Re: Can't Stand Dealing with SSA

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

@rms1954 The best thing you can do for yourself is call your local office and inquire if you need an appt. to come in or is it first come, first served. It sounds like you only need to collect your SS check and no medical insurance and you need to explain to SS that you are under your husband's medical insurance. This is the only way you will resolve this and hopefully get your $135 back.

kindness is strength

Junker2327 · ‎03-11-2010

I am currently going through this very same thing. I have sent in paperwork twice and sent my first card back. SS told me everyone takes Part A. You can opt out of Part B if you are on your husbands insurance and he is still working. I finally got through to them yesterday and they say they are working on mine and that they will refund me the $135.00. I was told to start using this now even though my birthday is not for three more weeks. So tomorrow I go in for a yearly physical and I guess I am going to see what they say about it as far as me using it.

Beckyblu

KKWA · ‎08-21-2011

@libbyannE is right, you need to go to the office and talk with them. They are very nice to deal with in person

jellyBEAN · ‎04-03-2010

Seems anywhere you call these days - operators are always busy and you have to wait and wait and wait. Some places will call you back on an automated system so you don't have to hang onto the phone.

I have not yet applied for Medicare but will do so at the proper time. I did apply for early SS online and found it to be much easier than I xpected. Everything seem to go very smoothly.

Sorry you're having issues. Yes, it is always best to do things in person if you can and have an office not too far from your residence. Even if you have to drive an hour or two it might be worth it to get things straightened out.

Flowers are nature's way of laughing

PinkyPetunia · ‎03-09-2010

I walked in to a local SS office without an appointment. Didn't know one was needed. I had to wait a while but I was seen.

I also didn't take part B as my husband's job provides insurance. I will worry about getting part B when I reach that fork in the road.

Rockycoast · ‎03-02-2016

Husband and I retired at 62. We have had no problems with SSA. We registered online. Recieve direct deposit so no chance of stealing checks. The rep gave us a call when they recieved the application. She was very professional, knowledgable, answered any questions we had and was nice to boot. We expect the same treatment from the SSA when we reach 65. So far it has been a pleasure dealing with SSA. As has been stated before, go down to the office and talk to a rep face to face. Get all your questions answered.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@Rockycoast wrote:
Husband and I retired at 62. We have had no problems with SSA. We registered online. Recieve direct deposit so no chance of stealing checks. The rep gave us a call when they recieved the application. She was very professional, knowledgable, answered any questions we had and was nice to boot. We expect the same treatment from the SSA when we reach 65. So far it has been a pleasure dealing with SSA. As has been stated before, go down to the office and talk to a rep face to face. Get all your questions answered.

You have no choice, receiving a check in the mail is not an option.

nomless · ‎03-10-2010

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
I walked in to a local SS office without an appointment. Didn't know one was needed. I had to wait a while but I was seen.

I also didn't take part B as my husband's job provides insurance. I will worry about getting part B when I reach that fork in the road.

As you discovered, an appointment is NOT needed.

As usual with all SS / Medicare threads, there is incorrect info posted here. OP, don't rely om responses here. Talk to Medicare dirctectly.

SharkE · ‎08-19-2010

Wish it was just that easy. Walk in , without appt, sign in, sit down and wait a few minutes. Not where I live.

Yeah, you can walk in, without appt, but, bring a box lunch and some water.

Line forms at 8 and there's about 50 people ahead of you.

There is no magic phone number to call. You have to call the national 1-800 number and they will try to persuade you to do everything online because the local offices don't want to fool with you and the national line's job is to navigate you away from a face to face meeting.

Poor DH had to get loud and forceful with them and finally the supervisor hollered "give him his appt". So we get there and still had to wait half hr. because the agent was on the phone. We were told what he could expect in way of benefits by putting off retirement till he was 70, but, since then we got a letter saying it would be less then what we were told face to face

This point in time we don't know what he'll get for sure. Not going thru it again whenever the first check arrives we'll know for sure I guess.

If you don't have any questions then yeah file for whatever online, but, if you want to know if your allowed to work after the age of 70 or if your other assets may interfere with overall income you have to ask these tough questions face to face. No computer can help you if you have complicated issues.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

Part A is free, there is no premium for that. Don't use it if you don't want it. I actually helped two friends with the retirement benefits and Medicare and I found the online site to be incredibly user friendly. There were no "forms" for their Part B. Everything was done online and I was surprised that they didn't need to present birth certificates. In your case, you should go into your local SSA office and talk with someone and just explain that you either don't want Part B or you want to delay Part B. You aren't getting anywhere with phone calls and mailings, you need someone to explain it all to you.