Fact #: Social Security Is More Than Just A Retirement Program It Also Provides Important Life Insurance And Disability Insurance Protection
Over 65 million people, or more than 1 in every 6 U.S. residents, collected Social Security benefits in January 2022. While older adults make up about 4 in 5 beneficiaries, another one-fifth of beneficiaries received Social Security Disability Insurance or were young survivors of deceased workers.
In addition to Social Securitys retirement benefits, workers earn life insurance and SSDI protection by making Social Security payroll tax contributions:
- About 96 percent of people aged 20-49 who worked in jobs covered by Social Security in 2020 have earned life insurance protection through Social Security.
- For a young worker with average earnings, a spouse, and two children, thats equivalent to a life insurance policy with a face value of nearly $800,000 in 2020, according to Social Securitys actuaries.
- About 89 percent of people aged 21-64 who worked in covered employment in 2020 are insured through Social Security in case of severe disability.
The risk of disability or premature death is greater than many people realize. Some 7 percent of recent entrants to the labor force will die before reaching the full retirement age, and many more will become disabled.
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Save Time On Social Security Number And Card Online Services
If a person loses their SSN card, they may not need a replacement. In most cases, simply knowing their SSN is enough. If a person does need a replacement card, they may be able to request it online by visiting our Social Security Number and Card page. Individuals can also start an application for an updated card or request an SSN for the first time. People may never need to visit an office and, if they do need to visit an office to complete the application, they will save a lot of time by starting online.
What Conditions Qualify For Social Security Disability Insurance
There is no set list of approved disabilities, but the Social Security Blue Book, also known as Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, is an online directory of physical and mental health conditions that automatically qualify if you meet the stringent requirements for diagnosis. For adults, they are broadly split into 14 categories.
- Blood disorders like sickle cell anemia, thrombosis and hemophilia
- Cancer, including Leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer and prostate cancer
- Cardiovascular illnesses, such as congenital heart disease and heart failure
- Cognitive andmental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, dementia, depression and intellectual disabilities
- Congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems, such as non-mosaic Down syndrome
- Digestive system illnesses, such as bowel or liver disease
- Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
- Genitourinary disorders like chronic kidney disease
- Immune system diseases like HIV, inflammatory arthritis and lupus
- Musculoskeletal issues that are congenital or acquired, such as spinal disorders or amputations
- Neurological disorders, such as Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries
- Respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Special sense and speech disorders, such as impaired hearing, sight and speech
- Skin disorders, such as burns, dermatitis and ichthyosis
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Other Ways You Can Apply
Apply With Your Local Office
You can do most of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot use these online services, your local Social Security office can help you apply. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free Office number is your local office.
Apply By Phone
If You Do Not Live in the U.S. Or One of Its Territories
Contact the Federal Benefits Unit for your country of residence if you live outside the U.S. or a U.S. territory and wish to apply for retirement benefits.
Mailing Your Documents
If you mail any documents to us, you must include the Social Security number so that we can match them with the correct application. Do not write anything on the original documents. Please write the Social Security number on a separate sheet of paper and include it in the mailing envelope along with the documents.
Strategy: Why Filing Early For Retirement Benefits Could Be Best
Unfortunately, you dont get much of a say so as to when you file for survivors benefits or disability benefits. But you DO get to decide when to apply for your retirement benefits. For a household with children, the decision when to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits is just more complicated. The penalty for not understanding the rules and the resulting difference in lifetime benefits can be enormous.
In many cases, there are many reasons to delay filing for Social Security benefits. But not all cases are the same! If you have kids at home, and are thinking about filing for Social Security, filing early could make more sense. Why? Your children cannot collect a Social Security benefit until you file.
Consider the difference in lifetime benefit amounts for a couple with the following circumstances.
Roger is 62 and his wife is 46. They have two kids at home, ages 8 & 10. Roger is financially well off enough to stop working and can be flexible on what age he begins to collect Social Security.
