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Top 3 Social Security MISTAKES: WRONG CHECK! Former SSA Insider! · Dr Ed Weir Show

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administration, they have a saying.
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Let's get the right check to the right
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person at the right time. So, we're
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going to talk about a couple of those
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things today and how Social Security,
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unfortunately, is failing a lot of
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people out there by not providing the
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right check at the right time. So, if
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you're new to my channel, my name is Ed
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Weir. I ran the third bus social
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security office in the country. You
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know, in my in my semi semi-retirement,
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I'm helping everybody uh make sure
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you're getting the right check for you
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and your family at the right time and
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the right person and the right amount
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and the right time. So, this is also a
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live Q&A. If you got any questions about
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your specific situation, make sure you
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join my live Q&A. I do this every single
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day almost until my wife tells me I have
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to take a break. Uh 3:00 West Coast
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time, 6 o'clock East Coast time. All
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right, so let's go ahead and get into
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it. Let's get into why there's so many
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people out there not getting the
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benefits they're eligible for that they
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paid for. And then I shouldn't take too
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long, five or 10 minutes, because it's
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all a lot of it is your specific
0:58
situation. So, I'll get into as many
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questions as I possibly can. So, the
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number one thing is uh people forget to
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check their earnings record. Your social
1:06
security benefit is based on how much
1:09
you actually paid into social security.
1:12
So, let me pull up my handydandy little
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chart here. So, this is how they
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calculate your benefits over your high
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35 years of earnings. People still think
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it's your last three, your last five, or
1:24
last 10 or whatever. No, that's no,
1:25
that's not it. Your high 35 years of
1:29
earnings. So, Social Security looks at
1:32
that high 35 and they index those for a
1:34
wage index. You know, you made $20,000
1:38
when 1980, that's might be worth like
1:40
$80,000 today. So, they take that
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$80,000 month, that amount,
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and
1:48
another 34 years, and they add all those
1:51
up. They divide it by 420 months. That's
1:54
how many months is in 35 years. And they
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come up what's called an Amy, averaged
1:59
indexed monthly earnings. So, they say,
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"Okay, over your 35 years of earnings,
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your high 35 years of earnings, your
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average earnings was $2,000, let's say."
2:08
Okay? And then they do this math um to
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make the your check more progressive.
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Lower people that earn less throughout
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their life get a higher replacement
2:21
rate. People that made a lot more money
2:23
over their life get a lower replacement
2:26
rate. So if your average earnings
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throughout your life was, let's say,
2:29
$1,000 a month, you would probably get
2:32
about 90% replacement. So you'd get
2:35
about $900.
2:37
If your
2:39
average earnings throughout your life
2:41
was $10,000,
2:43
you ain't getting $9,000. You ain't
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getting no 90% replacement rate like
2:47
that person with that been $1,000. Yeah,
2:49
sorry. You get about a 35% replacement
2:53
rate. So, your check is going to be
2:54
about $3500.
2:57
So, it's been progressive. It's been
2:58
progressive since day one for for 97% of
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us except for those people that now are
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uh beneficiaries of the social security
3:06
uh that fairness act that was passed uh
3:09
uh what was it about a year and a half
3:10
ago now. Yeah, they get extra than
3:13
everybody else but that I'm not going to
3:15
go into that one. Okay. So that's how
3:17
they make it. They they calculate it by
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those uh those bin points and that's how
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they make the calculation.
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So that's how your benefits are
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calculated and the key is
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it depends on your high your your
3:33
earnings those high 35 years and if your
3:35
earnings record are is incorrect you're
3:39
not getting the correct benefit amount
3:40
for the rest of your life. And what
3:42
happens is is people don't check their
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earnings record.
3:47
And people that finally check their
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earnings record once they get ready to
3:51
retire or something or they, you know,
3:53
get injured or have to file for
3:55
disability and then they say, "Oh, wait
3:57
a second here. How come my check is so
3:59
low?" And they go find your, you look at
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the earnings record and they say, "Oh, I
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work this year, this year, this year.
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How come it doesn't show up there?" And
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you might be able to fix it or you might
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not be able to. It's too far back. You
4:14
don't have your tax returns anymore. um
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it they're not in what's called a
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suspense file. I can talk about that if
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you want, but there's a lot of people
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out there that aren't getting the
4:23
benefits they're eligible for because
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they didn't check their earnings record
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on a regular basis. That's why in the
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old days, old days, um they used to send
4:30
out that earnings statement every year.
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So, you could check it. So, you could
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say, "Oh, okay. Here it is." You know,
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if I become disabled, here's how much I
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get to get. If I, you know, retire at
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62, here's how much I'll get. 65, here's
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how much I'll get. and it has listed all
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your earnings so you could check to make
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sure they were correct. Now they don't
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do that anymore unfortunately for the
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most part and so a lot of people are
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missing those benefits. Okay, so that's
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number one. Your earnings record is
4:56
correct and therefore your benefits
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going to be incorrect forever if you
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don't fix them.
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Another starting on time, right? The
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right the right check at the right time.
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So we've already talked about the right
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check the right time. Some people are
5:09
just filing benefits not when they're
5:11
not supposed to when
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Nobody could tell you when you should
5:15
when you're supposed to. It's a it's an
5:17
individual decision when you should
5:19
start your benefits. There's a whole
5:20
bunch of variables. Do you need the
5:22
money? If you need the money, then file
5:24
for retirement benefits early. Hey, more
5:26
power to you. You need the money. You
5:27
need the money. So, all that other crap
5:29
doesn't matter.
5:31
So, if you need the money, but if you're
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working earning over your annual
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earnings limit, then they're going to be
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holding back $1 for every $2 you go
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over. And I've got a video question that
5:41
someone sent in. I'll play here in a
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little bit. She went down to the local
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office, wanted to file for benefits, and
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they said, "No, go away." And uh I could
5:48
see what they're saying. It's but it's
5:51
not right. I'll I'll talk about that
5:52
when I show the video.
5:55
So you when you want to start your
5:58
retirement benefits for for instance,
6:00
you know, do you need the money? Are you
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earning over the annual earnings limit?
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Is it your first year? They do the
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calculation on how much you can make the
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first year completely different than any
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other year. Do you have family waiting
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for benefits on your record? Spouse,
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children under the age of 18, disabled
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children, or do you want to leave some
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more for your surviving spouse? Delayed
6:19
retirement credits? Is it a tax issue?
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How healthy are you? What's what's your
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genes look like? You got a lot of
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longevity in your family. There's just
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tons and tons of questions. People
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aren't evaluating all the questions and
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checking their particular situation.
6:34
They listen to
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someone on YouTube and the person says,
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"Hey, you're dumb if you don't start
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your benefits at 62 or you're dumb if
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you don't start your benefits or 67 or
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70 or something." So, those videos are
6:48
in my estimation. Um, yeah, it might be
6:51
good for those people making those
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videos, but it might may or may not be
6:55
good for you, but nobody should tell you
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whether without asking a whole bunch of
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questions.
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they shouldn't say anything about when
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you're going to start your benefits. Um,
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it's all an individual situation. It
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depends on your particular situation.
7:09
All right. So, and one of the other
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things, probably the biggest one is, and
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the main reason I do this live Q&A on a
7:18
regular basis is because people aren't
7:21
getting that they they filed for the
7:24
wrong benefit. They're not getting the
7:26
check, the type of check, the benefit
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type of check that they're supposed to.
7:30
they filed for retirement benefits, but
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they should have filed for disability
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benefits. Or they should have filed for
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retirement and disability. Or they
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should have filed for surviving spouse
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benefits and not retirement benefits.
