AN OVERVIEW OF BENEFITS (Part I)

By Jinky C. Mesias

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Social Security members who were born before the year 1938 are qualified to full social security retirement benefits which will be given when they reach the age of 65. However, for those who just applied for their Social Security in the year 2003, the required age for full retirement benefits will increase to 67. The increase to be implemented is gradual just take for example those members born in 1940 they may be able to get their full retirement benefits when they attained the age of 65 and 6 months. For those members born in 1950 they can get their full retirement benefits at the age of 66 and for those born in 1960 onwards, their full retirement benefits will be given to them at the age of 67.

Social Security also offers early retirement benefits however at a reduced retirement amount. The early retirement is available at age 62 of members. The disadvantage of taking an early retirement benefit is that the monthly benefit is permanently reduced. On the contrary, members who take the early retirement option will be able to receive their benefits for a much longer period of time.

For those who tend to work beyond the full retirement option, the extra income they earn during those extra working years will increase their average income and will likewise increase their monthly retirement benefits. And another advantage for not applying for early retirement is that there are no earning limit for people ages 65 or older.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS

In order to qualify for social security benefits, members applying must be suffering from a physical or mental impairment that is keeping him or her from doing any important work for at least a year. Another consideration is that the disability condition is anticipated to result in the death of the disabled member.

Disabled members are expected to file their disability claim the soonest time possible since disability claims really takes a long time to process. In most cases the monthly disability benefit if approved begins on the sixth month of the disability.

The Social Security Disability Benefits is reduced when members have other government disability benefits. The standard rule for the amount of disability payments that a member or his/her family is supposed to receive must not exceed 80% of the averaged earning before a member becomes disabled.

The Social Security Benefits is given until the member’s condition improves and returns to work. However, if ever the member didn’t recover from his or her disability the disability benefit continues as well as the Medicare benefit.



About the author:
Jinky C. Mesias is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Business Administration Major in Business Management. She is at present an Associate Manager of a Life Insurance Corporation and a freelance writer.

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