QUESTION: Is there a time limit on collecting Social Security disability benefits?

ANSWER: Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition does not improve and you remain unable to work. Your case will be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled. If you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, the Social Security office will automatically convert them to retirement benefits. Learn more by reading Disability Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.

QUESTION: I get Social Security because of a disability. How often will my case be reviewed to determine if I’m still eligible?

ANSWER: How often your medical condition is reviewed depends on how severe it is and the likelihood it will improve. Your award notice tells you when you can expect your first review using the following terminology:

Medical improvement expected — If your condition is expected to improve within a specific time, your first review will be six to 18 months after you started getting disability benefits.

Medical improvement possible — If improvement in your medical condition is possible, your case will be reviewed about every three years.

Medical improvement not expected — If your medical condition is unlikely to improve, your case will be reviewed about once every five to seven years.

QUESTION: How can I get a copy of my Social Security Statement?

ANSWER: If you are age 18 or older, you may get your Social Security Statement online at any time after creating an account at www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement.

The statement provides estimates for retirement, disability and survivors benefits, as well as a way to determine whether your earnings are accurately posted to your Social Security record.

Social Security sends paper Social Security Statements in the mail only to people age 60 and older and, beginning July 2012, to workers the year they turn 25. If this applies to you, you should receive your Statement about two to three months before your birthday.

Also, you can get an instant, personalized estimate of your future retirement benefit using Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

QUESTION: My child, who gets Social Security, will be attending his last year of highschool in the fall. He turns 19 in a few months. Do I need to fill out a form for his benefits to continue?

ANSWER: Yes. You should receive a form, SSA-1372-BK, in the mail about three months before your son’s birthday. Your son needs to complete the form and take it to his school’s office for certification. Then, you need to return page two and the certified page three back to Social Security for processing. If you can’t find the form mailed to you, you can find it online at the following address: www.socialsecurity.gov/schoolofficials/ssa1372.pdf.

QUESTION: I currently receive Social Security disability benefits. I now have a second serious disability. Can my monthly benefit amount be increased?

ANSWER: No. Although your Social Security disability benefit eligibility is based on having a severe disability, the benefit amount is based on the amount of your lifetime earnings before your disability began and not the number, degree, or severity of your disability. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dapproval2.htm.

QUESTION: I just started my first job and my paycheck is less than I expected. Why am I paying for retirement benefits when I have a lifetime to live before retirement?

ANSWER: Besides being required by law, you are securing your own financial future through the payment of Social Security and Medicare taxes. The taxes you pay now translate to a lifetime of protection, whether you retire or become disabled. And when you die, your family (or future family) may be able to receive survivors benefits based on your work as well. Your Social Security and Medicare payments also help today’s retirees. To learn more, visit the website at HYPERLINK “http://www.socialsecurity.gov/”www.socialsecurity.gov.

This column was prepared by the Social Security Administration.