7:40
They should have filed for disabled
7:41
widow benefits. They should have filed
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for independently entitled divorce
7:44
spouse benefits. There's just so much
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out there that people just don't know.
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They think social security is retirement
7:50
and social security cards and they don't
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understand. the DWB, IEDs, the rib limb,
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um surviving delay surviving spouse,
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they know the whip rib, and there just
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so much information. So, um that's why
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I've got over 2,000 videos out there on
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YouTube and in other formats going over
8:11
there. And all right, so let's get into
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some questions. Let me show that live
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question that recorded question that
8:19
someone sent in. And this is Yeah, she
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was told to kind of go away. That makes
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no sense whatsoever.
8:28
>> Hello. Um, I am one of your subscribers.
8:32
I just want to say thank you for all the
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that you do, your team does, and for all
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the information that you continue to
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share with us. My question is
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>> I will be turning 62 within a couple of
8:47
months. I have received a recent
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statement from the Social Security
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Administration.
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I have paid well into
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the fund on my benefits. So, I do
9:00
qualify for benefits. However, I make
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well over the max amount of money
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allowable,
9:08
but I [clears throat] want to take your
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advice and schedule an appointment with
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Social Security anyway.
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And actually I was rejected. Uh the
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social security person that I spoke with
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refused to take an appointment from me.
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They said because I make too much money
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and if I am
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continuing to work that my benefits
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would be suspended anyway. So it's not
9:35
worth me coming into the office. So I am
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confused. What should I do? Um,
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I tried to make an appointment. I was
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told they would not even see me because
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I make too much money.
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Uh, what do I do? So, I hope you can
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help me move forward or not. I do have
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to work probably for another couple of
10:00
years before I could cut back, but um, I
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understand the state of the trust, so I
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just want to know what to do. So, I look
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forward to your help and your advice and
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thanks again.
10:15
>> Okay, I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank
10:16
you. Thank you. All right. So, um yeah,
10:19
Social Security in that situation should
10:20
never send send somebody back. If you
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want to file for benefits, doesn't
10:24
matter. You file for benefits. And
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that's the little side story here. This
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is um you see lawyers all the time talk
10:31
about, oh, if you file for, you know,
10:32
Social Security benefits, you you know
10:34
you know this large percentage of people
10:36
are denied. That's because Social
10:38
Security employees have to take
10:40
applications. If you want to file,
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then that's it. We're going to take the
10:44
application. And this and the situation
10:46
on disability is for disability. I I'll
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get to her question here a little bit,
10:50
but I want to explain, you know, that
10:52
Social Security employees have to take
10:53
the claim. Disability, you have to be
10:56
disabled for 12 months or longer. And I
10:59
and is probably other Social Security
11:00
employees out there have had people
11:02
coming in file for disability that are
11:03
pregnant. And in every state except for
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maybe Florida, pregnancies don't last 12
11:09
months or longer.
11:11
So
11:13
people come in and we say, "What what's
11:15
your disability? I'm pregnant." Yeah,
11:17
that's not 12 months or longer. I don't
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care. I want to file. Okay, we have to
11:20
take the application and we'll deny it,
11:22
you know, because you're not, but we'll
11:23
take the application. So that gives you
11:25
an idea that Social Security employees
11:26
are not there to, you know, debate with
11:28
you whether you should file or not on
11:29
that. They, if you want to, they have to
11:32
take the application. And I don't know
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why they person sent you away. So it
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really um if if you want to go in there
11:40
with the new state of social security
11:42
that the you can't walk in anymore and
11:44
all that. Um, if you want to go to a
11:48
local social security office because you
11:50
want to find out, you know, whether
11:53
you're ready and double check your
11:55
benefit amount, if you do start, check,
11:57
you know, double check your earnings
11:58
record and stuff like that, then like
12:00
like I just talked about, then you have
12:03
every right to go and that is your
12:04
office. All those decades you paid into
12:06
FICA,
12:08
paid into Social Security, that 6.2% and
12:10
your employer paid the other 6.2%.
12:13
that went most of that money 99% of that
12:15
money went to you know take care of your
12:17
retirement and disability survivor
12:18
benefits whatever but one about but less
12:20
than 1% went to those those offices
12:24
to staff those offices to help you out.
12:26
Unfortunately, Congress is refusing to
12:28
give those resources to to Social
12:29
Security. So that's why we're in this
12:31
situation. But anyway, that's that's
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what you paid for is customer service is
12:35
to go in there and if you wanted to go
12:37
in there and ask a bunch of questions,
12:40
then you have every right to
12:43
in terms of your application.
12:46
Um, it sounds like possibly they're
12:48
right in the sense of, yeah, we could go
12:50
ahead and take your application, but
12:51
because you're working, we're going to
12:53
put you in suspense. But if that's what
12:55
you want, because you're going to be way
12:57
over the $24,480
13:00
this year, you're going to be way over.
13:01
So, you're not going to get any checks
13:02
this year or next year. If that's what
13:05
you want to do, more power to you.
13:06
That's your right to go in, file, get
13:10
your benefits started, and they
13:11
immediately put in suspense and sounds
13:13
like for the next two years, you won't
13:14
get a check. But if that's what you want
13:16
to do, then that's what you want to do.
13:18
um it won't reduce your benefit because
13:20
that's readjusted once you do unsuspend.
13:24
So it's called the ARF adjustment of the
13:26
reduction factor and the fact that uh if
13:29
if your benefits are suspended they kind
13:31
of make up for those months later so
13:33
you're not really losing anything. But
13:36
maybe you're not going to have every
13:39
single check withheld. Maybe you're
13:43
going to have 10 checks withheld and
13:45
you're going to get two checks because,
13:47
you know, you didn't make way way over,
13:50
but you made enough to stop 10 checks or
13:53
five checks or six checks, but the other
13:55
ones are going to be released. And if
13:56
you want the that that one check a year
13:58
or two checks a year, that is 100% your
14:02
right to do that. So, they shouldn't
14:03
tell you that. Uh, yeah, they that's
14:08
unsatisfactory. As we used to say in the
14:10
Marine Corps, that's unsat.
14:12
We found our wage records were in error.
14:14
Missing year and tens of thousands not
14:17
represented correctly. Meeting with
14:18
Social Security this Wednesday. Oh,
14:20
awesome. There we go, Rodney. Way to go.
14:23
That's exactly what you have to do. All
14:25
right. So, let me prepare you there. So,
14:28
do you have your So, okay, we found our
14:32
wage records. Okay. Oh, you found your
14:34
racial records were an error, but do you
14:37
actually have your W2s and your tax
14:39
returns and stuff from those years? If
14:41
you do, take them down there. They'll
14:44
play a little statute of limitations.
14:46
Three, three years, 3 months, 15 days.
14:49
Uh um
14:51
but
14:53
here here's hopefully what happened is
14:57
someone
14:59
mistyped your social security number.
