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how do you find your social security benefits

by Jayne Green Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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If you applied for Social Security benefits, or have a pending reconsideration or hearing request, you can check the status online using your free personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one to see the following information about your claim: Date of filing. Current claim location.

Your Social Security Statement (Statement) is available to view online by opening a my Social Security account. It is useful for people of all ages who want to learn about their future Social Security benefits and current earnings history.

Full Answer

How to estimate your Social Security benefits?

  • Adjust all earnings for inflation
  • Calculate your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)
  • Apply your AIME to the benefit formula to determine primary insurance amount (PIA)
  • Adjust PIA for filing age

How does Social Security determine your benefits?

To sum it all up:

  • Calculate Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). ...
  • Apply the Social Security benefits formula to your AIME to calculate your primary insurance amount. ...
  • Adjust your primary insurance amount based on cost-of-living increases for each year after you turn 62 but before retirement. ...

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What is my approximate, estimated Social Security benefit?

  • For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings up to $926, you’ll get 90 cents per month in benefits.
  • For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings between $927 and $5,583 you’ll get $.32 cents per month in benefits.
  • For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings beyond $5,583 you’ll get $.15 cents per month in benefits.

Is there faster way to get Social Security benefits?

To qualify, ex-spouses must meet the following conditions:

  • The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years
  • Two or more years must have passed since the divorce
  • They must not have remarried
  • They must be at least 62 years old and must not qualify for higher Social Security benefits based on their own employment history

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How do you find out how much Social Security you will receive?

Benefit Calculators (En español) The best way to start planning for your future is by creating a my Social Security account online. With my Social Security, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more – all from the comfort of your home or office.

Can I see my Social Security statement online?

You can get your Social Security Statement (Statement) online by using your personal my Social Security account. If you don't yet have an account, you can easily create one.

What to do if you don't receive Social Security?

Get estimates for spouse’s benefits. Get proof that you do not receive benefits. Check your application status. Get your Social Security Statement.

What is a free Social Security account?

A free and secure my Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive. All from anywhere!

What is ID.me?

ID.me is a Single Sign-On provider that meets the U.S. government's most rigorous requirements for online identity proofing and authentication.

What is the formula for Social Security benefits?

The Social Security benefits formula is designed to replace a higher proportion of income for low-income earners than for high-income earners. To do this, the formula has what are called “bend points." These bend points are adjusted for inflation each year.

How is Social Security decided?

Your Social Security benefit is decided based on your lifetime earnings and the age you retire and begin taking payments. Your lifetime earnings are converted to a monthly average based on the 35 years in which you earned the most, adjusted for inflation. Those earnings are converted to a monthly insurance payment based on your full retirement age.

How to calculate Social Security if you are not 62?

Because of how the wage indexing formula works, if you are not yet age 62, your calculation to determine how much Social Security you will get is only an estimate. Until you know the average wages for the year you turn 60, there is no way to do an exact calculation. However, you could attribute an assumed inflation rate to average wages to estimate the average wages going forward, and use those to create an estimate.

How to calculate indexing year?

Your wages are indexed to the average wages for the year you turn 60. 4 For each year, you take the average wages of your indexing year (which is the year you turn 60) divided by average wages for the years you are indexing, and multiply your included earnings by this number. 5

What is wage indexing?

Social Security uses a process called wage indexing to determine how to adjust your earnings history for inflation. Each year, Social Security publishes the national average wages for the year. You can see this published list on the National Average Wage Index page. 3 .

What is the process used to determine how to adjust your earnings history for inflation?

Social Security uses a process called "wage indexing" to determine how to adjust your earnings history for inflation. Each year, Social Security publishes the national average wages for the year. You can see this published list on the National Average Wage Index page. 3

How to find average indexed monthly earnings?

Total the highest 35 years of indexed earnings, and divide this total by 420, which is the number of months in a 35-year work history, to find the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings.

How is Social Security calculated?

Social Security benefits are typically computed using "average indexed monthly earnings.". This average summarizes up to 35 years of a worker's indexed earnings. We apply a formula to this average to compute the primary insurance amount ( PIA ). The PIA is the basis for the benefits that are paid to an individual.

