How often should I check my Social Security earnings record? Is there much of a chance that an error may occur?
You should check your Social Security earnings record at
least once every three years. Errors in your earnings record are
more likely to occur if you change jobs frequently or have more
than one employer.
To check your earnings record, you should complete and return
an SSA-7004, Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement.
You may complete and transmit the SSA-7004 online. Or, if you
prefer, you may download the SSA-7004 from this server and mail it
to us. Within four weeks after submitting the request, you'll
receive a statement showing your earnings as reported to Social
Security by your employer(s).
Retirement
Are my benefits figured on my last five years of earnings?
No. Retirement benefits are calculated on earnings during a lifetime of work under the Social Security system. Years of high earnings will increase the amount of the benefit.
Will my retirement pension from my job reduce the amount of my Social Security benefit?
If your pension is from work where you also paid Social
Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit.
Pensions based on work that is not covered by Social Security
(for example, the federal civil service and some state or local
government systems) probably will reduce the amount of your Social
Security benefit. For more information, see the following fact
sheets which you may review and download by clicking on the title:
"Government Pension Offset" (05-10007) and "A Pension for Work Not
Covered" (05-10045).
I will be 62 on August 2 of this year and that's when I plan on retiring. Will my first benefit check be for the month of August or September?
Since you were born on the first or second day of the month, you will be eligible the month you were born—August. But, in most cases, Social Security retirement benefits do not begin the month the person reaches 62; benefits usually begin the following month. To receive retirement benefits, you must be at least age 62 for the entire month. But, the law says that you "attain" your age the day before your birthday. Since you were born on August 2, you legally attain your age on August 1; therefore you're eligible for benefits for August because you're considered 62 for the entire month.
I am 56 years old and will retire in two years. I have earned about the national average income during all of my working life and do not plan to work after age 58. How will you calculate my Social Security benefit at age 62.
First we calculate the retirement benefit you would receive at
full retirement-age 65 for people born in 1937 or earlier. We use
your highest 35 years of earnings to compute your benefit. Years in
which you have low earnings or no earnings may be counted to bring
the total years of earnings up to 35. Next, your monthly benefit is
reduced by five-ninths of one percent for each month you are
retired before age 65--up to a maximum of 20 percent for people who
retire the month they reach 62.
For more information about how your benefits are computed, we
recommend that you review the factsheet How Your Retirement Benefit
Is Figured (SSA Publication No. 05-10070). To download a copy, click
here. You also can get a copy of your earnings record and an
estimate of the amount you would receive at age 62 by completing the
Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement --
SSA Form 7004. To access this form, click here. In addition,
you may use SSA's ANYPIA program to calculate your estimated benefits.
The program requires certain data provided by an official Earnings
and Benefit Estimate Statement.
My neighbor, who is retired, told me that the income he receives from his part-time job at the local nursery gives him an increase in his Social Security benefits. Is that right?
People who return to work after they start receiving benefits may be able to receive a higher benefit based on those earnings. This is because Social Security automatically recomputes the benefit amount after the additional earnings are credited to the individual's earnings record.
If I work after I start receiving Social Security retirement benefits, will I have to pay FICA taxes?
Yes, and your extra earnings may increase your benefits.
For additional information, call your local Social Security office
or Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.
I am 70 years old and still working. Do I have to report my earnings to Social Security?
In the year you reach age 70, you are responsible for reporting
your earnings for the months before the month you reach 70. You do
not have to report your earnings if you are 70 or older all year.
You can report your earnings by calling Social Security's toll-free
number, 1-800-772-1213 or contacting your local Social Security
office. Representatives at the toll-free number can give you the
address and telephone number of your nearest Social Security office.
I understand I can retire at age 62 and collect Social Security benefits, but that they will be less than if I wait until 65 to retire. How does that work?
Your benefits are reduced five-ninths of one percent for each month you are retired before age 65, up to a maximum of 20 percent for people who retire the month they reach 62. But remember, by taking benefits at 62, you'll receive Social Security checks for a longer period of time.
I think Social Security is a rip off compared to a private retirement plan I have. Can I drop out of Social Security?
No. Social Security coverage is mandatory. But consider this: unlike your private plan, Social Security provides disability and survivors coverage in addition to retirement benefits. And Social Security generally offers greater protection for family members than private pensions.
I have two children at home and I plan to retire next fall. Will my children be eligible for monthly Social Security checks after I retire?
Monthly Social Security payments may be made to unmarried children under age 18, or age 19 if still in high school, or children age 18 or over who were severely disabled before age 22 and who continue to be disabled.
I'd like to get Social Security retirement benefits and continue working. Is it hard to follow the rules?
