Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits

by Matthews, Joseph L.; Berman, Dorothy Matthews

• ISBN13: 9781413316858
• ISBN10: 1413316859
• Edition: 17th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-01
• Publisher: INGRAM PUB SERVICES

Summary

Everyone wants to get the highest possible retirement and pension income--not to mention the best medical coverage. This guide helps readers to discover the benefits they're entitled to and how to claim them as easily as possible.

Author Biography

Joseph Matthews, an attorney since 1971, has written several Nolo titles, including How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim and Long-Term Care. Dorothy Matthews Berman, Joseph's mother, worked with seniors for over 25 years.

Table of Contents

Your Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions Companion	p. 1
Locating Chapters That Fit Your Needs	p. 2
Social Security: The Basics	p. 9
History of Social Security	p. 11
Social Security Defined	p. 14
Eligibility for Benefits	p. 17
Earning Work Credits	p. 22
Determining Your Benefit Amount	p. 23
Your Social Security Earnings Record	p. 27
U.S. Citizens' Rights to Receive Benefits While Living Abroad	p. 28
Receiving Benefits as a Noncitizen	p. 28
Social Security Retirement Benefits	p. 31
Work Credits Required	p. 33
Timing Your Retirement Benefits Claim	p. 35
The Amount of Your Retirement Check	p. 41
Working After Claiming Early Retirement Benefits	p. 44
Social Security Disability Benefits	p. 49
Who Is Eligible	p. 51
What Is a Disability	p. 57
Amount of Disability Benefit Payments	p. 64
Collecting Additional Benefits	p. 67
Eligibility Review	p. 70
Returning to Work	p. 72
Social Security Dependents Benefits	p. 75
Who Is Eligible	p. 76
Calculating Dependents Benefits	p. 79
Eligibility for More Than One Benefit	p. 81
Working While Receiving Benefits	p. 82
Government Pension Offset	p. 83
Social Security Survivors Benefits	p. 87
Work Credits Required for Eligibility	p. 88
Who Is Eligible	p. 89
Amount of Survivors Benefits	p. 92
Eligibility for More Than One Benefit	p. 95
Working While Receiving Benefits	p. 97
Government Pension Offset	p. 98
When to Claim Social Security Benefits, and Which One to Claim	p. 101
Considerations for All Beneficiaries	p. 102
Considerations for Specific Situations	p. 107
Supplemental Security Income	p. 115
Who Is Eligible	p. 116
Benefit Amounts	p. 124
Reductions to Benefits	p. 127
Applying for Benefits	p. 131
Retirement, Dependents, and Survivors Benefits	p. 132
Disability Benefits	p. 141
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)	p. 147
Finding Out What Happens to Your Claim	p. 149
Appealing a Social Security Decision	p. 155
Reconsideration of Decision	p. 157
Administrative Hearing	p. 166
Appeal to the National Appeals Council	p. 172
Lawsuit in Federal Court	p. 174
Lawyers and Other Assistance	p. 175
Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits	p. 183
Two Retirement Systems: CSRS and FERS	p. 185
Retirement Benefits	p. 186
Disability Benefits to Federal Workers	p. 201
Payments to Surviving Family Members	p. 205
Applying for CSRS or FERS Benefits	p. 208
Veterans Benefits	p. 209
Types of Military Service Required	p. 210
Compensation for Service-Connected Disability	p. 211
Pension Benefits for Financially Needy Disabled Veterans	p. 215
Survivors Benefits	p. 216
Medical Treatment	p. 219
Getting Information and Applying for Benefits	p. 221
Medicare	p. 223
The Medicare Maze	p. 227
Medicare: The Basics	p. 229
Part A Hospital Insurance	p. 234
How Much Medicare Part A Pays	p. 247
Part B Medical Insurance	p. 255
How Much Medicare Part B Pays	p. 266
Part D Prescription Drug Coverage	p. 374
Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals	p. 307
Enrolling in Part A Hospital Insurance	p. 309
Enrolling in Part B Medical Insurance	p. 313
Medicare's Payment of Your Medical Bills	p. 315
Paying Your Share of the Bill	p. 322
How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice	p. 322
Appealing the Denial of a Claim	p. 328
Medicare Part D: Enrollment, Exceptions, and Appeals	p. 347
Switching Part D Plans	p. 35
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs)	p. 357
Medigap Insurance	p. 359
Gaps in Medicare	p. 361
Standard Medigap Benefit Plans	p. 363
Terms and Conditions of Medigap Policies	p. 378
Finding the Best Medicare Supplement	p. 385
Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans	p. 393
Medicare Advantage Managed Care Plans	p. 397
Medicare Advantage Fee-for-Service Plans	p. 401
Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan	p. 403
Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans	p. 414
Your Rights When Joining, Leaving, or Losing a Medicare Advantage Plan	p. 418
Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare	p. 421
Medicaid Defined	p. 423
Who Is Eligible	p. 424
Medical Costs Covered by Medicaid	p. 429
Requirements for Coverage	p. 432
Cost of Medicaid Coverage	p. 434
Other State Assistance	p. 435
Applying for Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, or QI	p. 438
What to Do If You Are Denied Coverage	p. 441
Index	p. 443
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.