Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 December 2002 — Page 10

The Muncie Times, December 19,2002, page 10

SOCIAL SECURITY

By: James Warmer Muncie Social Security Manager

Q: I legally changed my name. Do I need to let Social Security and the Internal Revenue Service know? A: Changing your name on Social Security’s records and letting your employer know should be enough. To change your name on Social Security’s records we need one or more documents that identify you by the old name on our records and your new name. Examples include: a marriage certificate, divorce decree or a court order that changes your name. Or we can accept two identity documefits -

one in your old name and one in your new name. If you were born outside the United States, we also need proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status. For more information, visit our website, www.ssa.ogv, call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. Ask for our publication, Changing Your Name, (Pub. No. 0510642). Q: When I start receiving Social Security benefits, will the amount be the same for the rest of my life? A: Your benefit

amount will not stay the same. Generally, the benefit amount increases each year and protects beneficiaries against inflation. Social Security provides an annual cost-of-living increase based on the consumer price index. Another way that your benefit might increase is working while receiving Social Security benefits. When you work, you pay Social Security taxes. And because you pay these taxes, Social Security refigures your benefits to take into account your extra earnings. If your earning for the year are higher than the earnings that

were used in the original benefits computation, Social Security substitutes the new year of earnings. The higher your earnings, the more your refigured benefit might be. Q. I am a U.S. citizen and I have lived here all of my adult life. But now that I am retired, I want to move back to Germany, where I grew up. Can I still get Social Security retirement benefits. A. Yes, in most cases, you can still receive your payments if you are a U.S. citizen, even if you live outside the United States. In

some cases, you can receive benefits outside of the United States even if you are not a U.S. citizen.. But there are some places we cannot send a Social Security check. For more information, visit our website, ww.ssa.gov, call us at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office. Ask for Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States. (Pub. No. 0510137).

Williams Carpet

\ * * 6 0 AAINDR0PS *“

^ 1310 N. Broadway Ave.

£) KEEP

(•/ ▼ " X#) (765)284-4499

CLEANING

FAUirtV YOUR HEAD??

Residential & Commerical Carpet &

Let Us Solve Your Gutter Problems

Other Flooring

“One Stop Carpet Service Famous

Continuous Cutter

Brand Carpets & Linoleum”

and Home Improvement

We Accept Mastercard and Visa

By Shirley's Handyman

Sales • Installation • Cleaning

(765) 749-1782