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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY: Rock Island, Illinois Office

By Cristina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

LABOR DAY ISN’T YOUR ONLY REWARD FOR HARD WORK

On Labor Day, many Americans enjoy a long weekend to commemorate the hard work they do the rest of the year, as well as those who support working people. Labor Day also reminds us that all our hard work is paying off in more ways than one — including paying into a retirement fund that makes you eligible to collect monthly benefits after you reach retirement age. If you work 10 years, and receive four credits each year for a total of 40 credits, you will enjoy the security of Social Security retirement benefits. Remember, those years do not have to be consecutive.  You can check your Social Security Statement and make sure you have enough credits by opening a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Credits are the building blocks we use to find out if you have the minimum amount of covered work to qualify for each type of Social Security benefit.  If you stop working before you have enough credits to qualify for benefits, your credits will stay on your record.  If you return to work later on, those credits will be added so that you can qualify. We pay benefits to anyone who has enough credits.

When a worker files for retirement benefits, the worker’s spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the worker’s earnings. Another requirement is that the spouse must be at least age 62 or have a qualifying child in her or his care. By a qualifying child, we mean a child who is under age 16, or who is eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits.
The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker’s full retirement benefit, depending on the spouse’s age at retirement.  If the spouse begins receiving benefits before “normal” (or “full”) retirement age, the spouse will receive a reduced benefit. However, if a spouse is caring for a qualifying child, we do not reduce the spousal benefit. If a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then we pay the retirement benefit based on the worker’s own record. Otherwise, we pay the spousal benefit. In other words, we pay the higher of the two benefit amounts.

The best way to see what those benefits might be is to visit Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.  The Retirement Estimator is an easy way to get an instant, personalized estimate of future retirement benefits.  The Estimator uses your actual earnings history to compute a benefit estimate.

In the past, applying for benefits could be laborious, requiring you to drive to a Social Security office, wait, and fill out paperwork. Now, you can visit www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline to find out everything you need to know about applying online for retirement benefits.  In addition, when you are ready, you can securely file the application online in as little as 15 minutes.

In most cases, after you submit your online application electronically, that is it. There are no additional forms to sign or paperwork to complete.  In rare cases, we will need additional information, and a representative will contact you.

Learn more about Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov.

FIGHT PROCRASTINATION AND REACH YOUR “SOMEDAY”

Maybe someday you plan to scuba dive the deepest depths of the ocean, or take an oil painting class. Perhaps someday you plan to drive across the United States, or sail around the world.  All of these goals take preparation.

On September 6, we mark Fight Procrastination Day and we challenge you to take the first steps to realizing your “someday.”

Someday, you probably want to retire. If you are beginning your career or are midway through, it is never too late to start planning for retirement.  Even if you are just starting your career, “someday” is not that far away.  You are going to want to see what your future Social Security benefits will be, and check your earnings for accuracy, since the amount of your future monthly benefit is based on the amount of your earnings over your career. If you are a procrastinator, we have good news. Opening a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount is one of the easiest and fastest things you can do to plan for retirement.

About 20 million people have already opened an account and are taking advantage of the benefits of my Social Security. Why are so many Americans opening accounts?  Because my Social Security is fast, easy, and secure.  It is a convenient way to access your Social Security Statement, which you can use to verify your earnings record, get up-to-date, personalized estimates of retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, and more.  With a my Social Security account, you can plan for your retirement and get help figuring out how to save for your future.

If you already receive benefits, you can manage them online by starting or stopping your direct deposit and changing your address.  In addition, there is more. You can get an instant proof-of-benefits letter and a replacement SSA-1099 for tax purposes, and even a replacement Medicare card.

Someone opens a new account just about every six seconds.  No matter how modest or ambitious your “someday” is, fight procrastination and open a my Social Security account today to put you ahead of the crowd.

That elusive “someday” that you thought would never come is here now.  Go online and find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.