Q: I saw something in the paper about a plan to give us our Social Security money by a debit card instead of with a check. How do I let the government know I don't want a debit card? I want to keep getting my good old-fashioned Social Security check.

A: To begin with, I'm sure you realize that you probably haven't received a "good old-fashioned Social Security check" for many years. For at least 15 years or more, around 90 percent of all Social Security recipients have been getting their monthly benefits via direct deposit. And "direct deposit" doesn't mean the government is simply mailing your Social Security check to the bank instead of to your home. Direct deposit refers to an electronic transfer of funds from the government's coffers to your checking or savings account.

The news story you read about debit cards refers to that other 10 percent of Social Security beneficiaries who currently don't use direct deposit. And the reason they don't use direct deposit is because they don't have bank accounts. These tend to be very-low-income people who traditionally have not trusted banks with what little money they have or who can't afford the fees that many banks charge to maintain small checking accounts.

These approximately 4 million Social Security beneficiaries are mailed their monthly Social Security checks. And then they usually use check-cashing services, which often charge steep fees, to get their Social Security money.

These folks will now have the option of getting a pre-paid debit card from the Social Security Administration. They can use this card to access their funds from an ATM machine. The only glitch is that they will either have to find an ATM that is free to use or be prepared to accept the fees charged by various banks for use of their ATMs.

If you're in that 10 percent of people who do not use direct deposit and currently still receive a paper Social Security check, you should contact SSA at 800-772-1213 for more information about the debit card option.

Q: Can you tell me why 50 percent isn't 50 percent? My wife took her Social Security retirement benefits when she turned 62. I took my much larger Social Security check at age 63. I thought my wife was supposed to get 50 percent of my benefits. She got some extra money from my account, but it's nowhere near 50 percent.

A: Fifty percent is 50 percent. But 33 percent is also 33 percent. And my hunch is your wife is getting closer to that 33 percent rate.

The 50 percent rate is reserved for spouses who begin taking their Social Security benefits at full retirement age (age 66 for most people). When your wife started her own Social Security benefits at age 62, they came with a steep early retirement reduction. And a corresponding reduction carries over to any benefits she is later due as a wife on your record.

Q: I am 66 years old. My wife is 62. I get $546 per month from Social Security. She gets $125. In a past column, you said a wife gets somewhere between about 30 percent and 50 percent of her husband's Social Security. But my wife is getting less than 25 percent. Can you explain this?

A: Unless your wife is also receiving some kind of government pension that could offset the amount of benefits she is due as a wife on your Social Security record, I can't explain the small amount of money she is receiving.

If you haven't done so already, I suggest you contact your local Social Security office for some answers.

Questions may be sent c/o Copley News Service, P.O. Box 120190, San Diego, CA 92112-0190. Or send e-mail to yoursocialsecurity@comcast.net.

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