Social Security and Black History Month
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: September 29, 2021
In February, our nation honors African Americans by celebrating Black History Month. Recognizing our shared history is one way we can affirm our belief in freedom and democracy for all. For more than 80 years, Social Security has helped secure today and tomorrow with financial benefits, information, and tools for people of countless backgrounds and ethnicities that make up our richly diverse country.
One of our popular tools is the online Retirement Estimator. With it, you can plug in some basic information to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future benefits. Different life events or choices can alter the course of your future, so try out different scenarios such as higher and lower future earnings amounts and various retirement dates to get a good prediction of how it can change your future benefit amounts. You can access it online.
If you find that helpful, we have a number of calculators to help you prepare for retirement.
We also pay disability benefits to people with medical conditions that could prevent them from working for 12 or more months or result in death. If the disabled person has dependent family members, they may also be eligible to receive payments.
We pay disability through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program, for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to be eligible, and the Supplemental Security Income program, which is a means-tested program for people who are 65 or older, as well as people of any age, including children, who are blind or have disabilities.
Widows, widowers, and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. Social Security helps by providing income for the families of workers who die. In fact, 98 of every 100 children could get benefits if a working parent dies. And Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program.
You can learn more about retirement, survivors, and disability benefits, on our website. Social Security is with you through life’s journey, helping secure today and tomorrow for you and your family. Visit us today.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
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Maria S.
My name is Maria Santana, I am retired with the full age of jubilicion, I still find myself working and already turned 70 years, my employer makes the discounts for Medicare and SS, I wonder if my retirement will continue to increase each year to continue active working . (regardless of the cost of living increase)
Maria S.
Estoy Retirada, con edad plena de jubilacion pero aun trabajo, y tengo cumplido 70 años desde 8/14/2018. Quisiera saber si continuo trabajando y mi empleador sigue descontando para medicare y ss, mi retiro seguiria aumentando anualmente. Por favor necesito si me pueden responder. Telefono 7863062374/7865415456
Barbara S.
I need information if people who receive SSA and still work will continue to increase their work retirement after 70 years, and their employer continues to discount for Mediacare and SS
Maria S.
I need information if people who receive SSA and still work will continue to increase their work retirement after 70 years, and their employer continues to discount for Mediacare and SS
Lynda D.
We have come a long way as blacks but seem like we are being punched backwards. Not like slavery but just not been treated like human beings because of color. They still think that we are un educated and stupid. But is not so maybe our our ancestors in the past but due to that because white men wouldn’t let black read even when I was a child I’m 69 years old now we got leftover books we’re reading when in in a second grade first grade books and that was so sad they always had a year on us and reading but that is all over now we have come a long ways and much more time to have to change things again some things will maybe never be changed but that don’t mean that we won’t stop fighting for the right for equality and it will happen I might not be able to see it but it will happen by the grace of God Amen.
Tori G.
I try get father said check he dead
Joe P.
The messages you send out to federal employees are virtually impossible to read. Why is it that your office cannot send out a simple link to this page? I need to first display as HTML and then search and select in vain with no detectable, simple hyperlink. After deleting countless unreadable SS messages, I finally enlisted our help desk. They advised me to send to security to first check veracity. It need not be this difficult. Make it simple please so simple people can use and read it! Thank you.
lesly f.
I am retired with medication in my hand but no money to by anything.
V.V.
Hi Lesly, thank you for your question. Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). Some people with limited resources and income also may be able to get Extra Help. This Extra Help will help pay for the costs, such as monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copayments.
You can apply for Extra Help online. To schedule an appointment or to apply for Extra Help over the phone, contact us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or contact your local Social Security office.
In addition, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for more information. Thanks.
Christie A.
Well done! I appreciate Social Security’s participation in Black History Month.
Glenn
Other than the first paragraph, nothing in this article talks about blacks. What does retirement have to do with race anyway?!?
John J.
I guess we need to watch the video.
Debra
Excellent question, Glenn. I wondered the same thing: “What DOES retirement have to do with race anyway”…?
Debra
Black History month is a beautiful way to celebrate our nation’s diversity! I’m just wondering if “white privilege” is something that actually exists amongst the white population? If so, I’d greatly appreciate finding this elusive privilege that I supposedly am born with…?