5 More Facts You Might Not Know About Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
What kind of questions do you and your friends ask about Social Security? When do my benefits arrive? What are Social Security work credits, and do they have anything to do with the way my benefits are figured? Will I be automatically enrolled in Medicare? Read on to find the answers to these questions.
1. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due.
When you meet all the requirements for eligibility, the benefit check you receive is payment for the prior month’s benefits. For information on the payment of benefits, you can read our pamphlet, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits.
To know when checks will be paid, you can save the Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments to your “Favorites” or print it.
2. We don’t pay benefits for the month of death.
Social Security uses the same throughout-the-month rule to determine eligibility for the benefit that is due for the month of death. You must live through the full month to be eligible for the payment. See the pamphlet above in the section titled If a beneficiary dies for more information about when a check is due.
3. Survivors benefits can replace a percentage of the worker’s earnings for family members.
The eligible family members of a retired or disabled beneficiary may receive a monthly payment of up to 50 percent of beneficiary’s amount. Survivors benefits usually range from about 75 percent to 100 percent of the deceased worker’s amount. Visit our Understanding the Benefits publication for an explanation of the amounts family members receive.
4. Work credits determine eligibility for benefits, but your lifetime earnings are used to calculate your monthly benefit amount.
Retired workers need 40 work credits to be eligible for benefits, but your work credits alone do not determine how much you will receive each month. When we figure your retirement benefit, we use the average of your highest 35 years of earnings. See Your Retirement Benefit: How It Is Figured for more information.
5. If you receive retirement benefits before you reach age 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare.
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay. It also pays for some home health care and hospice care. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventative services. When you’re already receiving retirement benefits, we automatically sign you up for Medicare Parts A and B when you turn age 65. You can then decline Part B if you choose, since it requires a monthly premium. If you are not receiving retirement benefits as you approach age 65, you should contact Social Security three months before age 65 to sign up for Medicare Part A and B. Even if you don’t want to retire at 65, you should sign up for Medicare only. For more details, check out our Medicare page.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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James H.
I am divorced 76 years old receiving Social Security payments my ex-wife is receiving payments against my social security number. I want to get remarried she is 67 receiving Social Security benefits from her ex-husband both exes are still alive. If we get married will she lose her benefits if so for how long before she can claim on my benefit
Luis A.
Hi James. Generally, we cannot pay benefits if the divorced spouse remarries someone other than the former spouse. For more information, please read our internet page titled “If You Are Divorced.” We hope this helps.
ernesto p.
I retired June 2018 and had earnings of 42.000. I applied for social security benefits in July of 2019 at the age of 65. My FRA is 66. My question is are those earning ($42,000) earned prior to collecting benefits count toward the maximum allowable for income over the threshold allowed by social security?
Ann C.
Hi, Ernesto. Thanks for your question. If you retire mid-year, we count your earnings for the entire year. We have a special earnings test rule that we apply to annual earnings—usually the first year of retirement. For more information on the Special Earnings Limit Rule, visit here. We hope this helps.
Violet A.
Help… I threw away a folder accidently that had all of ine and my husbands SS pin numbers and “Your new benefit amounts” forms. Can you tell me what I need to do? I tried the web site but got confused as to what to do.
Luis A.
Hi Violet. Good news! You can request a replacement SSA-1099 by using your personal my Social Security account. If you are having difficulty with your personal my Social Security account, we have established a dedicated my Social Security Hotline to assist you. To reach this hotline, please call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. Sometimes, it might be best to visit your local Social Security office for further assistance. Here you can find out how to locate your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
BR
My SS report shows that I could receive $3,035 at age 66.5 or $3,900 at age 70. I have a spouse that could receive a third of those amounts but I heard that she can elect to receive up to 1/2 of my benefit. How does this work? Also, my SS report shows that family benefits cannot exceed $5,288. Is this the upper limit for both my wife and I combined? If yes, will this limit increase as COLA’s go into effect annually?
Thanks.
Ann C.
Hi, BR. For your wife to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, if she qualifys for Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But if she also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse, she’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information about spouse’s benefits and the family maximum, visit here. We hope this helps.
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lois w.
Can I claim my social security benefits at the age of 58?
thanks
Ann C.
Hi, Lois. Thanks for your question. The earliest age you can get retirement benefits is 62, but you can wait. If you choose to get benefits before your full retirement age, they will be reduced. You can create a personal my Social Security account to review estimates of your retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, your earnings record, and the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. To get started, go here. We hope this helps.
Susan
Do I have to give my social security number to dentist office when I arrange insurance and personal payment. They always insist. What do I tell them?
Ann C.
Hi, Susan. You can refuse to disclose your Social Security number; however, the requester can then refuse to provide you the service she is seeking if you don’t give it to them. For more on this, visit here. We hope this helps.
Camella
If someone receives $733 in benefits and is under retirement age, what is the earning limit for the year?
Ann C.
Hi, Camella. If a person is younger than full retirement age during all of 2019, the earnings limit is $17,640. Check out how work affects Social Security payments here. Thanks!
Richard S.
I applied and was approved for medicare but I’ve decided to remain on my spouse’s sponsored plan through her employer. How do I cancel/opt out of my approved application?
Ann C.
Hi, Richard. If you wish to terminate your enrollment, we will help you submit a signed request for termination or Form CMS-1763. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires, when possible, a personal interview be conducted with everyone who wishes to terminate entitlement. You will have to go to your local office, and we will help you submit a signed request for termination or Form CMS-1763. Thanks!
Gary j.
Iam aloud to claim my grandchild if I have full custody
Ann C.
Hi, Gary. Thank you for your comment. Under current law, Social Security can only pay benefits to grandchildren if certain conditions are met. In addition to providing for more than 50% of their support, the biological parents of the children must be deceased or disabled, or you must have legally adopted them. See “Benefits For Grandchildren” for more information. We hope this helps.