Social Security & Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Social Security Administration pays retirement and disability benefits to eligible individuals and family
members. Widows, widowers and their children may also be entitled to a Survivors benefit. In some
occasions, ex-spouses may also be eligible to receive benefits based on their former spouses eligibility.
Social Security Administration also administers the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program which is
a benefit paid to eligible aged persons 65 and older, blind persons, or disabled persons; and have limited
income and possess limited assets; regardless of work history.
It is possible to collect both Social Security benefits and SSI. This is referred to as concurrent benefits.
In order to collect Social Security Benefits and/or SSI, you must be eligible and apply for benefits with
the Social Security Administration. Once Social Security Administration determines you are eligible,
Social Security Administration will determine the amount of your monthly benefit. You may apply in
person at the Social Security office in person, by calling, by mail, or online at www.ssa.gov.

Social Security Credits for Eligibility

To qualify for social security benefits an individual must have earned a minimum amount of credits.
A credit is earned in 2013 by earning $1,160 in covered earnings. Covered earnings are earnings where
you have paid Social Security tax. Military Base pay is a covered earning since you pay Social Security Tax
on this pay. A maximum of four credits may be earned each year. All four credits are earned by earning
$4,640 in covered earnings at any time in a year.

Social Security Disability Insurance

(SSDI)
The number of credits required to collect
disability benefits depends on your age when
you become disabled. (see adjacent table)
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Benefits are paid to eligible individuals who are
unable to work for pay or profit due to disability
that is expected to continue for more than 12
months or end in death. The benefit amount is
based on your average lifetime earnings. Family
members may also be able eligible to receive
benefits based on the disabled persons
eligibility and average earnings.

Age to Receive Social Security Disability

Insurance (SSDI)
Became
Number of Credits You Need to be
Disabled at Age
Eligible
You may qualify if you have 6 credits
Before age 24
earned in the 3-year period ending when
your disability starts
You may qualify if you have credit for
working half the time between age 21
and the time you become disabled. For
24 to 30
example, if you become disabled at age
27, you would need credit for 3 years of
work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years
(between ages 21 and 27).
31 to 42
20
Unless you
44
22
are blind, you
46
24
must have
48
26
earned 20 of
50
28
the credits in
52
30
the 10 years
54
32
immediately
56
34
before you
58
36
became
60
38
disabled.
62 or older
40
http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/credits3.htm

Do not delay in applying for disability benefits

even if you are still on active duty. SSDI is
determined by being unable to work for pay or
profit not whether or not you are collecting a pay check.

Social Security Retirement Benefits

For retirement benefits, the minimum credits required for eligibility is 40. The minimum time required
to earn 40 credits is 10 years.
You and your Veteran may have more than 40 credits at retirement, depending on your work histories.
However, excess credits at retirement do not count towards to the amount of your retirement benefit.
Your retirement benefit is calculated from your highest 35 years of earned income where you paid social
Security taxes. If you have years in which you did not earn income, a zero will be used for that year.
In simple terms, the more you pay in Social Security taxes, the more your Social Security Retirement
benefit will be at Full Retirement Age (FRA).
FRA is determined by your year of birth. (see
adjacent table)
No matter what your full retirement age is, you and
your Veteran have the option to collect Social
Security retirement benefits any time before after
age 62. But electing to receive retirement benefits
before your full retirement age (FRA in the
adjacent table), you will incur permanent and
substantial penalties in terms of a reduction of
your retirement benefit by up to 30%.

Age to Receive Full Social Security Benefits

(Called full retirement age or normal retirement age.)
Year of Birth
1943-1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960 and later

Full Retirement Age (FRA)

66
66 and 2 months
66 and 4 months
66 and 6 months
66 and 8 months
65 and 10 months
67
Social Security Administration

In addition, if you elect to receive early Social Security retirement benefits, and if you continue to work
and earn income, prior to your FRA, your early social security retirement benefits will be further
reduced.
On the other hand, if you delay collecting Social Security retirement benefits after FRA, your retirement
benefit will increase 8% each year you delay, up to age 70. There is no additional benefit to delaying
after age 70. Many experienced financial planners counsel that the decision to delay receiving Social
Security retirement benefits after full retirement age (FRA) should be guided by your health history, your
immediate familys health history and your financial needs. Specifically, if you are experiencing good
health as you approach FRA, do not have urgent need for the money and your immediate familys
medical history is free of chronic disease concerns, then you can significantly increase your lifetime
Social Security benefits by delaying receipt of Social Security benefits until at or near age 70.

Supplemental Security Income

If you do not have a work history that qualifies you for Social Security Benefits, or you have a small
Social Security benefit, you may still be eligible for Supplemental Security Income if you are age 65 or
older, blind, or disabled and you are able to pass the means test that is you have limited income and
possess limited assets.
Maximum monthly federal SSI benefit for 2013 is $710 for eligible individuals and $1,066 for eligible
couples. State SSI benefits vary and may be in addition to the federal benefit.

