One of the best ways to get up to speed on how Social Security (SSA) works and what benefits you can expect is to attend a live seminar. These seminars typically run from 1 to 2 hours and provide a forum where you'll have many of your questions answered by SSA staff or other well-versed professionals. They usually cover retirement benefits and retirement planning, as well as more targeted information such as disability benefits, survivor benefits, and more.

We often see notices for Social Security workshop events targeted to Baby Boomers in the areas we serve around Freehold and Galloway, New Jersey, and in Hobe Sound, Florida. So, we thought it would be valuable to give you an idea of what to expect if you're considering attending a Social Security planning seminar.

1. What are the purposes of Social Security? You'll learn about the Social Security Act and what programs have been established to protect retirees, aged, and disabled persons. Some of these programs include retirement and disability insurance, hospital and medical insurance, prescription drug benefits, unemployment insurance, and public assistance and welfare programs (i.e., food and energy assistance, child support enforcement, etc.).

2. What services can a local Social Security office provide? Learn how to apply for a Social Security number, check your earnings record, and apply for Social Security benefits, SSI, healthcare and hospital insurance protection, and extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs. Local offices can also help with enrolling for medical insurance, applying for food stamps, and providing information about individual and family rights and obligations under the law.

3. Why is your Social Security coverage important? Social Security is more than a retirement program. It can help support your family when you die and provide monthly benefits when you retire or become severely disabled. Your work in Social Security covered employment helps you and your family qualify for those benefits.

4. Find out who is NOT covered under SSA's programs. About 90% of workers in the U.S. are in employment or self-employment covered by SSA retirement, survivors, disability, and hospital insurance programs, but some federal and state government employees are not.

5. Why is insured status important, and how is it determined? You must be insured under Social Security before retirement, survivors or disability insurance benefits can be paid to you or your family. Social Security credits are used to determine your insured status. The number of Social Security credits you earned determines if you have fully insured status, currently insured status, or insured status for establishing a period of disability.

6. How do you earn Social Security credits? You earn Social Security credits by working at a job covered by Social Security, up to a maximum of four per year. A credit is awarded if you meet income minimums for a calendar quarter. For example, to earn quarterly credits, you need to make at least $1,120 in a quarter in 2011. The dollar amount changes annually. The amount of earnings is determined by a formula in the Social Security Act that reflects a national percentage increase in average wages. Total earnings may consist of non-agricultural wages, military wages, railroad compensation, agricultural wages, and self-employment income.

7. Are you eligible for monthly Social Security benefits? Get details about eligibility which falls into these broad categories:

• A disabled insured worker who has not reached full retirement age
• A retired insured worker age 62 or older
• Spousal benefits are available for a retired or disabled worker entitled to benefits who is age 62 or older, or who cares for a child who is either under age 16 or older or age 16 and disabled, and who is entitled to benefits on the worker's Social Security record.
• The divorced spouse of a retired or disabled worker is entitled to benefits if you are 62 and married to the worker for at least 10 years when other requirements are met.
• Dependent benefits, under specific requirements.
• The surviving spouse or a disabled surviving spouse when specific requirements are met.

8. Are Social Security benefits subject to taxes? The answer is maybe, so this could be one of the most important reasons to attend a seminar.

9. What are the payment dates? Social Security payments are usually dated and delivered on the third day of the month following the month for which the payment is due, but there are some exceptions. Also, learn if you can change your payment days and how funds are typically delivered to you through direct deposit.

10. What are SSA's hospital and medical insurance benefits? Learn about Medicare Parts A-D, supplemental coverage, and what benefits you can expect to receive.

11. How can you obtain Social Security services? A seminar will provide several options, including:

• Visiting nearly 1,300 Social Security offices nationwide. To find the office nearest you, go to the SSA office locator.
• Call the SSA toll-free telephone number, 1-800-772-1213, from 7 am to 7 pm on any business day. The TTY number is 1-800-325-0778.
• A local SSA office representative can personally visit your home if you cannot visit the office or contact station because of illness or infirmity.
• Access SSA online at socialsecurity.gov.

DISCLAIMER:  Medi-Solutions Insurance Agency, LLC is not affiliated or endorsed with the Social Security Administration or the Federal Medicare Program. Information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer of insurance, advice, or recommendation. The information provided is not intended as tax, financial, investment, or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your situation.

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