If Roger waits until his full retirement age, hell get $2,000 per month. If he files now, hell only get $1,500 per month. He ran the numbers and figured out that if he lived to 90, hed receive an additional $70,000 in benefits for delaying filing until 66 instead of filing at 62.
Heres how
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Contact The Social Security Law Attorneys Gade & Parekh
If you are ready to apply for social security benefits or have already started the process and have questions, consider contacting the social security law experts at Gade & Parekh. We have years of experience helping people to get the benefits they deserve and can help you every step of the way. Regardless of whether you prefer to submit the application online or in person, we can help you to get through the process as quickly and easily as possible with minimal stress and delay.
Does Applying Online Get Me Approved Faster
Yes and no. Technically, when you apply for Social Security Disability benefits online, you have to go through the same application process as everyone else. However, applying online does give you a jumpstart because you do not have to wait for the initial appointment that would otherwise be needed to fill out your Social Security Disability application paperwork.
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Cabinet Executive Departments And Agencies
The daily enforcement and administration of federal laws is in the hands of the various , created by Congress to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. The heads of the 15 departments, chosen by the president and approved with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, form a council of advisers generally known as the presidents Cabinet. Once confirmed, these cabinet officers serve at the pleasure of the president. In addition to departments, a number of staff organizations are grouped into the . These include the staff, the , the , the , the , the , the , and the . The employees in these United States government agencies are called .
The Judiciary, under Article III of the Constitution, explains and applies the laws. This branch does this by hearing and eventually making decisions on various legal cases.
How To Apply For Disability
You can submit your initial stage application for Social Security benefits to the SSA online, over the phone, or in person at your local SSA office.
Unfortunately, due to the tremendous volume of applications received by the SSA, denial rates at this stage of application are well over 60%.
It is therefore advisable to familiarize yourself with the entire application process, organize medical records and other paperwork, and possibly even contact an attorney or disability advocate before submitting your initial application.
For information on how to apply for Social Security, complete a free evaluation above.
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The Basics About Disability Benefits
The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you are insured. This means that you worked long enough and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.
While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the nonmedical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.
Retirement And Spousal Benefits
Youll need to provide an array of personal and work information, including:
- Your date and place of birth.
- Start and stop dates for jobs held in the past two years .
- Military service, if applicable.
- The routing number of the bank where you want Social Security to deposit your payment, and the number and type of your account.
Social Security provides a complete checklist of what youll need for your application.
When you can file: The minimum age to apply for both retirement and spouse benefits is 62, but monthly payments are higher if you wait longer.
Where to file:Online, by phone or in person.
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Qualifying For Social Security Disability
In order to be eligible for Social Security Disability, individuals must fit several qualification criteria put forth by the SSA.
First, any potential claimant must be able to prove to the SSA that he or she is permanently disabled, or suffering from a condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, more than 12 calendar months. Because of this time guideline, it is important that claimants keep their medical records and other paperwork organized and up to date to prevent any confusion or question about the extent of a disability.
In addition, the SSA will attempt to make a judgment as to whether or not a claimants disabling condition prevents the individual from achieving any type of substantial gainful activity. The condition must not only prevent the claimant from performing the duties of his or her previous employment, but also make it impossible to find a new line of work due to age, education, or impairment.
Information Needed To Apply
The application process should not take long, but you’ll need to have certain information on hand to make sure it goes smoothly, including the following when applicable:
- Date and place of birth
- Names and birthdays of children who are disabled, unmarried, and/or 18 or younger, or 18 or 19 and attending school full-time
- U.S. military service information if applicable
- Employer or self-employment details for the current year and prior two years
- Bank direct-deposit information
The form will also ask about additional income and whether you have previously applied for SSI, other Social Security benefits, or Medicare.
If you’re married, your spouse may qualify for spousal benefits from Social Security as well. You’ll also need your spouse’s Social Security number, birth date, and other pertinent information when you apply. If your spouse signs up for Social Security benefits, he or she will have to provide the same information about you, too. If you are divorced, you may have to include your ex-spouse’s information.