In general, assets over $2,000 ($3,000 for couples) preclude SSI eligibility. Assets that may be excluded
for purposes of determining SSI eligibility are generally the home you live in and one car if it is used for
transportation purposes.
SSI Income limits vary by state and type of income received. Small income exclusions may apply - but for
the most part - SSI is reduced by subtracting countable income.
Countable Income includes wages, interest and investment income, pensions and retirement benefits,
Social Security benefits, Veterans Administration benefits, disability payments, unemployment benefits,
and in-kind income. In-kind income is food and shelter received, or something received that is used to
provide food and shelter.

Family Social Security Benefits Disability & Retirement

If you, or your Veteran, are eligible for SSDI or Social Security retirement benefit, each family member
may be eligible to collect Social Security benefits up to 50% of your benefit rate - up to a total family
maximum of 150%-180% of your benefit.
-

Spouse

caring for children under age 16

age FRA or greater
age 62

50%
50%
35%

under 18, (or under 19 & high school)

any age, if disabled before age 22

50%
50%

Child

Family Social Security Benefits Survivorship

If you, or your Veteran die, each family member may be eligible to collect Social Security benefits up to
your projected retirement benefit rate subject to a family maximum of 150%-180% of your benefit.
-

Spouse

caring for children under age 16

age FRA or greater
age 62
age 60
age 50 (if disabled)

75%
100%
83%
71.5%
71.5%

under 18, (or under 19 & high school)

any age, if disabled before age 22

75%
50%

Child

Summary
To reiterate, in order for you or your Veteran to collect any of these Social Security Benefits and/or SSI,
you must be eligible and apply for benefits with the Social Security Administration. Once Social Security
Administration determines you are eligible, Social Security Administration will determine the amount of
your monthly benefit. You may apply in person at the Social Security office in person, by calling, by mail,
or online at www.ssa.gov.

Questions:
What is the Wounded Warrior Social Security Program?
Eligible military members (see SSDI table above for work history eligibility) can apply to collect
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if they are unable to perform substantial gainful
activity for pay or profit due to a mental or physical disability that is expected to last at least 12
months or result in death. You may still receive military pay and qualify for SSDI. SSDI if based
your inability to work not how much pay you receive.
Military members, who became disabled while on active duty on or after 1 October, 2001,
receive expedited processing when applying for Social Security benefits.
Why am I receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but I am not eligible for Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) even though I and completely disabled?
If you have not worked long enough, or not worked recently, you will not be eligible to collect
SSDI.
Your eligibility for SSDI is determined by the age when you became disable and your qualifying
work history which includes both military and civilian work where you paid Social Security Taxes.
(see SSDI table above for eligibility)
Qualifying domestic work, farm work, and working for a church may also make you eligible for
Social Security benefits.
SSI is for age 65 or older, blind, or disabled, with very limited income and assets. Military
medical retirement and/or VA disability payments are likely to disqualify you for SSI.
I am disabled and collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), what happens when I get to
retirement?
Upon reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA) which is based on your year of birth (see above
retirement table) - your social security disability payments will change to social security
retirement payments, as Social Security no longer considers you as a disabled person, but as a
retired person.

I was disabled and have returned to work, what happens when I get to retirement age?
If you have returned to work, it is very important to do two things immediately.
First Tell Social Security Administration that you have returned to work. They will determine if
you meet the requirements for a Trial Work Period (TWP) and make a determination of when to
end Social Security Disability Insurance payments.
Second - Apply for a Disability Freeze. A Disability Freeze covers a period of low and no
earnings due to a disability. This protects your retirement and survivors benefit from being
eroded by low and no income due to disability.
Your retirement benefits are based by averaging the work history of your highest 35 years of
earning income on which you paid Social Security tax. If you do not have 35 years of qualified
work history, a zero will be entered for any year in which you did not work and pay Social
Security taxes. A lower average will result in a lower retirement benefit.
However, any qualifying periods of a Disability Freeze are not counted against your work history.
A qualifying period is generally considered a period where you receive disability payments
without substantial outside income. Additional considerations are allowed for the working blind.
I am a caregiver and my responsibilities prevent me from meaningful employment, what happens
when I get to retirement age?
Your retirement benefits are based by averaging the work history of your highest 35 years of
earning income on which you paid Social Security tax. If you do not have 35 years of qualified
work history, a zero will be entered for any year in which you did not work and pay Social
Security taxes.
A lower average will result in a lower retirement benefit.
Although, analysts, policymakers, and non-profits have raised attention to the possible
introduction of allowing caregivers to earn social security credits, under current rules, only
spouse caregivers are covered, and only indirectly, through Social Security spousal and survivor
benefits (see above Family Social Security benefits).
Surviving spouse caregivers may also be eligible for Veterans Administration Dependency
Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if caring for a veteran rated by VA as totally disabled for a
qualifying period or veterans death is due to a service connected rated injury or disability.
Caregivers with the means to hire third-party caregiving, but would prefer to provide caregiving
themselves, should carefully evaluate what the impact of not working will have on their own
future Social Security benefits. This emotional decision weighs even harder for non-spouse
caregivers - as non-spouse caregivers are not indirectly covered through Social Security or VA.