Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 March 2000 — Page 9

The Muncie Times, March 2, 2000, page 9

SOCIAL SECURITY

Women depend on Social Security more than men

By James Warner, Social Security Manager, Muncie Women as a group depend more on Social Security than do men, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Because of its possible impact on their future, SSA recommends that women take the time to focus on their protection under Social Security. Although- Social Security coverage is the same for men and women, different work patterns and lifestyles cause females, as a group, to receive lower Social Security benefits than their male counterparts. On average, women tend to earn less, work fewer years, and receive fewer employee benefits than men, Warner said. Since women live longer than men, resources must last longer. Older women are more likely to be poor and to be dependent on Social Security than are older men. The following questions are designed to give you an idea of how much you know about your Social Security protection. If you need more information after you take the quiz, Warner suggests that you call SSA at 800-772-1213 and ask for the booklet “Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know.” 1. If you work under Social Security and qualify for a benefit on your own record as well as a spouse’s benefit on your husband’s record, you have the following option: A. Take both benefits B. Take the lower benefit C. Take the higher benefit 2. If you are divorced, you can qualify for widow’s benefits on your deceased ex-husband’s record at age 60, or disabled widow’s benefit at age 50 to 59 only if: A. You had been married 20 years B. You had been married 10 years C. You had been married 5 years

3. If you are receiving widow’s benefits at age 60 or later and get married again, you can expect the following: A. Your benefits will stop. B. Your benefits will not be affected. C. Your benefits will be reduced. 4. You can receive benefits at any age: A. As a mother of young children of a deceased worker. B. As a divorced wife. C. As a widow 5. If you marry and use your new name at work, you should be sure to do the following: A. Report your new name to your employer. B. Apply for a new Social Security card under your new name. 6. If you die, who would get benefits based on your work under Social Security? A. Your husband at age 60, or at any age with your minor children in his care, or between age 50-59 if disabled. B. Your children under age 18 and unmarried, or disabled before age 22. C. Your dependent parents 7. If you receive a pension from government work not covered by Social Security, you should expect that: A. You may not be able to qualify for Social Security benefits on your spouse’s work record. B. Your spouse’s benefit may be offset (reduced) because of the government pension. C. Both benefits would be reduced. 8. If you are receiving benefits as a mother of children who receive benefits, your portion would stop: A. When the children turn 16.

B. When the children turn 18. C. When the children turn 21. 9. If you are dividing your life between home and periods of work, you can keep your disability protection in force by: A. Maintaining 5 years of work out of the last 10. B. Maintaining 2 years of work out of the last 5. C. Maintaining 10 years of work out of the last 20. 10. If your retired husband’s former spouse applies for benefits on his Social Security record, how would this affect you and your children receiving benefits? A. Your benefits would be reduced. B. Your benefits would not be affected. C. Your children’s benefits would stop. Answers To Quiz Questions: 1. C You get the higher benefit, i.e., your own benefit plus the difference between the two. 2. B You must have been married at least 10 years 3. B Your benefits will not be affected but you should check to see if you could get a higher benefit on your new husband’s record. 4. A Your benefits as a mother of a deceased worker’s children in your care will continue until the youngest child is age 16. The children’s benefits would continue until they are age 18, or age 19 if still in school, or indefinitely if disabled before age 22. 5. A, B You must report your new name to Social Security by applying for a new Social Security card so

your earnings can be properly recorded from your W-2 Forms. Make sure your employer completes your W-2 Forms with the name shown on your Social Security Card 6. A, B, C Your husband at age 60, or at any age with your minor children in his care, or if disabled between age 50 to 59; your unmarried children under age 18 or disabled before age 22; and your dependent parents. 7. B Your spouse’s benefits may be offset by the government pension. The government pension offset applies only if you receive a government pension from your work that was not covered by SocialSecurity and you are also eligible for Social Security as a spouse or widow. The offset may reduceyour spouse or widow’s benefit by up to two-thirds. 8. A Your benefits would stop when the youngest child turns age 16 unless a disabled child in your care receives benefits. The children’s benefits would continue until they reach age 18, or indefinitely for children who are disabled before age 22 and continue to be disabled. 9. A You need recent work for disability benefits. Generally you need 5 years of work out of the last 10 years before becoming disabled. However, if you become disabled before age 31 you can qualify for disability benefits with less than 5 years of work during the period before becoming disabled. 10. B. Neither your benefit nor your children’s benefits would be affected if your husband’s former spouse applies for benefits on his Social Security record.