Skip to main content

GREAT NEWS FOR PERSONS ON PUBLIC GOVERNMENT PENSIONS

The Social Security Administration is eliminating penalties on public workers who receive pensions from federal, state or local governments. 

If you were a government employee and are now receiving Social Security benefits you may be able for a large increase due to this new rule. If you were denied Social Security benefits because you had a government pension, you may now be eligible!

In the past, Social Security benefits were reduced or eliminated for persons like teachers, firefighters, police officers or other government employees who didn't pay into Social Security. 

 If you receive a retirement or disability pension from
a federal, state, or local government based on your
own work for which you didn’t pay Social Security
taxes, your Social Security benefits could be reduced.
You may not have received any payment at all from Social Security.  *Public Law 98-21, Social Security Amendments of
1983, approved April 20, 1983.

Now, in 2025, this penalty is being done away with.  You will soon be able to receive full Social Security benefits.  If your Social Security award was reduced because you receive a government pension--you should apply now for the increase by contacting your local Social Security office.

This new rule is under review by Social Security to determine how to implement it.  But it can mean millions of dollars of increases in Social Security pay for those who have pensions from federal, state or local governments.

This is too important to ignore.  It effects thousands who once worked for cities, counties, states or the federal government. You may get hundreds of dollars (or thousands) per month based on this new rule.  Call your Social Security office to check whether you are entitled to a larger (or a new) benefit.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

RED FLAGS IN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CASES

  RED FLAGS IN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CASE A red flag is something that causes concern or raises a problem in a Social Security disability case.   In short, it’s something that may get the claim denied or cause a big problem. Here are some of the red flags that we see crop up: ·          Work after the alleged onset date (AOD).   Since the process takes so long, many claimants feel that they are forced to return to work for income.   Social Security often sees this as a sign that the claimant is not disabled. ·          Severe substance abuse.   Chronic and frequent abuse of drugs or alcohol can pose problems. ·           A skimpy work record.   A claimant who has worked very little or has jumped from job to job frequently may not have good credibility. ·          Quitting wo...

WHAT YOU WILL BE ASKED AT A DISABILITY HEARING

Most Social Security disability claims will be denied twice:  First at the end of the Application process, and again after the "Reconsideration" process.  The third stop will be a hearing before a federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). It is here at the hearing level that most SSDI claims are paid.  So, what do you need to know about your Social Security disability hearing?     First, the judge will follow the rules established by the Social Security Administration.  His or her job is to determine whether you meet the particular laws and rules to receive disability payments.  So, it is a legal proceeding where you must prove certain things in order to get paid. Among the things you must prove:  Your insured status with Social Security:  You have worked recently enough and paid into the Social Security trust fund to gain the required "work credits" to support your claim.  You have a severe medical or mental impairment supported by adequa...

HOW TO COMPLETE A FUNCTION REPORT OR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING FORM

After you apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI), you will be sent a FUNCTION REPORT to fill out and return.  This form asks a lot of very detailed questions about your daily activities:  driving, cooking, cleaning, dressing, visiting others, hobbies, etc. The Social Security Administration will use your answers to determine whether you can work or not.  You must show on this Function Report that you have limitations that do not permit you to work a full-time job.  You do this by showing your limitations in activities of daily living. Your goal in the Function Report is to show the struggles and challenges you have with everyday life.  It may not be sufficient to answer a question with "Yes" and fail to explain. For example:  "Can you drive?"  If you answer "Yes," Social Security will assume that your ability to drive is unlimited:  you can drive anytime, anywhere and as often or as far as you want.  That may not be true and would need t...