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Helpful Government Forms
- SSA-44 — Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)
Use this form to appeal a higher Part B or Part D premium due to a life-changing event (retirement, divorce, death of spouse, etc.).
What Counts as a Life-Changing Event?
The SSA-44 lets you appeal an IRMAA surcharge if your income dropped due to a qualifying life-changing event. Not every hardship qualifies — here's the breakdown.
Qualifies
- Marriage — You got married and your household income changed.
- Divorce or Annulment — Your marriage ended and your income decreased.
- Death of a Spouse — Your spouse passed away, reducing household income.
- Work Stoppage — You (or your spouse) stopped working or reduced hours — including retirement.
- Loss of Income-Producing Property — Property was lost due to disaster, fraud, or other circumstances beyond your control.
- Loss of Pension Income — An employer pension was reduced or terminated.
- Employer Settlement Payment — You received a one-time employer settlement that inflated your reported income in the base year.
Does NOT Qualify
- Investment Losses — A bad year in the market does not count — only income from the tax return is used.
- One-Time Capital Gains — Selling a home or investments that spiked your income in the base year is not a qualifying event.
- General Financial Hardship — High medical bills, debt, or cost-of-living difficulties are not recognized events.
- Voluntary Income Reduction — Choosing to withdraw less from retirement accounts is not a qualifying event.
- Business Losses — A business downturn or self-employment loss alone does not qualify unless it results in a work stoppage.
Important: The SSA uses your tax return from two years prior to set your IRMAA. If a qualifying event reduced your income after that return was filed, you can request that SSA use a more recent year's income instead. William can walk you through the process — call anytime.