When Can I Draw Social Security Benefits

Understanding SSI Home Page / Agreement Supplemental Security Income Social Security Entitlement

SOCIAL SECURITY ENTITLEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Many people who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may likewise be entitled to receive Social Security benefits. In fact, the application for SSI benefits is besides an application for Social Security benefits. We often need to obtain boosted information from the person before we can laurels Social Security benefits.

The following sections provide information on who may be entitled to Social Security benefits.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AS A WORKER Y'all MUST Exist:

Historic period 62 or older, or disabled or blind; and

"Insured" past having enough work credits.

For applications filed Dec one, 1996, or later, you must either be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present alien in order to receive monthly Social Security benefits.

HOW MUCH WORK Practise Y'all Need TO BE"INSURED"?

We measure out work in "work credits". You can earn upwards to iv work credits per year based on your annual earnings. The amount of earnings required for a work credit increases each year as full general wage levels ascent.

To be eligible for most types of benefits (such equally benefits based on blindness or retirement), yous must have earned an average of one piece of work credit for each agenda yr betwixt historic period 21 and the year in which you lot accomplish age 62 or become disabled or blind, upward to a maximum of 40 credits. A minimum of vi work credits is required, regardless of age.

To qualify for Social Security benefits based on a inability other than blindness, you must accept worked long plenty and recently enough nether Social Security's rules. The number of work credits y'all demand for inability benefits depends on your historic period when you became disabled. You generally need 20 work credits earned in the last 10 years catastrophe with the twelvemonth you become disabled. However, younger workers may authorize with fewer credits.

The rules are as follows:

Before historic period 24 –– You may qualify if you take six work credits earned in the three–year flow ending when your disability starts.

Age 24 to 31 –– You lot may authorize if you lot have credit for having worked one-half the time between age 21 and the fourth dimension you become disabled.

Example: If at age 27 y'all become disabled, you would need 12 work credits in the past six years (betwixt age 21 and age 27).

Age 31 and older –– In general, you volition need to have the number of work credits shown in the nautical chart below. You must have earned at least 20 of the credits in the 10 years immediately before you become disabled.

Built-in Later 1929 Become Disabled at Age	Work Credits Needed
31 through 42	20
44	22
46	24
48	26
50	28
52	xxx
54	32
56	34
58	36
threescore	38
62 or older	xl

WHO CAN RECEIVE BENEFITS ON YOUR EARNINGS RECORD?

You can receive Social Security benefits based on your earnings tape if you are age 62 or older, or disabled or blind and take enough work credits.

Family unit members who qualify for benefits on your work record do not need work credits. Notwithstanding, if they file an application December i, 1996 or later, they must be a U.South. denizen or lawfully present alien. The following information describes family members who may qualify for benefits on your work record.

If yous are receiving retirement or disability benefits, your spouse may authorize if he or she is:

age 62 and over; or

divorced from yous, age 62 or older, and was married to you for at to the lowest degree 10 years prior to your divorce; or

under age 62 and caring for a child (under age xvi or disabled prior to historic period 22) who is entitled to benefits on your work record.

If you are age 62 or over and have enough piece of work credits to receive Social Security benefits, only take not filed a claim, your divorced spouse may qualify for benefits, if he or she was married to you for at least ten years prior to the divorce, and has been finally divorced from you for at least two years.

Your surviving spouse (widow or widower) may authorize if he or she is:

historic period sixty or older; or

age 50 or older and disabled; or

divorced from you, age 60 or older (age l if disabled), and was married to you for at least ten years prior to your divorce; or

nether age 60 and caring for your child (under age sixteen or disabled prior to age 22) and who is entitled to child's benefits; or

divorced from you, under historic period 60 and caring for his or her child (nether age 16 or disabled prior to historic period 22) who is entitled to benefits on your record.

A dependent parent(s), age 62 or older, of a deceased worker may qualify for benefits based on the worker'due south tape.

Unmarried children of disabled, retired or deceased workers may qualify if they are:

nether historic period eighteen; or

xviii-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or

18 or older and have a inability that started earlier age 22.

Under certain circumstances, nosotros may too pay benefits to stepchildren, grandchildren, footstep-grandchildren and adopted children.