what do i need to do to sign up for social security

Download Article

Download Article

If you are married or divorced and nearing retirement historic period, y'all may be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits. Spousal benefits allow you to get up to 50 percentage of the full benefits your spouse is eligible for without taking away from their benefits. If you're eligible for your own retirement benefits, you lot'll become those offset. However, if your spouse was in the workforce longer than you or made more than money, spousal benefits could add to the overall benefits you receive. You use for spousal Social Security benefits the same style y'all merits your ain retirement benefits.^[1]

1. 1

   Notice out if your spouse has claimed their benefits. If you're currently married, you can't claim spousal benefits unless your spouse has already started receiving their retirement benefits. If y'all're older than your spouse, you can collect your ain retirement benefits until your spouse reaches retirement age, then claim the spousal benefits on meridian of your ain retirement benefits.^[2]

   • The amount of your spousal do good isn't affected by the historic period at which your spouse started receiving their retirement benefits. Information technology is ever based on your spouse's primary insurance amount, which is the amount they would receive if they started claiming benefits at their normal retirement age (NRA). This historic period is based on the year you lot were born. You tin can detect out your NRA, and the NRA of your spouse, at https://www.ssa.gov/oact/ProgData/nra.html.
   • If you and your spouse are divorced, it doesn't affair if they're receiving their benefits yet or not. You can still collect your spousal do good if you are otherwise eligible.^[iii]

2. 2

   Compare your spousal benefit to your own retirement benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) e'er pays out your own retirement benefits first. However, if your spouse worked for more years, or made more money than you did, information technology's possible that your spousal benefit will be greater than your retirement benefits.^[4]

   • The SSA looks at the corporeality of retirement benefits you're eligible for, then the amount of spousal benefits you're eligible for. If the spousal benefits are greater than your retirement benefits, you would exist paid your retirement benefits first, and so spousal benefits would be used to make up the difference. You ever get the larger of the 2 amounts.
   • If your retirement benefits are greater than your spousal benefits, yous technically wouldn't exist eligible for spousal benefits, because y'all would be paid your retirement benefits since they would give you more.
   • For case, suppose you are eligible for $200 a calendar month in retirement benefits. Your spouse's primary insurance amount is $500 a calendar month, and they started receiving benefits at their NRA. This ways you're entitled to 50 percent of their primary insurance amount, or $250 a month. Technically, you would be paid your $200 a month in retirement benefits, plus another $50 a month in spousal benefits, to bring yous up to the full $250 a calendar month.

   Advertisement

3. iii

   Determine whether y'all tin can receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record. If yous are divorced but were married to your spouse for at least 10 years, yous may be able to go spousal benefits off of their business relationship. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, all of the following must be truthful:^[5]

   • You are unmarried
   • You are at least 62 years old
   • Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security benefits (either retirement or disability)
   • Your retirement benefits are less than your spousal benefits based on their work would be
   • You've been divorced for at least 2 years (if your ex-spouse has not however claimed their benefits)

   Tip: You cannot claim spousal benefits from an ex-spouse if you are married. Nevertheless, if that marriage ends, you may still exist able to claim those spousal benefits from your earlier spouse.

4. four

   Make up one's mind when y'all want to start receiving benefits. Your full spousal benefit is l% of your spouse'southward master insurance amount. However, if you make up one's mind to commencement receiving those benefits before you reach your normal retirement historic period, your benefit amount will be permanently reduced.^[half-dozen]

   • If you are between the age of 62 and your normal retirement historic period, the corporeality of spousal benefits yous receive is reduced past a percentage that is based on the number of months until you lot reach normal retirement age. The lowest percentage you could perchance get is 32.5% of your spouse's principal insurance amount.
   • In some situations, it might make sense for you to merits your spousal benefits early. However, if you can afford to exercise and then, you'll become more money if you look until you reach your normal retirement historic period.

   Exception: Even if y'all haven't yet reached your normal retirement age, you can all the same receive the full 50% spousal benefit if you are caring for a child who is younger than 16 or disabled and entitled to receive benefits on your spouse'southward tape.

