Course Outline

Section 1: Key Definitions
- Common Acronyms
Section 2: Benefit Basics
- Who is Eligible for Benefits?
- Currently Insured vs. Fully Insured
  - Fully Insured
  - Currently Insured
  - Employees Not Covered
- How to Apply for Benefits
- When to Apply and How Benefits are Paid
- What is FRA?
Section 3: What is PIA and How it is Calculated using AIME?
Section 4: Reductions and Increases to Benefits
- Benefits before FRA
- Benefits after FRA
- Recalculating PIA based upon Additional Earnings
- Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs)
Section 5: Deemed Filing and the Effect on benefits
- Exceptions to the Deemed Filing Rule

Section 1: Who is Eligible for Widow(er)or other Survivor Benefits?
- Surviving Spouse
- Deceased Worker’s Children
- Deceased Worker’s Parents
- Former Spouse of Deceased Worker
Section 2: When can Benefits be Elected?
Section 3: How are Benefits Paid?
Section 4: How is the Widow(er)’s Benefit Calculated?
Section 5: When Does Entitlement to Benefits End?

Section 1: Eligibility for Benefits
- Length of Marriage, Minimum Age, Current Marital Status
Section 2: Independently Entitled Divorced Spouses
Section 3: Survivor Benefits of a Divorced Spouse

Section 1: Child in Care Rules
- Benefits for the Caregiver
- Children’s Benefits
Section 2: Family Maximum Benefits

Section 1: When does the Earnings Test Apply?
Section 2: How are Earnings Defined?
Section 3: Calculating the Earnings Test Forfeiture Pre-FRA
Section 4: The “Special Rule” for the Year FRA is Attained
Section 5: Special Earnings Limit Rule: Grace Year
Section 6: Adjustment to the Reduction Factor
- What is ARF?
- How is ARF calculated?
- Adjustment to benefit after ARF
Section 7: Procedural Considerations
- How Earnings are Reported
- How Forfeited Amounts are Withheld
- The Effect of the Earnings Test on Auxiliary Benefits

Section 1: History of the Taxation of Social Security Benefits
Section 2: Formula for Determining the Taxable Portion of Benefits
- Combined/Provisional Income
- Tax Efficiency of Social Security

Section 1: History of the Windfall Elimination Provision
Section 2: Workers effected by the WEP
- When the WEP PIA is used
- When the Application of the WEP ends
Section 3: How the Reduced Benefit Amount is Calculated
- A Step-by-Step Analysis

Section 1: History of the Government Pension Offset
Section 2: Benefits Reduced as a Result of the GPO and How the Offset is Calculated
Section 3: Benefits that are not Reduced by the GPO

Section 1: “Do Over” Option Rules
- Effects of Utilizing the Do-Over Option on later Benefits
- Important Do-Over Considerations
Section 2: Important Timing Issue: Attained Age
Section 3: Important Timing Issue: Backdating Payments