Can you lower your IRMAA? A free check for form SSA-44

“Sign in to fill out and submit Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount-Life Changing Event (SSA-44).”

“Fill out the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event (SSA-44) (PDF) form. Fax or mail your completed form and evidence to a Social Security office.”

“Tell the representative you want to lower your Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) due to a life-changing event.”

“You’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one. After you sign in, we’ll help you schedule an appointment to complete this task.”

“You do not have to complete this form in order to ask that we use your information about your modified adjusted gross income for a more recent tax year.”

“All forms are free.”

“Get free health insurance counseling”

“State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) help people with Medicare and their families:”

“Our list of LCEs for IRMAA purposes is exclusive.”

“Some examples of events and reductions in MAGI or income that are not LCEs are: • Ordinary loss of dividend income; • Higher medical expenses; • Higher living expenses; • Loss of child support; • Loss of alimony; or • Voluntary sale of income-producing property.”

“Some examples of one-time income that cause an increase and are non-qualifying events (NQEs) include: • Capital gains from the sale of property; • Lottery winnings; • Casino winnings; • Conversion of an IRA; or • Cashing bonds.”

“A “significant” reduction in MAGI is a reduction that decreases or eliminates the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) for a specific tax year.”

“A beneficiary may request a new initial determination any time after an LCE and a significant reduction in MAGI has occurred. The LCE may have occurred at any time in the past.”

“Ordinarily, we do not make a determination retroactive to a prior premium year on a new initial determination, unless the LCE causing the reduction occurs in the last three calendar months of the immediately prior premium year and we receive the request for a new initial determination for the preceding premium year by March 31, of the current premium year.”

“If Part B enrollment was effective for the entire year that the beneficiary made the request, the effective date of the new initial determination is January of that year.”

“A report of an LCE with a significant reduction in MAGI applies only to the beneficiary reporting.”

“If you do not have to pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount, you should not fill out this form even if you experienced a life-changing event.”

“The life-changing event date must be in the same year or an earlier year than the tax year you ask us to use to decide your income-related premium adjustment.”

“The year you choose must be more recent than the year of the tax return information we used. The letter that we sent you tells you what tax year we used.”

“Choose this year (the "premium year") - if your modified adjusted gross income is lower this year than last year.”

“Choose last year (the year before the "premium year," which is the year for which you want us to adjust your IRMAA) - if your MAGI is not lower this year than last year.”

“Exception: If we used IRS information about your MAGI 3 years before the premium year, you may ask us to use information from 2 years before the premium year.”

“Your MAGI is your adjusted gross income as used on line 11 of IRS form 1040 plus your tax-exempt interest income as used on line 2a of IRS form 1040.”

“Complete this step only if you expect that your MAGI for next year will be even lower.”

“If you have filed your Federal Income tax return for the year you wrote in Step 2, then you must provide us with your signed copy of your tax return or a transcript from IRS.”

“If you provided an estimate in Step 2, you must show us a signed copy of your tax return when you file your Federal income tax return for that year.”

“We must see original documents or certified copies of evidence that the life-changing event occurred.”

“Attach the required evidence and we will mail your original documents or certified copies back to you;”

“Note: In the absence of such proof, we will accept your signed statement, under penalty of perjury, on this form, that you parially or dully stopped working or accepted a job with reduced compensation.”

“If the loss was due to investment fraud (theft), we also require proof of conviction for the theft, such as a court document citing theft or fraud relating to your or your spouse's loss.”

“Divorce / Annulment Your legal marriage ended, and you will not file a joint return with your spouse for the year.”

“You or your spouse experienced a loss of income-producing property that was not at your direction (e.g., not due to the sale or transfer of the property).”

“If your estimate of your MAGI changes, or you amend your tax return for that reason, you will need to contact us to update our records.”

“We estimate that it will take about 45 minutes to read the instructions, gather the facts, and answer the questions.”

“If we used information from IRS about a tax year when your filing status was Married filing separately, but you lived apart from your spouse at all times during that year, you should contact us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to explain that you lived apart from your spouse.”

“You or your spouse receive a settlement from an employer or former employer because of the employer's bankruptcy or reorganization.”

“we will later check with the IRS to verify your report.”

“Some examples of work hour reductions would be partial retirement or a change from full-time employment to part-time employment.”

“Some examples would be retirement, lay-off, and/or sale of business or corporation.”

“A loss due to donation, gift, sale or transfer of income-producing property is not considered a loss beyond the beneficiary's control and does not qualify for a new initial determination using a more recent tax year.”

“In order to qualify as an LCE based on a reduction or cessation of pension income, the pension must be 1. A traditional defined benefit pension plan or a Cash Balance plan, and 2. The loss of income is the result of: a. A plan failure or termination (e.g. through bankruptcy restructuring), or b. A scheduled cessation that the beneficiary made a decision about some time in the past.”

“can file a request for reconsideration within 60 days of receipt of an IRMAA determination notice. Date Received means 5 days after the date on the notice unless the individual shows that they did not receive it within the 5-day period.”

“A beneficiary can file an appeal of the IRMAA determination and file a request for a new initial determination at the same time.”

“A Hearing before a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA)”

“If you disagree with the decision we made about your income-related monthly adjustment amounts, you have the right to appeal. The fastest and easiest way to file an appeal of your decision is online.”

“You may also request an appeal in writing by completing a Request for Reconsideration (Form SSA-561-U2), or contact your local Social Security office.”

“If you disagree with the MAGI amount we received from the IRS, you must correct the information with the IRS.”

“If you amended your tax return, and it changes the income we count to determine the income-related monthly adjustment amounts (your MAGI), let us know.”

“Less than or equal to $109,000 Less than or equal to $218,000 $0.00 $202.90”

“Marriage An original marriage certificate: or a certified copy of a public record of marriage.”

“Divorce/Annulment A certified copy of the decree of divorce or annulment.”

“Death of Your Spouse A certified copy of a death certificate, certified copy of the public record of death, or a certified copy of a coroner's certificate.”

“An original signed statement from your employer; copies of pay stubs; original or certified documents that show a transfer of your business.”

“An original copy of an insurance company adjuster's statement of loss or a letter from a State or Federal government about the uncompensated loss.”

“Loss of Pension Income A letter or statement from your pension fund administrator that explains the reduction or termination of your benefits.”

“A letter from the employer stating the settlement terms of the bankruptcy court and how it affects you or your spouse.”