| The Social Security Administration can provide | | | | Social Security Administration pays disability |
| benefits in three different categories, they include; | | | | benefits in two different ways, one being through |
| when you retire, if you become disabled, and | | | | the Social Security disability program insurance, |
| lastly when you die. Information about Social | | | | the second one is through the Supplemental |
| Security benefits can be found on the Social | | | | Security Income (SSI) program. To find |
| Security Administration's website. The age to | | | | information regarding the SSI disabilities program |
| receive full retirement benefits has been 65 for | | | | please click on the link provided. Social Security |
| many years now however for people born after | | | | pays benefits to people who can't work because |
| 1938 it is gradually increasing until it reaches the | | | | they have a medical condition that is expected to |
| age of 67 for people born after 1959. An individual | | | | last at least one year or result in death. The |
| may start receiving retirement benefits as early | | | | federal law requires such strict definition of |
| as age 62, however if an individual decides to | | | | disability, while some other programs give |
| receive benefits starting at age 62 then their | | | | individuals benefits who have a partial-disability or |
| benefits are reduced a fraction of a percent for | | | | have short-term disability, Social Security doesn't. |
| each month before your full retirement age. To | | | | An individual must meet certain earnings |
| find out how much an individual would lose if they | | | | requirements in order to be eligible for benefits. |
| retire at age 62 you can visit the social security | | | | Individuals must meet two different earnings |
| web site. An individual has the choice to retire | | | | tests to be eligible for disability benefits. The first |
| between the age of 62 and the full retirement | | | | test is a "recent work" test which is based on the |
| age. An Individual qualifies for Social Security | | | | individual's age at the time they became disabled |
| benefits by earning Social Security credits when | | | | and the second test a "duration of work" test to |
| they work in a job and pay Social Security taxes. | | | | show that they worked long enough under Social |
| The credits are based on the amount of the | | | | Security. An individual should apply for disability |
| individual's earnings and their work history is what | | | | benefits as soon as they become disabled |
| determines their eligibility for retirement, disability | | | | because it can take a long time to process the |
| and survivor's benefits when an individual dies. For | | | | application for disability benefits. It typically takes |
| the year 2007 an individual receives one credit for | | | | about 3 to 5 months. After the application is sent |
| $1,000 of earnings, up to the maximum of four | | | | the Social Security Administration will review their |
| credits per year. Each year the amount of | | | | application and make sure they meet some basic |
| earnings needed to receive credits increases | | | | requirements for benefits such as whether they |
| slightly as the average earnings level increases. | | | | worked long enough to qualify and they will |
| The credits earned remain on the individual's Social | | | | evaluate any current work activities. If these |
| Security record even if they change jobs or are | | | | requirements are met then they will then send |
| without earnings for a while. There are special | | | | your application to the Disability Determination |
| rules that apply for Social Security coverage for | | | | Services office in their state. This agency makes |
| certain types of work. | | | | the decision for the SSA, they use their doctors |
| If an individual is self-employed then they earn the | | | | and disability specialists to ask their doctor |
| same amount of credits as employees however | | | | information about their condition, all facts in their |
| special rules apply if they have net earnings of | | | | case will be considered. They will also use |
| less than $400. For individuals in the military they | | | | evidence from any hospital, doctor's office, clinics |
| earn credits the same way civilians do however | | | | or institutions that the individual has been treated |
| there is an opportunity to get additional credits | | | | in order to obtain all other information. |
| under certain conditions. There are also special | | | | Lastly another option that the Social Security |
| rules that apply to individuals that have jobs that | | | | Administration offers is Survivor's benefits. People |
| include; domestic work, farm work or individuals | | | | usually only consider Social Security as paying |
| that work for the church or church-controlled | | | | retirement benefits however some of the Social |
| organizations that don't pay Social Security taxes. | | | | Security taxes that individuals pay go towards |
| There are also types of work that don't count | | | | providing survivors insurance for workers and |
| toward Social Security. Most federal employees | | | | their families. The value of the survivors insurance |
| hired before 1984, because since January 1, 1983 | | | | the individual has under Social Security is probably |
| all federal employees have paid the Medicare | | | | more than the value of their individual life |
| hospital insurance part of the Social Security Tax. | | | | insurance. As an individual works and pays Social |
| Others who are affected by this are railroad | | | | Security taxes they earn credits toward their |
| workers who have more than 10 years of | | | | Social Security benefits. The number of years and |
| service. Employees of some state and local | | | | individual needs to work depends on the age of |
| governments chose not to participate in Social | | | | the individual when they die. The younger a |
| Security also don't qualify and lastly children | | | | person is the fewer the years they need to have |
| younger than the age of 21 who do household | | | | worked, but no one needs to work more than 10 |
| chores for a parent. An individual also may choose | | | | years in order to be eligible for Social Security |
| to delay retirement benefits. If this is the case | | | | benefits. Under a special rule if an individual has |
| their benefits will be increased by a certain | | | | only worked for a year and a half in the three |
| percentage depending on the year they were | | | | years just before death, benefits can be paid to |
| born and the increase will be added automatically | | | | individuals and their spouses who are caring for |
| from the time they reach full retirement age until | | | | the children. Those who are eligible for survivor's |
| the time they decide to retire or until they reach | | | | benefits include; the individual's widow/widower at |
| age 70, whichever comes first. One last thing to | | | | age 65 if they were born before January 1, 1940 |
| consider about retirement benefits is if an | | | | or at age 67. Reduced widow benefits can be |
| individual works and gets benefits. An individuals | | | | obtained as early as age 60. The individual's widow |
| earnings in or after the month they reach full | | | | or widower can receive benefits at any age if he |
| retirement age will not reduce their Social Security | | | | she takes care of their child who is eligible to a |
| benefits however their benefits will be reduced if | | | | child's benefit and is age 16 or younger or who is |
| their earnings exceed certain limits for the months | | | | disabled. An individual's unmarried children who are |
| before they reach full retirement age. | | | | under age 18 or 19 if they are attending |
| If an individual works and starts receiving benefits | | | | elementary or secondary education full time. Their |
| before full retirement age then $1 in benefits will | | | | children can get benefits at any age if they were |
| be deducted for each $2 in earnings they have | | | | disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Under |
| above the annual limit. In 2007 the limit is $12,960. | | | | certain circumstances benefits could also be paid |
| In the year that the individual reaches full | | | | to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children. |
| retirement age then their benefits will be reduced | | | | Dependent parents may also receive benefits if |
| $1 for every $3 they earn over a different annual | | | | they are 62 or older. If an individual was divorced |
| limit, for 2007 its $34,440, until the month they | | | | their former spouse is eligible if they are 60 and |
| reach their full retirement age. Once the individual | | | | older and if their marriage lasted longer than 10 |
| reaches their full retirement age they can keep | | | | years. If an individual's former spouse doesn't |
| working and their Social Security benefits won't | | | | meet the age requirement or length-of-marriage |
| be reduced no matter how much they earn. | | | | requirement but are caring for his/her child under |
| Another helpful benefit that the Social Security | | | | the age of 16 they can still be entitled. |
| Administration offers is disability benefits. The | | | | |