CWA Local 4319: Title Goes Here

Social Security 2006:
"What You Need to Know"

Here are some tips to help you when planning your retirement, provided by the Social Security Administration.

Retirement Benefits -- Can start as early as age 62, full retirement age, or delayed to age 70; Worker benefits, sometimes spouse(s) and children.
Survivors Benefits -- Can commence at age 60, or as early as age 50 if disabled.
Disability -- Can commence at any age, provided you worked enough to qualify.
Medicare -- Eligibility based on disability after 2 years (ex., kidney failure, ALS), or at age 65.
Supplemental Security Income -- Need-based federal welfare program, not funded by Social Security taxes; eligibility at age 65 or based on a disability at any age and financial need; top amount in 2006 is $603.00.
Medicare Part D -- Anyone who is eligible for Medicare can join thru a private insurance company.

Social Security benefits were never intended to be 100% of your retirement income.
Know when your full retirement age is.
Know the difference between early retirement (age 62, reduced) vs. full retirement (age 65-67) vs. delayed retirement (age 70).
Check your statement.
Records to have -- birth, marriage, divorce.

If you are under your full retiment age (62-65 in most cases), you are limited to $12,480 in gross wages and still can collect all of your Social Security checks.
The year of your full retirement age, you can earn even more -- up to $33,240 in 2006, before your full retirement age month.
After you hit your full retirement age, YOU CAN EARN AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE AND IT DOES NOT AFFECT BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY!

Visit the local office (in Toledo: Monroe Street or Downtown): 9 AM to 4 PM
Call 1-800-772-1213 (Monday thru Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM)
Call the local office (in Toledo: Downtown 419-259-6250, West Toledo 419-843-7751): 9 AM to 4 PM
Online any time at www.ssa.gov any time