[Ohio-talk] FW: Today's News for November 14, 2012

Wed Nov 14 15:54:24 UTC 2012

Subject: Today's News for November 14, 2012

Social Security offices cut their hours

By  Pamela Engel
The Columbus Dispatch
Wednesday November 14, 2012 8:03 AM

Starting next week, Social Security offices across the country will shut their doors to the public 30 minutes early each weekday.

The reduction in hours comes as a result of reduced congressional funding. For fiscal year 2013, the agency received $250 million less than what President Barack Obama's budget recommended.

"When you deal with people, that is a lot of money," said Carmen Moreno, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Starting Monday, Social Security offices will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to a news release from the Social Security Administration. Every Wednesday beginning Jan. 2, agency offices will close at noon. Social Security offices also will be closed the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, so employees can work on reducing backlogs.

Employees will continue to work their regular hours. The agency is trying to cut back on employee overtime by reducing public office hours.

Some Social Security services don't require an office visit. Services that are available over the phone and online include: applying for retirement, disability or Medicare benefits; signing up for direct deposit; replacing a Medicare card; obtaining a proof of income letter; or informing the agency of a change of address or telephone number. The website is www.socialsecurity.gov and the toll-free phone number is 1-800-772-1213.

Not everything can be done online, however, and some people may prefer to visit an office even if services are available on the Internet or over the phone, Moreno said.

"There are some things that people have to come into an office to do," she said. "An example of that is a request for an original Social Security number if you're over 18 (years old). There has to be an in-person interview, and we have to look at many of your documents."

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman's office is hoping the online and over-the-phone services will ease the delays that might be caused by a reduction in office hours, said Caitlin Dunn, a spokeswoman for the senator.

"Sen. Portman's casework office is monitoring the situation to ensure that the change in office hours does not lead to backlog problems," Dunn said. "If anyone experiences delays, we encourage them to contact our casework office so that we can assist them."

http://www.investmentnews.com/
Retirement 2.0

Mary Beth Franklin <http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=MBFranklin>
November 13, 2012

What happens to Medicare when you suspend Social Security bennies?
You don't lose your health care coverage -- unless you opt out

I received some great questions from InvestmentNews readers following my recent post on how to voluntarily suspend Social Security benefits once you reach your normal retirement age of 66 as a way to earn delayed retirement credits.
Duane asked: "What happens to Medicare benefits when you voluntarily suspend Social Security benefits?" Nothing.
"Voluntary suspension applies only to Social Security benefits," said Dorothy Clark, a spokesperson for the Social Security Administration. "It does not apply to Medicare."
That means you can voluntarily suspend your Social Security benefits at age 66 or later and earn 8% per year in delayed retirement credits up to age 70 when you can restart your benefits at the new higher amount.
But don't confuse a voluntary suspension of benefits, which can only be done between your normal retirement age and age 70, with a withdrawal of Social Security benefits.
Under a rule that went into effect two years ago, you now have an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to withdraw your application for Social Security benefits and that must be done within 12 months of first claiming them.
When you withdraw your Social Security benefits by filing Form SSA-521, you must repay all the benefits that you and your family - such as your spouse or dependent minor children - have received based on your earnings record.
If you are already entitled to Medicare at the time of withdrawal, you may choose to withdraw your Medicare coverage, too, but you don't have to.
If you withdraw your Medicare Part A coverage, which pays for hospitalization, you must repay all Medicare Part A benefits paid on your behalf. As there is no premium for Medicare Part A, there is no premium to repay. You would only have to repay benefits if you were hospitalized during the period before you withdrew your application.
If you withdraw the Medicare Part B coverage that you already have, your coverage would continue for the current month and the next month before it ends. Most beneficiaries pay a premium of $99.90 per month for Part B coverage in 2012. But if you withdraw from Medicare Part B and re-enroll at a later day, your premium may increase by 10% for each 12-month period you were eligible to enroll in Part B but did not.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), and you withdraw from Medicare Part A or Part B (or both), your enrollment in your Advantage plan will automatically end.
If you withdraw from Medicare Part A and Part B, you will no longer be eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
Another reader posed a question with an interesting twist: Could he opt out of Medicare Part A and keep his Social Security benefits?
No, he can't
The reason for his unusual request was that he is older than 66, continues to work and is covered by his employer's health plan. He wants to keep shoveling tax-deferred dollars into his Health Savings Account, but he can't contribute to an HSA if he is enrolled in Medicare.
Eligibility for Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance is tied to monthly Social Security benefits. "Any individual establishing entitlement to monthly benefits cannot decline Medicare Part A if he or she is age 65," said Ms. Clark. "The only way to avoid Part A entitlement is through withdrawal of the monthly Social Security benefit application," she said.
As explained above, withdrawing your application for Social Security benefits within 12 months of first claiming means not only would your monthly payments stop, but you would have to repay Part A benefits, if any, that had been paid on your behalf.

Suzanne Turner, BSW, MPA
Employment Coordinator and Benefit Specialist

Cleveland Sight Center
216-791-8118 (main)
216-658-7350 (direct)
216-791-1101 (fax)
sturner at ClevelandSightCenter.org <mailto:sturner at ClevelandSightCenter.org>

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