What if my income has gone down?
If your income has gone down due to any of the following
situations, and the change makes a difference in the
income level we consider, contact us to explain that you
have new information and may need a new decision
about your income-related monthly adjustment amount:
• You married, divorced, or became widowed;
• You or your spouse stopped working or reduced your
work hours;
• You or your spouse lost income-producing property
because of a disaster or other event beyond your control;
• You or your spouse experienced a scheduled
cessation, termination, or reorganization of an
employer’s pension plan; or
• You or your spouse received a settlement from
an employer or former employer because of the
employer’s closure, bankruptcy, or reorganization.
If any of the above applies to you, we need to see
documentation verifying the event and the reduction
in your income. The documentation you provide
should relate to the event and may include a death
certificate, a letter from your employer about your
retirement, or something similar. If you filed a federal
income tax return for the year in question, you need
to show us your signed copy of the return. Use
Form SSA-44 Medicare Income-Related Monthly
Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event to report
a major life-changing event. If your income has gone
down, you may also use Form SSA-44 to request a
reduction in your income-related monthly adjustment
amount. You can find Form SSA-44 online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ssa-44.pdf.