Skip to content Social Security Online |
Multilanguage Gateway |
www.socialsecurity.gov |
Multilanguage Gateway Home |
Retirement And Survivors BenefitsSSA Publication No. 05-10700-EN, Retirement
and Survivors Benefits(English), January 2005 (view
pdf)
|
Almost everyone who lives in the United States is affected by the Social Security system—either by working and paying Social Security taxes or by receiving Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits are paid to workers and their eligible family members when the worker retires or becomes disabled. Survivors benefits can be paid to eligible family members when a worker dies. This fact sheet tells you about retirement and survivors benefits. For information about disability benefits, contact Social Security to get the fact sheet, Disability Benefits, (Publication No. 05-10701 EN). People who are age 65 or older, or blind or disabled may be eligible
for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. SS1 provides payments
to people who have little or no income and assets. For information about
SSI, ask Social Security for a copy of the fact sheet, Supplemental
Security Income Payments, (Publication No. 05-10702 - EN). |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
Your working yearsYou do not have to be a United States citizen to earn Social Security
coverage. If you have been lawfully admitted for work in the U.S., you
can work at jobs covered by the Social Security system. When you work,
you also earn coverage for Medicare health insurance benefits. Because your Social Security benefits will be based on your earnings over your working career, it is important to always use the same Social Security number and to make sure all your employers deduct Social Security taxes. You can verify that all of your earnings are recorded by reading your Social Security Statement that we send you each year. Your Statement also will give you an estimate of the amount of retirement, disability and survivors benefits payable on your Social Security record. |
|||||||||
Retirement benefitsMost people need at least 10 years of work at jobs where they paid Social Security taxes in order to qualify for retirement benefits. If you were born before 1929, you need fewer than 10 years of work. The amount of your retirement benefit is based on your total earnings under the Social Security system. The higher your earnings are, the higher your benefits will be. Social Security retirement benefits can be paid as early as age 62. However, the amount of your benefit at age 62 is less than it would be if you started your retirement benefits when you were older. The full benefit amount is paid at age 65 if you were born before 1938. The Social Security law was changed to gradually increase the full retirement age until it reaches age 67. This change affects people born in 1938 and later. Some family members may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits
based on your work record. Your wife or husband can get benefits as early
as age 62, or even earlier if she or he is caring for your child who also
is getting benefits on your record. If you were married at least 10 years,
your former wife or husband may be eligible for benefits. When signing up for retirement, you should talk to a Social Security representative in the year before the year you plan to retire. That’s because the rules are complicated, and it may be to your advantage to start your retirement benefits before you actually stop working. |
|||||||||
Survivors benefitsWhen a worker dies, family members may be able to get monthly Social Security benefits. The amount of work needed to pay survivors benefits depends on the worker’s age at the time of death. It may be as little as one and one-half years for a young worker. No worker needs more than 10 years. A widow or widower can get benefits as early as age 60, or even earlier if she or he is caring for your child who also is getting benefits on your record. A widow or widower who is disabled can get benefits at age 50. A divorced widow or widower may also be eligible for benefits. Children can get benefits up to age 18 or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school. Children over 18 can get benefits if they are disabled and their disability began before age 22. To receive survivor’s benefits, you should apply as soon as you’re eligible. |
|||||||||
Medicare Medicare is a health insurance plan for people who are 65 or older,
under 65 and disabled or who have permanent kidney failure or have Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). |
|||||||||
What records will you need?To show that you are eligible for Social Security and to help us decide the amount of benefits you should receive, there are certain documents we may ask you to provide. The ones you will need depend on the circumstances of your claim. Here is a list of some of the documents you may need when you sign up for Social Security:
This is just a partial list to help you get prepared. We will let you
know if other documents are needed when you file a claim. |
|||||||||
Contacting Social SecurityFor more information and to find copies of our publications, visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov or call toll-free 1-800-772-1213 (for the deaf or hard of hearing, call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778). We can answer specific questions and provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. If you need an interpreter to conduct your Social Security business, we will provide one free of charge. Interpreter services are available whether you talk to us by phone or in the Social Security office. Call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. If you speak a language other than English, press 1 and stay on the line until a representative answers. An interpreter will be contacted to help with your call. If your business cannot be completed by phone, we will make an appointment for you at a local Social Security office and arrange for an interpreter to be there at the time of your visit. 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. |
Privacy Policy | Website
Policies & Other Important Information | Site
Map
Last reviewed or modified Wednesday Apr 01, 2009 |