Who Is Eligible To Receive Social Security Benefits?
Social security is something almost everyone thinks about, even if you've not started your career yet. After all, it can provide you with the financial safety that you might need after retiring, to handle disability, or to support your family after you pass away.
A lot of people are still confused about the eligibility and ask questions like - Who qualifies for Social Security benefits? Well, we are here to help you with the answer to this question!
In order to qualify for the benefits, you need to have a certain number of work credits, keep track of the age limit, and more. The whole process might seem a little intimidating at first. But you don't need to worry!
We'll talk about everything you need to know about the eligibility criteria in this blog, so by the end of it, you'll be ready to make an informed decision about your future!
What Is Social Security?
Before knowing about the eligibility, it's important to know what Social Security is and how it can help you. If you already do not know, let us tell you the Social Security program has been around since 1935 and is a federal program that provides monthly financial help to people who qualify for the benefits.
The funds for these benefits come from the taxes that you pay while you work. You might see Social Security benefits falling into three main types -
- Retirement benefits, for people who have reached retirement age.
- Disability benefits, for those who can't work due to medical reasons.
- Survivor benefits, for family members of someone who has passed away.
Each of these benefits has different eligibility criteria. And that's what we'll talk about next!
Who Can Qualify for Retirement Benefits?
You can think of Social Security as retirement money. And to qualify, you'll need to ensure you're following these Social Security retirement eligibility requirements!
1. Work Credits
You can qualify for the benefits if you have worked for about 10 years in the U.S. and have earned 40 credits for yourself. Also, the more you earn and contribute to the Social Security fund during your career, the higher your potential benefits will be.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider your 35 highest-earning years to get the total amount of the benefits you might receive at your full retirement age (FRA). And this is also called your primary insurance amount (PIA).
2. Age
If you claim the benefits early (although technically, you can start claiming as early as 62), your monthly payments will be less than your primary insurance amount. If you claim during full retirement age (FRA), which is usually between 66 and 67 (depending on your birth year), you'll receive 100% of your primary insurance amount.
But if you wait past the limit of FRA and keep contributing to the Social Security fund, your benefits can increase, but you can do that only until you're 70.
If you want help in figuring out whether you have enough credits or how you can get your full primary insurance amount, you can contact a reputable Social Security attorney in Sacramento!
Who is Eligible for Disability Benefits?
If you have a disability and want to apply for Social Security benefits, then you need to know about the following eligibility criteria.
1. Medical Condition
You can receive the benefits if you have a medical condition that falls under SSA's definition of disability. It can be a musculoskeletal disorder, respiratory disorder, digestive disorder, endocrine disorder, diseases related to the cardiovascular system, special senses and speech, neurological disorders, and more. You might also need proper medical documents and proof from your doctor to qualify for the benefits.
2. Work Credits
You don't need a fixed number of work credits to qualify for disability benefits. Here's what you need to know!
- If you're below 24, you may need 6 credits that you have earned in the 3 years before your disability started.
- When your age is between 24 and 31, you'll generally need credits for about half the time between the age of 21 and when your disability begins. For example, if you become disabled at 30, you'd need 15 credits from the past 10 years.
- If you're 31 or older, you'll usually need at least 20 credits from the 10 years before your disability started.
Survivor Benefits - Who Can Receive Them?
When you pass away, Social Security benefits can help your family, too! But there are certain rules (for eligibility) you need to keep in mind!
1. Eligible People
Here are the people who'll be eligible for the benefits after you pass away.
- Widows and widowers: You can claim benefits at age 60 (or older), or 50 (to 59) if disabled (if you were married to the deceased person for more than 9 months).
- Children: Unmarried children under 17 (or up to 19 if still in high school) or disabled children (if the disability started at 21 or younger) may also qualify.
- Dependent parents: If the parents (age 62 or older) rely on the deceased person for financial support.
2. Work Credits
The number of work credits you need so that your family gets survivor benefits depends on your age when you pass away (the younger you are, the fewer credits you will need). But in general, you won't need more than 40 credits. As per special rules, even if you don't have enough credits, they may still get benefits if you have done 1.5 years of work (6 credits) in the 3 years before your death.
If you want to know more about these criteria or if you qualify or not, you can go to the official website of SSA and check your eligibility!
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How to Apply for Social Security
After you've gone through all the social security benefits eligibility criteria, you can take some easy steps to apply for the benefits!
- Apply Online at the SSA Website: One of the quickest options to apply for Social Security benefits is to go to the official website, complete the application form, and upload all the required documents.
- Apply In Person at Your Local SSA Office: If you want, you can go to your local Social Security office, bring your documents, and get help filing out your forms.
- Hire a Social Security Attorney: If your situation is complicated, like applying for disability, appealing a denial, or trying to understand your benefits, hiring a Social Security attorney will help make the process easier and hassle-free for you.
They can help you in filling out forms properly, submitting all the required documents, and ensuring your application has the best chance of being approved.
Answering Your Questions on Social Security Benefits Eligibility Criteria
- Can I still qualify for Social Security benefits if I worked part-time or had gaps in my work history?
Yes, you can still qualify if you've earned at least 40 credits over your working years, even if they were from part-time jobs or with breaks in between.
- Can I get both Social Security and a pension?
Yes, but if your pension comes from work not covered by Social Security, your benefit may be reduced under special rules.
- Can I get Social Security if I'm self-employed?
Yes. You pay Social Security taxes through your self-employment taxes, and those earnings will matter for your credits, so you can get the benefits in those cases.
- Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to get Social Security benefits?
No. If you're a legal resident, have a valid Social Security number, and have paid enough into the system, you may be eligible for Social Security benefits.
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Takeaway
Now you know who is eligible to receive Social Security benefits! If you're a retired individual (who has contributed to social security funds), have a disability, and have the required work credits and other necessary documents, you can receive the benefits without any problem.
Plus, your family members, including your spouse, children, and dependent parents, can also receive Social Security benefits! But if you still have doubts about the process or want to know more about how to qualify for Social Security benefits, you can contact an experienced Social Security attorney in Sacramento for legal help!
Hadley & Fraulob - Your Trusted Partner in Getting the Social Security Benefits You Deserve!
At Hadley & Fraulob, our seasoned social security lawyers can clear your doubts about the Social Security benefits eligibility criteria! We'll also help you through the application process and ensure that you get the Social Security benefits you deserve quickly.
With over 40 years of experience and a success rate of more than 90%, we make securing your Social Security benefits stress-free! We'll be by your side throughout the process, answer all your questions, and make sure you're totally satisfied with our service!
Call us now at (800) 404-4458.