Retirement Benefits

If you are thinking about retiring, you should read this booklet. The decisions you make about your retirement will be some of the most important decisions you'll ever make. And because Social Security is part of the retirement plans of almost every worker in the United States, you will find information in this booklet to help you plan for those years. You'll find explanations of how to qualify for Social Security benefits, how your earnings and age affect your benefits, and how to choose your retirement date. You'll also find information about Social Security's future and where your Social Security tax dollars go.

Your monthly benefits are only one part of your retirement. When you retire, your lifestyle will probably change. You may be faced with decisions about such things as planning additional leisure time or making a residence change. If you want help with other aspects of retirement, you may want to contact your local Area Agency on Aging. You'll find the number in your telephone directory.

Please Note: This booklet provides a general overview of Social Security retirement benefits. The information it contains is not intended to cover all provisions of the law. For specific information about your case, contact Social Security.

Although this booklet contains information about retirement benefits, there's more to Social Security than retirement. It's a comprehensive package of protection that also provides benefits to workers and their dependent family members if they become disabled or die. To learn more about the other benefits Social Security provides, call and ask for a copy of Social Security Understanding The Benefits(Publication No. 05-10024).

Many people wonder where their Social Security tax dollars go. Generally, out of every dollar you pay in Social Security taxes:

Your Social Security taxes also pay for administering Social Security. The administrative costs are paid from the trust funds described above and are less than one cent of every Social Security tax dollar collected.

Money not used to pay benefits and administrative expenses is invested in U.S. government bonds, generally considered the safest of all investments. The government uses the money it has borrowed from Social Security—just as it uses money you may have invested in savings bonds—to pay for all the services and projects it provides for our citizens. And just as the government pays you interest on your bonds, so will it make good on its obligations to Social Security.

You also need to know about Social Security's financial stability. Each year, Social Security's Board of Trustees reports on the financial status of the Social Security program. These reports are valuable tools for evaluating and ensuring the economic health of the Social Security system. The latest report indicates that the Social Security system, as currently structured, will be able to pay benefits well into the next century. This means Congress has the time it needs to make changes to safeguard the program's financial future.

Part 1—About Your Retirement Benefits
How Do You Qualify For Retirement Benefits?
How Much Will Your Retirement Benefit Be?
Full Retirement Age
Early Retirement
Delayed Retirement
Choosing Your Retirement Date
Retirement Benefits For Widow(er)s

Part 3—What You Need To Know When
You're Eligible For Retirement Benefits
How Do You Sign Up For Social Security?
Right To Appeal
If You Work And Get Social Security At The Same Time
Your Benefits May Be Taxable
Pensions From Work Not Covered By Social Security
Leaving The United States
A Word About Medicare

When you work and pay Social Security taxes (called FICA on some pay stubs), you earn Social Security credits. Most people earn the maximum of four credits per year.

The number of credits you need to get retirement benefits depends on your date of birth. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work). People born before 1929 need fewer than 40 credits (39 credits if born in 1928; 38 credits if born in 1927; etc.).

If you stop working before you have enough credits to qualify for benefits, your credits will remain on your Social Security record. If you return to work later on, you can add more credits so that you qualify. No retirement benefits can be paid until you have the required number of credits.

If you're like most people, you will earn many more credits than you need to qualify for Social Security. These extra credits do not increase your Social Security benefit. However, the income you earn while working will increase your benefit, as you will learn in the next section.

Your benefit amount is based on your earnings averaged over most of your working career. Higher lifetime earnings result in higher benefits. If you have some years of no earnings or low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower than if you had worked steadily.

Your benefit amount also is affected by your age at the time you start receiving benefits. If you start your retirement benefits at age 62 (the earliest possible retirement age), your benefit will be lower than if you waited until a later age.

Here's An Important Point: Social Security will give you a personalized benefit estimate at your request. Call our toll-free telephone number,
1-800-772-1213, to ask for a Request for Earnings Benefit Estimate StatementWe will send you a simple form to complete and return. When you return this form, we will mail back your complete earnings history along with estimates of your benefits for early retirement, full retirement, and age 70. We'll also give you an estimate of the disability benefits you could receive as well as the amount of benefits payable to your spouse and children due to your retirement, disability, or death. If you are age 60 or older, you can get an estimate of your retirement benefits by telephone.

Social Security law provides for automatic cost-of-living increases. Once you start receiving benefits, the amount will go up automatically if the cost of living rises.

The usual retirement age for people retiring now is age 65. Social Security calls this “full retirement age,'' and the benefit amount that is payable is considered the full retirement benefit.

Because of longer life expectancies, the full retirement age will be increased in gradual steps until it reaches age 67. This change starts in the year 2003, and it affects people born in 1938 and later.

You can start your Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but the benefit amount you receive will be less than your full retirement benefit.

If you take early retirement, your benefits will be permanently reduced based on the number of months you will receive checks before you reach full retirement age. If your full retirement age is 65, the reduction for starting your Social Security at age 62 is about 20 percent; at age 63, it is about 13 percent; and at age 64, it is about 6 percent.