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Overview Of The Federal Judiciary
Article III section I of the Constitution establishes the and authorizes the United States Congress to establish inferior courts as their need shall arise. Section I also establishes a lifetime tenure for all federal judges and states that their compensation may not be diminished during their time in office. Article II section II establishes that all federal judges are to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the .
The subdivided the nation jurisdictionally into and created federal courts for each district. The three tiered structure of this act established the basic structure of the national judiciary: the Supreme Court, 13 courts of appeals, 94 district courts, and two courts of special jurisdiction. Congress retains the power to re-organize or even abolish federal courts lower than the Supreme Court.
There are three levels of federal courts with general jurisdiction, meaning that these courts handle criminal cases and civil lawsuits between individuals. Other courts, such as the and the , are specialized courts handling only certain kinds of cases . The Bankruptcy Courts are under the supervision of the district courts, and, as such, are not considered part of the judiciary. Also as such, their judges do not have lifetime tenure, nor are they Constitutionally exempt from diminution of their remuneration. The Tax Court is not an Article III court .
Contact Us For A Free Consultation
The social security benefit offered by the United States government is a vital part of the retirement process for many seniors. When an individual reaches retirement age and will no longer have a steady income to the extent they have in their working years, social security can provide a cushion to help cover living expenses and maintain the retirees standard of living. If you are not yet at retirement age but have experienced a tragic event that has left you unable to work, you also have the option to tap into these funds and leverage their benefits to help get you back on your feet.
You may be asking yourself, though, is it better to apply for social security online or in-person? There are different factors at play that can influence your decision. By better understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each application process, you can make the best decision for your unique needs.
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Our reporters and editors focus on the points consumers care about most how to save for retirement, understanding the types of accounts, how to choose investments and more so you can feel confident when planning for your future.
The Traditional Social Security Application Process
Before the internet, applying for social security was a process that had to be done in person only. This is still an option today for anyone who prefers to have a personal interaction with a government representative or does not have reliable access to the internet.
Applying in-person has certain benefits, including:
- You can ask questions and get more information in a more personal setting
- You can provide documentation in person, allowing you to receive an immediate answer from a representative if something looks inaccurate or is missing
- You can get help if you have problems filling out the application
- In-person allows you to get a sense of the social security office and develop a relationship with the people who work there, which can be helpful if you have future questions or need to make a change to your account in the future
On the other hand, there are also some drawbacks to applying in-person:
- It can take longer to process your application because you have to physically drive to a location rather than simply logging onto your computer at home
- You may have to wait for a representative to become available.
- During busy times of the year, you may have to wait hours to be seen
- There is also the potential for human error in-person, as application processors may not catch every mistake on their own
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How Do I Apply For Social Security Retirement Benefits
You can apply for retirement benefits up to four months before you want to start receiving your benefits. Even if you are not ready to retire, you still should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.
The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits is by using our online application. You will need to create or log in to your personal mySocial Security account. If we are not able to process your request, you will receive specific information on how to contact us by phone or schedule an appointment.
You can also apply by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 , Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or visiting your local Social Security Office.
If you live outside of the United States, you can find the office that serves your country of residence on the Social Security Office of Earnings & International Operations page.
Social Security: Can I Apply For Benefits Online
Applying for Social Security benefits is a major financial decision, and deciding when to do it can have significant effects on the amount of money you receive in retirement and when.
Applying for benefits online is perhaps the easiest way to apply for Social Security benefits. You can begin your online application through the SSA portals website. Before you apply, however, there are some important things to take into consideration.
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Lost Or Stolen Federal Payments
Report your lost, missing, or stolen federal check to the agency that issued the payment. It’s usually one of these paying agencies. If your documentation indicates it’s a different agency, and you need its contact information, look in the A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies.
To get an update on your claim, contact the Treasury Department Philadelphia Financial Center at 1-855-868-0151, option 1.