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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Frank A.
I live abroad and my address is still the same and I did not received my SSA Form 7162 last year and they cut my retirement benefit in February. The US Embassy in Manila sent my Form 7162 after I completed it last Feb. It’s been 3 months now I don’t receive my SSA retirement benefit. My Embassy Representative said she made a follow up already. How long does it take for them to re instate my SSA monthly pension benefit? I have to buy my monthly maintenance madicine and pay my house rent. Another question is why can’t we use my SSA personal account to communicate to this office?
Wilfried H.
Why can one not get a straight answer to some simple questions on this web side ?
R.F.
Hello Wilfried. As you are aware, we get many questions through our Social Security Matters Blog postings and we always attempt to respond to as many of the comments and questions as we possibly can. Our goal is to give readers information about a variety of topics, including our programs, online services, current events, and human-interest stories, usually in greater detail than typically shared on our other social media platforms.
Our apologies, if we missed your question, consider re-submitting it again. Thanks!
Nellie M.
Hello, I am on disability, as was my fiance of 7.5 years. We lived together and helped each other out when needed. We intended on marrying in Feb,2019 but sadly he became ill in Oct, and after having open heart surgery, he passed away on Nov. 18th.
Do I as his fiance, who lived with him as husband and wife for 7.5 years, have any legal right to draw on his social security disability, given that I depended on him for having a stable roof over my head after my own disability and not being able to draw much on my own record?
He began a will in 2016 that would have left me most of his estate, but having just come out of the hospital for heart-related issues, he became very depressed trying to deal with his own mortality, he never finished his will and now I will be pushed out of our home by his children and at my income will have a very difficult time managing to cover all expenses.
Can I draw from his social security, which I have come to depend on for the last 7.5 years?
Joyce B.
my x husband passed away in May and he drew social security plus disability for the disease caused his death at 72. I qualify for his social security since we were married 37 years and his is higher than mine. I am wondering if I get the benefits just like he got ? His social security and the disability ? If that is taken off then I have medical issues that would quality me for disability. Will it tell me in my paperwork the breakdown of the pay I will receive from him ? I will need to know if I should apply .
R.F.
We are sorry for your loss, Joyce. The “award” letter should explain the new benefit amount. Please keep in mind that if a person has reached his or her full retirement age (Currently 66) and is receiving Social Security retirement, they will not be eligible for disability benefits.
Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. One of our representatives should be able to provide you with an explanation. 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. Thanks!
George D.
My wife passed last month and we did not receive anything for the month of July on her behalf is that the way the system works
R.F.
We are sorry to hear of your loss, George. Unfortunately and for security reasons, we don’t have access to personal records in this venue.
To see if you and other family members (children) are eligible for survivor’s benefits, you need to contact us.
At this time, we do not offer an online application for survivors benefits. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and to apply for benefits. Representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also contact your local Social Security office.
An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to speak to someone.
For more information, please read our publication: How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies.
Thank you.
Mary
I have one more question. When I apply for my social security retirement benefits at my full retirement age of 70, is it mandatory and do I HAVE TO apply for Medicare if I am still employed and am receiving medical and prescription drugs insurance from my employer? Currently, my employer charges me $30. per month for complete comprehensive medical insurance which also includes drug benefits. Why should I have to pay $134.00 a month for Medicare which does not have as good of coverage as I already have? I do NOT want Medicare. So what I would like to know is do I have to automatically apply for iMedicare by law when I turn 70 and take my social security retirement benefits?
Thank you in advance for any help you can give.
R.F.
Hello Mary. Actually, we recommend that individuals enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), at age 65. Medicare Part A is free for insured people and helps pay for inpatient hospital care and certain follow-up services. If you’re eligible, you should apply for Medicare Part A, even if you’re covered by other health insurance.
Also, a beneficiary may refuse Medicare Part B, if that beneficiary or the spouse, actively works and has coverage under a group health plan based on that employment, then he or she doesn’t need Medicare part B until the work activity ends or that health care coverage is dropped. However, we always suggest that individuals speak to their personnel office, health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for them, and to prevent any penalties or delayed enrollment in the future.
