Who is eligible?
You may be able to receive Social Security based on the Social Security taxes you paid when working (or when your spouse was working) if you are ...
- Disabled;
- Dependents of a deceased wage earner or beneficiary (Survivors benefits); and
- Retiring (Early at age 62, at full retirement age, or are a widow (er) at age 60)A widow or widower with a disability and one of the following conditions are met:
- You are between ages 50 and 60.
- You meet the Social Security definition of disability for adults.
- And the disability started before the spouse’s death or within seven years after the spouse’s death.
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Retirement Benefits--Based on your own wages
You may be able to receive Social Security Retirement benefits based on your own work history as early as age 62. Deciding when to start receiving your Social Security is a major decision, and you should take the time to use many of the resources provided by Social Security.
If you want to apply you can do this online or at your local Social Security office. If you are not sure you have paid sufficient Social Security taxes to qualify, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Retirement Benefits --Spouse or ex-spouse benefits
If you were married you may be able to receive Social Security, even if you never paid Social Security taxes, or you paid limited taxes due to a low-income. Your benefit would be based on your spouses or former spouse’s income.
- Spouses: If you have not worked or had low earnings you can receive as much as one-half of your retired spouse’s full benefit. If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, Social Security will first pay you on your own benefits. If, however, your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you receive a combination of benefits to equal the higher spouse benefit. For example, based on your own wages you qualify for $350 a month in Social Security retirement benefits. Your spouse, however, qualifies for $1200 a month in benefits and as a spouse you qualify for $600 a month. Social Security will pay you the $350 you earned, and will then add $250 from your spouse’s benefits.
- Divorced spouse who is unmarried: You can receive benefits on your former spouses Social Security record if your marriage lasted at least 10 years. You must be 62 or older and unmarried. You receiving Social Security as a former spouse have no effect on your ex-spouse’s benefits. Even if your former spouse has not yet retired, you can apply for and receive Social Security based on the ex-spouses wages. If your former spouse is dead, you can still apply for benefits based on his/her earnings history.
You can apply online or at your local Social Security office. Click here to obtain more information about the interview process.
Disability Benefits
If applying due to a disability you can begin to complete the disability report apply online. You can also call 1-800-772-1243 to find out the office and to make an appointment. Due to Social Security using a Quick Disability Determination which uses information you enter in the on-line disability report, it is strongly recommended that you do the disability report online. If you need help with this you can have family or friends assist you, or you can ask your local Social Security office for help.
Currently Social Security has a list of 167 different health conditions that may qualify you for an expedited application and approval process. This expedited approval process is called a Compassionate Allowance (CAL). Please click HERE for a list of conditions that qualify.
Click here if you want more information on the process.
NOTE: Please apply for benefits as soon as you believe you need them.
Survivors Benefits
Survivors: You can receive Social Security if your spouse or parent paid sufficient Social Security taxes and is now dead.
- Unmarried Widow (er): You can qualify for survivor benefits as early as age 60 or age 50 if disabled.
- Children: You can receive survivor benefits if you are an unmarried child under 18 (up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full time) of a worker who dies. You can get benefits at any age if you were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Natural children, stepchildren, adopted children and in some instances grandchildren may be able to qualify.
- A widow or widower – you can receive full benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60
- A disabled widow or widower – if you are disabled you may be able to receive benefits as early as age 50
- A widow or widower at any age if you care for a child who is under age 16 or disabled, and the child is the child of the deceased beneficiary
- An unmarried child under 18, or up to age 19 if you are attending high school full time. There are times that benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children, so you may want to contact Social Security to see if you qualify.
- A child at any age who is disabled before age 22 and remains disabled. If you receive SSI as a child and remain disabled, you may be able to be added as a dependent (no matter how old you are) when your parents retire or die.
- A dependent parent age 62 or older
Click here for more information about survivors benefits. You cannot apply for survivors benefits online so call 1-800-772-1213 to begin the process or go to your local Social Security office.
Social Security Benefits for Veterans
Active duty military began to pay into the Social Security system beginning in 1957. Due to this, Social Security has a number of different resources and benefits targeted to veterans especially as to how wage credits are posted. When applying for benefits with Social Security, make sure to report military service of the wage earner as well as provide proof of the service. If you do not have proof Social Security can verify service through the Department of Defense. If you served under a name that is different than what you are currently using, make sure Social Secutiry staff are aware of the name you used while in service.
- SSA works to speed up the application process for disabled veterans or survivors of a deceased veteran.
- Veterans who become disabled on or after October 1, 2001 the SSA operates a special program targeted to Wounded Warriors.
- If you served in the military prior to 2001 you may be eligible for a earning credit or an extra earning credits on your social security record. Please make sure you inform Social Security of your military service at the time you apply for benefits. If you currently receive Social Security, you can also contact your local Social Security office to see if you are eligible for and have received this service credit. To read more about the service credits click HERE. It is important to note that most World War II veterans are not adversely affected by missing military service wage credits because Social Security benefit calculations for this age group consider only earnings after 1950. Therefore, military wage credits for the World War II era are seldom used in benefit calculations. For the most part, only those World War II veterans who had active military service after 1950 are potentially affected by missing military credits. To ensure credit for service prior to 1957 is given Social Security has developed a Pre-1957 Military Service Questionnaire
What happens after you apply?
Social Security needs to be interview you. If you call Social Security (1-800-772-1213) to make an appointment to apply and you keep the appointment and file an application within 60 days of the call, Social Security uses the date of your call as your application filing date. Social Security will attempt to contact you if you do not keep this appointment. They will try to call you to reschedule (so make sure you provide a phone number where you can be reached on your application) or if. The letter lets you know that if you file an application within 60 days from the date of the letter, Social Security will use the date of your original contact with them as your application date.
If you need to provide information to Social Security, you will be told what is needed and when you need to return the information. You will need your Social Security number, birth certificate and, if you are a veteran, your DD214 discharge certificate. If you are married and/or have young dependent children, you will need your marriage certificate and your dependents' birth certificates. The worker who interviews you will tell you exactly what information you need to provide. If you need help to get documents such as proof of age, citizenship, Social Security can help you.
If you are applying because of disability or blindness Social Security needs to obtain medical information that proves your disability in order to make a decision. If you are not able to get this from your existing medical providers Social Security will pay for you to have a doctor examine you. Social Security will pay your travel costs to get to this exam. If you want more information about how Social Security decides if you are disabled click here.
Social Security will mail you a letter telling you if you are approved or denied for benefits. The application process can take 3 to 4 months, so start applying as soon as you need the help.
Where to apply?
You apply by going to the local Social Security Office that serves your address. If you are not sure you qualify you can call 1-800-772-1213 or go online to screen for benefits. You can start your application three (3) months prior to when you are planning to retire.