Social Security, A Source of Independence for Millions
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 17, 2021
On July 4, people in communities everywhere celebrate our nation’s independence with neighbors, family, and friends. A strong community promotes independence by helping each other lead full and productive lives.
Social Security has been helping people maintain a higher quality of life and a level of independence for over 80 years. Over those decades, we’ve made it even easier for you to access the programs and benefits you might need. Now, applying online is the fastest way to get those crucial benefits.
Here are some the types of benefits you can apply for:
- Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits – You must be at least 61 years and 9 months old and want your benefits to start no more than four months in the future. Apply online.
- Disability – You can apply online for disability benefits or continue an application you already started. Apply for Disability today.
- Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs – Many people need assistance with the cost of medications. Apply for Extra Help online.
- Medicare – Medicare is a national health insurance program administered by the U.S. federal government that began in 1966. You can apply online or continue an application you already started.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – SSI is a federal income program funded by general tax revenues designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people who have little or no income. You may be able to apply online if you meet certain requirements. See if you can apply online for SSI.
Social Security provides benefits for millions of people including wounded warriors and children, the chronically ill and the disabled who cannot work. Find the help you or your family need at our website.
Don’t forget, our many online services can provide you and the ones you love with lifelong independence. From replacing a lost Social Security card to estimating your benefits, you can access these powerful tools at our online services website.
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Tags: Medicare, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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melody f.
If my children receive social security disability through/ because of their father’s disability, at what age do they stop getting financial benefits? Also, if I seek to Terminate his rights in our home-state of Texas because there has been no contact in 7 years, do the kids quit receiving benefits if termination is granted?
R.F.
Hello Melody. Normally, benefits for children stop when children reach age 18, unless they are disabled. However, if the child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, Social Security benefits will continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes age 19, whichever is first.
Childhood disability benefits are also payable after reaching age 18, if the disability began before age 22.
See Benefits Planner: Family Benefits for more information. Thanks!
Betty
Seeking publication that specifically lists what income can be earned without reducing benefits after being qualified for RSDI .
R.F.
Hello Betty. For the earnings limits, we don’t count income such as other government benefits, investment earnings, interest, pensions, annuities, and capital gains. Read more at “How Work Affects Your Benefits“. Also, you may find our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working of interest.
We hope this helps!
Pamela K.
How do I go about changing my Social Security direct deposit from my old bank account number to a new bank account number? I have had to change my bank account number due to fraud activity occurring. Is there a direct phone number I can call at Social Security to resolve this change from old account to new account immediately? Please contact me ASAP! Thank you
R.F.
Hello Pamela, you can update your direct deposit information by using your personal my Social Security account. Or you can call our toll free number at 1-80-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
Leon c.
I thought the policy of Social Securiy was to count the last high 3 years and not just 3 years back.
Emmanuel L.
Thank you, for the great information daily I do received from SSA, soon I will be 63 years, I hope to continue to keep working still my full benefice age coming, if my health will be great. But! My sickness want to putting me down, I am suffer from Diabetic since October 2002. Thanks God my wife had insurance from her job in the UNION who supports me so much, where I am working as a school bus driver, I don’t have any benefice and insurance.
I work there for over six years, I am only hope to knowing if I could survive for 65 years just to have the Medicare who very important for me to seeing the doctor, even I paying the rest of the money.
Thanks again SSA for great care of each one of us daily.
Emmanuel LaTouche
9910 195th Street
Hollis, NY 11423-3222
USA
emmanuellatouche@yahoo.com
Kendra E.
Can I now go online and start my online account again?
I am an “alternate player recipient”.
Please let me know if it is “fixed yet”.
TY
AJ
Is there any penalty if one earns about $80.00 a year and decided to start receiving social security benefit at 62.
AJ
How much can one receive monthly, if one earns about $80.000 a year and start receiving social security benefits at 62. Is there any other penalty beside the fact that the benefit will be indefinitely reduced by about 25%.
PHILIP P.
Social Security is NOT a benefit, it is earned with live long payments into the system. It is an ANNUITY!
Philip Hirsch
Sevierville, TN
phrockytop@gmail.com
John J.
I’m typing this in recognition of how wonderful and blessed I am to have the Social Security Administration on my side in times of despair and financial need. You see seven years ago my primary care physician diagnosed my ear infection as scabies, after several other second opinions by other specialists in the health care field. I realize the Social Security Administration means and does what it says – and that is help people with certain disability stay financial independent to provide reasonable and adequate housing for people who qualify. Again I would like to thank the SSA for all their Financial Assistants, I could not have done this without you, with deep appreciation, THANK YOU.
R.F.
We appreciate your thoughts, John. Thanks for your comment!