15:01
you, your tax person, the IRS, social
15:03
security, whatever. And for those years,
15:07
the your earnings got to social
15:09
security, but they they they didn't
15:12
match your social security number. So,
15:14
they're in what's called a suspense
15:15
file. There's billions of dollars in a
15:17
suspense file. A lot of it comes from
15:19
people that are in this country not
15:20
working that are not supposed to be
15:22
working here. And they pay into the
15:25
system. And guess what? That's a
15:27
donation. Thank you for working
15:28
illegally in this country. you
15:30
contributed to social security and the
15:32
trust fund and but you're never getting
15:34
that money back because you're not in
15:35
the country legally. So, um but in your
15:38
case, the suspense file, hopefully your
15:41
earnings are in that suspense file. So,
15:43
you just tell the employee says, "Hey,
15:45
did you check the expense the suspense
15:47
file? You needed to do a 2.8 and check
15:48
the suspense file." Um they'll freak out
15:51
if you say it that way. And basically
15:54
what it is they will I if you worked
15:57
let's say for some place in 1982
16:00
and it shows zero earnings for that
16:03
year. So that means there's a gap there
16:05
and but if you worked for that same
16:06
company like a year before year after
16:08
then the social security has that
16:11
company's EIN the employer
16:13
identification number. So you just say
16:15
hey my 1982 earnings are in are
16:17
incorrect. There's a gap there. I work
16:19
for the same company the year before the
16:21
year after. So check the check in the
16:24
suspense file for the for the EIN for
16:27
that EIN that employer identification
16:29
number for 1982 my earnings and they
16:33
will look in there for that employer
16:34
identification number for that employer
16:37
and they'll say oh yeah uh Rodney here's
16:40
earnings right here but your last of
16:42
your social security number is one two
16:43
and this is 21 that's why it's been
16:45
sitting there in suspense file for years
16:47
and years and years okay let's go ahead
16:48
and grab it and there's no limitation on
16:50
time for that If it's there, it's there.
16:52
And they and they can, you know, kind of
16:54
verify, oh yeah, that's that's your name
16:56
and here's the mistake. And they just
16:57
grab it out of the suspense file, stick
17:00
it in your earnings record. And if
17:02
you're already receiving benefits, the
17:03
great thing is if you're already
17:04
receiving benefits, [snorts] let's say
17:06
you've been receiving benefits for 5
17:08
years,
17:09
and then all of a sudden you find out
17:12
that your earnings record is correct.
17:14
You go back there and fix it. and it the
17:16
fix is, you know, 10 years ago and that
17:19
increases your benefit by $50 a month,
17:23
they will pay you that $50 a month
17:26
for the last five years because your
17:28
earnings record should have always
17:31
included that extra money in there. So,
17:33
they will back pay you obviously, you
17:34
know, the cola and, you know, all that
17:37
stuff. But, uh, take that into
17:39
consideration. So, yeah. Uh, Rodney, let
17:41
us let us know how it goes. Um, and if
17:43
they were able to find it and if they
17:45
were able to uh put it in your and you
17:47
know put it in your earnings record and
17:48
increase your benefit amount, let us
17:50
know. Anita, I get widow benefits and
17:54
SSI, I believe. Um, they won't give me
17:57
my disability because they said I didn't
18:00
work five plus years before they
18:01
approved me for disability. This I don't
18:03
understand. I get less than $1,000.
18:07
Okay. So, if you get less than $1,000,
18:10
do you happen to get $994?
18:13
If you get $994, then yeah, you're on
18:15
SSI, supplemental security income. But
18:17
you also could be on widows benefits.
18:19
That's what I was talking about about
18:21
people not getting the right check. Is
18:26
you're getting essentially possibly two
18:29
checks. You're getting benefits from
18:31
your deceased spouse's record
18:34
for however much. it's it's probably
18:36
going to be under $994.
18:39
And then you're receiving a top off.
18:41
They're adding another check on top of
18:43
that to equal $994. And and that second
18:47
top part is comes from SSI, supplemental
18:49
security income.
18:52
So, but what they're saying is
18:55
for disability benefits, you have to be
18:57
insured twice.
19:01
that you had to actually pay into Social
19:03
Security to be eligible for for
19:05
disability benefits on your own record.
19:07
And then you also have to be what's
19:09
called currently insured. And that's
19:11
where that five-year thing comes in. You
19:13
had to pay into Social Security five out
19:17
of the last 10 years before you became
19:20
disabled. And there's a weird
19:22
calculation how they do all that. Um,
19:25
and
19:27
it's you just let them, it's called the
19:29
DLI, date last insured. So
19:33
the calculations on that it's done by
19:34
the computer. I've never seen those to
19:36
be wrong. But the the issue is if
19:40
because you had to pay five of the last
19:41
10 years. It's kind of like I compared
19:43
kind of it's not the same comparison but
19:45
like car insurance that if you had some
19:48
company you had your car insurance
19:52
five years ago and then you switch to
19:54
another company and you have an accident
19:55
you can't go back to that previous
19:56
company and it's like hey you're not you
19:58
know you don't pay us you know we're
20:00
we're not your car we're not your car
20:02
insurance anymore. It's kind of the same
20:03
thing with this disability.
20:06
Congress said if you know you could be
20:09
insured for retirement, disability and
20:12
everything, but you're not currently
20:14
insured. Five out of the last 10 years
20:16
you didn't really you didn't work. You
20:18
didn't work. And so they said you're
20:21
saying I became disabled and I can't
20:24
work because of my disability and social
20:27
security. The way Congress wrote this is
20:29
says well you really haven't been
20:30
working you know over five out of the
20:32
last 10 years. And it's not the last 5
20:35
years or the first 5 years you could
20:37
work, you know, that they they look at
20:40
the entire 10year span before you you
20:45
allege your your disability. So a what
20:49
on that is um one thing they do miss is
20:54
the date last insured and the AOD, the
20:56
DLI and the AODD.
20:59
So the AODD is your alleged onset date.
21:02
That's when you're saying you became
21:03
disabled. And that alleged onset date
21:07
that the date that they determined you
21:08
were disabled has to be before the DLI.
21:13
And that's the key. So if you if your
21:15
date last insured, the five of the last
21:17
10 years is March 1st.
21:22
That's the the last day you're insured.
21:25
And you say you became disabled on March
21:28
2nd, then yeah, they're going to deny
21:30
you. But if you say you became disabled
21:32
on, you know, February 28th, then you're
21:36
good. So, yeah, it's a weird thing. So,
21:39
you just have to make sure um whether
21:42
you told them correctly that, you know,
21:45
maybe you told them the wrong date
21:47
because the the DLI is set in stone.
21:49
It's based on your how much you paid
21:50
into Social Security. Well, it's not
21:51
really set in stone because same thing
21:54
as what I talked about in the first
21:56
part. Make sure your earnings record is
21:57
correct. Because I've seen people that
21:59
were denied for disabilities because of
22:01
this.
22:03
And it turns out be the reason why is
22:06
because Social Security didn't have a
22:08
year of earnings. So they say, "Yeah,
22:10
you're you didn't work five out of the
22:11
last 10 years." And the person looks at
22:12
their earnings record, but wait a sec.
22:14
Oh, wait a sec. Look, I I worked that
22:15
year. I'll go home and get my W2s and
22:18
I'll show you. And they plug it in and
22:19
yeah, guess what? Now you're insured.
22:22
So check your earnings record. Make sure
22:24
it's correct. and
22:26
your your data disability when you
22:29
became disabled. So,
22:32
all right. What do you think I'm Why?
22:35
Oh, why do you think I'm getting extra
22:37
help now? It'll start April. So, extra
22:40
money in my check. I won't be paying
22:43
20290.
22:45
Extra help. When you say extra help,
22:47
that's uh also called the the Lowinccome
22:51
subsidy. The extra help with your
22:52
Medicare prescription drugs. That's I
22:55
think you're talking about that. That's
22:56
what it's called. Extra help. Um, no, it
22:59
it's what you're talking about. The So,
23:04
extra money in my check. I won't be
23:06
paying the 202. That's a different
23:08
program. That's called MSP, the Medicare
23:10
Savings Program. All right. Let me um So
23:14
many people out there that they're
23:15
eligible with these benefits and they're
23:17
not getting them. And we need to go out
23:19
there and Yeah.
