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Social Security: Amounts Of Benefits

The amount of your Social Security benefit is based on your date of birth, the type of benefit you apply for and, most importantly, your lifetime earnings. And, if you're age 25 or older and not already receiving Social Security benefits on your own earnings record, each year they will send you a Social Security Statement that displays your earnings record and provides estimates of the retirement, disability and survivors benefits you and your family may be eligible to receive now and in the future. You should receive your Statement about three months before your birthday.

You also can request a Social Security Statement by visiting their website at http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement, calling--1-800-772-1213 or contacting a local Social Security office.

When you receive your Statement, be sure to check your earnings record carefully. You share responsibility with your employer for making sure all of your earnings have been reported and that they are accurate. That's important because your benefits will be based on our record of your lifetime earnings. When you visit the website at http://www.ssa.gov be sure to click on the Benefit Planners to get more help in planning for a comfortable retirement. You'll be able to estimate your benefits based on different assumptions about your future earnings or when you plan to stop working. You'll also learn more about disability and survivors benefits and what they could mean to you and your family.

Remember! Your Social Security benefit amount depends on how much you earned and it goes up with the cost of living.

When you start collecting Social Security retirement or disability benefits, other members of your family also may be eligible for payments. For example, benefits can be paid to:

your husband or wife if he or she is age 62 or older (unless he or she collects a higher Social Security benefit on his or her own record);
your husband or wife at any age if he or she is caring for your child (the child must be under age 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits); and
your children, if they are
- unmarried and under age 18;
- under age 19, but in elementary or secondary school as a full-time student; or
- age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started before age 22).

Each family member may be eligible for a monthly benefit that is up to 50 percent of your retirement or disability benefit amount. However, there's a limit to the total amount of money that can be paid to a family on your Social Security record. The limit varies, but is generally equal to about 150 to 180 percent of your retirement benefit. (It may be less for disability benefits.) If the sum of the benefits payable on your account is greater than this family limit, the benefits to the family members will be reduced proportionately. Your benefit will not be affected.

If you are divorced (even if you have remarried), your ex-spouse may qualify for benefits on your record. In some situations, he or she may get benefits even if you're not receiving them. To qualify, your ex-spouse must:

have been married to you for at least 10 years;
be at least 62 years old;
be unmarried; and
not be eligible for an equal or higher benefit on his or her own Social Security record, or on someone else's Social Security record.

Here's An Important Point: If your ex-spouse receives benefits on your account, it doesn't affect the amount of any benefits payable to you or your other family members.

Benefits To Divorced Widow(er)s

If you are divorced (even if you have remarried), your ex-spouse will be eligible for benefits on your record when you die. In order to qualify, your ex-spouse must:

be at least age 60 years old (or 50 if disabled) and have been married to you for at least 10 years;
be any age if caring for a child who is eligible for benefits on your record;
not be eligible for an equal or higher benefit on his or her own record; and
not be currently married, unless the remarriage occurred after age 60--or 50 for disabled widows.

(In cases of remarriage after the age of 60, your ex-spouse will be eligible for a widow's benefit on your record or a dependent's benefit on the record of his or her new spouse, whichever is higher.)

Here's An Important Point: If your ex-spouse receives benefits on your account, it does not affect the amount of any benefits payable to other survivors on your record.

How Much Will Your Survivors Get?

Your survivors receive a percentage of your basic Social Security benefit--usually in a range from 75 to 100 percent each. However, there is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid each month to a family. The limit varies, but is generally equal to about 150 to 180 percent of your benefit rate. If the total benefits payable to your surviving family members is greater than this limit, your family's benefits will be reduced proportionately.

The Social Security Statement provides an accurate measurement of potential survivors benefits payable on your record. And you can use the Benefits Planner on our website to get estimates of what your survivors might get.

Retirement Benefits For Widow(er)s

If you're receiving widows or widowers (including divorced widows or widowers) benefits, you can switch to your own retirement benefits as early as age 62 (assuming you're eligible and your retirement rate is higher than your widow(er)'s rate). In many cases, a widow(er) can begin receiving one benefit at a reduced rate and then switch to the other benefit at an unreduced rate when reaching full retirement age. The rules are complicated and vary depending on your situation, so talk to a Social Security representative about the options available to you.