In this guide 3 sections
Retirement can leave Medicare premiums based on income earned while you were still working. If you are paying an income related adjustment and stopping work caused a large enough income reduction, ask Social Security to use more recent income information.
Should you file SSA-44?
You should consider filing if you or your spouse stopped working or reduced work hours, and the resulting income reduction would lower or eliminate your income related adjustment. Federal rules list stopping work and reducing hours as major life changing events.
What should you include?
- 1.Identify retirement or stopping work as the life changing event. State who stopped working and when the work change occurred.
- 2.Give the more recent tax year you want Social Security to use. Report the lower modified adjusted gross income for that year and the next year, if applicable.
- 3.Attach evidence of the work change. Examples include a signed employer statement, proof that a business was transferred, or your own signed statement under penalty of perjury describing the work separation.
- 4.Include a copy of the filed federal tax return for the more recent year when available. A filed return is the preferred income evidence.
- 5.If that return is not available, provide equivalent income evidence and a signed statement under penalty of perjury. Include your intended tax filing status if it could affect the determination.
What if the tax return is not ready?
Social Security may accept equivalent evidence when the newer federal tax return is unavailable. Ask Social Security what evidence fits your income sources and which tax year to enter if the form does not clearly match your timing.
Questions families ask
Is retirement a qualifying life changing event?
Yes. Federal rules include stopping work or reducing work hours by you or your spouse.
Is a lower income enough by itself?
No. For this process, the life changing event must cause a reduction in modified adjusted gross income that lowers or eliminates the income related adjustment.
What is the best proof of my lower income?
The preferred evidence is a copy of your filed federal income tax return for the more recent year. Social Security may accept equivalent evidence with a signed statement under penalty of perjury when that return is unavailable.
Can income affect both Part B and Part D premiums?
Yes. Medicare says Part B premiums may be higher based on income, and Part D premiums may also cost more based on income.
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