Retirement

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.

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.

Social Security benefit records do not have the ability to name specific beneficiaries. The Social Security Act specifies which family members can receive benefits on your record when you retire, die or become disabled.
The social security administration cannot pay benefits to people who do not meet the requirements of the law, nor can they refuse to pay benefits to people who do meet those requirements.
This is true even if you ask the social security administration not to. Any payments made to your former spouse based on your record will not affect the amounts that can be paid to a subsequent spouse or your children.

Unless you are disabled, you are not eligible for monthly survivors benefits based on your husband's earnings record until you reach the age of 60.
At that age, your benefit would be about 71.5% of your husband's basic benefit amount.
If you wait until you reach your full retirement age, you will receive 100% of his amount. Disabled widows or widowers can receive benefits as early as age 50.

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.

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.

The Form first used to claim exemption from social security is filed on IRS Form 4361.
The exemption once granted is irrevocable unless requested within a 27 and a half initial period. Exempted Ordained Ministers, Priests, or Rabbi's may revoke the original election and re-elect social security coverage by filing out IRS Form 2031.
Once you revoke the exemption you can never elect exemption from social security coverage again.

The Form first used to claim exemption from social security is filed on IRS Form 4361. The exemption once granted is irrevocable unless requested within a 27 and a half initial period.
Exempted Ordained Ministers, Priests, or Rabbi's may revoke the original election and re-elect social security coverage by filing out IRS Form 2031.
Once you revoke the exemption you can never elect exemption from social security coverage again.