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Social Security-
Questions and Answers
By Erin Thompson, Public Affairs Specialist, Toledo, OH
Guest Column
Question:
My father receives Social Security retirement benefits and I
will be in charge of his estate when he dies. Should that
occur, do I need to report his death to Social Security or
will benefits automatically stop?
Answer:
When your father dies, please notify Social Security as soon
as possible at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Another
person, such as a spouse, may be eligible for survivors
benefits based on his record. Also, we might be able to pay
a one-time payment of $255 to help with funeral expenses. We
suggest reading a copy of our online publication, How
Social Security Can Help You When A Family Member Dies,
at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10008.html.
Question:
I'm trying to decide when to retire. Can Social Security
help?
Answer:
The best place to start is with a visit to the online
Social Security Statement. The Statement provides
you with estimates of benefits for you and your family as
well as your earnings record and information you should
consider about retirement and retirement planning. It is
easy to access your statement online by creating a my
Social Security account. To create an account, please
visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
The “right” time to retire is different for everyone and
depends on your individual situation. To help you make your
own decision, we offer an online fact sheet, When To
Start Receiving Retirement Benefits, that highlights
some of the factors to consider. Find this publication at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.
Question:
I've decided I want to retire. Now what do I do?
Answer:
The fastest and easiest way to apply for retirement benefits
is to go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/retireonline.
Use our online application to apply for Social Security
retirement or spouses benefits. To do so, you must:
·
Be at least 61 years and 9 months old;
·
Want to start your benefits in the next four months; and
·
Live in the United States or one of its commonwealths or
territories.
Question:
Can I delay my retirement benefits and receive benefits as a
spouse only? How does that work?
Answer:
It depends on your date of
birth. If you were born on or before 01/01/1954 and your
spouse is receiving Social Security benefits, you can apply
for retirement benefits on your spouse’s record as long as
you are at your full retirement age. You then will earn
delayed retirement credits up to age 70, as long as you do
not collect benefits on your own work record. Later, when
you do begin receiving benefits on your own record, those
payments could very well be higher than they would have been
otherwise. If your spouse is also full retirement age and
does not receive benefits, your spouse will have to apply
for benefits and request the payments be suspended. Then you
can receive benefits on your spouse’s Social Security
record. If you were born on or after 01/02/1954 and wish to
receive benefits, you must file for all benefits for which
you are eligible. Social Security will determine the
benefits you are eligible for and pay you accordingly. For
individuals born on or after 01/02/1954, there is no longer
an option to select which benefit you would like to receive,
even beyond your full retirement age. Widows are an
exception, as they can choose to take their deceased
spouse’s benefit without filing for their own. For more
information, visit
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question:
I’m reaching my full retirement age and thinking about
retiring early next year. When is the best time of year to
apply for Social Security benefits?
Answer:
You can apply as early as four months before when you want
your monthly benefits to begin. To apply, just go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire. Applying online
for retirement benefits from the convenience of your home or
office is secure and can take as little as 15 minutes. It’s
so easy!
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