There are times when you can’t help but you face challenges. This can come in the form of crippling accidents, deaths in the family, or even retirement. All of these hit people hard, especially in the wallet. Fortunately, the U.S. has a Social Security program to help people out. Millions of people today depend on Social Security benefits to help with their bills and daily needs.
Here’s a brief guide on what benefits are available and how they can help you:
Retirement Benefits
One of the benefits that Social Security is most associated with is that for retirement. People become eligible for these benefits when they have reached the age of 62 and have worked for at least10 years in a non-government job. Though you can apply for retirement benefits at 62, there are additional benefits waiting for you when you hit 65 or 67, which is the full retirement age. The most notable one is that there is a deduction when you claim benefits before that date. Additionally, if you keep working to 70, there is a corresponding increase, though only slightly.
Though it is not advisable to apply for it early, if you are eligible, it is best to apply for your benefits as soon as possible. Applying for these benefits is actually the simplest since it is easy to prove that you’ve retired and hit a certain age. Though it is not large, retirement benefits are a welcome supplement to a retiree’s income. Note that the amount you get is usually dependent on how big your pre-retirement salary was.
Disability Benefits
Similar to retirement benefits, disability benefits require a period of 10 years of work in a non-governmental job before you become eligible for it. If after that, you suffer an accident or contract diseases that would stop you from working, then you can apply for disability benefits. The amount of money that you will be getting depend on how old you are and what your pre-disability salary was.
The main concern with Social Security disability applications in Utah and other states is that you need to be sure you’re doing it right. Social Security is wary of just giving out disabilities and you will need to prove that you are really disabled. For some, this can be easy but others won’t have any external show of their disability.
Survivors Benefits
If you have a partner and they outlive you, they can be eligible to claim your benefits. As long as you have qualified for either retirement or disability benefits, then they can file an application to continue receiving them. This can be a big help, especially if they have children to support.
Social Security benefits can make a big difference. All of the benefits above can be a big help to people who have suffered or have been deprived of their main source of income. Trying to get back on your feet is a lot easier if there’s a helping hand, so reach for those benefits so that you can get back into your life again.
