Q: I received notice from Social Security that my application for disability was denied because my condition does not prevent me from working. How can I appeal this ruling?
A: You should complete a Request for Reconsideration and an Appeal Disability Report. Both forms can be completed on the Internet and submitted electronically to Social Security, or you can complete paper versions and send them to your local Social Security office.
If you choose to complete the online appeal forms, you will need to have your ?Notice of Decision? letter handy. Here is the link to complete the online disability appeal forms, www.ssa.gov/disability.
No matter how you complete the forms, Social Security will send your case to the State Disability Determination Services office. That office then will review all of your medical records, both old and new. Someone there will make a new determination about your disability. It will not be the person whom made the last determination on your case. After reviewing your medical records, they will notify you in writing of their decision.
Q: I paid the maximum amount of Social Security taxes for many years and retired early. Then I took part-time employment and I now am earning much less. How will this affect my benefit at age 62 and at full retirement age?
A: First, if you begin receiving Social Security benefits at age 62, the earliest possible age for receiving retirement benefits, your benefit amount will be lower than if you had waited until full retirement age.
Second, because of the years when you worked part time and had low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower than if you had continued in your previous job paying the maximum. Your benefit payment is based on how much you earned during your working career. Higher lifetime earnings result in higher benefits.
To test different retirement scenarios, we suggest you use our new Retirement Estimator. The Retirement Estimator produces estimates based on your actual Social Security earnings record. So you will be able to see the impact of your present and projected future earnings on your estimated benefit. This is particularly helpful for people who are near retirement and need to get more precise estimates. The Retirement Estimator is at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
Q: I am nearing my full retirement age, but I plan to keep working after I apply for Social Security benefits. Will my benefits be reduced because of my income?
A: No. If you apply for benefits once you've reached your full retirement age, you can work while you receive Social Security and your current benefit will not be reduced because of the earned income. If you keep working, it could mean a higher benefit for you in the future. Higher benefits can be important to you later in life and increase the future benefit amounts your survivors could receive.
If you receive benefits before your full retirement age, your earnings could reduce your monthly benefit amount. After you reach full retirement age, we recalculate your benefit amount to leave out the months when we reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings. You can learn more by reading our publication ?How Work Affects Your Benefits,? at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10069.html.
Oscar Garcia is a public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration. You can direct your questions to him at SSA, 411 Richland Hills Drive, San Antonio, TX 78245. You also can email him at Oscar.h.garcia@ssa.gov.
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