23:22
you need to go out there and help people
23:23
get these. All right, so the LIS, the
23:26
extra help with prescription drug, same
23:28
thing. It, as the name implies, it extra
23:32
help with your prescription drug and it
23:33
doesn't cut your social your your
23:35
Medicare Part B check. It doesn't reduce
23:38
that. It just helps you pay for
23:41
prescription drugs and it's one of the
23:43
easiest applications in Social Security.
23:45
I've taken hundreds of thousands of them
23:47
when I worked at Social Security. It's
23:48
pretty much a form that we scan in. So,
23:51
um, and yeah, so it helps you with your
23:54
prescription drugs. So, if you know
23:56
anybody out there struggling on
23:58
Medicare, struggling to pay their
24:00
prescription drugs, please, please,
24:02
please tell them to call up Social
24:03
Security to apply for the extra help
24:05
with your Medicare prescription drugs,
24:07
also called LIS, low-inccome subsidy.
24:09
So, and then the name implies in there,
24:12
lowincome subsidy. So, it's a subsidy,
24:15
it's a lowinccome type of situation.
24:17
Okay. [snorts] you're the second part of
24:20
your question, you're asking about the
24:21
MSP, Medicare Savings Program, and that
24:25
if you're if you're eligible for that,
24:27
then yes, you don't have to pay the
24:29
2290, the Medicare Part B premium. And
24:32
here's what a lot of people out there.
24:35
So, if you know anybody struggling, just
24:37
might be able to put a couple hundred
24:38
dollars more into their pocket. So,
24:41
here's what it is.
24:43
you apply for Medicaid through your
24:46
state, whatever they call Medicaid in
24:48
your state, medical, access, denali
24:50
care, whatever they call it. Um, if
24:53
you're approved at the higher levels,
24:55
there's different levels of Medicaid.
24:57
And right now they're trying to kick
24:58
people off Medicaid, reduce uh your
25:01
levels of Medicaid, reduce the doctors,
25:04
recuse reduce the help because the one
25:06
big beautiful bill cut hundreds of
25:09
billions of dollars, close to a trillion
25:11
dollars out of the Medicaid budget and
25:13
because you know the the rich and
25:15
powerful needed more tax breaks and uh
25:17
hey that's where our priorities are. So,
25:19
a lot of people are losing their
25:20
Medicaid even if they're 100% eligible
25:22
because states are losing all that money
25:24
and so they're trying
25:26
alternative methods to kick people off,
25:29
but we're keeping an eye on them. So,
25:30
make sure you subscribe and we're we're
25:32
going to watch out for that. But anyway,
25:34
if you are approved, you or someone you
25:36
know having a hard time paying that
25:38
$22.90 a month, tell them applied for
25:41
Medicaid. And if they're approved for
25:43
the higher levels called QMBB, SlimBeqi,
25:46
then that's part of the Medicare savings
25:48
program. And the state will pay,
25:50
actually it comes from federal money,
25:52
but the state will pay that $22.90,
25:57
your Medicare Part B premium, and that's
25:59
a beautiful thing. That puts 200 bucks
26:01
back in your pocket. And if you get that
26:05
one, then the extra help with
26:06
prescription drugs is automatic.
26:09
And um you might be eligible for one of
26:12
those Medicare Advantage dual eligible
26:15
plans. You can't get a Medicare
26:16
supplement plan if you're on Medicaid,
26:18
but you can get the Medicare Advantage
26:20
dual eligible plans. And some of those
26:22
have those grocery cards, you know,
26:23
those that you hear about. They do
26:26
exist. They're advertised in a super
26:28
scammy way a lot of times, but they do
26:30
exist. Depends whether one exists in
26:32
your particular area. So you can reach
26:34
out to our our friends at Chapter and
26:35
they can help you out, see [snorts] if
26:37
one exists. So you might get, you know,
26:39
extra $100, $200 a month on this grocery
26:41
card. Um, so yeah, there you could save
26:44
money on prescription drugs. You get
26:46
your $22.90
26:48
paid for. You might get one of those
26:50
grocery cards uh for a couple hundred or
26:53
$100 or whatever. So opening that up,
26:57
it's called stacking benefits. Just, you
26:59
know, you get this and you get this
27:01
other thing. Make sure you get this
27:02
other thing. People miss pieces of the
27:04
puzzle all the time, but it sounds like
27:07
you're getting the extra helps and
27:08
you're getting the 20290. So, the only
27:12
other thing is possibly I'd reach out to
27:14
chapter and see whether they can uh
27:17
whether there's one of those uh dual
27:19
eligible dual what they mean by dual
27:22
eligible is dual. You're getting you're
27:25
getting Medicare and Medicaid. You can
27:29
get both. Millions and millions of
27:31
people get both Medicare and Medicaid.
27:34
So,
27:36
all right, let's see. Dr. Ed, I've been
27:37
on SSDI since two 2011. If they make me
27:41
go back to how would I do that? I've
27:44
have
27:46
Yeah. Um
27:48
or So, you're on disability and you're
27:50
worried about the CDR, the continuing
27:52
disability review. Um, don't don't stop
27:57
stressing yourself out. You know, my
27:58
philos if you've new to my channel,
28:01
um, my philosophy on those is FCF. Old
28:05
Marine Corp, you know, old Marines out
28:06
there, not FTC.
28:09
Let's see if anybody former Marine out
28:11
there knows what FTC is. I'm That's
28:13
That's not what I said. I said FCF
28:17
for CDRs. Forget about it. Don't stress
28:19
out of over over
28:22
it. Don't stop stressing
28:26
because even if your CDR is due next
28:29
month, your rotation is up next month
28:31
and you're supposed to get one, you
28:32
might not get one because it's a it's a
28:35
congressional budget issue. If Congress
28:36
doesn't have money to to for those, they
28:38
don't they don't give the offices money,
28:40
so they don't do them. So, stop freaking
28:41
out about it. If you get it, if you get
28:44
the package, complete it. Copy. Copy and
28:48
complete it. Two C's, but FCF, anyway.
28:51
um and then send it in and forget about
28:53
it again. Because even if the office
28:56
sent you one, they might not use it
28:57
because if they had an allocation to
28:59
only do a hundred that month, they
29:02
usually send out 200 just to make sure
29:04
they fit fit, you know, fulfill their
29:05
allocation. But if your package is
29:08
number 101 and they've already fulfilled
29:10
their all, they're not going to use it.
29:12
Yeah. and they're not going to usually
29:14
hold it over for the next month and
29:16
stuff because then then the material
29:18
then your information is older and so
29:20
they Yeah. So, forget about it. Yeah.
29:23
Social Security does a really good job
29:24
freaking people out um about it, but
29:27
don't and we're coming up with a program
29:29
to help um people on CDRs um navigate
29:33
all that. So,
29:35
soon my husband passed away at 61. He
29:38
was on Social Security disability. I was
29:40
43 at the time and on SSI. When I turned
29:43
50, they switched me to widows benefits.
29:45
So, because we were both under the age
29:47
requirement I'm 68 now. Yeah. So, now
29:49
you're on just uh regular surviving
29:52
spouse benefits. So, you were eligible
29:54
for what's called DEWIB, disabled widows
29:57
benefits. So, disability benefits on a
30:00
deceased spouse's record. And you can
30:03
get that between the age of 50 and 59.
