Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 8 June 1996 — Page 26
The Muncie Times, June 6,1996, Page 26
►SOCIAL SECURITY Social Security wants to identify inmates
William D. grown Manager. Mancie Social Secaritg Women need to leam more about Social Security benefits Women need to be especially alert to their Socialy Security rights and responsibilitie to get the most out of their Social Security protectioa Although Social Security is the same for men and women, differences in lifestyles and work patterns that characterize the genders can mean different patterns of Social Security benefits and coverage. For example, women are more likely to qualify for benefits on the basis of their husbands’ earnings than men are to qualify for benefits on their wives’ earnings. Women may qualify for spouse’s benefits, mother’s benefits, widow’s benefits or a divorced spouse benefit This means that women need to be aware ofhow Social Security treats them as workers, wives, widows, divorced wives and mothers. If you choose to be a homemaker, you are covered under Social Security through your husband’s work When the family income is reduced because of his retirement death or disability, you may qualify for Social Security benefits at 62, at any age if you have minor children in your care receiving benefits, or as eariy as age 60 as a widow, or from 50 to 59 as a disabled widow. However, if you divorce after less than 10 years of marriage, this protection is not available to you. If you choose a career outside the home, and about 60 percent of all women do, you earn Social Security protection of your own for yourself and your family. If you die or become disabled, your children get benefits until they’re 18 or 19, if still in school. Your husband could also qualify for benefits on your earnings. If you alternate between a career and homemaking, you need to be aware that you can maintain your full Social Security protection with a little attentioa Any Social Security credits you earn remain on your record, and after 10 years of work in which you have earned the maximum of four credits each year, you are fully insured for retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.
f ^ SOCIAL SECURITY TOLL-FREE 1-800-772-1213 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday
But for disability benefits, you also need to have recent work. For example, if you’re over 30, you need the maximum amount of credits for 5 out of the last 10 years (20 credits). Younger workers need less, as little as six credits for 11/2 years of work under age 24. If you qualify for benefit both as a spouse and as a worker, you get the higher of the tow. That is, you get your own benefit plus the difference between the two. Whether to take a benefit on your own earnings or a spouse’s benefit may be more complicated than that, however Forexample, if you take a widow’s benefit at the earliest possible age, 60, it is reduced to 71.5 percent of the worker’s benefit But if you take it at age 65, you get 100 percent of the deceased worker’s benefit The important thing is that you recognize the need to stay on top of your Social Security protectioa For more information, call Social Security at its toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.
u
My 16-year-old daughter is
going to babysit the neighbor’s children 40 hours a week this summer. Are her
earnings taxable for Social Security?
[®I No. Workers under age 18 are exempt, unless household employment is their main occupation. If you have questions about reporting household employment and paying the Social Security taxes, call the Internal Revenue Service’s toll-free number, 1-800-829-
1040.
I recently turned 65 and signed up for Medicare. Will Medicare pay for my prescription drugs? No, Medicare does not pay for most prescription drugs. If you have any other general questions about what Medicare pays for, “The Medicare Handbook” outlines Medicare benefits and describes what Medicare covers and what it does not. If you didn’t receive your handbook, or if you have more specific questions, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. I®| I recently applied for disability benefits. If I’m eligible for disability benefits, will I automatically get Medicare benefits? Not right away. You will have to be a disability beneficiary for 24 months before you will be enrolled in Medicare.
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