When you have a baby, one of the things that should be on your “to do” list is getting a Social Security number for your baby. The easiest time to do this is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, there may be delays while we verify your child’s birth certificate. This website provides instructions on how to get a Social Security number for your child and information on how to apply for disability and other benefits for your child.
Social Security should be notified as soon as possible when a person dies. This site provides information about how you can report a death in the family and about possible benefits for family members, including surviving spouse, unmarried children, and parents.
You can apply online for Social retirement or spouse's benefits or disability benefits. You can also check the status of your application, or request an appeal if benefits were denied. This site provides guidance and forms.
The on-line Retirement Estimator produces estimates of Social Secuirty retirement benefits based on your Social Security earnings record. These estimates are provided for three different ages -- early retirement age, full retirement age, and age 70.
This website provides information and guidance on understanding your Social Security Statement -- which is a concise, easy-to-read personal record of the earnings on which you have paid Social Security taxes and a summary of the estimated benefits you and your family might receive. The website also features a sample Statement, information on how to request a Statement, and answers to frequently asked questions about the Statement.
The Social Security Retirement Planner provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law and points out things you might want to consider as you prepare for retirement.
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. This site provides Information on how to protect your Social Security number, what to do if you think someone is using your number or if an identity thief is creating credit problems for you, and how the Social Security Administration might be able to help you.
This website provides a chart that lists for each birth year the full retirement age and the amount by which the benefit is reduced if taken at age 62 rather than at the full retirement age. The chart also includes examples based on an estimated monthly benefit of $1000 at full retirement age.