You and Social Security, Together for a Lifetime
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Social Security is with you throughout life’s journey. During May, we celebrate Older Americans Month, and we want to highlight how we are here for you. We’re there when you get your first job, when you get married, and through years of work when you are paying Social Security taxes. Our programs serve as vital financial protection for millions of Americans, and part of our journey together includes making sure you know what that protection means to you in your later years.
We’re there to help you stay in control of your benefits with our online services — helping you do business with us from your preferred location. For example, if you damage or lose your Medicare card, you can order a replacement card easily with a personal my Social Security account. Having a personal my Social Security account helps free up your time to do other things that truly matter to you.
If the time comes when you can no longer manage your benefits, you can count on Social Security to be there. Our Representative Payee Program helps millions of beneficiaries who cannot manage their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits. A representative payee is a trusted family member, friend, or institution who can receive and manage the funds we pay for someone who receives benefits.
Your representative payee receives the payments on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your needs, which include housing and utilities, food, medical and dental expenses, personal care items, clothing, and rehabilitation expenses (if you’re disabled).
Your representative payee can use the rest of your benefit money to pay the cost of your care and provide money for your personal needs. Social Security looks for qualified individuals or organizations to represent you.
Working with a representative payee is just one of the ways Social Security helps you secure today and tomorrow. Visit our representative payee website for more information.
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Tags: Medicare, my Social Security, my Social Security account, representative payee
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Frances M.
Why did we not learn about this until May 31, after the month was over
William E.
I understand that those of us who served in the military in the late 50’s could get an adjustment for lifetime earnings because of low pay . How do you go about checking on this .
R.F.
Hello William, if you were in the military from 1940 through 1956, including attendance at a service academy, you did not pay Social Security taxes. However, your records are credited with special earnings that may help you qualify for Social Security and Medicare or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit.
Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for periods of active duty from 1957 through 2001 can also be credited to your Social Security earnings record for benefit purposes.
Read more at “Military Retirement And Social Security Benefits“.
Mary
Can someone PLEASE update my phone numbrr? I have the Somerset KY, office claims they have , not to just but my husbands ss well. Several attempr’s and result!!!
R.F.
Hello Mary, for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. If you get Social Security benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability) or are enrolled in Medicare, you can change your address and update your telephone number online by using a my Social Security account. Thanks!
Steve B.
I receive an extra Social Security payment in the month of May on May 31. What is this or will they pulled it out once they know that two payments I received, one on May 22 and the last one May 31.
R.F.
Hello Steve. Generally, beneficiaries receive only one payment a month. However, there may be times when additional payments may be issued when retroactive benefits are due. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot provide an answer to your question at this time. One of our representatives should be able to provide you with an explanation, and direct you to return the extra payment if necessary.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Or you may contact your local Social Security office directly. Thanks!
B.Q. P.
We as older Americans certainly appreciate all the good you do for Social Security receptionist’s. Keep up your dedicated efforts. IN GOD WE TRUST AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. AMEN. ! ! !
R.F.
We appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for your comment!
König W.
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Margaret D.
This is more of a question then a comment. How do I go about getting any portion of my late husbands SS benefits?
I would greatly appreciate some infotmation and or instructions, Thaking you in advance,Margaret Daly
Margaret G.
How do I go about getting my late husbands SS benefits, to take the place of mine, as his SS amount is larger than I am getting.
Maria O.
Hello, I am trying to retire, I am 66 so I made an appointment with the SS office, where they let me know that in 2005 I did not report any income that was a surprise due that 2005 was a year that I made more money.
I contact with the IRS and they let me know they do not keep your records for so long, but at least when I explain my situation, they try to help and send me a transcript of the 2005.
I went back to the SS office and show the transcript but the person let me know that they can not apply that income because they do not know if is for rents. I explain them that I have always worked as a self employed and sometimes also with both self employed and W-2 and clarify that I do not own any property so I have never report my income tax with rents.
I enter to the website IRS where we can download the transcripts and down load some for recent years and they are exactly as the one they sent me, so I do not understand why the SS office can not help me with this, I believe is not fair. Hope somebody in the SS office see this and help,
Thank you
R.F.
Hello Maria. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please continue working with your local office. If you are unable to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks.
Joyce C.
We seniors have not received a raise in over 2 yrs, when will we got one?
Tom
There have been cost of living increases. If you did not see one and are on Part B of Medicare it is likely you are affected by the “hold harmless” provision. If you are not paying $134.00 a month for Part B, then your Part B is being subsidized. 70% of social security recipients on Part B are subsidized by the 30% who have to pay a higher premium to make up for the fact that 70% are not paying the full premium. Your cost of living is going toward your subsidized Part B to reduce the amount of extra the 30% must pay. The problem is the announced premium amount must reflect 25% of Medicare’s expected cost for Part B, so the more Part B is used, the more the program costs. The other 75% is covered by taxes. The point is that there is a larger problem than some people not getting a cost of living that shows up in their payment. Congress is making 3 out of 10 Part B recipients pick up the slack. The system needs fixing. In reality, if it wasn’t for “hold harmless” your social security check would go down when the cost of living is lower than the premium increase.
Sandra W.
Thanks, it is Really Hard for me to Get by being a Widow and being on Disability? My Income is Very LOW? I have a Mortgage, Car Payment, High ??????ll Bills/ Medicine, Utility’s, and trying to just keep things up that Seams to Constantly BREAK? I don’t have Money to do Any Remodels that desperately Needs to be Done ✅. I’ve had had 8 Major Back Surgeries and 4 Total Knee Replacements on the Same Knee and when My Husband passed away just over 3 years ago I had NO Life INSURANCE? I just REALLY Have it ROUGH!!!! I Only Draw 1500.00 a Month including mine and Widows/ Pay it’s TOUGH?