If your full retirement age is older than 65 (that is, you were born after 1937), you still will be able to take your retirement benefits at age 62, but the reduction in your benefit amount will be greater than it is for people retiring now.

For example, John is retiring this year when he turns 62 and he will receive monthly benefits equal to about 80 percent of the benefit amount he would have received had he waited until age 65 to retire. His son, James, was born in 1962 and, based on the revised retirement age schedule, he would be eligible for full retirement benefits at age 67. If James takes early retirement benefits at age 62 like his father, his monthly check will be about 70 percent of the full benefit he would receive if he waited until age 67 to retire.

As a general rule, early retirement will give you about the same total Social Security benefits over your lifetime, but in smaller amounts to take account of the longer period you will receive them.

Some people stop working before they reach age 62. In that case, it's important to remember that during years with no earnings, you miss the opportunity to increase your benefit amount by replacing lower earnings years with higher earnings years.

Here's An Important Point: Sometimes poor health forces people to retire early. If you are unable to continue working because of poor health, you should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. The amount of the disability benefit is the same as a full, unreduced retirement benefit. For more information, call us to ask for a copy of the booklet Disability Benefits (Publication No. 05-10029).

Not everyone retires at full retirement age. You may decide to continue working full time beyond that time. In that case, you can increase your Social Security benefit in two ways:

For example, if you were born in 1943 or later, we will add eight percent per year ( of one percent per month) to your benefit for each year you delay signing up for Social Security beyond your full retirement age.

Year of Birth	Yearly Rate of Increase
1917—1924	3%
1925—1926	3.5%
1927—1928	4%
1929—1930	4.5%
1931—1932	5%
1933—1934	5.5%
1935—1936	6%
1937—1938	6.5%
1939—1940	7%
1941—1942	7.5%
1943 or later	8%

Here's An Important Point: If you decide to delay your retirement, be sure to sign up for Medicare at age 65. In some circumstances, medical insurance costs more if you delay applying for it.

If you plan to start your retirement benefits after age 62, it is a good idea to contact Social Security in advance to see which month is best to claim benefits. In some cases, your choice of a retirement month could mean additional benefits for you and your family.

It may be to your advantage to have your Social Security benefits start in January, even if you don't plan to retire until later in the year. Depending on your earnings and your benefit amount, it may be possible for you to start collecting benefits even though you continue to work. Under current rules, many people can receive the most benefits possible with an application that is effective in January.

If you are not working, or your annual earnings are under the earnings limits explained on Page 12, or you plan to start collecting your Social Security when you turn 62, you should apply for benefits three months before the date you want your benefits to start.

Because the rules are complicated, we urge you to discuss your plans with a Social Security claims representative in the year before the year you plan to retire.

Widow(er)s can begin receiving benefits at age 60 or age 50 if disabled. If you are receiving widows or widowers (including divorced widows or widowers) benefits, you can switch to your own retirement benefits (assuming you're eligible and your retirement rate is higher than your widow(er)'s rate) as early as age 62. In many cases, a widow(er) can begin receiving one benefit at a reduced rate and then switch to the other benefit at an unreduced rate at age 65. The rules vary depending on the situation, so you should talk to a Social Security representative about the options available to you.

If you're receiving retirement benefits, some members of your family also can receive benefits. Here's a list of those who can:

A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker's full benefit unless the spouse begins collecting benefits before age 65. In that case, the amount of the spouse's benefit is permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months before she or he reaches 65. For example, if your spouse begins collecting benefits at 64, the benefit amount would be about 46 percent of your full benefit. At age 63, it would be about 42 percent, and 37.5 percent at age 62. However, if your spouse is taking care of a child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits, your spouse gets full benefits, regardless of age.

If you're eligible for both your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefit first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you'll get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.

Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a wife's benefit of $400. At age 65, she will receive her own $250 retirement benefit and we will add to this $150 from her wife's benefit, for a total of $400. If she takes her retirement benefit at any time before she turns 65, they will be reduced.

If you have children eligible for Social Security, each will receive up to one-half of your full benefit. But there is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid to a family. If the total benefits due your spouse and children exceed this limit, their benefits will be reduced proportionately. Your benefit will not be affected.

A divorced spouse can get benefits on a former husband's or wife's Social Security record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. The divorced spouse must be 62 or older and unmarried. If the spouse has been divorced at least two years, he or she can get benefits, even if the worker is not retired. However, the worker must have enough credits to qualify for benefits and be age 62 or older. The amount of benefits a divorced spouse gets has no effect on the amount of benefits a current spouse can get.

You can call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 to apply for benefits or to make an appointment to visit any Social Security office to apply in person.

Depending on your circumstances, you will need some or all of the documents listed below. But don't delay applying for benefits because you don't have all the information. If you don't have a document you need, we can help you get it.

You will need to submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office. You can mail or bring them to Social Security. We will make photocopies and return your documents.

If you disagree with a decision made on your claim, you can appeal it. The steps you can take are explained in the factsheet The Appeals Process (Publication No. 05-10041), which is available from Social Security.

