Retirement

Generally, if your retirement pension is from work where you also paid Social Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit. Pensions based on work that is not covered by Social Security such as the federal civil service and some state, local, or foreign government systems probably will reduce the amount of your Social Security benefit. Speak to your local CPA or the Social Security Administration for more details.

When the social security administration averaged out your 35 highest years of earnings to estimate your benefits on your social security Statement, it was assumed you would continue to work up to age 62, making the same earnings you made last year.
If, instead, you have zero earnings each year over the next 6 years, your average earnings will probably be less and so will your benefit.
You can use the Social Security Benefits Calculators to see how this will affect your monthly benefit amount. The Social Security Benefits Planner is located at http://www.ssa.gov. In addition to using the SSA website, you can call SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.

For most current and future retirees, the social security administration will average your 35 highest years of earnings. Years in which you have low earnings or no earnings may be counted to bring the total years of earnings up to 35.
The Social Security administration has a Benefits Planner which is located at http://www.ssa.gov. The planner is divided into 4 sections including retirement, disability, survivors and calculators. Employees can determine their own social security benefit by using the calculate section.

You can go to the SSA website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm or get the SSA Publication.
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (SSA Pub. No. 64-039) contains the medical criteria that Social Security uses to determine disability. It is intended primarily for physicians and other health professionals.
You can fax a request to the Social Security Administartion Fax Number, 410-965-0696. You can also write or call: Social Security Administration Public Information Distribution Center P.O. Box 17743 Baltimore, MD 21235-6401 Phone 410-965-0945.

The lump-sum death benefit of $255 is payable upon the death of a person who has worked long enough to be insured under Social Security. The one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 is payable to a surviving spouse if he or she was living with the deceased; or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased person's record; or If there is no surviving spouse, a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased person's record in the month of death.
If no spouse or child meeting these requirements exists, the lump-sum death payment will not be paid.
The lump-sum death payment cannot be paid to funeral homes or estates for funeral expenses. To file for the benefit, call 1-800-772-1213.
You must file the application for the lump-sum death payment within the two-year period ending with the second anniversary of the insured person's death.

When applying for social security Survivors benefits for yourself and your children, you should have your and your spouse's Social Security numbers, your and your children's birth certificates, and the children's Social Security numbers.
You will also need to provide evidence of your wife's death (death certificate) and your marriage. (Marriage certificate).
The documents need to be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable.
The social security administration will return the original documents to you. It is best to call the Social Security's toll free phone number first to set up an appointment so you will not have to wait. The telephone number is 1-800-772-1213.

The IRS Social Security Benefits Planner is located at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/.
This planner provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law.
If you are Looking for information, you can find your retirement age, Estimate your life expectancy, Estimate Your Retirement Benefits and use our other benefit calculators to test different retirement ages or future earnings amounts, apply for retirement benefits.
If you are close to age 65, you can find out how to apply for just Medicare. You may need to sign up for Medicare close to your 65th birthday, even if you will not be retired by that time.

If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, SSA deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2013, that limit is $15,120. In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but we only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. If you will reach full retirement age in 2013, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $40,080. (If you were born in 1943 - 1954, your full retirement age is 66 years.).
If you were born in 1960 or later your full retirement age is 67.
Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings.

In the current year, the Social Security and Medicare taxes that are withheld from your paycheck from your wages are not deductible by you on your tax return.