In a letter to the leaders of the Olbiil Era Kelulau, SSA Administrator Greg Ngirmang said that the agency will make the necessary modifications to the policies.
Earlier House of Delegates Antonio Bells and Senate President Surangel Whipps said that several constituents of theirs have brought complaints to the OEK regarding the SSA application of the earnings test for newly retired beneficiaries.The two leaders said that the complaint was that SSA have been calculating their benefits using the earning tests by applying wages earned before these individuals become eligible to receive social security benefits.The leaders explained that the earning tests under the law is intended to determine whether the beneficiary is retired or dependant on Social Security System during the time period when the individual is eligible to receive the benefits.‘At no time should wages which were earned before an individual become eligible to receive the benefits be calculated in the earnings test,” the leaders said.OEK further explained that the earning test was not adopted not to reduce the benefits based on pre-eligibility wages but to ensure that individuals who are fully retired and dependent on social security are able to receive full payment of their benefits.Ngirmang said a software update is being made to address the issue.
