Retirement

You can begin to collect Social Security when you reach age 62, providing you qualify. The amount you collect will be at a reduced rate compared to what you would have collected if you waited to the full retirement age of 65 through 67 depending on your date of birth.

When a person dies, certain members of a family may be eligible for benefits.
Your spouse, age 60 or older(50 or older if disabled, or any age if caring for your children under age 16) qualifies for benefits.
Also your children (if unmarried and under age 18, still in school and under age 19, or adult children disabled before age 22) qualify for Social Security benefits if you were to die.

You can work while you receive Social Security retirement (or survivors) benefits. While you are working, your earnings will reduce your benefit amount only until you reach your Full Retirement Age.
Social Security uses a formula to determine how much your benefit must be reduced:
If you are under full retirement age (62-66) for the entire year, SS deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit.
People who turn 66 in 2013 can earn up to $40,080, and then $1 of benefits will be withheld for every $3 earned above the limit.
For 2012, that limit is $14,640 ($15,120 in 2013). In the year you reach full retirement age, SS deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but SS only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age.
If you will reach full retirement age in 2012, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $38,880 ($40,080 in 2013).
Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings.

You can collect disability benefits from Social Security if you become severely disabled before full retirement age after six months providing you have: 1.) enough Social Security credits and 2.)a physical or mental impairment that's expected to prevent you from doing substantial work for a year or more, or a condition that's expected to result in death.

If you are divorced, and were married for 10 years or more you could be eligible for a widow's or widower's benefit on the record of your deceased ex-spouse.

If you were born after 1959, you will have to wait until you are 67 years old before you can collect your full benefits. This current rule may not stay the same for the next 30 years. You should start planning for your retirement without relying on Social Security as soon as possible.

You will need to file form SS-5. Contact your local Social Security office or go on the Internet http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ and download the form.
If you are expecting a child to be born this year, keep in mind that you will not be able to take a deduction for your new baby without the social security number.
Most hospitals are aware of this and provide the forms along with birth records.

If your combined wages from both jobs exceed $110,100 for the current year and more than $4624.20 was withheld, you are entitled to receive credit for the excess social security paid.
That amount is taken as additional federal withholding on IRS Form 1040, page 2 when you file your tax return and can be refunded.

Yes, but only if your son or daughter has "earned income" (not investment income) which is reported on their tax return. The contribution is limited to the lesser of $5,500 or net earned income after deducting expenses related to the production of those earnings. A fast food employee, paper route, or other part-time jobs are examples of earned income sources.