30:06
So, you're getting 71.5%
30:09
of his benefit amounts um because you
30:12
started those early and you'll continue
30:15
to get that and now it's just it's not
30:17
DWIB anymore. It's not disabled widows
30:19
benefits anymore. Now, it's just regular
30:21
surviving spouse benefits. So, you've
30:23
got no more limitations, no more you you
30:26
definitely don't have to worry about
30:28
CDRs. You don't have to worry about
30:30
being kicked off a disability
30:32
because you were kicked you were kicked
30:35
off a disability a year ago. When you
30:37
reached your full retirement age, they
30:38
switched you from disability benefits to
30:40
regular Social Security retirement
30:42
benefits, surviving spouse benefits,
30:43
same thing. Um, so you're good. No more
30:47
don't have to worry about being kicked
30:49
off. There's no more work limitations,
30:52
you know, no more trial work periods and
30:54
EPEs and eres and UWAS and none of that
30:58
garbage anymore. You can do whatever you
31:00
want. And
31:03
um because you're p you're receiving
31:04
surviving spouse benefits and you're
31:07
past 60, if you get remarried,
31:11
social security disregards it. So, if
31:13
you're receiving surviving spouse
31:14
benefits,
31:16
you can remarry after 60 and it's not an
31:19
issue. So,
31:23
um Dorothy, when I'm able to get divorce
31:25
benefits off my ex-husband when I turn
31:27
62 and 24 uh 24 months, my daughter gets
31:30
money off my ex-husband. She's disabled.
31:32
Does her money go down when I get
31:34
divorce? No. No. No. It sounds like it's
31:38
a different uh
31:41
the Yeah. No, there are some situation,
31:45
but in your situation, you only got two
31:47
people on the record and probably living
31:49
separately, divorced spouse, so it's it
31:50
won't won't affect it. So, and because
31:53
you said divorce sp Yeah, divorce
31:54
spouse, it doesn't affect it. Amazing
31:57
worker during ED and thank you for your
31:58
service as well. I'm also a war vet. Can
32:00
you explain this new bank system for a
32:02
direct pl direct deposit? I believe it's
32:05
a card. Yeah, thank you, Wayne. I
32:07
appreciate it. Um, so
32:11
are we talking um about Direct Express?
32:16
Um, yeah, that's been around for a while
32:19
for people that
32:22
um what is it? Social what was it?
32:23
Unbanked um that they are not able to
32:29
open up a bank account for whatever
32:31
reason. And Social Security hates
32:32
sending out paper checks. So they set up
32:35
with this company called Direct Express
32:37
and you can set up with it and they it's
32:39
like a you know debit card type thing.
32:40
Social Security puts their money in that
32:42
Direct Express and
32:47
I've never been a fan of Direct Express.
32:48
Their customer service at least when I
32:50
tried to deal with them when I worked at
32:52
Social Security was never great. And if
32:54
if you're able to get a regular old bank
32:56
account, try to get a regular bank
32:58
account rather than getting through a
33:00
debit card or something like that. go to
33:03
your local bank and say, "Hey, you know,
33:05
I know y'all don't like me because I did
33:07
this in the past." Whatever. Um, water
33:10
under the bridge. Now, I'm getting a
33:12
federal government check and it comes
33:15
every month and I just want that. I
33:18
don't want extra credit or anything like
33:19
that. I just want to be able to have my
33:22
direct deposit from the federal
33:24
government in this. And sometimes
33:25
they'll make it, you know, they'll give
33:28
you give you a bank account. So,
33:32
um, let me see. I get widows benefits
33:34
and SSI. I think they said I can't get
33:36
my disability because Oh, okay. Already
33:38
answered that one. Do you have to pay
33:41
taxes on SSI? If you're on SSI, then
33:46
no, you better not be paying taxes. SSI,
33:50
I want to be clear. People say, "No, I
33:54
get Social Security and I'm paying
33:55
taxes." Ed's wrong. This question asked
33:57
about SSI, supplemental security income,
33:59
the welfarebased program, the max you
34:01
can get on SSI is $994. If alls you're
34:04
receiving is $994,
34:06
yeah, the IRS, you're way under the
34:08
threshold. Um, so again, I'm not a tax
34:11
person, but I'm just saying if alls
34:14
you're receiving is $994,
34:16
if you're receiving anything other than
34:18
that,
34:20
a bunch of money coming in from
34:21
whatever, whatever, then you shouldn't
34:23
be receiving SSI. So yeah, cuz it is a
34:27
welfare based program. But if you got
34:29
any questions, take Pink Owl Pink's
34:32
suggestion and there is a voluntary tax
34:36
assistance program. So you are spot on,
34:38
Pink Owl Pink. Um, right on. You put the
34:42
question, you put that right in the
34:43
perfect place. Uh, just SSI disable.
34:46
Okay. Oh, yeah. Pink. Um, for SSI,
34:49
supplemental security income. Again,
34:52
the purpose of this channel is to help
34:54
you, you and your immediate family, but
34:56
it's also to go out there and help as
34:57
many other people as you possibly can.
35:00
So, don't be, you know, self-centered,
35:03
narcissistic. That's my job. Go out
35:07
there, you know, you think about
35:08
yourself, take care of you and your
35:10
immediate family, make sure you're
35:11
getting all the benefits and everything
35:12
you're eligible for, then go out there
35:14
and, you know, look out for other
35:15
people. We get people that come in here
35:16
live Q&A all the time, says, "Well, this
35:18
didn't help me at all. You're useless."
35:19
It's like, okay, no, you're useless
35:21
because it didn't help you. That's
35:23
great. You did the right thing. Perfect.
35:24
Awesome. More power to you. Great. You
35:26
did everything right. But could you use
35:30
some of this information and help other
35:32
people? So, and here's an example of
35:35
that. SSI, supplemental security income.
35:37
Thank you, Pink.
35:39
SSI, supplemental security income.
35:42
You can get it based on two things.
35:45
You're disabled or you're aged. aged
35:48
means for social security is 65 and
35:50
older. And for either of those, you have
35:52
to have low income, low resources. For
35:55
single, $2,000 in resources, mar
35:58
married, $3,000. So, um, so if you know
36:02
someone that's 65, 75, 85, 95 and is
36:07
struggling to get by, please tell them
36:09
to apply for SSI. Even if they get a
36:12
dollar from SSI, there's a whole bunch
36:14
of different programs that open up. So
36:16
you're like, "No, I don't want to do
36:17
that. It's only a buck." Yeah, but then
36:19
you'll get this and you'll get this
36:20
because you get that because you because
36:23
you got that, you'll get this and this
36:24
and this. So that buck turns into
36:26
hundreds of dollars. So go out there.
36:29
That's people miss those pieces of the
36:31
puzzle. All right, let's get another
36:33
video question here.
36:37
>> Yes. Um uh hello. Well, first of all,
36:39
thank you so much for
36:42
providing the uh necessary information
36:45
to all of us. Uh because it's it's just
36:49
you know when you become disabled it's
36:51
just mindboggling why they make it so
36:54
difficult for us working class that earn
36:59
this money for all these years. Well, my
37:03
question is I turned 66 this year, 2026.
37:08
I um have been approved for uh
37:13
disability SSDI since u uh 2024
37:18
and um I received my first check uh I
37:23
believe it was in January 2025
37:26
with the letter. The letter indicated
37:28
that I was approved,
37:31
but it didn't say anything about the
37:33
CZR.
37:35
Um,
37:37
I would like to know if it's even
37:39
possible for
37:42
uh for them not to indicate the date or
37:45
the time frame. I would really
37:47
appreciate if you could give me some
37:49
guidance. Thank you.