It's easier than you think. When you apply for your retirement benefits, the Social Security representative will explain how your earnings will affect your benefit checks. You will need to estimate your future earnings and, at the end of each year, file a report of your actual earnings. Your benefits will be paid based on your estimated earnings so your estimate needs to be as accurate as possible. After you report your actual earnings, we will send you an additional check for benefits you are due if your original estimate was too high. If your estimate was too low and you are overpaid, the money will be withheld from your checks in the next year.
I'm retired and the only income I have is a monthly withdrawal from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). I pay income tax on the amount withdrawn. I plan to apply for Social Security benefits in the future. Will the money withdrawn from my IRA be considered "earnings" that could potentially reduce my monthly Social Security benefits?
No. We count only the wages you earn from a job, or your net
profit if you're self-employed. Non-work income such as pensions,
annuities, investment income, interest, capital gains and other
government benefits are not counted and will not affect your Social
Security benefits. For more information, we suggest that you read
the following publications which are available online: Retirement
Benefits (Publication No. 05-10035) and How Work Affects Your
Benefits (Publication No.05-10069).
You also can get a breakdown of your earnings and an estimate
of your future Social Security benefits by completing and
transmitting Form SSA-7004 online. Or, you can download the form and
mail it back.
Survivor's Benefits
My ex-wife died a month ago. Are our children, ages 11 and 14, eligible for Social Security benefits?
Possibly. It depends on whether she had enough work credits to
be insured. If she did, your children may be eligible for benefits.
Apply for survivors benefits promptly because benefits are generally
retroactive only up to 6 months. You can apply by calling Social
Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, or by calling your
local Social Security office.
My two children and I have been receiving survivors benefits since my wife died. Will these benefits continue if I remarry?
Your remarriage would have no effect on the benefits being paid to your children. If you get benefits only because you are caring for your children, your benefits would end at the time of your remarriage unless you marry someone who is receiving Social Security benefits.
My mother, a widow, died in late January. Social Security tells me that I must return her January benefit (paid in February) even though she was alive most of the month. Why is this?
Social Security benefits are not pro-rated. To be entitled to a Social Security benefit check for a given month, the person must be alive the entire month. No benefit is payable for the month of death.
I'm a 63-year-old widow receiving reduced Social Security benefits. Can I switch to a higher benefit when I turn 65?
Ordinarily, you can't change from a reduced benefit to a full benefit when you reach age 65. But if you are a widow or widower who already has earned enough credits to get Social Security on your own record, or you are continuing to work at higher earnings, you may be able to switch to a higher benefit. Contact your Social Security office to ask for a benefit computation.
When a Social Security beneficiary dies, does the funeral home notify Social Security or is notification up to the family?
Many funeral directors voluntarily provide death information directly to Social Security. But, family members of a deceased individual still have the legal responsibility to notify Social Security.
My wife, who had worked for about six years, died last month and now I am the sole support for our two young children. Am I eligible for Social Security survivors benefits?
Possibly. Depending on your wife's age at death, she may have had enough work credit to be insured. If she was, you and your children may be eligible for benefits. However, if you're working, your earnings may reduce your Social Security benefits.
Our daughter, who had two young children, passed away two years ago. Her husband is planning to remarry and his fiance wants to adopt the children after the marriage. Will the children lose the Social Security survivor's benefits that they currently receive?
No. The adoption of a child already entitled to survivor's benefits does not terminate the child's benefits.
Maximum Family Benefit
I've heard that there is a maximum family benefit under Social Security. Does this mean that once the maximum is reached, some family members won't get benefits?
No. Each family member entitled to a monthly benefit will receive one. The total benefits received by the family, however, cannot exceed the family maximum amount. That amount is divided among all entitled dependents. The more dependents who receive benefits on the worker's Social Security record, the lower the benefit amount will be for each dependent. However, the family maximum does not affect the wage earner's benefit.
SSI is short for Supplemental Security Income. It pays checks to individuals who are 65 or older, or blind, or have a disability and who don't own much or have a lot of income. SSI isn't just for adults. Monthly checks can go to disabled and blind children also.
Is the SSI payment for an eligible couple twice that of an eligible individual? And if it isn't, why not?
The SSI program provides a basic Federal payment for an eligible individual and a larger amount for an eligible couple. The payment for a couple is lower than that made to two individuals because married people living together generally share expenses and live more economically than two people living independently.
I have been receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks for several months and my check has always arrived on the 1st of the month. I cash the check immediately, shop for groceries, and pay my rent that is due on the 1st as well. What happens when the 1st of the month falls on a Saturday? Must my rent be late because I can't cash my check until Monday?
For SSI recipients, if the 1st falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the SSI check should arrive on the previous banking day.
A few days ago I saw a poster that advised individuals 65 or over with limited income and resources to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at any Social Security office. Next month I'll turn 65 and I thought I'd be eligible for SSI so I planned to apply until my neighbor told me I'd probably be turned down because I have children who could help support me. Is this true?
