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| Introduction | |
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| The Social Security Administration | |
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| The Social Security Administration-In General | |
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| Internal Offices | |
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| Telephone Services | |
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| Internet Website | |
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| Field Offices | |
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| District Office Personnel | |
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| The Programs Operations Manual System | |
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| Eligibility Requirements | |
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| Eligibility Requirements-In General | |
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| Retirement Benefits | |
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| Disability Benefits | |
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| Spouse's Benefits | |
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| Child's Benefits | |
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| Parent's Benefits | |
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| Medicare Generally | |
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| Lump Sum Death Payment | |
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| Being Age 62 "Throughout the Month" | |
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| Marriage Requirement | |
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| Exceptions to the One-Year Duration of Marriage Requirement for Spouse's Benefits | |
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| Exceptions to the Nine-Month Duration of Marriage Requirement for Widow(er)'s Benefits | |
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| Child in Care Requirement | |
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| Child Relationship Requirement | |
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| Dependency Requirements-Children and Grandchildren | |
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| Entitlement on More Than One Account | |
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| Entitlement on More Than One Account-In General | |
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| On Your Own Earnings Record and as a Husband/Wife | |
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| On Your Own Account and Widow(er)'s Benefits | |
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| As a Spouse and as a Widow(er) | |
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| As a Spouse and as an Ex-Spouse | |
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| As the Widow(er) of Two or More Workers | |
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| Disability Benefits and Retirement Benefits | |
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| Child Entitled on More Than One Account | |
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| Other Combinations of Benefits | |
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| Applications | |
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| Applications-In General | |
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| Protective Filing Statement | |
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| Who May File an Application | |
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| When to File an Application-In General | |
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| When You Do Not Have to File an Application | |
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| Retroactivity of Applications | |
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| Rules on Medicare Enrollment | |
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| When to Start Your Benefits-The Month of Election | |
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| Required Documents-In General | |
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| Proof of Age Rules | |
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| Proof of Marriage Rules | |
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| Special Problems for Business Owners | |
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| Processing Time Frames | |
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| Withdrawal of Application | |
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| Disability Benefits-Special Provisions | |
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| Disability Benefits-In General | |
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| Definition of Disability | |
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| Earnings Record "Freeze" | |
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| Substantial Gainful Activity | |
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| Date of Onset | |
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| Unsuccessful Work Attempt | |
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| Waiting Period | |
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| Closed Period of Disability | |
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| Trial Work Period | |
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| Reentitlement Period | |
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| Effect of Workers' Compensation Benefits | |
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| Effect of Other Kinds of Benefits or Payments | |
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| When Disability Benefits End | |
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| Continuing Disability Review | |
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| Ticket to Work | |
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| Insured Status-Work Requirement | |
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| Work Requirement-In General | |
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| Fully Insured Status | |
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| Currently Insured Status | |
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| Disability Insured Status | |
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| Quarters of Coverage-In General | |
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| Benefit Amounts | |
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| Benefit Amounts-In General | |
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| Computation of Benefits | |
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| Reductions for Age-In General | |
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| Recomputations-In General | |
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| Deductions-In General | |
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| Earnings Limitations | |
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| Earnings Test-Introduction | |
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| Earnings Limits-In General | |
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| How Earnings Are Charged against Monthly Benefits | |
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| Monthly Earnings Test | |
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| Income That Counts | |
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| Income That Does Not Count | |
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| When Earnings Are Counted | |
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| Self-Employment Income and Losses | |
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| Special Problems for Business Owners | |
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| Special Rule for the Year of Death | |
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| Work outside the United States | |
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| Reporting Requirements | |
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| Reporting Requirements-In General | |
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| Reporting Earnings-In General | |
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| Late Filing-Penalties | |
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| Reporting Changes in Marital Status | |
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| Reporting Changes in Student Status | |
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| Reporting Child Not in Care | |
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| Reporting Death | |
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| Reporting Changes in Disability Cases | |
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| Reporting Work Outside the United States | |
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| Payment, Nonpayment, and Nonreceipt of Checks | |
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| Checks-In General | |
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| First Check | |
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| Regular Monthly Checks | |
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| Combined Checks | |
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| Special Checks | |
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| Direct Deposit | |
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| Nonpayment-In General | |
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| Suspension of Benefits | |
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| Termination of Benefits | |
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| Lost or Stolen Checks | |
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| What to Do if Your Check Does Not Come | |
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| Replacement Checks | |
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| Expedited Payments | |
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| When to Go to Your Congressperson | |
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| Overpayments | |
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| Overpayments-In General | |
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| Common Causes of Overpayment | |
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| Overpayment Procedures | |
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| Waiver of Overpayment | |
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| Without Fault | |
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| Against Equity and Good Conscience | |
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| Defeat the Purpose of Title II | |
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| Guidelines on Assets | |
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| Guidelines on Income and Expenses | |
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| Compromise Settlements | |
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| Guidelines for Accepting Compromise Offers | |
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| Repayment | |
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| Deductions | |
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| Installments | |
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| Medicare | |
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| Medicare-In General | |
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| Hospital Insurance | |
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| Medical Insurance | |
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| Prescription Drug Coverage | |
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| Part D Enrollment Periods | |
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| Private Health Insurance | |
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| What Is Not Covered | |
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| Assignment of Benefits | |
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| When to File Claims | |
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| Processing of Claims | |
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| Medicare Card | |
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| Appeals Process | |
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| Appeals-In General | |
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| What You Can and Cannot Appeal | |
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| Reconsideration | |
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| Personal Conference-Overpayment Cases | |
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| Hearing | |
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| Appeals Council Review | |
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| Court Review | |
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| Time Limits | |
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| Reopening Closed Cases | |
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| Attorneys | |
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| Miscellaneous Provisions | |
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| Supplemental Security Income | |
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| Black Lung Benefits | |
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| Benefit Estimates | |
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| Obtaining Your Earnings Record | |
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| Correcting Your Earnings Record | |
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| Reporting Change of Address | |
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| Claim Numbers and Beneficiary Identification Codes | |
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| Who Gets Benefits Due a Deceased Beneficiary | |
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| Taxation of Social Security Benefits | |
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| Immunity of Benefits from Creditors | |
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| Criminal Penalties for Fraud | |
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| Foreign Social Security Credits | |
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| Railroad Employment | |
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| Receiving Benefits for Someone Else-The Representative Payee | |
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| List of Secondary Proof of Age | |
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| Quarters of Coverage Required for Insured Status | |
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| List of FICA Yearly Maximums | |
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| Sample Benefit Amounts | |
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| Reduction Factors | |
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| Cost of Living Increases | |
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| Earnings Limits by Year | |
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| Most Common Beneficiary Identification Codes | |
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| Chart Summarizing the Effect Between Beneficiaries | |
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| Delayed Retirement Credits | |
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| Medicare Premiums and Deductibles for 2007 | |
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| Preventative Services Covered by Medicare Part B as of 2007 | |
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| Index | |
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| About the Author | |