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If You Are A Farm Worker(Si usted es un trabajador agrícola)SSA Publication No. 05-10074, November 2004, ICN 467750 [View .pdf] |
Contacting Social Security |
Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security’s programs. There are a number of things you can do online. In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. We treat all calls confidentially. We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls. |
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This booklet tells you |
There is room in the back of this booklet for you to write down where and when you work and how much you get paid. You may need this information later. Since this is your record booklet, fill in the blanks below.
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How Social Security helps |
Social Security helps people of all ages, including children. It can pay monthly benefits to you and your family in case of:
Medicare will help pay your medical bills when you are 65 or have been getting disability payments for two years. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another program run by Social Security. It makes payments to people who do not have much money if they are 65 or older or if they are any age and are disabled or blind. |
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Your Social Security card |
Your Social Security card is very important. You will keep the same number all your life. Here are a few reminders:
If you need a card for yourself or your child, or if you lost a card, you can apply for a new one free at any Social Security office. You also can call the toll-free telephone number, 1-800-772-1213. |
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How Social Security works |
You earn Social Security benefits by working and paying taxes. Then, when you retire or if you become disabled, you and your family can receive Social Security benefits. Also, your family can sometimes receive benefits when you die. A disability can be any medical condition that prevents you from working for one year or is expected to end in your death, including kidney failure. You never need more than 10 years of work to get Social Security benefits. If you become disabled or die when you are young, you may only need to have worked for one and one-half years. You must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States to receive Social Security benefits, and in some cases, your family members must be, too. |
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Your boss must report your earnings to Social Security |
Your boss must report to Social Security how much he or she paid you so you can get credit for your work. You do not have to report your own earnings to Social Security and your boss cannot tell you to do this. Your “boss” could be either the crew leader or the farmer. In most cases, your boss is the person who pays you. Your boss must make a separate report for every person in your family who works for him or her. Your boss cannot combine your earnings with those of someone else in your family. To get credit for your work, your boss must also:
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When your boss must report your earnings |
Your boss must report your earnings after the year ends if:
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What your boss must give you |
Each time your boss pays you, he or she must give you a written statement showing when you worked and how much you were paid. The written statement usually will be a pay stub. It is a good idea to keep these pay stubs in a safe place. They can serve as proof of what you earned in case of any question later. Your boss also must give you a W-2 form after the end of the year. A W-2 form is called a Wage and Tax Withholding Statement. It shows how much your boss paid you and how much your boss took out of your pay for Social Security and other taxes for the whole year. Your boss has to give you a W-2 form by January 31 each year showing how much you earned the year before. Many bosses send you the W-2 form in the mail. Make sure your boss has your address. If your job does not last all year, ask your boss for the W-2 form when the job ends instead of waiting until January 31 of the next year. This is important if you move often or have trouble getting your mail. |
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How you know if your boss is deducting the right amount of Social Security taxes |
You can check the written statement your boss gives you every time you get paid. It should show how much was deducted from your pay for Social Security. Sometimes the Social Security deduction is listed as “FICA.” The amount deducted should be equal to 6.2 percent of your earnings. Another 1.45 percent of your pay is deducted for Medicare. When you get your W-2 form, it should show the amounts deducted for Social Security and Medicare in the boxes that say, “Social Security tax” and “Medicare tax.” |
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How you can find out if your earnings are reported correctly |
The best way to make sure that your boss is reporting your earnings correctly and you are getting your credits is by checking your Social Security Statement. If you are a worker at least 25 years old and are not yet receiving Social Security benefits, you will get this Statement in the mail every year. The Statement shows how much you have earned each year. It tells you how much money you and your family may get in your Social Security benefits. If you get a Statement in English and prefer one in Spanish, call Social Security and ask for a Spanish Statement. You should receive your Statement every year about three months before your birthday. If your birthday passes and you have not received your Statement, call Social Security and ask for one. If you are younger than 25 years of age, you will not receive a Statement automatically. However, you can ask for one each year by calling Social Security. Be sure to tell us if you want a Statement in Spanish or in English. |
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What to do when you get your Statement |
When you receive your Statement, check it carefully. It is up to you to make sure that Social Security’s records and your boss’ records are correct. The amounts shown on your Statement should be the same as the amounts on your W-2 forms. If the amounts are not correct, give your boss the accurate information. In addition, if you find a difference in the amounts, call Social Security at our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. When you call, have your W-2 forms or any other proof of how much you made handy. This could be anything your boss has given you showing how much you earned. It also could be the notes you have in the back of this booklet. If your Social Security record is wrong, it will be corrected. |
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