No. Your eligibility for SSI would not be affected by your children's ability to help support you. But, any support they give you would be considered income for SSI purposes and could affect the amount of your payment. For more information, contact your nearest Social Security office or call Social Security's toll-free number,1-800-772-1213.
When I started receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks, I received a booklet that told me what I should report to Social Security. I misplaced the booklet. How can I get a new one?
Call your local Social Security office or Social Security's
toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 and ask for the booklet, Social
Security -- What You Need to Know When You Get SSI.
I just got a notice from Social Security that said my Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case is being reviewed. What does this mean?
Social Security reviews every Supplemental Security Income case from time to time to make sure the individuals who are receiving checks should continue to get them. The review also determines if the individuals are receiving the correct amounts.
I understand that to get Social Security disability benefits, your disability must be expected to last at least a year. Does this mean that you must wait a year after being disabled before you can get benefits?
You do not have to wait a year after the onset of the disability before you can get benefits. You should file as soon as you can after becoming disabled and benefits begin after a 5-month waiting period. The waiting period begins with the month Social Security decides your disability began.
I have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for the past four years and my condition has not improved. Is there a time limit on Social Security disability benefits?
No. You will continue to receive a disability benefit as long as your condition keeps you from working. But, your case will be reviewed periodically to see if there has been any improvement in your condition and whether you are still eligible for benefits. If you are still eligible when you reach 65, your disability benefit will be automatically converted to retirement benefits.
I had a serious back injury four years ago and received disability benefits for about 18 months until I could return to work. Unfortunately, my back problems have recurred and I don't know how much longer I will be able to continue working. When I initially applied for benefits, I waited several months before I received my first check. If I reapply for benefits, will my wait be as long as it was the first time?
Maybe not. It depends on what the new medical reports say and whether additional evidence is required. A worker who becomes disabled a second time within five years after benefits stop can have his or her checks start again, beginning with the first full month of disability if the new claim is approved.
My brother had an accident at work last year and is now receiving Social Security disability benefits for himself, his wife, and daughter. Before his accident, he helped support another daughter by a woman to whom he has never been married. Is the second child entitled to some benefits as well?
Yes, even though your brother wasn't married to the second child's mother, Social Security pays benefits to all of his children, even if they were born out of wedlock. Each child is entitled to equal benefits.
Proper Documentation
I'm getting ready to sign up for Social Security. I heard I have to show you my birth certificate. I've got a copy of it in my safe deposit box. Is this good enough?
It depends on what you mean by a "copy." If it's a copy of your birth record that's been certified by the agency that issued your birth certificate, then it's acceptable. "Certified" means it's been signed by the issuing agency and has a official seal. If all you have is an uncertified photocopy, that's not legally acceptable.
What documents will I need show to my claims representative to prove I'm eligible for Social Security benefits?
To show us you're eligible for Social Security and to help us decide how much your benefits should be will depend on the circumstances of your claim. Here is a list of some of the documents you can use:
Your Social Security card (or a record of your number);
Your birth certificate;
Children's birth certificates (if they are applying);
Marriage certificate (if signing up on a spouse's record);
Your most recent W-2 form, or your tax return if you're self-employed;
Your military discharge papers if you had military service.
You must bring or mail the original documents, or certified copies, to the local Social Security office,where they will be photocopied and returned to you.
Taxable Earnings
My 17-year-old daughter has a summer job keeping house for a neighbor. Are her earnings taxable for Social Security?
No. Workers under age 18 are exempt unless household employment
is their main occupation. Workers 18 and older are also exempt if
they earn less than $1,000 a year in cash wages for household work.
If you have questions about reporting household employment and
paying the Social Security taxes, call the Internal Revenue Service's
toll-free number, 1-800-829-1040.
Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement
I'm in my late '50s, still working, and haven't started drawing Social Security yet. Will Social Security send me a document that will help me determine what my future benefits will be?
Yes. If you haven't received it already, you should receive a
document in the mail that will give you an estimate of your future
benefits. You can use this statement as a part of your planning for
retirement. After you've read the statement, you don't need to do
anything unless you believe the earnings information is incorrect.
If the error involves recent earnings at your current job, contact
your employer. If your statement shows incorrect earnings at a former
job, report the discrepancy to Social Security's toll-free number,
1-800-772-1213. When you call, be sure to have your records of the
correct earnings handy—such as W-2s, pay stubs, and tax returns. You
should also call the toll-free number to report an incorrect name or
Social Security number on the statement.
I am in my forties. How do I get a benefit estimate statement?
Call the toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 anytime—including weekends and holidays—and ask for form SSA-7004 (Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement). You should receive the statement in four to six weeks. You can also make a request for a Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement.
