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MATERIAL PROVIDED BY JULIE SMITH
ATTORNEY AT LAW |
WE GRATEFULLY THANK JULIE
FOR THE WORK SHE DID HERE IN OUR BEHALF |
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How should I prepare for retirement? |
When should I retire? |
The three major elements of your retirement portfolio are benefits from pensions, savings and investments, and Social Security benefits. To help you plan for retirement, each year the Social security Administration should send you your personal Social Security Statement, which gives you an estimate of the monthly benefit amounts you and your family may qualify for now and in the future. If you've received your Social Security Statement and have questions about it, visit
http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement/
Once you've reviewed your Statement, you may want to explore a variety of retirement scenarios using a range of assumptions about your future earnings or when you stop working. You can do that with the Administrations
RETIREMENT PLANNER
The Planner not only tells you how to qualify for Social Security benefits, but it also includes
Benefit Calculators
that help you calculate your own benefit estimates. |
Generally, you should apply for retirement benefits three months before you want your benefits to begin. Even if you don't plan to receive benefits right away, you still should sign-up for Medicare three months before you reach age 65. If you were born before 1938 and you meet all other requirements, you can receive benefits beginning with the first full month you are age 62. However, if you choose to begin receiving benefits before age 65, your benefits will be reduced to account for the longer period over which you'll be paid.
If you were born after 1937, you could have also begun your benefits as early as age 62, but your full retirement age is more than 65. To find out what your retirement age is, use our:
RETIREMENT AGE CHART
Choosing the month you start to get benefits is an important decision. Contact your local social security representatives to discuss which options works best for you.
MORE INFORMATION ON
RETIREMENT OPTIONS |
How do I apply for retirement benefits? |
APPLY TO RETIRE |
You can apply for retirement benefits online.
Just connect to the:
INTERNET RETIREMENT INSURANCE
BENEFITS APPlICATION
and follow the instructions.
Or you can make an APPOINTMENT for your application to be taken over the telephone or in person at a
convenient Social Security office.
If you're deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free TTY number:
1-800-325-0778, between 7 AM and 7 PM
Monday through Friday.
What should I remember to do after I retire?
Remember to tell SSA whenever there's any change in your life circumstance that affects your benefits.
For example, they should be notified if you:
You can find more information about what to do when any of these changes happen, and answers to most of your retirement questions, in our booklet,
"Retirement Benefits," SSA Publication Number-05-10035 |
What documents must I provide?
When you apply for benefits, you’ll need the following:
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Your Social Security number
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Your birth certificate (if you don't have a birth certificate, you can get one from the State where you were born.
See:
WHERE TO WRITE FOR
VITAL RECORDS
for details on where to write)
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Your W-2 forms or self-employment tax return for last year
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Your military discharge papers if you had military service
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Your spouse's birth certificate and Social Security number if he or she is applying for benefits
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Children's birth certificates and Social Security numbers, if they're applying for children's benefits
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Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you (or a spouse or child applying for benefits) were not born in the U.S.
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The name of your bank and your account number so your benefits can be directly deposited into your account.
You need original documents or copies certified by the issuing office. You can mail or bring them to a Social Security office. They will photocopy and return your documents.
Don't delay your retirement just because you don't have all the documents SSA needs--the people in your local office will help you. |
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