| Unlike what most Americans perceive it; Social | | | | SSA, you may go to their nearest office or you may |
| Security is not just focused in Retirement Benefits. | | | | again log on to their website. |
| Rather, it covers other important programs that serve | | | | If you have been disabled, it would be necessary for |
| the purpose of helping the workers and their families | | | | you to file your application immediately since the actual |
| with their financial needs in certain difficult situations of | | | | process of Social Security benefit claims may take |
| their lives. | | | | quite a long period. It is also important that you bring the |
| Practically, the Social Security Program of the | | | | following upon your application: |
| government includes these three major concerns: | | | | • Your complete medical records including |
| 1. Retirement 2. Disability 3. Survivor's Benefits | | | | those results of your check ups from your doctors |
| Retirement Benefits Originally, Social Security intends | | | | and therapists • The laboratory findings and |
| to impart workers with a continuous source of income | | | | other test results connected with your disability |
| after they have reached the full age of retirement. The | | | | • The names and contact information of your |
| amount of retirement benefits will be based on the | | | | medical attendants • Your employer's name |
| employee's average earnings throughout his or her | | | | and a description of your job |
| working career. This would mean that the higher | | | | Survivors Benefits This program of the SSA seeks to |
| career earnings of an employee, the higher amount of | | | | provide financial assistance to the surviving family of a |
| benefits that he can get from the Social Security | | | | deceased worker. When you die for any natural |
| Administration. | | | | reason, your love ones may file their Social Security |
| Obtaining eligibility for retirement benefits is just as | | | | benefit claims with the SSA. Your family members |
| easy. Workers who were born after 1928 just have to | | | | who can collect their benefits are: |
| earn forty Social Security credits by paying his Social | | | | • Widow or widower who is o 60 yrs. of age |
| Security taxes. Every year, an employee may earn | | | | or above o 50 yrs. of age or above if disabled o At |
| four credits, enabling him to earn his eligibility for at least | | | | any age if taking care of your child younger than 16 |
| ten years of working. | | | | yrs. old or disabled and who is receiving his Social |
| A worker's full age of retirement depends on the year | | | | Security benefits • Unmarried children who |
| of his birth. For more details, you may log on to the | | | | are o Below the age of 18 o Between the age of 18 |
| SSA's website at | | | | and 19 but still full-time elementary or high school |
| Disability Benefits Social Security Disability or SSD | | | | students o At any age if seriously disabled before |
| benefits support the workers who have sustained any | | | | reaching the age of 22 • Other dependents |
| physical or mental impairment, which prevented them | | | | such as your parents provided that they meet the |
| from performing "substantial gainful activities", that is | | | | requirement set by the SSA |
| expected to last or has already lasted for at least a | | | | Know more about filing your Social Security benefits |
| period of one year or probable to result in death. To | | | | claims with the help of Los Angeles Attorneys |
| see a complete list of impairments accepted by the | | | | website. |