Explore the Benefits You May Exist Due

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

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

It'due south not unusual for a benefit recipient's circumstances to change subsequently they apply or became eligible for benefits. If you lot, or a family member, receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), sure life changes may affect eligibility for an increase in your federal benefits. For instance, if your spouse or ex-spouse dies, yous may become eligible for a higher Social Security benefit.

To observe out if you, or a family member, might be eligible for a benefit based on another person's work, or a higher benefit based on your own work, see the information about benefits on the Social Security website. Y'all can likewise use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to find out if y'all could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool volition list benefits for which you might exist eligible and tell you more information almost how to qualify and apply.

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

Has your spouse or ex-spouse died?

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

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

If you are at least age 65, yous may exist eligible for cash benefits on your own record. If y'all are total retirement age or older, you tin can work and receive your monthly Social Security benefits, no matter how much you earn.  Please review this publication for more information.

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

If your child had enough work credits and was providing at least one-half of your back up, you may be eligible for a college parent's benefit based on his or her work.

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

If you are at least 62 years old and unmarried, you lot may be eligible for a benefit based on a sometime spouse's work if that marriage lasted 10 years or more than.

Are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits and have past armed services service?

If you served in the U.South. military, you may be eligible for benefits through the Veterans Assistants. Visit this link for more information: http://www.va.gov/

Are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and have 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 child benefits based on your parent'southward piece of work.

Important: If you are receiving benefits, at that place are certain life events that you are required to report. For a complete list, please select the publication beneath that applies to the type of benefits you receive.

NOTE: Failure to report a alter may result in an overpayment.

What You Need To Know When You Get Retirement Or Survivors Benefits

What Yous Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits
(Pages 11-18)

What You Need To Know When You Go Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
(Pages 7-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 you can do online.

In addition to using our website, you lot tin can call u.s. cost-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from vii a.m. to seven p.yard., Mon through Friday. By and large, you lot'll have a shorter wait fourth dimension if y'all telephone call during the week afterward Tuesday. We tin can provide data by automatic phone service 24 hours a day. (Yous tin use our automated response system to tell us a new accost or request a replacement Medicare carte.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, ane-800-325-0778.

We also want to make sure y'all receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a 2nd Social Security representative monitor some phone calls.

Related Information

  • Retirement Planner
  • Disability Planner
  • Survivors' Planner

Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool

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