37:51
>> All right. Same thing I just talked
37:53
about a little bit ago about Yeah. the
37:54
CDR, particularly if you're 66 years
37:57
old, the continuing disability review
37:59
and you just started 2025. So if you
38:02
have a uh
38:04
if you have a really severe disability,
38:06
then your CDR isn't per, you know, 3,
38:10
five, seven years. So since you're going
38:13
to be s you said you're 66, so next year
38:16
you're going to lose your disability
38:17
benefits. 100% guaranteed you're going
38:19
to lose your disability benefits next
38:21
year. And it's a beautiful thing because
38:23
how you're going to lose it is they're
38:25
going to switch you from disability
38:26
benefits to retirement benefits.
38:29
So
38:31
yeah, you're you're you're on the cusp
38:32
of losing your disability benefits
38:35
because you're going to retirement
38:36
benefits. And most people don't even
38:37
know the switch. You're going to get the
38:39
same check. It's still going to
38:40
continue. You're still going to have
38:41
your Medicare. It's just that you're not
38:43
going to have any CDRs. They can't kick
38:45
you off disability because that's what
38:46
they're going to do. they just stop
38:48
taking your money out of the Social
38:49
Security disability trust fund and start
38:51
taking out of the Social Security
38:52
retirement trust fund. So, but most
38:54
people don't even know. So, no CDRs, you
38:57
don't have to worry about CDRs and no
38:58
earnings limitations or anything. You're
39:00
on regular retirement benefits and and
39:02
for your particular situation,
39:05
I mean, you can call them up. If you
39:07
have a really minor disability that just
39:10
squeaked by, then you might get a CDR,
39:15
but probably not. I don't think they're
39:17
going to I don't think your local office
39:18
is going to be desperate enough to send
39:20
someone a CDR package and that's 66
39:23
years old and um it's like you know they
39:26
spend three or you know 6 to9 months
39:28
doing the the the this disability review
39:32
and they say oh okay all right we're
39:34
going to Yep. Looks like uh we already
39:36
did it. We're going to go ahead and cut
39:37
you off. And they're like aha got you.
39:39
I'm already off. I'm off in retire I'm
39:41
on retirement benefits now. So they're
39:42
not going to waste their time. So
39:45
99% chance they're not going to waste
39:47
their time, but crazy stuff has happened
39:50
before.
39:52
K from Texas, can you apply for
39:55
disability and retirement? Absolutely
39:57
you can. You're not going to get both,
40:01
but a lot of people do that. Let's say
40:04
if you're 62, 63 years old and you want
40:06
to go ahead and you, you know, you're no
40:09
longer able to work because of your
40:10
disability, you file, you want to file
40:12
for disability benefits,
40:15
but you know that it's going to take 6
40:17
to9 months at the minimum in most cases
40:20
to get your decision on your disability
40:22
and you need money to live. So that's
40:26
why people get file for retirement
40:28
benefits and start getting that check
40:30
while they're waiting for their
40:32
disability to approve. It's called a rib
40:34
dib. Yep. A lot of people do that. So um
40:37
so if you do that, you'll get your
40:38
retirement benefits and then if you're
40:41
approved for disability, they'll just
40:42
switch it to disability benefits. It
40:44
stays the same. Depends when they
40:46
determine you became eligible for
40:48
disability.
40:52
>> Mr. said, "My name is Frankie here in
40:55
Florida and my full retirement age is
40:58
September this year. I'm really thinking
41:00
about going next month in April the 2nd.
41:04
My birthday is November 2nd. But my
41:07
question is, if I do decide to go or
41:10
file for my benefit on this uh next
41:13
month in April, would they retroact me
41:15
those four months or would I have to go
41:17
all the way through the month of April
41:19
in order for them to be included in the
41:21
other three months? I'm still planning
41:24
on working. I understand that I can't
41:27
make no more than $65,16
41:30
between January and September. That's no
41:33
problem for me. But I guess my major
41:35
question is I'm I'm wondering about
41:39
being retroactive with when can I go or
41:44
file for my benefits and get those four
41:46
months? Can I do it on the second or do
41:48
I have to go all the way through the
41:50
month of April in order for it to be uh
41:53
you know retroactate if I decide to go
41:57
on
41:58
or file for my benefits in April. And um
42:03
this would be my question.
42:05
>> Okay. Yeah. And then he um also um did
42:08
another short video where he says, "Oh,
42:10
yeah. By the way, I did contact Social
42:12
Security a few months ago." So, okay.
42:14
So, he's got what's called a protective
42:15
filing. All right, Frankie. [snorts]
42:17
Thank thanks for uh sending that second
42:19
video and and and filling me on that
42:20
part. So, if you have a protective
42:23
filing, so you called
42:26
So, what what you want to do is you want
42:28
to start your benefits in January, it
42:30
sounds like. So, if you called in
42:33
January or anytime before January, you
42:36
have what's called a protective filing.
42:38
If Social Security didn't close out that
42:40
pro protective filing where they said,
42:42
"Hey, you called us and you said you
42:43
wanted to file and so yeah, go for it.
42:46
You have six months to go ahead and do
42:48
it. If you don't do it within the six
42:49
months, yada yada yada, then we're going
42:50
to close it out." But you should be good
42:52
on all that. So, if you have that and
42:56
you say, "Yeah, I contacted y'all a few
42:58
months ago. I really should have filed
43:00
at that time." So, I'm going to go ahead
43:02
and do it now, but I want to pretend
43:03
like I I filed in January. So, they'll
43:06
say, "Yeah, no, okay, no problem. You're
43:07
protected back to January. We're going
43:09
to go ahead and start your benefits in
43:10
January." And what he's talking about in
43:13
terms of the annual earnings limit,
43:14
people say, "No, you can't make that
43:16
much." Yeah, he he's you can he knows
43:19
exactly what he's talking about because
43:22
his full retirement age is this year. So
43:26
because his full retirement age is this
43:27
year, he's allowed to earn up to $65,160
43:33
from January until the month before he
43:36
starts his benefit until actually full
43:38
retirement age. Um well actually once he
43:41
hits full retirement age, he can make a
43:43
billion dollars a month. So if he starts
43:46
his as long as he stays under $65,160,
43:51
I think he said his full retirement age
43:52
is in September or October. Um, let's
43:55
say it's October. So, from January till
43:57
September, he can make $65,160.
44:00
If he goes over that, then Social
44:01
Security holds back $1 for every $2 he
44:03
go over, but doesn't sound like he's
44:05
going to be over that. So, so yeah, he
44:07
can start his benefits this year. And
44:10
he's protected sounds like, uh, going
44:13
back a few months. So, so when you when
44:16
you have your appointment with social
44:18
security in April,
44:20
um tell them says, "Hey, yeah, I want my
44:23
benefits to start in January." And with
44:25
the understanding, you know, that every
44:28
month you take your benefits early, it's
44:31
reduced by one month before your full
44:34
retirement age. So, if you start your
44:35
benefits in January of this year, it is
44:37
going to be reduced by, you know, four
44:39
months. Um, but you also get that check.
44:43
So, if your benefit amount is reduced
44:44
by, you know, $5 a month or $10 a month
44:47
because you took it early, that's a $20
44:50
reduction, let's say, but then you get
44:52
those four checks. And if your check is
44:54
$2,000 a month, there's $8,000 and
44:57
you're, okay, I get $8,000 ahead of the
44:58
game. And sure, it's reduced for $20 for
45:01
the rest of my life. And so, you make
45:03
that decision. Nobody can tell you that
45:05
part of it. So
45:08
Mariposa
45:11
um I would like to know I'm disabled or
45:15
years I'm 59 was 36 years old 36 years
45:19
of married but I divorced 2021 just went
45:22
through the 2026
45:24
he is 62 when I had to count two years
45:26
21 26 oh okay so the two years so that's
45:31
that immediately is a is a clue that
45:33
you're talking about um the
45:37
independently entitled divorced spouse
45:40
benefit. So he is 62 years old. He
45:43
hasn't filed for benefits yet. Doesn't
45:46
matter because you were married to him
45:47
for 10 years or longer. And you have to
45:51
be the final divorce has to be two
45:53
years. So if you file this year, this
45:57
month in 2024, March, uh what it's been,
46:02
February 2024, the final divorce had to
46:05
happen. So you had to be you had you had
46:06
to be divorced for two years to get the
46:08
independently entitled divorce spouse
46:10
benefit. And the independently entitled
46:12
divorce spouse benefit sounds like
46:13
Mariposa knows what what knows what
46:16
she's talking about. Is that
46:20
your ex hasn't started benefits yet.
