Dd 214 Increased Social Security Benefits For Vets
DD FORM 214 EXTRA SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT for those with active duty between January 1957 to December 31, 2001See the web site & notes below to possibly increase your Social Security Benefits.
DD FORM 214 SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT Please share this with anyone who had active duty service between January 1957 to December 31, 2001, and planning for retirement. In a nutshell it boils down to this:
You qualify for a higher social security payment because of your Military service, for active duty any time from 1957 through 2001 . Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit credited at time of application which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office and you must ask for this benefit to receive it!Soc Sec website:
This is something to put in your files for when you apply for Social Security down the road.. It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served on active duty between January 1957 to December 31, 2001.
Regional Resource CoordinatorMarylands Commitment to Veterans Project State of Maryland- Southern Region Human Services Partnership Building La Plata, Maryland 2064
How Military Service Affects Social Security Benefits
If you served in the military between 1940 and 2001, then you should be eligible for additional earnings credits, which should be factored into your lifetime earnings that are used to calculate your Social Security Benefits.
How much this will impact your Social Security Benefits will depend on when and how long you served in the military. We will break these down by service era, and follow up with additional tips on how you can increase your Social Security Income.
Taking Benefits Early Can Reduce Social Security Payments
You will receive reduced benefits if you decide to take Social Security benefits before the time of your normal retirement age. The total amount is reduced by five-ninths of 1% for each month you are under your normal retirement age, up to 36 months. If you are to receive benefits and you start more than 36 months before retirement age, your benefits will be further reduced by an amount of five-twelfths of 1% a month. Here is more information about age reduction of Social Security Benefits.
Also Check: Do You Pay Taxes On Social Security Retirement Benefits
Dd Form 214 And Veteran Funeral Cremation And Burial Benefits
The VA provides a number of funeral benefits for vets, but you need the DD214 to access them. In some cases, you might need to expedite a copy of the form to receive the benefits in time, though its still possible you could wait six to eight weeks. One way around the issue is to work with your provider to schedule a memorial service following a cremation or burial. Memorial services are less time-sensitive, allowing families to include appropriate vet-related benefits in a service after the form is received.
In some cases, vets might have an equivalent form that provides the same information as the DD214. This is especially true for service members who were discharged before 1950 even after 1950, other forms were in circulation that detailed discharge status and military service, such as the War Department Adjutant General Office Form 53-55.
If youre planning ahead for end-of-life matters and you havent been discharged from the military yet, you obviously wont have a DD214. You can provide a copy of your military ID or other proof that you are active-duty military to the funeral provider youre working with.
When Should You Take Social Security Benefits
Many people take Social Security benefits as soon as they are eligible to begin receiving them, which for many Americans is age 62. But just because you can begin receiving Social Security benefits doesnt mean you should take them right away.
For example, you can increase your Social Security payments by delaying when you receive them. Here are a few things to think about concerning when to begin receiving Social Security Benefits.
Delaying when you take Social Security Benefits can result in higher payments. In general, you can begin receiving Social Security Benefits at age 62, but in many cases, its worth delaying your start date for receiving Social Security payments if possible.
This is because the Social Security Administration uses a sliding scale based on the year of your birth to determine your normal retirement age and the amount of money you will receive. Taking Social Security Benefits at age 62 may cause you to only be eligible to receive a partial payment.
Don’t Miss: Is Social Security Benefits Exempt From Garnishment
What Customers Are Saying:
I really was impressed with the prompt response. Your expert was not only a tax expert, but a people expert!!! Her genuine and caring attitude came across in her response…
T.G.WMatteson, IL
I WON!!! I just wanted you to know that your original answer gave me the courage and confidence to go into yesterday’s audit ready to fight.
BonnieChesnee, SC
Great service. Answered my complex tax question in detail and provided a lot of additional useful information for my specific situation.
JohnMinneapolis, MN
Excellent information, very quick reply. The experts really take the time to address your questions, it is well worth the fee, for the peace of mind they can provide you with.
OrvilleHesperia, California
Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn’t have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help.
Mary C.Freshfield, Liverpool, UK
This expert is wonderful. They truly know what they are talking about, and they actually care about you. They really helped put my nerves at ease. Thank you so much!!!!
AlexLos Angeles, CA
Thank you for all your help. It is nice to know that this service is here for people like myself, who need answers fast and are not sure who to consult.