   Advertizement

1. 1

   Get together documents that demonstrate your eligibility. Y'all will be asked questions on the application to assess your eligibility. You may besides need to provide original documents to the SSA so it's a good thought to get them together earlier you start filling out the application. Documents you may need include:^[seven]

   • Your birth certificate
   • Proof of The states citizenship status or lawful permanent residence
   • U.s. military belch papers
   • West-ii forms or self-employment revenue enhancement returns for the by yr
   • Your final divorce prescript, if yous're applying as a divorced spouse
   • Your marriage document

2. 2

   Complete the application online. The easiest manner to utilise for spousal Social Security benefits is through your "My Social Security" business relationship at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/. If you don't take an account, you can create one and apply from at that place. To apply online, yous must exist at least 61 years and 9 months old.^[8]

   • If y'all can't apply online or don't want to use the online form, yous tin also phone call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY ane-800-325-0778).
   • You lot can also complete an application in person at your local Social Security part. If you don't know where the nearest Social Security office is located, become to https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp and enter your ZIP lawmaking.

   Tip: If you decide to go to the local Social Security office in person, you lot might want to telephone call ahead and schedule an appointment. Although it isn't required, information technology volition decrease your expect time.

3. iii

   Provide whatsoever additional documents requested. After y'all submit your awarding, you may be contacted by the SSA for farther information. You may too get a letter in the mail with a list of documents yous demand to transport to the SSA.^[9]

   • With the exception of photocopies of W-ii forms, tax returns, or medical documents, the SSA needs original documents. Whatsoever original documents volition be returned to you. If you don't feel comfortable mailing these documents, yous tin can have them in person to your local SSA office.
   • If you mail documents, you may want to ship them using certified mail with return receipt requested, especially if you're sending original documents.

   Tip: If you don't have all the documents requested by the SSA, call them and let yous know. They can help y'all get them.

   Ad

1. 1

   Prepare an online account if you lot haven't already. From your "My Social Security" account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/, yous tin check the condition of your application and manage your benefits. If you didn't employ for your benefits online, you can still ready a free account to manage your benefits.^[10]

   • You must have a valid electronic mail address to gear up upwards an online account. The SSA will employ that email address to send you notices near your account and your benefits, so make sure it's ane you accept regular admission to.

2. ii

   Sign up for direct deposit. Direct deposit is the quickest and easiest mode to get your Social Security benefits. With rare exceptions, federal police now requires all federal benefit payments to be made electronically. Y'all tin can set up direct deposit through your "My Social Security" account or by visiting https://fiscal.treasury.gov/GoDirect/. To set up your straight eolith, you volition need the following information:^[11]

   • Your Social Security number or merits number
   • Your financial establishment's routing transit number
   • Your account number and business relationship blazon (checking or savings)

   Tip: You can as well sign upward for direct deposit at a local branch of your bank or credit union.

3. 3

   Apply for a debit menu if you don't have a US bank account. If yous don't have a U.s. bank business relationship, your benefits will exist delivered to yous on a Direct Express debit MasterCard. You can sign up for the debit card online at https://fiscal.treasury.gov/GoDirect/ or by calling ane-800-333-1795.^[12]

   • Even if you lot have a bank business relationship, you can notwithstanding sign upward for a Straight Limited card if you prefer to go your benefits that fashion.
   • Yous'll go your bill of fare in the post inside ii to 4 weeks. Your benefits will exist deposited onto the carte du jour business relationship on your payment date each calendar month. You tin can use the card anywhere that MasterCard is accepted or withdraw cash from an ATM.

4. 4

   Submit an application for a waiver if yous can't apply straight deposit. If you lot live in a remote surface area without access to banking services, or if electronic payments would cause you a meaning hardship (for case, considering of a physical or mental impairment), yous can apply for a waiver and continue to go a paper check. Waivers are rarely granted and simply in farthermost circumstances.^[13]

   • If y'all would like to request a waiver, telephone call 1-855-290-1545.
   • You can likewise print the waiver form at https://financial.treasury.gov/GoDirect/about-faq/FMS_Form_1201W_March_2014.pdf. Fill up it out and mail it to the address listed on the form.

   Advertisement

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your electronic mail address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

• If you live outside of the US, visit the nearest Social Security Field Function. International field office locations are at https://www.ssa.gov/strange/. If there isn't a field office nigh you, the nearest U.s.a. embassy or consulate volition be able to assist yous.^[14]

Advertising

Nearly This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read thirty,080 times.

Did this article assist you?

gengleralowely.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-for-Spousal-Social-Security-Benefits

Share this post