Social Security’s retirement benefits
Social Security benefits last as long as you live and increase with the cost of living. These benefits, including Medicare, provide a foundation on which to build a financially secure retirement. Savings and pensions are the other two legs of the stool for your retirement plan.
The Social Security benefit programs are “entitlement” programs. This means that workers, employers and the self-employed pay for the benefits with their Social Security taxes. The taxes that are collected are put into special trust funds. You qualify for these benefits based on your work history (or your spouse or parent). The amount of the benefit is based on these earnings. Fact Sheet * a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract — a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group [those who paid taxes into it] also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program Merriam-Webster *
A secure, comfortable retirement is every worker’s dream, especially now that we’re living longer, healthier lives, we can expect to spend more time in retirement than our parents and grandparents did. Achieving the dream of a secure, comfortable retirement is much easier when you plan your finances.
Get your Personal Statement, Records and Retirement Estimate ONLINE
Social Security also provides a lump-sum death payment of $255. Your spouse and young children can receive benefits equal to a $354,000 life insurance policy.
Social Security’s disability program for an average family is equivalent to a private disability insurance policy worth over $233,000.
Social Security’s Planning Tools
- Retirement Benefits Publication 10035
- What is your retirement age?,
- Use the benefit calculators to test out different retirement ages or future earnings amounts,
- More about Social Security programs,
- What happens if you work after you retire?, and
- How do certain types of earnings and pensions can affect your benefits?
- Retirement options,
- How members of your family may qualify for benefits,
- How to apply for benefits and what supporting documents you’ll need to furnish, and
- Apply for retirement benefits.
- Retirement Check List # 10377
What if you work in two or more different Countries?
International Social Security agreements, often called “Totalization agreements,”
have two main purposes.
- First, they eliminate dual Social Security taxation, the situation that occurs when a worker from one country works in another country and is required to pay Social Security taxes to both countries on the same earnings.
- Second, the agreements help fill gaps in benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the United States and another country.
Learn More
Consumer Links & Resources
Get your Personal Statement, Records and Retirement Estimate ONLINE
Outline of Questions on Social Security
Nolo Press Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions – Get the most out of your retirement and Medical Benefits.
Cost of Living Increase socialsecurity.gov/
Spousal Benefits socialsecurity.gov/
If your self employed – how to pay your premiums – taxes publication # 10022
#Retirement Benefits # 10035
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Social Security
Understanding the Benefits # 10024
25 pages
Set up an ONLINE Social Security Account - You also need it to get enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B
VIDEO
How Social Security Can Help you Plan for Retirement
30 minutes
Steve's Social Security Video's explaining how to use and benefit from these pages
- Optimum Age to start taking social security retirement
- Survivor Death Benefits Social Security SSI SSDI
- Social Security Retirement Benefits Maximize age 62 or 70?
- How are Social Security retirement benefits taxed
- reduced Social Security retirement Benefits if you are working
- Story of Medicare - Timeline
History of Medicare
on cms.gov
govbooktalk.gpo.govhappy-birthday-medicare/
Nolo Social Security, Medicare, Medi Cal & Government Pensions
Social Security Handbook
Steve’s Social Security Video’s explaining how to use and benefit from these pages
Social Security & Medicare
OFFICIAL online Enrollment and Benefit Planners
Apply ONLINE
#Medicare10050 and You 2021
Everything you want to know - Read Along
Your Medicare Benefits # 10116
- Enroll in Blue Cross
- Learn about UHC United Health Care
- Enroll in Blue Shield
- Don't like computers? Prefer a printed version be mailed to you? Audio MP 3
- Use our scheduler to Set a phone, Skype or Face to Face meeting
Sample Social Security Benefit Statement
Lesson Plan to teach Social Secuirty
https://www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/materials/pdfs/educators/05-10016_Educator%20Toolkit.pdf