GPHesperia, CA
Service From 1978 Through 2001
For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after Sep. 7, 1980, and didn’t complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details.
Recommended Reading: What Age Are You Eligible For Medicare Benefits
How Military Machine Service Affects Social Security Benefits
If you served in the military between 1940 and 2001, then you lot should be eligible for additional earnings credits, which should be factored into your lifetime earnings that are used to calculate your Social Security Benefits.
How much this volition impact your Social Security Benefits volition depend on when and how long you served in the armed services. We will break these down by service era, and follow upward with boosted tips on how you tin increase your Social Security Income.
Why Do Some Veterans Get Extra Social Security Benefits
Since 1957, military service earnings have been covered by Social Security, a benefit that was extended in 1988 to also cover inactive-duty service for Reservists. However, this was not always the case.
Individuals who served prior to 1957 were not covered by Social Security. Therefore, because those individuals did not pay into the system, they were not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.
When WWII ended, Congress set out to help post-war veterans recover their losses by crediting them with extra Social Security earnings.
Don’t Miss: Real Estate Investment Tax Benefits
Military Service From 1956 2001 & Post 2001
The good news is that if you served in the military anytime after 1956, you paid the Social Security taxes, just like civilians do. There are credits you will receive if certain circumstances are met.
- If you served between 1957 and 1967 youll receive extra credits when you apply for Social Security.
- If you served between 1968 and 2001 these credits have been added to your record.
- If you served after 2001 you wont receive extra credits.
These extra earnings credits are added to your earnings record when you apply for Social Security benefits. In all cases, the additional earnings are credited to the earnings that we average over your working lifetime, not directly to your monthly benefit amount.
The Social Security Administration should handle this process when you apply for Social Security Benefits when you apply, or your service may already be accounted for. However, its always a good idea to verify this information and just one more reason why your DD Form 214 is so important!
The Dd: A Vital Document For Those Discharged From The Military
The DD214 is a vital document and should be treated with the same care Social Security cards, marriage licenses, and birth certificates are. If you do lose your DD214, a copy can be requested. Since the form is so critical in accessing benefits, its a good idea to check now: do you have the form? If not, consider requesting it now before it becomes an emergency for yourself or your loved ones.
Interested in more information on Veteran death benefits and memorialization? Click the button below to download our complete guide.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the… Read More
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the wonderful staff of Neptune Society for the excellent manner all of you performed before and after the passing of my wife, Dawn.
Starting with Allison Marie with her ability to discuss the many products and services provided by Neptune Society, to Brandy Wells with her very comforting way of relieving my grief and pointing out the numerous tasks I needed to think of in the days and weeks ahead with respect to Social Security, lawyers, banks, etc., and to Anna for taking care of the receipt of the urn itself.
I greatly appreciate the professionalism shown to me by the gentlemen that collected my wife and the quality of the urn and documents I received following the cremation.
Sincerely,
You May Like: Tax On Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Normal Age Of Retirement
Until 2002, the normal retirement age for everyone was at the age of 65. According to the Social Security Administration, the normal retirement age is the age a which beneficiaries receive full Social Security Benefits. The list below shows the normal retirement age based on the year you were born.
- 1937 or earlier 65 years of age
- 1938 65 and 2 months
- 1939 65 and 4 months
- 1940 65 and 6 months
- 1941 65 and 8 months
- 1942- 65 and 10 months
- 1943-1954 66 years of age
- 1955 66 and 2 months
- 1956 66 and 4 months
- 1957 66 and 6 months
- 1958 66 and 8 months
- 1959 66 and 10 months
- 1960 or later 67 years of age
What Information Is On The Dd214 Form
The form is also sometimes referred to as the Report of Separation, as it documents the military personnels separation from active duty status. In addition to discharge situation, the report might include information such as:
- When and where the veteran entered active duty service
- When and where the veteran left active duty service
- The vets home addresses both when joining the service and departing from it
- The vets last rank and/or assignment
- Service credited to the veteran, both domestic and foreign
- Job specialties, education, decorations, awards, and citations related to military service
Read Also: Benefits Of Paying Quarterly Taxes
Federal Va Benefit System
The Federal VA benefit system is a legal system based on the Code of Federal Regulation 38 sections 0-17. In order to qualify for benefits, veterans and family members must file a claim against the United States proving they are eligible for these benefits through the submission of legal, military, medical, and other evidence.
