5 Ways Social Security Protects You and Your Family
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 16, 2021
Next payday, when you see a portion of your wages go toward FICA taxes, rest easier knowing that your investment in Social Security brings a lifetime of protections for you and your family.
From your first job and throughout your career, we track your earnings and give you credits for the contributions you’ve made through payroll taxes. Those credits can translate into important future benefits. As you prepare for a financially secure future, you should know about these five benefits that you, your spouse, and your children may become eligible for through Social Security:
Retirement benefits provide you with a continuous source of income later in life. If you’ve earned enough credits, you can start receiving your full retirement benefits at age 66 or 67 — depending on when you were born. You may choose to claim these benefits as early as age 62 at a permanently reduced rate, but waiting until after your full retirement age increases your benefit amount by up to 8 percent per year to age 70. Plan for your retirement on our Retirement Benefits page.
Disability benefits offer a financial lifeline if you’re struck by a serious medical condition that makes it impossible for you to work and provide for yourself and your family and is expected to last at least one year or to result in death. Learn more on our Benefits for People with Disabilities page.
Child benefits support your minor children while you’re receiving Social Security retirement benefits or disability benefits. This financial support also is available to adult children who become disabled before age 22. Grandchildren and stepchildren may qualify in certain situations. Please see our Parents and Guardians page.
Spousal benefits supplement a couple’s income if one of the two never worked or had low lifetime earnings. In some cases, this benefit is also available to divorced spouses. Please see our Retirement Benefits page.
Survivors benefits ease the financial burden on your loved ones after you die by providing monthly payments to eligible widows, widowers, children, and dependent parents. It’s likely the survivor benefits you have under Social Security carry greater value than your individual life-insurance policy. Read more on our Survivors Benefits page.
You must meet specific eligibility requirements to receive any type of Social Security benefits.
Currently, Social Security provides benefits to more than 66 million American workers and their families. And we’ll be there for you and your family through life’s journey.
Learn more about all of our programs on our website.
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Tags: Disability, FICA, retirement, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Stanley D.
Very good and concise description of the social security disability programs and the protections it offers to US citizens.
R.F.
Thank you, Stanley! Your thoughts are important to us and we’re pleased when feedback is positive. Social Security is committed to providing world-class customer service today and in the years to come.
David P.
For those of you are looking for a good forum to discuss the social security disability process check out http://ssaforum.com/forum/
Shaun D.
I have been waiting on disability for over 3 years. I was finally approved on 2/22/2018. Now I’m waiting yet again for my benefits and my Back pay. Fix this ASAP.
R.F.
Hello Shaun. The length of time it takes to begin receiving payments after receiving a favorable decision varies. Approved claims are randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision. We care about our customers and are working as fast as we can.
For security reasons, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. In your situation, we encourage you to contact your local office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to one of our ragents. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
Reva
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Doug W.
Thanks
Larry
SSA Said: “Disability benefits offer a financial lifeline if you’re struck by a serious medical condition that makes it impossible for you to work and provide for yourself and your family and is expected to last at least one year or to result in death”
Yes, and good luck getting those benefits that YOU paid for. Social security makes it nearly impossible.
Countless articles about the growing backlog and how people are DYING waiting to be approved due to Social Security’s incompetence!
Janet
I contacted your business telephone # and asked for forms to fill out to know all my past & present employers. I want to make an accurate record of how many years I have been with the school district. Were taxes taken out of my employment check since it’s an education institution? Thank you kindly.
R.F.
Hi Janet! See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on this topic, Thanks.