5 Social Security Messages for Holiday Gatherings
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: December 23, 2024
‘Tis the season for holiday celebrations. When gathering ‘round Christmas trees or the candles of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, may you be surrounded by the love of family and friends. As you dine on traditional favorites, we hope you enjoy good food and conversation.
If the topic of Social Security comes up during a holiday get-together, we’ve put together 5 basic messages you can share with your loved ones.
- Create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account – If you’re getting Social Security, you can manage your benefits with your online account – without the need to contact us. If you’re not receiving benefits, it’s never too soon to create an account. There, you can review your earnings record. We pay benefits based on the earnings that are posted, so tell us if a correction is needed. You’ll also want to check out your Social Security Statement for estimates of future benefits.
- Social Security is more than a retirement program – We also pay benefits to people who can’t work because of a disability and survivors benefits to some family members when a worker dies.
- Learn how Social Security figures benefits – We calculate retirement benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings – not 10 years, not the last 5, but 35.
- Determine when you can start retirement benefits and how the age you choose effects your monthly amount – The full retirement age is rising to 67 for people born in 1960 or later. While you can receive Social Security retirement as early as age 62, your monthly amount may be permanently reduced if you start benefits before your full retirement age. If you delay your benefits past full retirement age, you can boost your benefit amount by about 8% for each year you delay up until age 70.
- Save and invest for a secure financial future – The average retirement benefit in 2025 is $1,976 a month – less than $24,000 a year. Average disability and survivors benefits are less. You need other income besides Social Security to live comfortably in retirement.
When the topic of Social Security comes up during the holidays, please share some of our key messages with your family and friends. Want to learn more? Visit our online Frequently Asked Questions.
We wish you all the best this holiday season and in 2025!
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: General Information, social security, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Aaron H.
Hello I have been disabled since 2012 blood clots open wounds on both ankles how could I get disability SSI disability
S.D.
Hi, Aaron. Social Security has two disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI benefits are based on a worker’s earnings. SSI is a needs-based program that makes payments to people with disabilities who have limited income and resources. Our definition of disability is the same for both programs. You must have a disabling condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 1 year or to result in death. To learn about the differences between the two disability programs, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. When you are ready, the most convenient way to apply for disability is with our online application. For more information, read our blog. We hope this helps.
Deborah D.
What does a widow need to do to receive her husband’s social security benefits after President Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act, please? I previously did not qualify due to the fact that we were both retired teachers.
S.D.
Hi, Deborah. Thank you for reading our blog and for your question. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available. We hope this helps.
Robert C.
Excellent advice. We will set up our “mySocialSecurity” accounts. We have been retired for 29 years and our experience with Social Security and Medicare has been very positive. We try to keep up with the changes that occur, particularly what may happen with the new administration in Washington, D.C.
AngelSr
Segun ustedes los que resivimos ssi tendriamos un descuento en la renta, pero no se a ablado mas del asunto,casi todo mi ssi se va en gastos sobre todo la renta vivo en casas de [HUD] GRACIAS
S.D.
Thanks for reading our blog, Angel. For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov, Administración del Seguro Social http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial, or http://www.twitter/segurosocial. To help you conduct business with us in languages other than English, we provide free interpreter services. For assistance, call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. If you need service in Spanish, press 7 and wait for a Spanish-speaking representative to help you. We hope this helps.
Joe
Will there be an increase in benefits under the social security fairness act?
S.D.
Thanks for reading our blog and for your question, Joe. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available. We hope this helps.
quacy m.
eulick pinkard just pay me with my payee social security ssi money 500 hundred
Sandra
Can I draw my ex’s ss if I already started drawing mine?
S.D.
Hi, Sandra. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former husband at least 10 years, be currently unmarried, and not eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. To discuss divorced spouse benefits with a representative, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or contact your local Social Security office. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions and our What Every Woman Should Know publication. We hope this helps.
VINCENT H.
THE INCOMPETENTENCE OF THE WORKFORCE OFFICE STAFF I HAVE CALLED MANY TIMES, ABOUT GETTING REIMBURSED FOR PREPAYMENT, OVERPAYMENT OF MY MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, BEFORE I EVEN APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, HAS LEFT A VERY SOUR TASTE IN MY MOUTH, IN REGARDS TO HOW UNCARING EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM ARE, TO THE FACTS, CLEARLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR FACES, AND CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO REFUND MY OVERPAYMENT, TO THIS DAY, NOW NINE MONTHS RUNNING!!
HOW MANY YEARS IS GOING TO TAKE ME TO GET MY REFUND?
Jasmin
Waiting 14 months for disability still nothing
Not working have minr child and Christmas in 2 days still no update .Not even dollar from government help this 14 months at all .not able to even go to appointments
S.D.
Hi, Jasmin. We are sorry to hear about your situation. The length of time it will take to receive a decision on your disability application depends on several factors, including the nature of your disability and how quickly we can obtain medical evidence from doctors or other treating sources. Sometimes your claim is randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision. For more information, visit our Disability-How Does Someone Become Eligible? webpage. To learn how to check the status of your claim, visit our Check application or appeal status. We hope this helps.
Frank W.
It would help if SSA would properly calculate offsets and overpayments and not screw beneficiaries out of the benefits they are legally and rightfully due. I have been fighting you jerks since day 1 of your miscalculating my offset and the outrageous overpayment this miscalculation resulted in. Instead of fixing your error you continue to screw me for an overpayment that is twice what it should be. And since the end of my OWCP FECA Schedule award periodic payments ended you have continued to steal my benefits and have underpaid me over $5,000 in benefits.