Q: A friend of mine is currently receiving disability from the Postal Service. When she turned 65 and applied for Medicare, she was told she did not qualify because she did not have enough credits. Part of the time that she worked for the Postal Service does not show up on her Social Security service report. Is there any way to prove that she worked during that time? If so, can this count toward Medicare credits?
A: It’s not a question of whether she worked during that time; it’s whether Medicare deductions were taken from her pay. If that service was before Jan. 1, 1984, they wouldn’t have been. If she wants to get a copy of her entire federal civilian service record, she can contact the National Personnel Records Center. She’ll find their address and phone number at www.archive.gov/st-louis.
