Frequent Topics


Social Security Retirement

You can start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. Your monthly benefit amount will be different depending on the age you start receiving it. If you choose to: Read more

Social Security Survivors

When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits. Up to ten years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person's age at the time of death. Read more

Social Security Disability

The Social Security disability insurance program (sometimes referred to as SSDI) pays benefits to you and certain family members if you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.  Read more

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.  Read more

Medicare

Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those who have disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Read more


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When You Start Your Benefits

You can start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. Your monthly benefit amount will be different depending on the age you start receiving it. If you choose to:

      * start your benefits early, they will be permanently reduced based on the number of months you receive
         benefits before you reach your full retirement age. The reduction in your benefit amount will also depend
         on the year you were born. The maximum reduction at age 62 will be
                - 25 percent for people who reach age 62 in 2009.
                - 30 percent for people born after 1959.

You could see a change in your benefit amount if you work after you start receiving benefits.

Some of your benefits may be withheld if you have excess earnings. However, after you reach full retirement age, they will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for any months in which you did not receive some benefit because of your earnings.

      * wait until full retirement age, your benefits will not be reduced.
      * delay benefits until after full retirement age, your benefit will be permanently increased based on the
         number of months you do not receive benefits between full retirement age and age 70.

Note: If you are full retirement age, you can apply for retirement benefits and then request to have payments suspended. That way, your spouse can receive a spouse's benefit and you will continue to earn delayed retirement credits until age 70.

There is no additional benefit increase after you reach age 70, even if you continue to delay taking benefits.

You Can Work and Get Social Security At The Same Time

You can work while you receive Social Security retirement (or survivors) benefits. When you do, it could mean a higher benefit for you in the future. Higher benefits can be important to you later in life and increase the future benefit amounts your family and your survivors could receive.

While you are working, your earnings will reduce your benefit amount only until you reach your full retirement age. After you reach full retirement age they recalculate your benefit amount to leave out the months when they reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings.

They use a formula to determine how much your benefit must be reduced:

      * If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, they deduct $1 from your benefit payments for
         every $2 you earn above the annual limit.

         For 2009, that limit is $14,160.

      * In the year you reach full retirement age, they deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a
         different limit, but they only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age.

         If you will reach full retirement age in 2009, the limit on your earnings for the months before full
         retirement age is $37,680.
         (If you were born in 1943, your full retirement age is 66 years.)

      * Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your
         earnings.

If you are not already receiving benefits, be sure to contact us at the beginning of the year you reach full retirement age. Even if you are still working, you may be able to receive some or all of your benefits for the months before you reach full retirement age.

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