Social Security Retirement Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get retirement benefits and how old should I be?

If you were born in 1929 or later, you need to have worked for at least 10 years to be eligible for retirement benefits.  If you're eligible for retirement benefits, some members of your family also can receive benefits.  To find out which family members qualify for benefits, please click here.

Remember that no matter what your full retirement age is, you may start receiving benefits as early as age 62.  To find out at what age you can collect full retirement benefits, visit the Social Security Administration's Retirement Planner by clicking here.

Can I receive retirement benefits while I am still working?

You can work while you receive Social Security benefits.  And when you do, it could mean a higher benefit for you.

Your original Social Security benefit was based on your highest years of earnings.  But each year, we review the records for all Social Security recipients who work. If your latest year of earnings turns out to be one of your highest years, we refigure your benefits and pay you any increase due.  This is an automatic process and is usually completed by October of the following year.  For example, by October 2004, you should get an increase for your 2003 earnings if those earnings raised your benefit.  The increase would be retroactive to January 2004.

That can be important to you later in life.  It also could increase the future benefit amounts your family and your survivors could receive.

In 2000, the law that determines what happens when you work and get benefits at the same time was changed.  While you're working, your benefit amount will now be reduced only until you reach your full retirement age, not up to age 70.  We will use this formula to determine how much your benefit must be reduced:

• If you are under full retirement age when you start getting your Social Security payments, $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $2 you earn above the annual limit.  For 2004, that limit is $11,640.
• In the year you turn full retirement age, $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $3 you earn above a different limit, but only counting earnings before the month you reach the full retirement age.  If you reach full retirement age of 65 and 4 months in 2004 (you were born in 1939), the limit on your earnings for months before full retirement age is $31,080.
• Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings, but be sure to contact us at the beginning of that year.  That way, we can see whether you also may receive some or all of your benefits for the months before you reach full retirement age.

What should I know about my right to representation?

You can choose to have a representative help you when you do business with Social Security.  The Social Security Administration will work with your representative, just as it would with you.

Your representative cannot charge or collect a fee from you without first getting written approval from us, even if your claim is denied.  However, your representative may accept money in advance as long as he or she holds it in a trust or escrow account.

Both you and your representative are responsible for providing the Social Security administration with true information.  If you give false information on purpose, you may be prosecuted criminally.

If you need additional information, you may call the social security administration toll-free at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.  If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, call the toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

How do I choose a representative?

You can choose an attorney or other qualified person to represent you.  You also can have more than one representative.  Your Social Security office has a list of organizations that can help you find a representative.

You can appoint one or more persons in a firm, corporation or other organization as your representative(s).  You also may not appoint a person who has been suspended or disqualified from representing others before the SSA or who may not, by law, act as a representative.

Once you choose a representative, you must tell the Social Security Administration in writing as soon as possible.  Print out Form SSA-1696-U4, Appointment of Representative, by clicking here or you can get the form from any Social Security office.  If you need to find the closest Social Security office please click here and follow the instructions.

You must give the name of the person you are appointing and sign your name.  If the person is not an attorney, he or she must, in writing, give his or her name; state that he or she accepts the appointment; and sign the form.

Which Social Security office is closest to me?

To find the closest Social Security office please click here and type your zip code into the office locator box.