How many years of earnings are needed to calculate average indexed monthly earnings?

Up to 35 years of earnings are needed to compute average indexed monthly earnings. After we determine the number of years, we choose those years with the highest indexed earnings, sum such indexed earnings, and divide the total amount by the total number of months in those years. We then round the resulting average amount down to the next lower dollar amount. The result is the AIME .

Is a person entitled to a PIA before 62?

We pay reduced benefits to one who retires before his/her normal retirement age. A person cannot collect retirement benefits before age 62.

Benefit Calculators

The best way to start planning for your future is by creating a my Social Security account online. With my Social Security, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more – all from the comfort of your home or office.

Online Benefits Calculator

These tools can be accurate but require access to your official earnings record in our database. The simplest way to do that is by creating or logging in to your my Social Security account. The other way is to answer a series of questions to prove your identity.

Additional Online Tools

Find your full retirement age and learn how your monthly benefits may be reduced if you retire before your full retirement age.

When do you get your Social Security statement?

For workers age 60 and older who do not have a my Social Security account, we currently mail Social Security Statements three months prior to your birthday.

Why are fact sheets important for Social Security?

The fact sheets are designed to provide clarity and useful information, based on your age group and earnings situation. They can help you better understand Social Security programs and benefits.

How to get a Social Security verification letter?

If you have questions or need help understanding how to request your benefit verification letter online, call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your Social Security office. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

What can I use my Social Security letter for?

You may use your letter for loans, housing assistance, mortgage, and for other income verification purposes. You can also use it to prove that you don't receive benefits, have applied for benefits, or that you have never received Social Security benefits or SSI.

How long does it take to create a Social Security account?

Creating a free my Social Security account takes less than 10 minutes, lets you download or print your benefit verification letter, and gives you access to many other online services.

What is a benefit verification letter?

The Benefit Verification letter, sometimes called a "budget letter," a "benefits letter," a "proof of income letter," or a "proof of award letter," serves as proof of your retirement, disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicare benefits.

How to get a replacement Social Security card?

If you receive benefits or have Medicare, your personal my Social Security account is also the best way to: Request a replacement Social Security number card (in most states and the District of Columbia). Get your benefit verification letter. Check your benefit and payment information. Change your address and phone number.

How to get a replacement SSA-1099?

If you live in the United States and you need a replacement form SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S, simply go online and get an instant, printable replacement form using your personal my Social Security account. A replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S is available for the previous tax year after February 1.

What is SSA 1099?

The Benefit Statement , also known as the SSA-1099 or the SSA-1042S, is a tax form we mail each year in January to people who receive Social Security benefits. It shows the total amount of benefits you received from us in the previous year so you know how much Social Security income to report to the IRS on your tax return.

How long does it take to create a Social Security document?

If you don’t have a my Social Security account, creating one is very easy to do and usually takes less than 10 minutes.

Do you report wages if you work and receive Social Security?

Report your wages if you work and receive Social Security disability insurance or SSI benefits.

Do I need to send SSA 1099 to non-citizens?

If you’re a non-citizen who lives outside of the United States and you received or repaid Social Security benefits last year, we will send you form SSA-1042S in the mail. The forms SSA-1099 and SSA-1042S are not available for people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

What is the retirement estimate?

The Retirement Estimator calculates a benefit amount for you based on your actual Social Security earnings record. Please keep in mind that these are just estimates.

Can you use the retirement estimate if you have blocked access to your personal information?

You cannot use the Retirement Estimator if you have blocked electronic access to your personal information.

Can you use the retirement estimate if you have enough Social Security?

You can use the Retirement Estimator if you have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits and you are not:

How many retirement estimates does Quick Calculator give?

If you do not give a retirement date and if you have not reached your normal (or full) retirement age, the Quick Calculator will give benefit estimates for three different retirement ages.

What is the benefit estimate?

Benefit estimates depend on your date of birth and on your earnings history. For security, the "Quick Calculator" does not access your earnings record; instead, it will estimate your earnings based on information you provide. So benefit estimates made by the Quick Calculator are rough. Although the "Quick Calculator" makes an initial assumption ...

How old do you have to be to use Quick Calculator?

You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right.

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