Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions

1. Social Security: The Basics

• History of Social Security
• Social Security Defined
• Eligibility for Benefits
• Earning Work Credits
• Determining Your Benefit Amount
• Your Social Security Earnings Record
• Reading Your Social Security Statement
• Correcting Your Record
• U.S. Citizens’ Rights to Receive Benefits While Living Abroad
• Receiving Benefits as a Noncitizen

2. Social Security Retirement Benefits

• Work Credits Required
• Timing Your Retirement
• The Amount of Your Retirement Check
• Working After Claiming Early Retirement Benefits

3. Social Security Disability Benefits

• Who Is Eligible
• What Is a Disability
• Amount of Disability Benefit Payments
• Collecting Additional Benefits
• Eligibility Review
• Returning to Work

4. Social Security Dependents Benefits

• Who Is Eligible
• Calculating Dependents Benefits
• Eligibility for More Than One Benefit
• Working While Receiving Benefits
• Government Pension Offset

5. Social Security Survivors Benefits

• Work Credits Required for Eligibility
• Who Is Eligible
• Amount of Survivors Benefits
• Eligibility for More Than One Benefit
• Working While Receiving Benefits
• Government Pension Offset

6. When to Claim Social Security Benefits, and Which One to Claim

• Considerations for All Beneficiaries
• Considerations for Specific Situations

7. Supplemental Security Income

• Who Is Eligible
• Benefit Amounts
• Reductions to Benefits

8. Applying for Benefits

• Retirement, Dependents, and Survivors Benefits
• Disability Benefits
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Finding Out What Happens to Your Claim

9. Appealing a Social Security Decision

• Reconsideration of Decision
• Administrative Hearing
• Appeal to the National Appeals Council
• Lawsuit in Federal Court
• Lawyers and Other Assistance

10. Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits

• Two Retirement Systems: CSRS and FERS
• Retirement Benefits
• Disability Benefits to Federal Workers
• Payments to Surviving Family Members
• Applying for CSRS or FERS Benefits

11. Veterans Benefits

• Types of Military Service Required
• Compensation for Service-Connected Disability
• Pension Benefits for Financially Needy Disabled Veterans
• Survivors Benefits
• Medical Treatment
• Getting Information and Applying for Benefits

12. Medicare

• The Medicare Maze
• Medicare: The Basics
• Part A Hospital Insurance
• How Much Medicare Part A Pays
• Part B Medical Insurance
• How Much Medicare Part B Pays
• Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

13. Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals

• Enrolling in Part A Hospital Insurance
• Enrolling in Part B Medical Insurance
• Medicare’s Payment of Your Medical Bills
• Paying Your Share of the Bill
• How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice
• Appealing the Denial of a Claim
• Medicare Part D: Enrollment, Exceptions, and Appeals
• Switching Part D Plans
• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs)

14. Medigap Insurance

• Gaps in Medicare
• Standard Medigap Benefit Plans
• Terms and Conditions of Medigap Policies
• Finding the Best Medicare Supplement

15. Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans

• Medicare Advantage Managed Care Plans
• Medicare Advantage Fee-for-Service Plans
• Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan
• Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans
• Your Rights When Joining, Leaving, or Losing a Medicare Advantage Plan

16. Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare

• Medicaid Defined
• Who Is Eligible
• Medical Costs Covered by Medicaid
• Requirements for Coverage
• Cost of Medicaid Coverage
• Other State Assistance
• Applying for Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, or QI
• What to Do If You Are Denied Coverage

Index