46:23
They just have to be at least 62.
46:24
Doesn't matter whether they start a
46:26
benefit. So many people out there are
46:27
losing money because they think, "Oh, my
46:28
ex hasn't filed yet, so I can't file
46:30
until they file." No. Incorrect. As long
46:33
as they're 62 years old, at least 62,
46:35
you can file. That's where the
46:36
independently entitled thing comes in.
46:39
So, and remember, just because you're on
46:43
disability, that don't that doesn't
46:44
matter. Another thing people mess up on,
46:47
they think, "Well, I'm I'm receiving
46:48
disability benefits and if I switch over
46:53
to whatever, then I'll lose my
46:56
disability and that's fine. I'll get
46:58
more money, but I'll also lose my
47:00
Medicare." That is incorrect because
47:02
you'll continue to get your disability
47:04
benefits, you'll just get that extra
47:06
money topped off there. And so, because
47:09
you're going to continue to receive your
47:10
disability benefits, you're also going
47:12
to continue to receive your Medicare.
47:14
So, and remember, we've got uh um
47:16
another what 14 15 days until the end of
47:20
the open enrollment period. So, this is
47:22
the last time for most people to
47:25
doublech checkck their Medicare
47:26
Advantage plan, you won't have another
47:28
opportunity until October. So, if you
47:31
forgot to check your plan in, you know,
47:34
last October, November, December, or if
47:38
you're not sure whether you picked the
47:39
right plan or if there was something
47:41
better out there or your situation
47:43
changed, you got a new doctor, you might
47:44
have some new issues this year, you've
47:47
got couple more weeks to check it. So,
47:49
reach out to chapter, make sure you're
47:50
prepared there. Um, have your list your
47:53
providers, your prescription, the
47:54
pharmacy that you want to keep, your
47:56
priorities. Make sure you check the
47:57
prices and make sure you're persistent
47:59
throughout the year. Chapter will help
48:01
you with that. If you get denied for
48:03
whatever reason, you have issues, need
48:04
to find another doctor, reach out to
48:06
Chapter and they help you out. So,
48:09
all right, let's see here. If I have a
48:12
if I have land in Texas that is my
48:15
primary residence, does that count as a
48:17
source of income if I'm here in
48:20
California for a short term? Uh, it
48:22
depends what type of benefit you're
48:23
receiving. Well, you're you're
48:26
[clears throat]
48:27
you're probably not receiving SSI,
48:29
supplemental security income, because
48:30
you have liquid assets. Um, so I'm going
48:34
to assume this is not SSI.
48:37
And because it's not SSI, no, doesn't
48:39
matter. So, doesn't matter.
48:42
So, if you have it, it
48:47
there is one variable. If you're a a
48:49
realtor and that's your job to have a
48:52
bunch of land and houses and that's how
48:53
that's your job. So it becomes net
48:55
income from business. So it really
48:57
depends on how your how you and your
48:59
friends at the IRS, you know, your
49:01
accountant list it. If that's your
49:03
business, then that is your business.
49:05
It's net income from business and that
49:08
might affect if you're in early
49:09
retirement.
49:11
Um but if it's just a an investment,
49:13
then nope. Doesn't help or it doesn't
49:15
doesn't hurt at all.
49:18
Not your social security benefit. That
49:19
is husband has retired LEO for the last
49:22
four years. He worked 13 and a half
49:24
years in Ellie but city never withheld
49:26
social security and Medicare from
49:28
paycheck. He worked for 20 years before
49:30
and paid in social security. Can he get
49:31
SSDI for PTSD? Probably not because even
49:36
though he's insured for social security
49:38
disability, he's not currently insured.
49:41
So he didn't pay into social security
49:44
five out of the last 10 years because he
49:46
worked under nonovered employment
49:49
through Texas, Chicago, California,
49:52
wherever um non-covered employment. So
49:56
but a lot of people miss this.
49:59
It um
50:02
just might need to file for MQG,
50:05
Medicare qualified government employee.
50:08
So
50:10
he probably is not because if if he
50:12
hasn't paid into social security five
50:14
out of the last 10 years which according
50:16
to this he hasn't he has paid into
50:19
Medicare
50:21
because those non that non-covered
50:22
employment where he worked they didn't
50:25
you know they didn't play with social
50:26
security but they played with Medicare
50:28
they paid into Medicare. So a lot of
50:32
people missed that. A lot of people
50:33
missed that. Oh yeah I worked for you
50:35
know I was a teacher. I was a
50:37
firefighter. I was a police officer. Um,
50:40
and I didn't pay into social security,
50:41
so I guess I can't get in. I'm now
50:43
disabled. I can't go down there and get
50:44
anything from them because I didn't pay
50:46
into it. You did pay Medicare. And so
50:49
many people miss that. So many people
50:51
miss that.
50:53
So if if if the person if your husband
50:56
is approved for the MQG,
50:59
then um Medicare will start earlier. For
51:03
almost everybody, it starts at 65. But
51:05
if you're on disability, it starts after
51:06
being on disability for two years, which
51:08
is the stupidest thing ever. If you ask
51:11
me and everybody in my community, it's
51:13
stupid. If you're on disability,
51:16
doesn't matter how it doesn't matter how
51:17
old you are,
51:19
you have medical issues, then you need
51:21
to see your doctor. Why care why you
51:22
have to wait for two years to get
51:23
Medicare? It the first month you get
51:26
your Social Security disability check is
51:28
the first month you should start your
51:29
Medicare.
51:32
But yeah. Um, all right. Let me get some
51:34
new people here that I don't recognize.
51:38
Um, thanks Dr. Ed. You're helping so
51:40
many people. Thank you. And I know I
51:42
know you're going to take that
51:43
information and help others, right?
51:44
Please keep up the good work. What would
51:46
we do without your dedication to helping
51:47
those of us that need honest
51:49
understanding of the system? Ah, thank
51:50
you. I appreciate it. Thank you. All
51:53
right. Let's see. I think we've got all
51:55
the video questions done for today.
51:59
Let me see if I made some. Okay,
52:01
someone's
52:03
um let's see.
52:06
Someone having audio issues.
52:09
Uh let's
52:12
see. A lot of people talking to each
52:15
other, which we love. Nice community
52:17
here, talking to each other, checking in
52:18
with each other. We uh everybody misses
52:20
Bella. Wonder where she went after her
52:22
hus after her brother passed away.
