Timing Your Retirement Benefits Claim 34
The Amount of Your Retirement Check 40
Working After Claiming Early Retirement Benefits 43
3 Social Security Disability Benefits 49
Who Is Eligible 51
What Is a Disability? 56
Amount of Disability Benefit Payments 64
Collecting Additional Benefits 68
Continuing Eligibility Review 71
Returning to Work 73
4 Social Security Dependents Benefits 77
Who Is Eligible 78
Calculating Dependents Benefits 82
Eligibility for More Than One Benefit 85
Working While Receiving Benefits 85
Government Pension Offset 87
5 Social Security Survivors Benefits 91
Work Credits Required for Eligibility 92
Who Is Eligible 93
Amount of Survivors Benefits 97
Eligibility for More Than One Benefit 101
Working While Receiving Benefits 102
Government Pension Offset 103
6 When to Claim Social Security Benefits, and Which One to Claim 105
Considerations for All Beneficiaries 106
Considerations for Specific Situations 111
7 Supplemental Security Income 117
Who Is Eligible 118
Benefit Amounts 126
Reductions to Benefits 128
8 Applying for Benefits 131
Retirement, Dependents, and Survivors Benefits 132
Disability Benefits 141
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 147
Finding Out What Happens to Your Claim 149
9 Appealing a Social Security Decision 153
Reconsideration of Decision 155
Administrative Hearing 164
Appeal to the National Appeals Council 170
Lawsuit in Federal Court 173
Lawyers and Other Assistance 174
10 Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits 181
Two Retirement Systems: CSRS and FERS 183
Retirement Benefits 185
Disability Benefits to Federal Workers 199
Payments to Surviving Family Members 203
Applying for CSRS or FERS Benefits 206
11 Veterans Benefits 207
Types of Military Service Required 208
Compensation for Service-Connected Disability 209
Pension Benefits for Financially Needy Disabled Veterans 214
Survivors Benefits 215
Medical Treatment 218
Getting Information and Applying for Benefits 220
12 Medicare 223
The Medicare Maze 226
Medicare: The Basics 231
Part A Hospital Insurance 236
How Much Medicare Part A Pays 250
Part B Medical insurance 258
How Much Medicare Part B Pays 272
Part D Prescription Drug Coverage 280
Medicare Coverage for People With End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) 314
13 Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals 321
Enrolling in Part A Hospital Insurance 322
Enrolling in Part B Medical Insurance 327
Medicare's Payment of Your Medical Bills 330
Paying Your Share of the Bill 336
Your Medicare Summary Notice 337
Appealing the Denial of a Claim 338
Medicare Part D: Enrollment, Exceptions, and Appeals 357
Switching Part D Plans 365
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPS) 368
14 Medigap Insurance 369
Gaps in Medicare 372
Standard Medigap Benefit Plans 373
Terms and Conditions of Medigap Policies 387
Finding the Best Medicare Supplement 395
15 Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans 401
Medicare Advantage Managed Care Plans 405
Medicare Advantage Fee-for-Service Plans 411
Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan 413
Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans 424
Your Rights When Joining, Leaving, or Losing a Medicare Advantage Plan 428
16 Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare 431
Medicaid Defined 432
Who Is Eligible 433
Medical Costs Covered by Medicaid 438
Requirements for Coverage 442
Cost of Medicaid Coverage 443
Other State Assistance 445
Applying for Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, or QI 447
What to Do If You Are Denied Coverage 450
Index 453