To learn more about the Medicare enrollment periods visit http://www.Medicare.gov.
For specific questions about your case, call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you, or you can contact your local office directly. Thanks!
Mary
Thank you for your reply. So will Medicare penalize me when I eventually apply for part B at the time when I will no longer have employer healthcare benefits? And if I did not sign up for Medicare part A when I turned 65 because I had active employee healthcare benefits from my
employer? I am now 69.
R.F.
Hello Mary, you will not be penalized if you are actively working and covered under your -current- employer’s health insurance program.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further 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. Thanks!
Kalpataru E.
I’m vesy sad now to think about my future. Because I don’t have any social security and I am very scared to my carrier and my future. So give me the best suggestion to secure my future and how can I make it better.
Now i’m doing an online business, here we are offering Laptop Screen Replacement Solution in UAE. So kindly suggest as per my working background.
Mary
If my birthday is the 30th of a month and I am waiting until age 70 to claim full retirement benefits, on what day of what month would I apply for retirement. I read somewhere on this website that you should apply three months in advance. And I certainly do not want to get penalized in my last three months for applying too soon after having waited 70 years!! For example, if my birthday were November 30, would I apply on July 31st? September 1 st? September 30th? August 31st? August 1st or when exactly would I submit the application to fully receive maximum benefits for being 70 years old?
Tank you in advance for your help.
Thanks in advance for any help.
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Mary. Yes, our system is set up to take applications three months in advance. In the example you provide, if your birthday is the last day of the month of November, you’ll want to select November as the month of entitlement. Remember that benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if your benefits begin with the month of November, you will receive your first benefit payment in December.
We hope this information helps!
Mary
Thank you but you did not answer my question completely. Can you please be more specific? I want to know WHAT DATE TO APPLY for benefits so that I do not apply too early or too late. Working with a 70th birthday date of November 30 and applying three months before that, WHAT DATE WOULD I APPLY? The first of a month? The last of a month? What month? And what date?
Thank you in advance for your help
R.F.
Hello Mary. You will need to apply at anytime within 3 months prior to the moth of November. We suggest you apply anytime between August 1st and no later than October 31st. You can complete an application for Retirement Benefits online.
If you do not wish to use the online application, or the application for the benefit you want is not available online, you can:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Or you can visit your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to apply.
Your payments are established almost immediately after we process your application.
If your birthday is the last day of the month of November, you’ll want to select November as the month of entitlement. Remember that benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if your benefits begin with the month of November, you will receive your first benefit payment in December.
We hope this information helps!
Mary
Thank you for your very comprehensive reply. Now I understand!?
rodschwartz
I’d like to meet with someone who could give me authoritative advice regarding my impending social security, medicare, etc. Thanks.
Rod Schwartz
301 699-3111
R.F.
Some of our local offices do offer walk-in appointments; however, these appointments are on a first come, first serve basis. Remember, most Social Security business do not require a visit to a local field office. In fact, many services, including applying for retirement, disability and Medicare benefits, are always available on our website.
You can create a my Social Security account, to review your earnings record and get an estimate of your future benefits and more. You may also call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 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 in the week. Thanks!
You can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week.
teemaria
Hello. What is the typical wait time for your first social security check? Thank you
R.F.
Your payments are established almost immediately after we process your application. However, the length of time it takes to process your application for benefits varies.
We attempt to resolve all claims promptly, but there may be delays due to the volume of pending cases in your area. Remember that benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if you want your benefits to begin with the month of June, you should receive your first benefit payment in July.
Social Security bases its payment dates on the birthday of the person on whose record the benefit payment is received. See our “Schedule of Social Security Payments” web page for more information.
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.
To follow up on the current status of your application, call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to one of our agents. Representatives at are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Or contact your local office. Thanks!
Mary
I am waiting until 70 years old to get maximum benefits. What I am wondering is if my birthday falls on the last day of a month when should i apply for retirement? For example, if my 70th birthday would be November 30, do they count your 70th birthday from the first day of November because that’s the birthday month or the first day of December after I would have actually completed my 70 th birthday?? And would I apply on August 1st, August 31st or September 1st to get maximum retirement benefits at age 70???
Thank you