Receipt Of The Dd: Who Gets One Who Doesnt And When
Every veteran is supposed to receive both a short and long copy of their form when they are discharged from the military. Copies of the form are also sent to federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The original copy of the form is typically housed with the military branch for which the veteran served temporarily. After a certain amount of time, its moved to a permanent federal archive.
Not every person associated with military service will have a DD214. If youre in the active or inactive reserves, you are technically not fully separated from your service. The same is true for anyone in the National Guard or those who havent completed their service or been formerly discharged.
Also Check: Benefits Of Social Media For Teens
Social Security And You: Vets Being Duped By Social Security Rumor Mill
Not a week goes by when I dont get emails, such as the one here, from veterans who have been led to believe that they are missing out on extra Social Security benefits allegedly payable to people who served in the military:
Tom: Ive been told that as a veteran, I should be getting an extra $120 per month added to my Social Security check. They said all I have to do is take my DD-214 down to my local Social Security office and they will start paying me the extra money. What can you tell me about this?
As is so often the case with these rumors, there is a tiny kernel of truth to the story. But then false information takes over and things get blown way out of proportion.
Here are the facts: If you were in the military anytime up until 2001, the government may add a small amount of additional earnings to your Social Security record. And note that I am NOT talking about extra money added to your Social Security check. These are simply extra earnings incorporated into your Social Security earnings record the earnings record upon which your Social Security monthly benefit is based.
Apply This Data To Help Your Retirement Planning
If you are unsure of where you stand with do good amounts, you lot can contact the Social Security Assistants to asking a re-create of a current argument of benefits. Your individualized argument will include pay outs for benefits taken at historic period 62, at your normal historic period of retirement, and at the age of 70. Statements are available at the SSA.gov website.
You lot’ll need to assess your ain financial state of affairs to make up one’s mind your need and time frame for benefits. If you have the means to back up yourself, you may find it beneficial to wait as long as you can to request benefits.
If you lot can not live without the additional funds even before reaching your normal age of retirement, yous should consider taking the reduced benefit payments to stay on runway financially. The decision should be based on your needs, the historic period of your spouse, and even your life expectancy based on your present medical situation and family unit history.
When you become of age to start drawing Social Security, non only will you receive your normal Social Security benefits, you’ll also receive added benefits for serving in the military if you served in the years mentioned above. Recollect to verify you are receiving this additional benefit. You should as well double cheque for this benefit when applying for Social Security survivor benefits to make sure survivors are receiving the additional military service credits.
You May Like: What Are The Tax Benefits Of An Ira
What Special Social Security Benefits Do Veterans Receive
Its a little-known fact, but earnings for active duty military service or active duty training are covered under Social Security and have been since 1957. One of the special benefits military members receive is that it is possible to receive both Social Security benefits and military retirement benefits.
Find: 30 Greatest Threats to Your Retirement
According to the Social Security Administration, there is generally no reduction of Social Security benefits because one receives military retirement benefits, as well. This means you can receive two benefit checks at the same time each month. You will receive your Social Security benefit based on your earnings and the age you begin to start receiving benefits just like everyone else.
The SSA states that under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. Those extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active duty for training. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or actually increase the amount of your Social Security benefit.
In addition to retirement benefits, the SSA will also pay survivors benefits to veteran families when they pass away. Veterans can also get benefits for themselves and their families if they develop a disability. If you developed a disability while on active military service after October 1, 2001, you can visit Wounded Warriors to find out how to expedite the processing of your disability claim.
Increase Social Security Benefits By Delaying Your Payments
Good things come to those who wait. In general terms, you can increase Social Security benefits by waiting a few years to begin receiving them. If you accept your benefits after reaching your normal retirement age, youll get the full amount due to you with no reduction. You can even get additional Social Security credits be delaying your benefits start date after your normal retirement age. You will receive an additional percentage on your monthly Social Security check with each month you delay until you reach age 70.
Don’t Miss: Do Widows Receive Social Security Benefits
Service From 1940 Through 1956
If you were in the military during this period, including attendance at a service academy, you did not pay Social Security taxes. However, your Social Security record may be credited with $160 a month in earnings for military service from Sep. 16, 1940, through Dec. 31, 1956, under the following circumstances:
- You were honorably discharged after 90 or more days of service, or you were released because of a disability or injury received in the line of duty or
- You are still on active duty or
- You are applying for survivors benefits and the veteran died while on active duty.
Contacting Social Security
- “TTY” 800-325-0778.