Good afternoon, Please find attached two articles regarding Social Security programs. We hope the information is helpful. If you are able to use the articles – Online, in Print, or simply forwarding to your employees/contact list – Please inform us with a quick email. We like to know the information is beneficial and being distributed. If you have any questions, please call or email. We welcome your comments and input. Thank you for providing this information to an interested public.
HELPING VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS By Kirk Larson Social Security Public Affairs Specialist for Alaska Idaho Oregon Washington Every year on Veterans Day, we honor the people who risk their lives to protect our freedom. Social Security honors veterans and active duty members of the military every day by giving them the respect they deserve. Social Security’s disability program is an important part of our obligation to wounded warriors and their families. For military members who return home with injuries, Social Security is a resource they can turn to. If you know any wounded veterans, please let them know about Social Security’s Wounded Warriors website. You can find it at https://www.ssa.gov/people/veterans/
The Wounded Warriors website answers many commonly asked questions, and shares other useful information about disability benefits, including how veterans can receive expedited processing of disability claims. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Even active duty military who continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave should consider applying for disability benefits if they’re unable to work due to a disabling condition. Active duty status and receipt of military pay doesn’t necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits. Although a person can’t receive Social Security disability benefits while engaging in substantial work for pay or profit, receipt of military payments should never stop someone from applying for disability benefits from Social Security. Social Security is proud to support veterans and active duty members of the military. Let these heroes know they can count on us when they need to take advantage of their earned benefits. Our webpages are easy to share on social media and by email.
UNDERSTANDING SPOUSES’ BENEFITS By Kirk Larson Social Security Public Affairs Specialist for Alaska Idaho Oregon Washington Marriage is a cultural institution that exists all over the world. Having a partner means sharing many things including a home and other property. Understanding how your future retirement might affect your spouse is important. When you’re planning for your fun and vibrant golden years, here are a few things to remember: If a spouse accepts reduced retirement benefits before starting spouse’s benefits, the spouse will not receive the full 50 percent of the worker’s benefit amount. Full spouse’s benefit could be up to 50 percent of your spouse’s full retirement age amount if you are full retirement age when you take it. If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse’s benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. (For example, you are eligible for $400 from your own retirement and $150 as a spouse for a total of $550.) The reduction rates for retirement and spouses benefits are different. If your spouse is younger, you cannot receive benefits unless he or she is receiving benefits (except for divorced spouses). If you took your reduced retirement first, when you add spouse’s benefits later, your own retirement portion remains reduced which causes the total retirement and spouses benefit together to total less than 50 percent of the worker’s amount. On the other hand, if your spouse’s retirement benefit is higher than your retirement benefit, and he or she chooses to take reduced benefits and dies first, your survivor benefit will be reduced, but may be higher than what your spouse received. If the deceased worker started receiving reduced retirement benefits before their full retirement age, a special rule called the retirement insurance benefit limit may apply to the surviving spouse. The retirement insurance benefit limit is the maximum survivor benefit you may receive. Generally, the limit is the higher of: - The reduced monthly retirement benefit to which the deceased spouse would have been
entitled if they had lived, or - 82.5 percent of the unreduced deceased spouse’s monthly benefit if they had
started receiving benefits at their full retirement age (rather than choosing to receive a reduced retirement benefit early). Spouse and Survivor benefits are complex programs. If you have questions, please review out FAQ section at https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/ . When it comes to information, we have over 80 years of experience. Access a wealth of useful information as well as our benefits planners at https://www.ssa.gov/planners/.
| 