You have the right to be represented by an attorney or other qualified person of your choice. More information is in the factsheet Your Right To Representation (Publication No. 05-10075), which is also available from Social Security.

You can continue to work and still get retirement benefits. Earnings in, or after, the month you reach age 70 won't affect your Social Security benefits. However, before age 70, your benefits will be reduced if your earnings exceed certain limits.

These limits increase each year as average wages increase. For the current amounts, contact Social Security to ask for the leaflet How Work Affects Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069).

If other family members receive benefits on your Social Security record,the total family benefits will be affected by your earnings. This means we will offset not only your benefits, but those payable to your family as well. If a family member works, however, the family member's earnings affect only his or her benefits.

If during the year, your earnings are higher or lower than you estimated, let us know as soon as possible so we can adjust your benefits.

A Special Monthly Rule
A special rule applies to your earnings for one year, usually your first year of retirement. Under this rule, you can receive a full Social Security check for anymonth you are "retired,'' regardless of your yearly earnings. Your earnings must be under a monthly limit. If you're self-employed, the services you perform in your business are taken into consideration as well.

If you want more information on how earnings affect your retirement benefit, call us to ask for a copy of the leaflet How Work Affects Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069). This leaflet has the figures for the current annual and monthly earnings limits.

About 20 percent of people who get Social Security have to pay taxes on their benefits. This provision affects only people who have substantial income in addition to their Social Security.

At the end of each year, you will receive a Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) in the mail showing the amount of benefits you received. You can use this statement when you are completing your federal income tax return to find out if any of your benefits are subject to tax.

For more information, call the Internal Revenue Service's toll-free telephone number, 1-800-829-3676, to ask for Publication 554, Tax Information for Older Americans, and Publication 915, Social Security Benefits and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits.

If you get a pension from work where you paid Social Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefits. However, if you get a pension from work that was not covered by Social Security—for example, the federal civil service, some state or local government employment, or work in a foreign country—your Social Security benefit may be lowered or offset.

For more information, call Social Security to ask for the factsheets Government Pension Offset—for government workers who may be eligible for Social Security benefits on the record of a husband or wife (Publication No. 05-10007) and A Pension From Work Not Covered By Social Security—for people who worked in another country or for government workers who also are eligible for their own Social Security benefits (Publication No. 05-10045).

If you are a United States citizen, you can travel or live in most foreign countries without affecting your eligibility for Social Security benefits. However, there are a few countries—Cambodia, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, and many of the former U.S.S.R. republics (except Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia)—where we cannot send Social Security checks.

If you work outside the United States, different rules apply in determining if you can get your benefit checks.

Most people who are neither U.S. residents nor U.S. citizens will have 25.5 percent of their benefits withheld for Federal income tax.

For more information, call us to ask for a copy of the booklet Your Social Security Payments While You Are Outside the United States (Publication No. 05-10137).

Medicare is a health insurance plan for people who are 65 or older. People who are disabled or have permanent kidney failure can get Medicare at any age.

Medicare has two parts—hospital insurance and medical insurance. Most people have both parts.

Hospital insurance, sometimes called Part A, covers inpatient hospital care and certain follow-up care. You have already paid for it as part of your Social Security taxes while you were working.

Medical insurance, sometimes called Part B, pays for physicians' services and some other services not covered by hospital insurance. Medical insurance is optional, and a premium is charged.

If you're already getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your Medicare (Part A) starts automatically. If you're not getting Social Security, you should sign up for Medicare close to your 65th birthday, even if you aren't ready to retire. For more information, call us to ask for the booklet Medicare (Publication No. 05-10043).

Help for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries
If you have a low income and few resources, your state may pay your Medicare premiums and, in some cases, other ”out-of-pocket” Medicare expenses such as deductibles and coinsurance.

Only your state can decide if you qualify for help under this program. If you think you may qualify, contact your state or local medical assistance (Medicaid) agency, social service office, or welfare office. For more information, contact Social Security to request a copy of the leaflet Medicare Savings For Qualified Beneficiaries (HCFA Publication No. 02184).

You can get more information 24 hours a day by calling Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. You can call for an appointment or to speak to a service representative between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days. Our lines are busiest early in the week and early in the month so, if your business can wait, it's best to call at other times. Whenever you call, have your Social Security number handy.

Recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. You can also reach us on the Internet. Type http://www.ssa.gov to access Social Security information.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our toll-free “TTY” number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days.

The Social Security Administration treats all calls confidentially—whether they're made to our toll-free numbers or to one of our local offices. We also want to make sure that you receive accurate and courteous service. That's why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some incoming and outgoing telephone calls.

Social Security has a number of publications that contain information about other Social Security programs. Contact Social Security to get a free copy of any of these publications. They include:

THE TEXT ABOVE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN MATERIAL AUTHORED BY AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND NOT COPYRIGHTED BY THIS WEBSITE. To locate the original material (which may have been updated) click here.

Retirement Benefits

SSA Publication No. 05-10035 February 1997 ICN 457500

SSA Publication No. 05-10035
February 1997
ICN 457500