52:25
Turned 62 November 20, 2024. uh but want
52:29
to start social security in February. Uh
52:31
when do I call to start it? So um okay,
52:36
you turn 62 in November
52:39
and but you want to start in February,
52:42
next February. Yeah, just call Social
52:45
Security about 3 months before. But
52:47
remember, in the meantime, check your
52:49
earnings record. Please check your
52:50
earnings record. Make sure you get the
52:52
benefits you're eligible for there. You
52:53
paid into got a question here. I'm 53,
52:57
government worker. I can retire 2030,
53:00
but I will be 57. What a good time to
53:02
retire. Yeah, really depends on your
53:04
particular situation. But yeah, so
53:06
you're going to be taking early
53:07
retirement and you're going to get
53:08
probably that if you're federal, you're
53:10
going to get that first supplement and
53:12
stuff. But anyway, I'm on Social
53:13
Security disability and that's what I
53:15
was told. Then I can't get Medicare
53:17
until after 24 consecutive months. Yeah,
53:19
that is correct. There's a couple
53:21
exceptions for Lou Garrick's disease and
53:23
ESRD. Um, but for most people, 24
53:26
months. Is that the stupidest thing
53:27
ever? We got to change that. Come on.
53:30
Reach out to your politicians and say,
53:31
"Hey, when people get disability, they
53:33
should get Medicare immediately, not
53:35
this 2year waiting BS." So,
53:40
yeah. Sorry. Um, I'm on SSDI getting
53:43
Medicare uh on 20 after 24 months. Um,
53:47
oh, can I decline it, have insurance, or
53:50
do I get penalized? Okay. Yeah, if you
53:52
are on if you're a
53:54
offered Medicare because you're 65 or
53:58
because you've been on disability for
53:59
two years and you don't want it,
54:02
you can't you can't refuse part A. If
54:05
it's if it's zero premium, you can't
54:06
refuse it. If you're receiving Social
54:08
Security benefits, you're going to get
54:09
it done, but that's zero premium. So,
54:11
but part B, yeah, you can refuse it. Um,
54:16
but you'll get penalized in the future
54:18
if you change your mind and decide to
54:20
sign up with it if you don't have
54:22
credable coverage. which means that you
54:25
have health insurance from current work,
54:27
yours or your spouses and that employer
54:30
has 20 or more employees. If that's
54:33
considered
54:35
creditable coverage, if you don't have
54:37
that and you refuse it and then you sign
54:40
up for it later, you're going to be
54:42
charged 10% for every 12 months you did
54:45
not have health insurance from work.
54:48
Again, yours or your spouse's. So uh
54:51
diagnosed with cancer 2023 filed for
54:55
disability was told they are 18 to 24
54:57
months behind but but put us first.
55:01
True. Um yeah if for situations like
55:04
that Terry cases homeless wounded
55:07
warriors there's some different
55:08
categories of disability claims that are
55:12
approved immediately. Yeah. I've taken
55:16
hundreds of thousands of disability
55:17
claims when I worked at Social Security
55:19
and the whole BS you hear about there.
55:21
Everybody's denied the first time is BS.
55:23
Stop saying that. I've had people that
55:26
were approved uh that I took the
55:27
application in the morning and they were
55:30
approved that day or walked in the
55:32
office next day and they're already
55:33
approved. So, but those are that's
55:37
terrible that that that happens. Why is
55:40
it terrible? because they have you know
55:42
terrible disability. I mean I mean Terry
55:44
case is a terminal illness that you know
55:47
and you know you see accidents you know
55:49
on the highway someone gets in a
55:51
terrible accident and you know yeah you
55:53
know oh yeah that person is done for
55:54
life those are slam dunk. So
55:59
um people that get their disability
56:01
claim approved almost immediately within
56:03
a week or so and I'm like wow great. Uh,
56:07
but I know you wish it never would have
56:09
happened because that means that's a
56:11
terrible dis. You're dealing with
56:13
serious issues. So, it's kind of a
56:15
bittersweet. Yay, Social Security took
56:16
care of you. Wow, that's Yeah. So,
56:19
that's that's a tough one.
56:22
Um, let's see. I'm 62 years old. I'm
56:26
receiving SSDI.
56:28
Can I file for Social Security as well?
56:30
Does it decrease my Social Security if
56:32
I'm able to receive? My spouse is 70 and
56:34
getting Social Security. Um, yeah, if
56:36
you cancel your disability benefits and
56:39
you file for regular retirement
56:40
benefits, yep, it's going to be your
56:42
check is going to be reduced by 30%. So,
56:44
nobody does it. Just stay on disability.
56:46
However, your spouse hopefully your your
56:49
spouse is already receiving benefits.
56:51
Don't wait past 70 to receive social
56:53
security benefits because you're not
56:54
going to be increasing based on that
56:56
delay.
56:58
So, you can get benefits, spouse
57:01
benefits if the calculations are
57:03
correct. So, you're currently married.
57:05
You have to determine whether your
57:07
benefit amount is less than half of
57:10
their benefit amount. And don't look at
57:13
your checks. That's not what Social
57:14
Security looks at. They look at your PIA
57:16
and they look at your spouse's PIA, your
57:18
primary insurance amount. That's the
57:19
amount you would receive at your full
57:21
retirement age. So, if you don't know
57:23
that, no problem. Call Social Security,
57:25
both of you on the phone, and say, "Hey,
57:27
what's my PIA?" And can I get money off
57:31
this guy? and they'll pass the phone to
57:33
your spouse there and they'll you'll say
57:36
what's my PIA? So, can either of us get
57:38
any money off either of us less than one
57:41
half and if there's no money there then
57:45
yeah then that's it.
57:47
Um but because that's how they
57:49
calculated at that time up to 50%. Don't
57:51
take that as there's never as a living
57:55
spouse, current spouse, divorce spouse,
57:57
whatever. It's a 50% up to 50%.
58:01
Surviving spouses are up to 100%. I
58:04
can't tell you how many people are out
58:05
there that are eligible for more money.
58:08
And the reason they're not getting it
58:09
because they called 5 years ago and they
58:12
were told, "Oh yeah, no, you're not
58:13
eligible because the 50% rule." But that
58:16
person has since passed away and now
58:18
they're eligible. So I bet I bet you
58:21
someone can find someone like that. So,
58:23
if you've found someone, my regular
58:25
viewers, um, let's take a little poll
58:28
here. My regular viewers, have you there
58:30
there's two things about all this
58:34
people are not getting the benefits
58:35
they're eligible for?
58:37
And have any of you all gone out, and I
58:40
know there's going to be tons of people
58:43
um because you see it every day. Have
58:45
you gone out and helped someone find
58:47
benefits that they didn't know they they
58:49
had coming? And number two, the other
58:52
part of this is people are worried about
58:55
whether they are actually receiving the
58:57
benefit. So they're stressing, oh, did I
58:59
do the right thing? Did I do the right
59:00
thing? And giving that peace of mind is
59:04
just as good so they can go on with
59:07
their life. Oh yeah, I did everything
59:08
right. I filed for this. I I'm not
59:10
eligible for that benefit. I check this
59:12
other benefit out and my family and my
59:14
Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, we're we're all
59:15
locked on. That is awesome, too. That
59:18
means you've got peace of mind and they
59:20
don't have to sit there and worry about,
59:21
did I really get everything um that I
59:23
paid into the system for? Um because,
59:26
you know, politicians or, you know,
59:27
they're rich and powerful. They've got
59:28
an entire army of lawyers and tax
59:30
accountants and they go out there and
59:32
they get every penny they can from, you
59:35
know, to to, you know, Scrooge McDuck
59:37
and, you know, put another billion
59:39
dollars in these people's pockets. But
59:41
us regular Joe's and Janes, yeah, we
59:45
don't have that. But we do because we've
59:48
got an entire
59:50
army core of people out there that do
59:53
exactly that. And y'all are awesome like
59:55
that. So, all right, we're over an hour
59:57
for today. Um, I'll be back again
59:59
tomorrow and we'll pick another topic
1:00:02
and I'll answer a bunch of questions.
1:00:04
Y'all take care. I have a big