{"id":5748,"date":"2022-07-28T14:39:11","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T14:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=5748"},"modified":"2022-07-28T14:39:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-28T14:39:11","slug":"celebrate-your-independence-with-social-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2022\/07\/28\/celebrate-your-independence-with-social-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate Your Independence with Social Security"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Social Security Column<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>By Erin Thompson<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Toledo, OH<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Every July, we take pride in celebrating our nation\u2019s independence.\u00a0 For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped provide financial independence to millions of hardworking people.\u00a0 We have useful online tools like the <em>Social Security Statement<\/em> (<em>Statement<\/em>) and our benefits estimator tool that help people not yet receiving benefits.\u00a0 The <em>Statement<\/em> shows the benefits that you and your family may be entitled to with personalized fact sheets tailored to your age and earnings situation.\u00a0 The benefits estimator tool allows you to get estimates based on different ages you want to begin receiving benefits.\u00a0 These tools can help you plan the financial independence you deserve in retirement.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t receive benefits?\u00a0 You can get the most out of your online experience if you have a personal <em>my<\/em> Social Security account.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Get your <em>Statement <\/em>instantly<em>.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).<\/li>\n<li>Find out if you qualify for benefits.<\/li>\n<li>Appeal a decision we made on your claim.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Already receiving benefits?\u00a0 If so, you can use your personal <em>my<\/em> Social Security account to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).<\/li>\n<li>Get an instant benefit verification letter for Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)<em>.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Start or change your direct deposit. (Social Security beneficiaries only)<\/li>\n<li>Check your information and benefit amount.<\/li>\n<li>Change your address. (Social Security beneficiaries only)<\/li>\n<li>Request a replacement Medicare card.<\/li>\n<li>Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S instantly for tax season.<\/li>\n<li>Report your wages if you work and receive disability benefits or SSI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can create your personal my Social Security account at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/myaccount\">www.ssa.gov\/myaccount<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Our blog at <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.ssa.gov\">blog.ssa.gov<\/a> features messages and information direct from our Acting Commissioner and other experts.\u00a0 You can subscribe and get an email each time we post a new blog so you can stay informed.\u00a0 From the blog, you can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.<\/p>\n<p>With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for you when it\u2019s convenient for you.\u00a0 Be sure to tell friends and family about all they can do with us from any device at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\">www.ssa.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apply for Social Security Benefits Online<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Did you know, you can do much of your business online with Social Security?\u00a0 This means no need to call or visit a local Social Security office.\u00a0 You can take your time completing our online applications and even save your progress to return to later.<\/p>\n<p>You can apply online for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Retirement or Spouse&#8217;s Benefits<\/strong> \u2013 You can apply up to four months before you want your retirement benefits to start. You must be at least age 62 for the entire month to be eligible to receive benefits.\u00a0 If you were born on the first or second day of the month, you meet this requirement in the month of your 62nd birthday.\u00a0 If you were born on any other day of the month, you do not meet this requirement until the following month.\u00a0 When you\u2019re ready, apply at <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.ssa.gov\/iClaim\/rib\">ssa.gov\/retireonline<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disability<\/strong> <strong>Benefits<\/strong> \u2013 You can use our online application, available at <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.ssa.gov\/iClaim\/dib\">ssa.gov\/disabilityonline<\/a><u>, <\/u>to apply for disability benefits if you:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Are age 18 or older;<\/li>\n<li>Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record;<\/li>\n<li>Are unable to work because of a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death; and<\/li>\n<li>Have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days.\u00a0 If your application was recently denied, our online appeal\u00a0application is a starting point to request a review of the determination we made.\u00a0 Please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/benefits\/disability\/appeal.html\">www.ssa.gov\/benefits\/disability\/appeal.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Supplemental Security Income (SSI)<\/strong> \u2013 SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below specific financial limits. SSI also makes payments to people who are age 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial qualifications. \u00a0If you plan to apply for SSI, you can tell us you want to apply and we will make an appointment to help you complete the application.\u00a0 Or you can complete a large part of your application online at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/benefits\/ssi\">ssa.gov\/benefits\/ssi<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medicare<\/strong> \u2013 Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some people younger than 65 who have disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. If you are not already receiving Social Security benefits, and are not working, you should apply for Medicare three months before turning age 65 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/medicare\">ssa.gov\/medicare<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Extra Help<\/em><\/strong><strong> with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs<\/strong> \u2013 Some people with limited resources and income may be able to get <em>Extra Help<\/em> paying their monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments related to a Medicare prescription drug plan. People who need assistance with the cost of medications can apply for <em>Extra Help<\/em> at <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.ssa.gov\/i1020\/start\">ssa.gov\/i1020<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please share these helpful resources with your friends and family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social Security Column By Erin Thompson Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Toledo, OH Every July, we take pride in celebrating our nation\u2019s independence.\u00a0 For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped provide financial independence to millions of hardworking people.\u00a0 We have useful online tools like the Social Security Statement (Statement) and our benefits estimator [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[132],"class_list":["post-5748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5748"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5749,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5748\/revisions\/5749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5748"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=5748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}