Q & A
Are Social Security numbers reassigned after a person dies?
Answer: No. We do not reassign Social Security numbers. In all, we have assigned more than 460 million Social Security numbers. Each year we assign about 5.5 million new numbers. There are more than one billion combinations of the nine-digit Social…
I need to get a benefit verification letter. Do I need to come into the office?
Answer: No, you can get it online. There’s no need to fight traffic and visit a busy government office in order to obtain proof of your benefits. To get your benefit-verification letter, simply visit us online at http://goo.gl/K8PB8 and set up a my…
When should you take Social Security benefits?
Answer: Some say take it now no matter what. I say be aware of the many options that you may have. Over the course of your working lifetime, with every paycheck you’ve dutifully paid taxes toward Social Security. When the time…
Can a person receive Social Security disability and workers’ compensation benefits at the same time?
Answer: Yes but workers’ compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce your Social Security benefits. If you receive workers’ compensation or other public disability benefits and SSA disability benefits for the same period, the total amount of these benefits cannot exceed…
Windfall elimination provision – How does Social Security affect my benefits?
Full question: I have retired after 42 years of federal service. I was on CSRS with no offset. How does Social Security affect my benefits? Before starting my career with the federal government, I had amassed enough quarterly hours to qualify…
Who are you required to give your Social Security Number to?
Answer: Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is offering guidelines to clear up confusion about when consumers are legally required to provide a Social Security number – and when they are not. Utilities, financial institutions and private businesses use Social Security numbers…
I’m trying to figure out the best time to retire based on my future earnings. How can I calculate my own retirement benefit estimate?
Answer: We suggest you use our Retirement Estimator at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Estimates are based on your actual Social Security earnings record, so it’s a personalized, instant picture of your future estimated benefit. Also, you can use it to test different retirement scenarios based on…
Will a Lower-Paying Job Before Retirement Hurt My Social Security?
Full question: My husband has been working on his job for almost 30 years and is eligible to retire and draw his retirement from them. He will be 58 years and eight months old at time of retirement. He is planning to get…
I plan on retiring at the end of June 2014. I will be 61 years old with 28½ years of service for the Internal Revenue Service under FERS. Am I eligible to receive special retirement supplement until February 2015, when I will be 62 years old? Is the supplement amount equal to what I will receive from Social Security at age 62? Or is it calculated differently? By receiving supplement, will my Social Security amount be affected or lowered compared to if I didn’t receive the supplement?
Answer: You will be entitled to the special retirement supplement until you reach age 62. The SRS will be based solely on the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while a FERS employee. At age 62, you’ll be entitled to…
I am a young working professional making monthly contributions into a 401-K account. My spouse is vested in his company and will have a comfortable pension at the time of retirement. I have been following the debate about the long-term viability of Social Security. Why is this so important? Shouldn’t we all be responsible for our future financial well-being?
Answer: It might be helpful to provide you with background surrounding the original intent when the Social Security Act was signed into act on Aug. 14, 1935 by President Franklin Roosevelt. The Act actually contained provisions to cover a wide range…