Explore the Benefits Yous May Be Due

You, or Your Family Members, May Be Eligible for Increased Benefits

Our mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.

Information technology'southward not unusual for a benefit recipient's circumstances to change subsequently they employ or became eligible for benefits. If y'all, or a family member, receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), sure life changes may bear on eligibility for an increase in your federal benefits. For example, if your spouse or ex-spouse dies, you may become eligible for a higher Social Security benefit.

To find out if y'all, or a family member, might be eligible for a benefit based on another person'due south work, or a higher benefit based on your own piece of work, run across the data nigh benefits on the Social Security website. You can too use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to find out if you lot could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will listing benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you more data about how to qualify and apply.

The questions and answers beneath are about a few of the life changes that could possibly increase your benefits.

Has your spouse or ex-spouse died?

If your spouse or ex-spouse has died, yous may be eligible for a college survivor benefit based on his or her work. The death of an ex-spouse may allow you to exist eligible for a higher survivor benefit even if you are already receiving a survivor benefit on another spouse.

Are yous receiving Medicare benefits based on your piece of work that includes at least 10 years of earnings from which you paid Social Security taxes?

If you are at least age 65, you may be eligible for cash benefits on your ain record. If y'all are full retirement historic period or older, you can work and receive your monthly Social Security benefits, no matter how much you earn.  Please review this publication for more data.

Is your developed child who was helping to support you deceased?

If your child had plenty work credits and was providing at to the lowest degree half of your support, yous may exist eligible for a higher parent'south benefit based on his or her work.

Are you currently unmarried but formerly married for 10 years or more?

If you are at least 62 years erstwhile and unmarried, yous may be eligible for a benefit based on a former spouse'due south piece of work if that wedlock lasted 10 years or more than.

Are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits and accept past military service?

If you lot served in the U.S. military, y'all may be eligible for benefits through the Veterans Administration. Visit this link for more data: http://www.va.gov/

Are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and take a parent who is deceased or receiving Social Security benefits?

If you are unmarried and under age 18 or were disabled prior to age 22, and your parent is deceased or receiving Social Security benefits, you may be eligible for kid benefits based on your parent's work.

Important: If you are receiving benefits, there are certain life events that you are required to report. For a complete listing, delight select the publication below that applies to the type of benefits you receive.

Note: Failure to report a change may result in an overpayment.

What You lot Need To Know When Y'all Get Retirement Or Survivors Benefits

What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Inability Benefits
(Pages 11-xviii)

What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
(Pages vii-nineteen)

Contacting Social Security

Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security's programs. There are a number of things y'all tin exercise online.

In addition to using our website, you can telephone call usa toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.k. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you'll have a shorter expect time if you telephone call during the calendar week after Tuesday. We tin provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a mean solar day. (Y'all tin can use our automated response organization to tell us a new accost or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

We also desire to brand certain you receive authentic and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.

Related Information

  • Retirement Planner
  • Disability Planner
  • Survivors' Planner

Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool

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