Now is the Perfect Time to Check on Your Retirement List
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 30, 2018
With every change of season, there’s usually a list of essential items that must be done. If you’re getting your house ready for winter, you are likely getting your furnace serviced and cleaning your gutters among other things. In the same way you’re getting your house ready for the colder months, we want to make sure you’re checking off items on another important list, your retirement list.
A healthy retirement checklist should include the following questions:
- Did you verify your earnings? — With a mySocial Security account, you can view your earnings history, confirm you have enough work credits to retire, and see estimates of what your benefits will be. Open or sign in to your account today!
- Do you know how much your benefit will be? — Our Retirement Estimatoris a great tool that provides you with immediate and personalized estimates based on your own earnings record. It provides the most accurate estimate of your future benefits.
- Do you have additional retirement income? — Social Security benefits only replace a percentage of your pre-retirement income based on your lifetime earnings. A healthy retirement plan also includes your savings and perhaps an employer-sponsored retirement plan or 401(k), especially if your employer offers matching funds on what you invest. If your employer doesn’t offer this type of plan, there are many other plans to help you save for retirement, such as solo 401(k)s as well as traditional and Roth IRAs.
To help you answer these questions, we recommend reading our publication, Your Retirement Checklist. It explains what you need to know before you apply, special circumstances that may apply to you, and other things you may want to think about.
Also, our retirement website has a wealth of resources to use when you’re planning for retirement. Check it out today and start crossing off items from your list.
Did you find this Information helpful?
About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
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Theresa E.
I don’t know if I am eligible for disability social security. I have Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis as well as sarcoidosis.
I have been collecting social security for 8 or 9 years and it just recently occurred to me that I may be eligible for disability social security.
Please let me know if I have a chance to get disability social security payments.
V.V.
Hi Theresa. When a person has reached his or her full retirement age (Currently 66) and is receiving Social Security retirement, they are not longer eligible for disability benefits.
Erlinda F.
I have just retired last July 4,2018. my husband retired since he was age 62 and now his age is 72, but his SSS check is only 700.00/month I am getting 1,937.00 / month this after medicare deduction. My problem is the medication is there a way we can get a lower deductible for our medication? My secondary Medicare is Medicare Advantage Aetna HMO.
V.V.
Hi Erlinda: Your husband may qualify for spouse’s benefits on your record. If he qualifies for a higher amount on your record than what he’s receiving on his own record, he may be able to get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. To inquire, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office.
Your husband may also qualify for Extra Help to pay for Medicare prescription drug coverage. We hope this information helps.
Shirley W.
I’m looking for information on Medicare part B, Social Security #*** – ** – ***. Thank You!
V.V.
Hi Shirley: See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on Medicare.
Bryan M.
CONGRESS JIMMY GOMEZ XAVIER BECERRA KAMALA HARRIS WWE INVESTOR STAKEHOLDER SELL IT BUY IT OWN IT 2327 RIDGEVIEW AVE HOME CARE CENTER IN LOS ANGELES CA.GOV 90041 http://WWW.SSA.GOV http://WWW.USA.GOV http://WWW.DOR.CA.GOV http://WWW.SBA.GOV WWE.COM http://WWW.CONGRESS.GOV EASTERN LOS ANGELES CENTER P.O.BOX 7916 ALHAMBRA CA 91803 -7916 TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF 1-626-299-4700 FAX NUMBERS OF 1-626-281-1163 SIGN BRYANMIRANDA1028@GMAIL.COM
NoLAN T.
getting married soon so need you to send me an updaTED FORM TO SHOW CHANGES IN MY SS STATUS
R.F.
Congratulations, on your upcoming wedding, Nolan!
To properly report any changes that may affect your Social Security benefits, you will need to contact us by phone at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Or by visiting your local office.
See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits?“. Thanks!
Shelia F.
“Spouse’s benefits”
Married couple
wife retired 2005
soc sec benefit 2008
husband retired 2012.
soc sec benefit 2004
Now it is 2018,
can we still apply for this benefit?
Maria O.
Who can help me with a year the Social Security does not want to recognize my income?
AKA
When you file for retirement you can review your retirement record at that time and correct any ommissions.
AKA
You can correct any missing data when you file for benefits.
AKA
You can correct your earnings record when you file for benefits.
Maria
In my case I check the retirement list, however the Social Security is not recognizing my income for 2005 even with proof of cleared checks and a paper from the IRS. The response is that it does not show if my income of that year was as a self employed or with a W-2. and that is not good for me I feel they are stealing me, sorry.
Dorothy L.
I have been receiving my deceased spouse benefits for some time now, my question is I am turning 70 in December this year what will my benefit dollar amount be from my own SSI ?
R.F.
Hello Dorothy, You can get your personal Social Security Statement online by using your my Social Security account. If you don’t yet have an account, you can easily create one. Your online Statement gives you secure and convenient access to your earnings records. It also shows estimates of your future retirement benefits. Thanks!
Bryan M.
congress jimmy gomez xavier becerra kamala harris wwe investor stakeholders sell it buy it own it 2327 Ridgeview ave home care center in ca.gov 90041 http://www.ssa.gov http://www.dor.ca.gov http://www.sba.gov http://www.congress.gov http://www.usa.gov wwe.com eastern los angeles regional center P.O.BOX 7916 ALHAMBRA CA 91803-7916 TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF 1-626-299-4700 FAX NUMBERS OF 1-626-281-1163 SIGN BRYANMIRANDA1028@GMAIL.COM
Chevelle C.
I want to know how much my retirement account will be, however I am able to set up an account. Please advise?
R.F.
Hi Chevelle, our Retirement Estimator gives you estimates of your future (monthly) Social Security benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
In addition, we have a variety of other calculators to help you plan for the future. Which calculator you choose depends on what you want to do.
Creating a personal my Social Security account is a great idea. With your personal my Social Security account, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more. We hope this information helps!