You, or Your Family Members, May Be Eligible for Increased Benefits
Our mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.
It's not unusual for a benefit recipient's circ*mstances to change after they apply or became eligible for benefits. If you, or a family member, receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), certain life changes may affect eligibility for an increase in your federal benefits. For example, if your spouse or ex-spouse dies, you may become eligible for a higher Social Security benefit.
To find out if you, or a family member, might be eligible for a benefit based on another person’s work, or a higher benefit based on your own work, see the information about benefits on the Social Security website. You can also use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to find out if you could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will list benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you more information about how to qualify and apply.
The questions and answers below are about a few of the life changes that could possibly increase your benefits.
Has your spouse or ex-spouse died?
If your spouse or ex-spouse has died, you may be eligible for a higher survivor benefit based on his or her work. The death of an ex-spouse may allow you to be eligible for a higher survivor benefit even if you are already receiving a survivor benefit on another spouse.
Are you receiving Medicare benefits based on your work that includes at least 10 years of earnings from which you paid Social Security taxes?
If you are at least age 65, you may be eligible for cash benefits on your own record. If you are full retirement age or older, you can work and receive your monthly Social Security benefits, no matter how much you earn. Please review this publication for more information.
Is your adult child who was helping to support you deceased?
If your child had enough work credits and was providing at least half of your support, you may be eligible for a higher parent's benefit based on his or her work.
Are you receiving Social Security benefits based on your spouse’s work?
If you have worked, you may be eligible for a higher retirement benefit based on your own work.
Are you receiving Social Security benefits based on your parent’s work?
If you have worked, you may be eligible for a higher disability benefit based on your own work.
Are you currently unmarried but formerly married for 10 years or more?
If you are at least 62 years old and unmarried, you may be eligible for a benefit based on a former spouse’s work if that marriage lasted 10 years or more.
Is your child entitled to Social Security child's benefits based on your spouse's work?
You may be eligible for spouse's benefits if you have in your care a child who is under age 16 or disabled prior to age 22.
Are you currently entitled to retirement or disability benefits and have a child in your care who is under age 18 or disabled?
Your child may be eligible for benefits based on your work.
Are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits and have past military service?
If you served in the U.S. military, you may be eligible for benefits through the Veterans Administration. Visit this link for more information: http://www.va.gov/
Are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and have a parent who is deceased or receiving Social Security benefits?
If you are unmarried and under age 18 or were disabled prior to age 22, and your parent is deceased or receiving Social Security benefits, you may be eligible for child benefits based on your parent’s work.
Has your income declined or have you experienced a loss of financial resources?
You may be able to get additional income through the Supplemental Security Income program, which helps seniors and the disabled who have limited income and financial resources.
IMPORTANT: If you are receiving benefits, there are certain life events that you are required to report. For a complete list, please select the publication below that applies to the type of benefits you receive.
NOTE: Failure to report a change may result in an overpayment.
What You Need To Know When You Get Retirement Or Survivors Benefits
What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits
(Pages 11-18)
What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
(Pages 7-19)
Contacting Social Security
Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security's programs. There are a number of things you can do online.
In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.
FAQs
If you have a personal my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your future retirement benefits and see the effects of different retirement age scenarios. If you don't have a personal my Social Security account, create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
Why are Americans getting $4800 from Social Security? ›
4800 dollar Social Security payment update refers to the latest adjustment of Social Security benefits, resulting in a single payment that is $4,800 to retired people. The update is designed to deal with adjustments in the cost of living as well as warrant an adequate amount of financial aid for those who are retiring.
Where can I get answers to Social Security questions? ›
For general Social Security inquiries, call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
At what age is Social Security no longer taxed? ›
Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.
What is the 10 year rule for Social Security? ›
If you've worked and paid Social Security taxes for 10 years or more, you'll get a monthly benefit based on that work.
When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine? ›
In many cases, a surviving spouse can begin receiving 1 benefit at a reduced rate and allow the other benefit amount to increase. If you will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, your Social Security benefits as a survivor may be affected.
Who qualifies for an extra $144 added to their Social Security? ›
You must be enrolled in Original Medicare and pay your Part B premiums without state or local financial aid to be eligible for the giveback. Only some Medicare Advantage Plans offer this benefit, and in select service areas.
What is the lowest amount you can get in Social Security? ›
Social Security's special minimum benefit pays at least $49.40 per month in 2023 and $50.90 in 2024. Social Security's special minimum benefit tops out at $1,033.50 per month in 2023 and $1,066.50 in 2024. You'll receive 100% of the benefit if you file at full retirement age or later.
At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security? ›
The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.
6 Social Security Payments in May 2024 Scheduled Dates
You will get 6 Social Security Payments in May 2024, the reason being there are five Wednesdays in the month of May. The SSI payment will be transferred into your accounts in the 1st of May 2204.
How can I get a higher Social Security check? ›
Below are the nine ways to help boost Social Security benefits.
- Work for 35 Years. ...
- Wait Until at Least Full Retirement Age. ...
- Sign Up for Spousal Benefits. ...
- Receive a Dependent Benefit. ...
- Monitor Your Earnings. ...
- Watch for a Tax-Bracket Bump. ...
- Apply for Survivor Benefits. ...
- Check for Mistakes.
A Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®) will provide you with a unique Social Security plan, to help you decide on the optimal claiming decisions. Using the RSSA Roadmap® Optimization Software, an RSSA® will help you maximize your Social Security claiming strategy to increase your lifetime benefits.
How do I pass my Social Security review? ›
How to Pass a Continuing Disability Review (7 Easy Ways)
- Hire an Experienced Social Security Disability Attorney. ...
- Follow Your Medical Treatment Protocol. ...
- Maintain Communication with Your Doctors. ...
- Keep Copies of Accurate and Complete Medical Documentation. ...
- Submit All New Medical Evidence Before the Review.
Social Security benefits are typically computed using "average indexed monthly earnings." This average summarizes up to 35 years of a worker's indexed earnings. We apply a formula to this average to compute the primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is the basis for the benefits that are paid to an individual.
Is Social Security based on the last 5 years of work? ›
Social Security bases your retirement benefits on your lifetime earnings. We adjust or “index” your actual earnings to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then we calculate your average indexed monthly earnings from your highest 35 years of earnings.
How much Social Security will I get if I make $100,000 a year? ›
If your pay at retirement will be $100,000, your benefits will start at $2,026 each month, which equals $24,315 per year. And if your pay at retirement will be $125,000, your monthly benefits at the outset will be $2,407 for $28,889 yearly.
How much Social Security will I get if I make $120000 a year? ›
The point is that if you earned $120,000 per year for the past 35 years, thanks to the annual maximum taxable wage limits, the maximum Social Security benefit you could get at full retirement age is $2,687.
