Stating the Types of Social Security Benefits

                                                                                         

Unlike what most Americans perceive it; Social Security is not just focused in Retirement Benefits. Rather, it covers other important programs that serve the purpose of helping the workers and their families with their financial needs in certain difficult situations of their lives.

Practically, the Social Security Program of the government includes these three major concerns:

1. Retirement
2. Disability
3. Survivor’s Benefits


Retirement Benefits
Originally, Social Security intends to impart workers with a continuous source of income after they have reached the full age of retirement. The amount of retirement benefits will be based on the employee’s average earnings throughout his or her working career. This would mean that the higher career earnings of an employee, the higher amount of benefits that he can get from the Social Security Administration.

Obtaining eligibility for retirement benefits is just as easy. Workers who were born after 1928 just have to earn forty Social Security credits by paying his Social Security taxes. Every year, an employee may earn four credits, enabling him to earn his eligibility for at least ten years of working.

A worker’s full age of retirement depends on the year of his birth. For more details, you may log on to the SSA’s website at http://www.ssa.gov

Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability or SSD benefits support the workers who have sustained any physical or mental impairment, which prevented them from performing “substantial gainful activities”, that is expected to last or has already lasted for at least a period of one year or probable to result in death. To see a complete list of impairments accepted by the SSA, you may go to their nearest office or you may again log on to their website.

If you have been disabled, it would be necessary for you to file your application immediately since the actual process of Social Security benefit claims may take quite a long period. It is also important that you bring the following upon your application:

• Your complete medical records including those results of your check ups from your doctors and therapists
• The laboratory findings and other test results connected with your disability
• The names and contact information of your medical attendants
• Your employer’s name and a description of your job

Survivors Benefits
This program of the SSA seeks to provide financial assistance to the surviving family of a deceased worker. When you die for any natural reason, your love ones may file their Social Security benefit claims with the SSA. Your family members who can collect their benefits are:

• Widow or widower who is
o 60 yrs. of age or above
o 50 yrs. of age or above if disabled
o At any age if taking care of your child younger than 16 yrs. old or disabled and who is receiving his Social Security benefits
• Unmarried children who are
o Below the age of 18
o Between the age of 18 and 19 but still full-time elementary or high school students
o At any age if seriously disabled before reaching the age of 22
• Other dependents such as your parents provided that they meet the requirement set by the SSA

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